We’ve all seen and heard the airport travel nightmares of moms who took their children on a trip, only to have the little ones have a meltdown at the airport. Worse, you never want to be that person on the plane that all other passengers give a stink eye to because you can’t control your child while onboard. Traveling with little kids doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so the skies can be friendly for everyone again, no matter what your age.
Choose well
Planning is key to any successful endeavor. If you decide to take your child, you must plan carefully. First, consider your destination. If you can get your kid excited about an interesting destination, he is more likely to behave. You may want to get your child’s traveling feet wet by trying him out first on short flights, say a trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco.
Choose flight times when children are likely to be asleep, especially if you’re going on a long-haul flight. Consider a red-eye flight so that your child is asleep for most of the journey.
When booking online, choose your seats. If you’re a large group, you may want to spread out on the plane, such as taking two rows rather than staying together so you can split up the little ones if they don’t always get along well with each other. Inform the airline of children’s meal options you want.
Do the debriefing
Talk to your child about your upcoming trip. This sets the mood for the journey. Tell him what to expect when he gets on a plane, such as food carts being pushed between the aisles, or perhaps about the constant humming noise while you are flying and that there are many people on board. Talk to your child about how long the flight will take. You can even make it an educational experience by taking about time zones and looking at maps together. There are many children’s books you can read together to set up the mood before you take the trip.
Lay down the ground rules beforehand and be clear about your expectations in terms of his behavior. For example, you must be clear that your child needs to stay close at all times or that he must also follow directions.
Keep it bright
Dress your kids in bright and easy to see colors so you can easily spot him from a distance, such as when he runs off to Gate 10 when you’re supposed to be at Gate 15. If you’re taking more than one child, let them dress up in at least the same color scheme for the day, such as a yellow top and khaki pants so if they ever get lost at the airport, it’s easy to describe to the security and you don’t have to try to remember what your child wore. Choose non-typical colors. Instead of pink for your little girl, try yellow or orange and rather than blue for boys, why not wear a bright red or lime green shirt.
Don’t count on the airline
Don’t rely on the airline to keep your child entertained. That’s your job as the parent. You need to be prepared with a bag of tricks that you can pull out on an as needed basis. Bring your own baby wipes, food items, crayons, coloring books and toys onboard. There’s not that many child friendly freebies nowadays, so head out to the dollar store and pick up some items you know may keep your child happy for the duration of the flight. Finally, don’t bring them all out at one time; remember to save some for the return flight home so that you always have some new trick up your sleeve.
It’s BYOB time
Let your child be responsible for his own bag. Consider a backpack or a small trolley (or oven a duo backpack trolley) that he can carry himself. Your little one will really feel like a world-class traveler when he has his own travel gear on hand. As an added bonus, you can stuff some excess items in your child’s bag, allowing you more carry on items. When your little one gets bored, he can push the trolley around, sit on it or play with it. Just make sure you check regularly that he hasn’t left it behind at the x-ray machine as you enter the airport. Letting your child bring his own bag will develop his sense of responsibility and also be less stressful for you.
Pack light
Since you’ll all be carrying your own stuff, be sure to pack light. Choose clothes that are lightweight and items that you can layer. It should be easy to take on and off. Disposable items (such as travel sized toiletries) are great since you don’t need to carry what you no longer need.
Keep him walking
To get your little one knocked out during the flight, get him walking as much as possible. It’s less stressful for you to have to carry or push him on a bulky stroller too.
Board last
You want to minimize the time inside an airplane so if your spouse, partner or friend is traveling with you, let them go ahead bringing along all the luggage and hand carry items that they can handle. This way, you can let junior run around and expel that excess energy before you have to board the plane. It will also minimize the chances of him being restless while waiting for everyone to get settled. Let him use the potty before boarding so you minimize the need to get up midflight.
Give a lollie
The air pressure can be quite painful for little kids, which makes them cranky. Give him his favorite lollipop to suck on during the flight or if you have a baby, try a pacifier or his baby bottle.
Think grace under pressure
Remember, if you stay relaxed and keep your cool, your child will follow your cues and likely do the same. This way, everyone can have an enjoyable time on the trip.
Photo Credit: At the airport by hale_popoki
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