A trip with a toddler is nothing if you’re adequately prepared. These flight attendants with experience give their tips to flying with children.
With cramped seats on airplanes and bustling waiting areas flying isn’t always the most relaxing experience. And all of the frustration grows dramatically when adding a snarky toddler to the mix. The little ones simply don’t have the patience to endure security at airports. They hate sitting in silence for hours at a time and they’re afraid of the sudden changes in pressure.
However it is possible to have an enjoyable travel experience with the right preparation and planning. If you’re heading to visit your family or friends, and/or Disney World, check out the strategies for reducing stress while traveling with a child. A portion of the advice are straight of flight staff (all of who chose to keep their identities private for the publication).
1. Plan a departure for the morning before
This is your best chance to avoid delays during takeoff and landing times, an airline attendant named Patrick says. “These flights are usually less crowded, too,” Patrick declares, “and everyone is basically tired and just wants to nap–kids especially.” Also, if you can avoid flights that have long waits, or connections that are late at night.
2. Keep your mileage increases for travel that is safe for toddlers
In first class, traveling with kids is more stress-inducing than the value. Mom Joanna recalls the experience of flying with her boisterous, energetic toddler, and enduring the anger of her seatmates in first class throughout the flight. “It’s not fair, but you’re just going to get more empathy and support with kids in economy,” is the opinion of a flight attendant.
3. Discuss with your children what they can expect
“My experience is kids do so much better when they know what to expect,” says Shireen, mother of three children from Australia who’s been across America U.S. several times with her children. She suggests watching this Let’s Go Play video on YouTube that covers the entire experience of flying starting with baggage check-in and ticketing, to onboard manners and security.
4. Dress in layers and avoid shoes that have lacing
Prepare for sudden changes in temperatures while flying with toddlers. Wendy is an airline attendant and mother advises you to dress your children in comfortable layers, preferably without zippers, buttons or anything else that could stop them from going to the bathroom on time. The same rule applies to shoes: stay clear of the laces and choose slip-ons instead. “There’s the added benefit of getting through airport screening that much faster,” she states.
5. Bring surprises
When traveling with a child playing with a new toy, wrapping it offers two benefits children love unwrapping items, and a new toy is more attractive and has a greater draw.
6. Consider using a smaller stroller
Being able to travel through airports without a stroller is a nightmare for many parents, so think about swapping the size of your stroller to one with an umbrella. Also, make sure you check you stroller’s baggage at gate prior to embarking; the staff will be waiting to greet your return on the plane.
If you’ve more than one small traveling companion, you should consider the use of a child harness (leash), Wendy suggests. “I was so against them until I saw a woman with three young boys using them in baggage claim. It made so much sense,” she adds, “with the exit doors that lead to the outside just there. It’s true that flying can be stressful enough. Do what you have to do to ensure the safety of your kids and your mental health.”
7. Just enough to pack
Parents are urged by flight attendants to pack their essentials to travel with. “Unfortunately, you can expect there to be zero food on a plane that would interest a kid,” Lynn says. Lynn. “And we are so limited in what we can offer in terms of comfort items as well.”
On the other hand parents may be in trouble with their over-packing if they are zealous. “Usually, when it’s one parent traveling with one or more kids, they’ll bring way too much stuff in an attempt to keep their kids happy,” Wendy states. “They forget they have to carry all that stuff off the plane with them, along with their kids.”
8. Plan your packing list
If you are packing for your flight, refer to this checklist as a reference.
- Comfort item If it’s a pacifier, make sure to pack more than one, so that it doesn’t be thrown into the aisle or on the floor.
- Cleansers, wipes and Pull-ups and diapers. One diaper for every hours of traveling is suggested.
- Tablets and smartphones loaded with your children’s favourite films or shows. Allow them to share one device using a headphone splitter.
- Sized for children, these headphones
- Art tools: Crayons (small box) and blank paper
- Plastic bags to collect trash
- Water
- Cheerios and pretzels, nuts, crackers, cheese and granola bars are great alternatives
9. Prepare yourself for safety
When packing, be sure that the items you need to remove during screening screening are accessible. Remember that travelling with food items will result in extra scrutinizing when you go through security screening.
10. Get ready for the pressure of air
If your child recently suffered from an ear infection, or a cold, seek the approval of your physician prior to flying. The changes in pressure in the cabin could cause discomfort. After you have passed through security, make sure you have sufficient water to be able to handle a delay. Also, make sure you have enough for the descent, which is the most painful moment for ear pressure issues. Make sure your children drink a glass of water shortly after takeoff and throughout the final 30-45 minutes before the descend. It helps to relieve the pressure and also provides an water-retention benefit.
11. Through all means, do pull-ups
Your toddler might be a bit older than Pull-Ups, but they’re an excellent resource for flying with a toddler child. “I use them on my 6-year old,” Wendy says. Wendy and adds that it’s much more relaxing than having to run into the toilet or handle an accident in the seat.
12. Show your gratitude
Flight attendants like receiving an amount of money to help children. “Any kind of chocolate found in an airport, handed over at boarding, does wonders,” says Patrick. Of course, it’ll be of no benefit to any random, unprofessional members of the cabin staff.
However, it’s an attractive gesture especially around the holiday season, when the majority of flight attendants will be on the job in isolation from families. “It will be so appreciated,” the flight attendant says. “And we will remember you and look out for you. And not only that, you’ll probably score a free drink out of it.”
13. Make sure that children are kept out of the aisle
Aisle seats could be dangerous for children. When the food or beverage cart moves along, small hands are within the reach of hot water or coffee.
14. Beware of the spread of germs
If you are flying with a toddler off everything. Above all other things, don’t take your children to the bathroom with no shoes. “The floor is a Petri dish,” an airline attendant says. “You’re flying there’s a lot of jostling. It’s not just water spilling on the floor of the bathroom.
15. Be calm and stay focused
There’s little it’s possible to do to soothe the child who complains every when your child is sick or laughs. What you must be aware of: As long as you’re willing to try (and which parent doesn’t? ) It’s almost all of the people you need. “An adult having an issue with a screaming child is acting like a child as well,” says an airline attendant and mother called Patience. “Don’t engage. Just worry about your own child.”
16. Select an airline that offers children-friendly amenities
A family-friendly airline needs more than a happy, engaged kiddo. So, most of the top airlines offer all kinds of kid-friendly perks to provide their youngest passengers with everything from many of their most loved TV shows and films to snacks and headphones that are kid-friendly. In 2021, United Airlines — a Parents Editor’s choice for flights with kids–introduced a brand new kit of activities for children (pictured) created to keep children happy and safe when traveling. The kits, which are at all Mainline United flights, offer lots of games and child-friendly products such as a mask for children as well as a travel-themed journal book that includes the crayons and an origami airline kit, as well as an cleanser wipe.