Our little one was six months old when we made our first international trip. Not a long one, but stressful and exhausting enough. At two-years old, we ventured on a sixteen-hour flight. That was a huge ‘learning experience’. We kindly received bulkhead seats and placed the little one on the floor to sleep (back in the day you could do that). She became violently ill with nausea, which could have been due to air sickness, dirty carpets, airflow from floor vents, etc. Who knows, but it was a wrong move and could have been worse.
Traveling parents do offer tips from collective experiences:
1) Sleep time and flight time are synonyms. Try to fly when the little ones normally sleep. This will not only reduce stress during the flight, but you will be on their schedule when you arrive.
2) There is a good reason why many airports offer play areas. Burn off those extra energy before a flight! Make use of it if your departure or lay-over allows for it.
3) Really plan your carry-on well. Actually, have a checklist on hand. You do not want to dig around for wipes, hand sanitizer or a pacifier. And please remember some sealable bags to dispose diapers for obvious reasons.
4) Pressure changes during take-off and landing are a fact. Make sure there is a bottle, pacifier, something to chew on, or anything else that will help calm your little one down.
5) Don’t book flights with tight connections. Escalators and strollers do not work well together. In fact, a long lay-over is well worth splurging on lounge access.
6) Sugar snacks, messy snacks and caffeine are simply no-no’s. Even for helicopter parents! No one wants to clean behind you or endure a jumpy child.
7) Not everyone on the flight wears noise-cancelling headphones. Please plug headphones into your child’s electronic devices when playing games or streaming. BTW, such electronic devices are highly recommended to keep kids entertained.
8) Board early with infants and children. It is a privilege offered by airlines. Use it and settle in before general boarding starts.
9) In the age of basic economy fares, do not assume that your family will be seated together. If your child has an individual ticket, that child can be moved to a different seat for a variety of reasons. It might lead to extra fees for a seat to have your child close to you.
10) If traveling with a baby, try to book a bulkhead row as those commonly have attachments for baby bassinets. If possible, request a bassinet ahead of time.
Tip: Don’t stop traveling because you have children. It is part of their education!
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