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Do you remember the days before you were a parent and you got on a plane that had a toddler on it? As cute as the child may have been, the louder or more active they became, the more you found yourself counting down the minutes until you would be able to get off of the flight. Now you are the parent and you notice the eyes that are semi-glaring at you as soon as you enter onto the plane with your own little one in tow.
If you would like some tips on how to fly with your toddler so that the flight can be as pleasant as possible for everyone involved, we’ve enclosed five of our top tips below:
Schedule the flight during their nap time. If you have a child who sticks to a pretty strict day schedule, you might want to consider taking a flight during their naptime. Sure, they may be a bit irritable on the way to the airport, but that’s better than having them scream the entire time while you’re on the plane. If their body is used to resting at a certain time, if they are comfortably seated, there’s a pretty good chance that they will still fall asleep (yes even on a plane).
Take advantage of the pre-boarding option. One benefit to getting to your gate at least 45 minutes before your flight leaves is that all airlines have a time when seniors and individuals with young children are able to pre-board. This gives you time to get situated without feeling like you need to rush due to all of the people who are waiting for you to take your seat.
Bring some toys. As adults, we can sometimes find ourselves feeling restless on flights and so it’s completely understandable why a child would be. That’s why it a good idea to pack a few toys and even a DVD player along so that they can watch an animated movie throughout the duration of the plane ride.
Pack some food and drinks. When you’re online looking for aircraft prices and more , you may wonder what kind of accommodations you will have on your flight. When it comes to food, the truth of the matter is that unless you are flying first class or taking an international flight, you are not going to get much more than some peanuts or maybe a bag of cookies and something to drink. Rarely is that going to hold a child over for a few hours, so make sure to have some “toddler snacks” and their favorite drink in a sippy cup for when they are hungry.
Make sure to stay relaxed. If you’re someone who travels regularly, you will definitely find out more about what works and doesn’t work for you and your child over time. But no matter what, it’s important to keep in mind that if you are relaxed, your child will have a greater tendency to be as well. So, no matter how anxious or busy or irritable they may be, be sure to keep a calm spirit about you. It will make things easier for everyone on board: you, your baby and the passengers who are sitting around you.
When travelling with older kids and a baby, we always said we just had one rule for air travel – “Don’t do anything that makes the baby cry.” While on the plane, if the baby wants that same story read a thousand times, just read it. Sing the song she loves. Play that game she likes. If the baby wants another snack, she’s got it. This is not the time to teach good habits. What will mostly keep the baby happy is your undivided attention.
That said, I once had a recently weaned 18 month old cry inconsolably the entire length of a 9 hour flight. She said she wanted her crib, and I couldn’t give her her crib, though I would have given her pretty much anything else. Sometimes there’s nothing you can do.
I have only one word for traveling with a toddler:
Benadryl
bad you! LOL
I hope that people seated around children are patient. I’ve mostly had good experiences with young children on flights, but they are excited. Perhaps I’m a bit more patient about this because I am a parent.
Hey Sam
I think your first suggestion is a really good one.
So smart 🙂
I concur… tip 1 takes the cake!