Six Top Tips for flying with Young Children
1. Think about the flight time. For short-haul fights mornings are generally easiest as kids are less tired. I try to plan a flight over a meal time, as this is a good activity. For long-haul flights I find the absolute ideal is to take off about 2-3 hours before bedtime. This gives them time to get over the excitement of being on the plane, so they’re able to settle down to sleep when the time comes.
2. Food – take a lot of snacks. Don’t stress about proper balanced meals today, take easy to eat, hold and clean up snacks. Kids are generally happy when they’re full, and chewing helps keep their ears equalised which avoids pain. Kids meals on airlines are generally unpalatable, so assume the worst and bring everything you need. If you’re using formula for a baby bring lots of spare. It’s so easy to spill it due to the restricted space, stress or unexpected turbulence.
3. Activity – both before and during the flight. Get to the airport nice and early to allow the kids to have a good run around. Where possible I’ll use a soft play, but if there isn’t one, I’ll find a relatively quiet corner and let them run. I find the tablet a lifesaver on flights as it keeps their attention for long periods of time. Younger kids often want to walk around. I always let them where possible, as keeping them contained just leads to frustration. Cabin crew understand that you’re just trying to keep the littles ones happy and won’t mind you getting in their way sometimes.
4. Sleep – for long haul flights this is a must. For small babies you can book a bassinet cot but bear in mind these are never guaranteed and are small. Both my two children outgrew the BA cots at about 3 months. After this you can still have the bassinet seats, but it’s a chair rather than a cot on the little shelf. For my two this was far too exciting to even contemplate sleep. For babies I recommend taking a baby carrier. Babies will easily fall asleep and then you can sit down with them on your front with your hands free to eat, drink, read etc. For toddlers and above think about getting something you can put in front of their seats to create a small bed. There are plenty of products like this on the market. Or you could just stick a large piece of hand luggage in the gap!
5. Spare clothing – for you as well as the little ones. Think how many potential puke/poop accidents are likely, then double it and prepare for that. I don’t know why, but for some reason travel really beings out the puke/poop in kids. It’s bad enough having projectile vomit all over you, but it’s significantly worse if you have to spend the next 12 hours sitting in vomit covered clothing.
6. My last piece of advice is probably the most important – don’t care about everyone else! It’s stressful enough dealing with a screaming baby or a toddler meltdown without worrying about the rest of the plane. Stories about mothers giving out gifts or ear plugs to other passengers are not helpful. It’s a child, they make noise, other people can just deal with it. There are far more annoying things that can happen on a flight than a screaming child. Most people on the flight have probably been in your situation while travelling with their own kids and actually only have the utmost empathy with your situation.