Flying with Kids
“Flying with kids” can be a daunting phrase heard by any parent in the room. It’s never something one looks forward to. Why? Well there’s the need to entertain them, feed them, keep them quiet, pack them, and much more. In this listicle we’re going to explain everything you need to know about how to conquer flying with kids.
Tip Number 1. Book a flight with little to no layovers.
Preparation is key when flying with kids. The first thing you can do to minimize stress is to avoid having to do everything twice. Book a direct flight if you can. From onboarding to off boarding, you don’t want to live the experience multiple times just to have a relatively cheaper flight. The hassle of preparing and making sure everything is with you or possibly waking a child up from mid nap is not worth it. If possible, take the stress off your shoulders and book a non-stop flight or minimize the amount of layovers as much as possible to make flying with kids a whole lot easier.
Tip Number 2. Be strategic with timing.
Plan to take longer than you would if you flew alone. Kids have short legs, and even shorter attention spans. Give yourself additional time to get where you need to go. Next, flying with kids can be stressful when your little ones are tired and hungry. If the flight is short, choose a morning flight when the airport is less busy. This will make it easier on you to navigate the entire experience and possibly have a chance to acquire more room for yourself and your little ones on a less packed flight. If your flight is longer, choose an overnight flight where they can sleep the majority of the way.
Tip Number 3. Create a packing list.
Another daunting challenge is fulfilling the needs of your kids. When flying with kids, needs will arise, so don’t be caught unprepared. You’ll want to pack the essentials to have an easy time. Pack some snacks for when they’re hungry. Pack some light toys for when they’re bored and need entertainment. Pack some layers, a blanket and a pillow for when they need a nap. Make their experience as comfortable as possible so that you can have a breeze flying with kids.
Tip Number 4. Talk to your kids.
If they’re old enough, try to explain the process of airport travel to your kids so that they can be prepared and know what to expect. Do a practice run at home where you teach them to remove their backpacks and shoes, and move through a security line. Let them know that flying is a fun adventure, and get them excited about the airplane so they aren’t startled during takeoff. When you are high up in the air, point out the cool things you can see from above. As you talk to them about what they will see and experience, you’ll find that they’re more aware of their surroundings during your trip. Plus, you will get them excited for this trip and additional flights in the future.
Tip Number 5. Label your luggage.
It’s easy enough to remember what your suitcase looks like, and even your spouse’s as well. But as soon as you start adding kids into the mix, you’ll realize there are a lot more things to keep track of, and suitcases don’t need to be one of them! Labeling your luggage with matching tags is one of the easiest ways to keep track of them all. Our little family hack is to pick a distinct, brightly colored ribbon and use it to tie a bow to each suitcase for our family. It makes spotting it on the baggage claim conveyor belt a breeze!
Tip Number 6. Food, glorious food.
While I typically don’t incentivize my children with food, travel time is the one exception. Make sure you’re not only prepared with meals, but with plenty of snacks. Pack enough snacks so that your kids have something to munch on each, once every 20 minutes. You may end up with extras, but that’s far better than not having enough. And don’t forget to pack empty sippy cups for the kids! You can fill them with water once you’re through security and you’re good to go.
Tip Number 7. The Rule of 20.
Just like having snacks for every 20 minutes, you’ll also want activities to get you through intervals of 20 minutes at a time. So, for example, if you’re flying with kids for 3 hours, you’ll want 5-9 different things for your children to do during that time. 5 activities if you plan to repeat, and 9 if you plan to do something different every 20 minutes. A child’s attention span is typically 20 minutes or less for children under 6. Therefore, you’ll need lots of entertaining activities for them.
Tip Number 8. Wear your kids out before the flight.
If you have littles, it’s best to let them stretch their legs and play around before you board. Walk with them to get a drink, play with them on the floor of the terminal, and get all their wiggles out so that they’re ready to rest once they’re seated on the plane. A personal favorite of ours is a few rounds of Simon Says. We have them run in place, wave their arms, and spin in circles all from the terminal. By the time you’re boarded, your kids may even be ready to take an afternoon nap, or sleep if you’re on an evening flight.
Tip Number 9. Bring backups in your carry-on.
If you’re flying with a baby, you definitely don’t want to travel without a spare outfit in your carry-on. You can never anticipate when an accident might happen and it’s better to be prepared. I always bring a backup burp cloth, outfit, and toy for the baby in my backpack.
Tip Number 10. Pack plastic bags.
Along the same vein as packing with back-ups, make sure you bring plastic bags to contain your messes. I’ll never forget the first time I took my oldest on her first flight and she blew out all over her outfit. I just stuck her outfit in a plastic bag, wiped her down, then put her in her clean spare outfit and she was good as new. All the while, the mess was contained, and so was the smell.
Tip Number 11. Tablets are your friend.
While I’ve never been a huge fan of screens, I definitely rely on them for that last stretch of our family flights. Flying with kids is much more doable when you can pull through that last leg of time watching your kid’s favorite movie, or letting them play an interactive or educational game.
Tip Number 12. Get headphones that go over the ear.
Trust me, no one wants to listen to your kids watching Cocomelon for 2 (or more) hours. And earbuds + kids are a rough mix. Sometimes they don’t fit their ears right and the earbuds fall out, other times their little ears get sore. Trust us, your best bet is over the ear headphones that are comfy and block out some of the sound.
Tip Number 13. Divide and conquer.
If you’re flying with more than 1 kid and 1 lap baby, you’re going to want to divide the kids between each parent. Choose your sitting arrangement wisely, oftentimes it’s best to have the parent in the aisle seat so that they can communicate with the other parent and attendants, and so they can contain the kiddos.
Tip Number 14. Everyone gets a backpack.
Even if you pack to be hands-free, you’ll still end up carrying one thing or another. So you really don’t want to plan on carrying things at first. Pack the bulk of your things in your checked bags, then get each kid a backpack that they can wear through the terminal so that they’re carrying their own toys, jacket, and snacks.
Tip Number 15. Dress in layers.
Your flight is not the time to be dressing for style, this is the time for comfort and convenience. Comfy pants combined with a short sleeve shirt and a jacket is the best combo for flying with kids. This makes it so that whether your kids run hot or cold, they’ll be taken care of.
When you have the right tools in your belt, flying with kids isn’t such a scary thing after all. So leave early for the airport, pack your essentials, and get going. You got this!