Being able to travel through the air is both a miracle of technology and a serious pain in the butt. Planes and airports might help us get from point A to point B a lot faster than traveling on the road, but they also come with a lot of stress. If you have young children traveling with you, that stress only increases. Having to worry about crying or hyper kids in addition to everything else can really put a damper on even the most enthusiastic traveler's trip. But luckily, there are some things you can do to make flying with children easier and more fun.
I don't think anyone out there likes to be on a plane with a screaming, crying child, but when a kid starts acting up, the parents are the ones who are the most stressed out about diverting their attention and calming them down. It's the reason why this stranger's act of kindness to a new mother and her baby on an airplane warmed the hearts of thousands of people!
While some children may be as excited about flying as this four-year-old girl who had the time of her life on her first flight, many others will end up cranky, confused, and maybe even scared. If you want to make your flight as pleasant as possible for the whole family, it's important to plan ahead to make your children as comfortable as possible
Before you fly with your children, check out these tips for making the trip a lot easier for everyone involved. I sure wish my mom had done number eight when I was little!
Make sure you SHARE these tips with all the parents you know!
1. Use Technology To Your Advantage
Whether or not you let your child play with a tablet or smartphone on a regular basis is your call, but if there was ever a time to whip out something with a touchscreen, it's on a long flight with kids. A few gaming apps can keep rowdy kids occupied for a surprisingly long time, and when you're thousands of feet in the air, you'll be thankful for whatever quiet time you can get.
2. Let Them Be Creative
If you have a child who enjoys drawing or coloring, bring coloring books, paper, and pencils or crayons. When the battery drains on your electronic devices, you'll still have something to keep your child's mind and hands busy, all while inspiring their creativity!
3. Have A "Bag Of Tricks" From The Dollar Store
Having a small arsenal of cheap toys can do wonders for children with short attention spans. Take a trip to the dollar store before you leave, and put together a bag of fun stuff for the plane. Every so often (especially when your child is practicing good behavior), pull out a new toy for them to play with. This will keep them guessing about which new toy is coming out next and gives you a bit of leverage to convince them to stay behaved. Plus, if any of the toys get lost during the journey, you're not out a small fortune.
4. Let Them Eat
If there was ever a time to let your child do a little pigging out, it's on an airplane. Bring some finger foods with you to allow them to stuff their faces to their heart's content, and don't be afraid to ask the flight attendants for some milk or juice. A fuller tummy might be the trick to having your little one doze off, but even if they don't sleep, some snacks will eliminate any crying or complaining over an empty stomach.
5. Ask The Flight Attendant For A Semi-Empty Row
If you're traveling solo with a child, it doesn't hurt to ask the flight attendant if there's a row with empty seats you could sit in. Doing so not only prevents a rambunctious kid from bothering a stranger seated in the same row, but also gives them a little extra room to stretch out if they can't resist the urge to wiggle around.
6. Take Advantage Of Your Layover
If you've got more than one flight on your trip, use your layover to your full advantage. Get lots of walking done around the airport, let the little ones go back and forth on the moving walkways, and find creative ways to get their bodies moving so that they're all tuckered out by the time you get back on the plane with them.
7. Check As Much Baggage As You Can
It's hard enough to keep an antsy child under control. Eliminate the need to also drag multiple bags along behind you by checking as much as you possibly can. Ideally, you'll just need a single tote bag (or large purse) to carry all your necessities on the plane, leaving your hands free to handle your kiddo.
8. Bring A Change Of Clothes Onboard
Newsflash: kids are messy. No matter how hard you try, you might not be able to keep them from spilling something on themselves…or worse. My mom particularly enjoys telling the story of the time three-year-old me threw up all over myself on my first plane ride, and she only had an adult winter coat to dress me in after she'd gotten the vomit-soiled clothes off me. Even though we all hope something like this won't happen to our kids when they fly, it's best to be prepared for anything. Bringing an extra change of clothes for your child will ensure that no matter what finds its way onto their outfit, they'll have something else to wear.
9. Bring Something Cuddly
Flying might be fun for some children, but for others, it can be scary. Turbulence and popping ears (plus the overall stress of traveling) can get to even the calmest of kids, so if you have the space for it, it's a good idea to bring a stuffed animal with you. Being able to cuddle with something soft can help give a child something to squeeze when they get stressed, and it's a great sleeping companion as well!
10. Be Patient
Even if you do everything "right," you will probably have to deal with a crying or hyper child at some point on your flight. If and when your child displays less-than-perfect behavior on the plane, remember to be patient with them. Flying can be a stressful, tiring experience for adults, and children don't have the self-restraint that we do. A little bit of love can go a long way in making sure the experience is as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.
Make sure you SHARE these useful tips with everyone you know!
