Some people would prefer a poke in the eye with a flaming stick then jumping on an aeroplane to travel with kids. Those people probably don’t have kids. Actually I am pretty sure there are parents out there that would take the stick.
When you do have children and you have to travel or even like to travel you just have to do it. It seems leaving your children at home by themselves is frowned upon, surprisingly, so you pack up and go.
By the time Ari (3) reached his 1st birthday he had been on 14 flights. Leni at 6 months will be taking her first flight next month. Frequently flying with my kids I have learnt a number of things and hopefully my tips can help you take the angst out of air travel with young kids.
Take your time
I found this really hard at first. When I am going somewhere I just want to get there. Fastest connections. Fastest transfers. Fast!
Having children in tow makes fast a huge brain strain and patience is stretched to the absolute limits. Slow down. Think what is best for the family. Catching a later connecting flight might mean the difference between a toilet break or a wee accident (pun intended).
I also suggest finding a quiet(ish) corner of the airport terminal and let the kids ‘shake their sillies out’. When they hop onto their next flight there has been an energy release and sitting still is not completely unreasonable.
Hire it!
We have all seen them. The parents at the carousel with their luggage trolley that they are turning into their own leaning tower of baby collateral.
Save your sanity and possible damage to your baby gear by hiring it. You can hire anything and everything with most companies even delivering to you at the airport, if required. Need a car seat for your rental car? Car rental companies will have your seat ready to go, securely in place at pick up saving you time as well as the trouble of fitting your byo one.
Just one little contradiction on this. With little babies I like to take my pram wherever I go. I did stop taking my own at one stage and hated it. If you love your pram take it with you. Which leads me to my next tip.
Check the fine print
Not all airlines are created equal. Check the fine print on your tickets. Infants are not given a baggage allowance but some airlines allow you to bring on any of your babies things such as prams or car seats. Again check your fare rules as some airlines allow just one piece, others may allow as much as you reasonably need and others may allow you at a price.
Snacks
Yes, thanks Captain Obvious! I know, but if I don’t have snacks to cover the WHOLE flight, even if they aren’t eaten, I am leaving myself open to whinging, fidgeting and iPad rejection!! No parent would ever like to allow this. Stash the snacks.
Leave the portable cot at home
We have carried around our portable cot a lot. Literally! Hardly used it, just carried it around. We would find that Ari wouldn’t sleep in it and one of us would end up co-sleeping with him. This happened quite a bit once he moved down to from the top-level of the cot. As long as your baby has a safe sleeping environment, who cares if he (or she) isn’t in their own cot. We now leave the portable cot at home and what a relief! There is no more lugging that big thing around for it not to be used. Leave your port-a-cot or any “just in case” stuff at home.
Keep your assigned seats
Lastly and briefly. There are reasons for the placement of families on flights. Respect it. For everyone’s sanity, just roll with it.
Happy travels with your kidlets. I have had many wonderful flights with my bub and I have had a number where I have sworn I would never do it again. But I do. Travelling is far too much fun to miss out.
Do you travel a lot with kids? What is your top tip?
Great post Karin!! We’ve yet to do this very much yet but the couple of times I’ve done short haul flights with the kids it’s been just enough to stay an interesting novelty. The only thing I would add is “iPad”. iPads solve everything.
They really do. Ari got his smarts from an iPad. 😉
I’ve lost count of the number of flights with kids and the number of times I’ve sworn we would never do it again. But we keep going back for more. Great tips! Totally agree there’s nothing like your own pram. And stocking up on snacks is an absolute must!! Xx
I would have to say the good times out weigh the bad for us thankfully. x
Great tips. I have traveled with my kids starting from 3 mo old (that was 12 years ago and a solo long haul to nyc just me and her – there were tears from me I will admit). The only things I would add are- pack extra clothes in your carry on especially if you travel with a baby (that solo trip involved poop blowouts causing 3 changes of clothes for her and 1 for me) and to ask for help as often as you need it from check in until you are off the plane.
YES! Spare clothes for all! Oh I don’t blame you for tears on a long haul.
My first flight was a nightmare! Everyone told me to get some phenergen for my then 2 year old, for the 24 hour flight to the UK. It would calm her! No it didn’t. Kept her awake and made her hyper, and we had a rambancious 2 year old running up and down the aisle for 23 hours. Yes. She fell asleep 1 hour before landing. Needless to say we learned, and flying with her has been a delight ever since. Great post Karin. You’ve got some great tips there.
Always falling asleep on the decent for my kids! That is the thing with antihistamine, not everyone gets drowsy. Poor thing with your high hopes crashing down. 🙂
It certainly get’s easier as the kids get older. My first few flights with the kids Farmer and I were so stressed we could of sobbed and run home before we even got to our destination. Your first tip is golden with kids! We did this to our trip to Tasmania. Took our time. We were loaded with heaps of activities (stickers, colouring in books, toys etc) so there was no chance of a kick up. We were so proud. Let’s hope it’s a sign of more travelling as a family to come. Great tips Karin x (ps. we tried the phenergen first trip too – big fail)
No, drugging your kids never ends well. 🙂 Some time in the next 12 months will see me taking the kids solo to Broome… I will have to work on moral for that one. 🙂
Great tips! I agree regarding the snacks, learnt this the hard way! I would also suggest packing a spare change of clothes in the carry on bag in case of toilet accidents. We give our kids chewing gum or lollies to chew while ascending and descending, and I have Panadol or Nurofen just in case.
Yes, after Ari was past bottle stage he still had a dummy but then after that was gone we were a bit stuck. The old mentos worked a treat. 🙂
I love travelling with my kids. Pack plenty of snacks and you are good to go anywhere.
Snacks are key. 🙂
Ah, yes! Learning to take my time with children was a hard one for me to get used to! But that’s the way it goes,isn’t it? It also helps lower the levels of stress and anxiety when you give yourself and your family ample time. Roll with the punches
Roll with the punches for sure Grace.
Great post Karin!!!
Thanks Miss Chardy 🙂