Travelling with kids can be hectic at best, especially if you’re travelling abroad or via plane. That said, planning and preparing well can reduce this stress and make your flying experiences more pleasant. Below are five tips to help make flying with kids easier - and even fun!
Stay as Calm as Possible
Travelling (particularly flying) can make children cranky, which will most likely lead to whining and crying. As the parent, it’s your job to try to keep the situation under control, and this is only possible if you remain calm and patient.
Empathize with your child by understanding that long trips are frustrating and tiresome, but also empathize with the other passengers who may become annoyed by a very disruptive child. Be patient as you attempt to calm your child, because aggravation will only aggravate the child and could cause them to cry louder.
Bring Toys, Games and Surprises
Games and toys are a great way to keep your children occupied, peaceful and manageable during a flight. It's also a good idea to engage them by participating in their games and even providing little surprise gifts. Kids love receiving and unwrapping surprises. You can use this to your advantage by providing wrapped toys and games. These surprises will effectively keep their attention, make them excited and prevent boredom. Boredom can lead to mischief!
Use Training Pants for Little Kids
During a flight, training pants are usually the best option for toddlers. This will be less stressful for you, as you won’t need to make continuous trips to the tiny bathroom to avoid an in-seat accident.
Prepare for the Air Pressure
Before your flight, stock up on water for your children. This is necessary in case of flight delay and will help with the pressure during the flight, especially during the descent when the pressure causes the most ear discomfort. This pressure and discomfort is also a reason why many children cry during flights. The discomfort can be eased by proper hydration and swallowing. Children should drink water during the flight as well as the last 30 to 45 minutes of the descent.
Fly Early in the Day
Early starts to the day usually mean tired children. So, the earlier you fly, the more likely it will be that your children will want to take a nap during the flight. Besides that, early flights are the best way to avoid delays at takeoff and landing, which are often the source of even more irritation and tension. These flights are also inherently less crowded. Just be sure you’re completely prepared.
If you’re travelling abroad, remember to pack the kids’ passports, even if you have a baby. Children and babies need passports to travel internationally, just like adults. If you live in the Edmonton area and you're wondering where to get passport photos for babies or anyone else in the family, visit us at PhotoStop.