The holiday season is upon us and with it comes travel. That's why today, I thought I would share with you some of my tips for flying with children.
Travelling with children is a whole different ballgame and I'll be honest, I've had moments when I missed my travel life prior to becoming a mother. But I've also had moments when I absolutely loved flying with my son and seeing him experience the joys of travel has created some heartwarming moments.
I should probably preface this by saying that these are tips that have worked for me, are mostly based on my family's travel preferences and my son's age (4 years old). If you have younger or older children, these tips should hopefully be helpful still but feel free to tweak them to suit your children's ages and your family's travel style. So, without further ado, let's get into it.
Bring your own in-flight entertainment kit. Having something to entertain your child can be a game-changer to their flight experience. This can include magnetic puzzles, busy books, colouring packs, toy cars, tablets (download their favourite shows prior), playing cards etc. Anything your child finds entertaining on a normal day and is easy to pack should work. Pre-planning your child's entertainment comes in handy if you are on a flight that doesn't have any in-flight entertainment provided (think short-haul domestic flights). Airlines will often provide activity packs for children but I've found sometimes they don't.
Take a couple of their favourite toys. This is different from something to entertain them and more to serve as a reminder of home. This could be a blanket or favourite superhero toy, or dinosaur, teddy bear, you name it! The idea is to help your child transition nicely from home to flight especially if it's one that coincides with their bedtime.
Take extra clothes, wipes, nappies or underwear. This is so important because they will always come in handy! Spills will happen, accidents will happen - it's just the reality of flying with children. So, be prepared and throw in some extras in your hand luggage. Don't stress if you forget to pack wipes and nappies as most airlines will often have this on-board.
Build excitement. If your children are old enough to understand, tell them about where they are going, what to expect, who they are going to see. The purpose of this is to build some excitement and to help them transition from home to your destination smoothly. You can also read books about the destination or show them photos of what the place looks like.
Weather and outfits. Check the weather of your destination but also dress your child for the plane. Your destination could be warm but the plane temperature might be too cool so take extra layers for the flight.
Pre-order your child's in-flight meals. This often depends on the airline you are travelling with but if the option is available, pre-order your child's in-flight meals. This can save time and can be served to your child once the flight takes off and the food service commences. Having said this, it is also handy to take some snacks for your child in case the food isn't served on time or your child does not like what's served.
Water bottles. This one is more about something to be mindful of. In my experience, I have found that sometimes, the air pressure makes water pop out of bottles with straws. So, my tip is be mindful when you lift the straw so that water doesn't go everywhere from the pressure.
Travel prams. These are handy if travelling with younger children like babies or toddlers. If you don't want to lug one around, find out if your airline provides one that you can use in transit. Baby carriers, wraps are also perfect if you're travelling with babies.
Timing of the flight. This one will most likely come down to personal preference and what's available flight-wise. Where possible, book early morning flights as these tend to be less crowded which can help make the trip less overwhelming for young children. However, if this isn't an option, opt for flights that are closer to your child's bedtime so they can sleep for the majority of the flight. You might need to try a couple of different flight times to see what works best for your children.
Air pressure without tears. The change in air pressure during landing can be uncomfortable for adults and children causing earaches. Avoid the discomfort by providing your child with water to drink with a straw, pacifiers (for babies), sucking on lollies for older children or earplugs.
Most importantly, don't stress! I know this is easier said than done, but try not to stress if things go awry. Children can sense when you are stressed which in turn can make them feel anxious. Staying calm when your child isn't can help make what could be a stressful travel experience, a peaceful and memorable one. Hope the above tips help! Have any tips that have worked for you, please feel free to share below.
Safe travels,
JJ
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