Flying with Small Children
(This was first posted in Aug., 2013. But with vacations starting up again, I thought it might be helpful for families to be reminded of tips for flying with their kiddos. Enjoy!)
I just returned from a short getaway with my family which included a three hour flight each way. I was seated near young children or babies every leg of the trip. I love children and my heart always goes out to parents traveling with them. I remember the days of traveling with little ones and they were far from easy!
Now, whenever I see a young family board, I say a silent prayer for them, that their flight with their children will be fun and happy. So here are a few tips to make your next flight with your children successful.
- Allow extra time. Get to the airport earlier than you think you need to. Rushing your child only adds stress, which in turn leads to crankiness in all of you. I’d suggest giving at least an extra half hour cushion time.
- Take along ear pressure relievers. When a baby or child cries on a plane, it’s often due to uncomfortable ear pressure. Take plenty of bottles or a pacifier along for your baby to suck during take-off and landing to reduce pressure. Chewing gum or sippy cups that require sucking through the spout work well for children who are old enough to use them.
- Let your child sit by the window. Being able to see what’s going on outside helps pass the time and keeps your child entertained. While on the ground, talk to him about things he sees. What are the workers doing? How many other planes can he see? How many cars are on the little train carrying the luggage? In the air, comment on the clouds and anything else that might be interesting. Even putting the window shade up and down is a terrific pastime!
- Take along a bag of tricks. Don’t pull it out until your child starts getting whiney. Purchase inexpensive new toys such as a new sticker book, coloring book and crayons, puzzle book, story books or audio books, Etch-a-Sketch, Wooly Willy, Matchbox cars, or paper dolls are all great options. Of course many electronic games and apps are fun and inexpensive as well. But keep in mind that if the pilot asks for all electronics to be shut down during turbulence, you’ve just lost your child’s entertainment as well. Be prepared for anything. Your bag of tricks should also include some special snacks, perhaps even some you don’t normally buy at home. The idea is to make the flight fun, exciting, and worth doing again some day!
- Be playful. Don’t expect your child to be able to entertain himself on the flight. Play with him. Even games like “I spy with my little eye…” are easy and fun. Keep a spirit of adventure as you talk about and experience the flight. Pretend you’re blasting off to the moon or flying somewhere to save the world. Dust off your imagination and have fun!
- Stay relaxed. Despite your best efforts, your child may be in a foul mood. Do your best to remain calm and use a soothing voice to help your child. The more you become agitated the more he’ll sense your tension and act out. If possible, get up and let your child walk in the aisle if he’s getting too antsy in that cramped space. Or walk your baby if he won’t settle down while you’re seated. Don’t forget to bring along his special blanket or toy that he sleeps with.
Traveling with a child can be exhausting. But with proper preparation, it can also be a fun, memorable time for your family. What have you done when flying with children?
Good hints! I remember sitting by a 7-year-old boy traveling alone on one trip who had nothing to do (but we had fun anyway)! But I also remember a red-eye at 2 a.m. flight going home to my mom’s funeral where a baby cried all the way (from Arizona to Michigan).
A child traveling alone would be a whole new ballgame! I’m thankful that little boy had you sitting by him to help make the time pass. No doubt you were a blessing to him and to his parents who couldn’t be with him.
Great tips! We recently traveled from California to London and back with our two-year old. My biggest advice would be to set your expectations low and forget about any schedule you have at home. My daughter was happy the whole trip but so excited she didn’t want to sleep. We decided to follow her lead and not insist on the usual sleep and meal times. It seemed to work out OK – if a little tiring!
Sally, that’s a fabulous tip! Yes, the usual schedule may go out the window and that’s OK. Be flexible and keep smiling, bleary-eyed though you may be! Ha! Thanks for your comment.
Another thought, Sally. California to London? That’s a long flight! You have way more experience than I do at this. You should have been the one to write this blog post! 🙂
I guess I have “some” experience. I’m originally from the UK but now live in California (married a Californian). So yes we’ve flown back and forth a few times. I love your article though. 😉
What a helpful post. My daughter was a teen before she flew on a commercial flight, so I didn’t have to deal with these issues. But I can imagine what it might be like with little ones. I know this will be helpful to many young moms out there.
Thanks, Janice. I remember always feeling nervous as I got on the plane with my little ones, just wondering how they’d do. I pray this helps some moms out there to feel just a little less anxious. Thanks for your sweet comment.