We asked parents how they managed flying long distance with small babies and toddlers and compiled a list of tried and tested ideas. Flying with babies can be especially daunting. With that in mind, I have put together some tried and tested advice from parents who ahve flown with thier babies and toddlers.
Your long haul flying tips with baby:
- Take enough spare clothes for your little one AND yourself, as well as maybe a small towel to clean up any possible accidents
- Take a pillow with for baby to sleep on top of or your toddler to rest against.
- Take loads of sticker books. This is great for the waiting area as well as the plane.
- Cheap Finger puppets, mini slinky and a mini etch-a-sketch.
- Check with the airline you should be able to pre-book a sky cot / bassinet if your child weighs up to 13kg.
- Take your buggy/pram all the way to the plane, easier to pile hand luggage onto and to keep an active child in one place!
- If you have a portable DVD player and a loads of his/her favorite programmes in case the in-flight entertainment is not suitable
- If you have a tablet take that along for both the waiting area and the flight
- remember kids headphones as aeroplane ones often don’t fit well
- Eat a good meal in airport, often the in-flight meal is served too late and hungry children are grumpy ones!
- Colouring books or sheets with colours.
- Carry a bag of favourite snacks and treats. You can prevent a meltdown with the right treat distraction.
- A carrier bag with clothes for you and baby. You never know what can be spilled on you!
- A quick change bag-with everything you need to do a bum change. I like to make little packages in a nappy sack. Include: wipes and clean nappy and use the nappy bag to pack it all into.
- Small toys that he has never seen before in a little backpack..allow him to open one as often as you feel he needs to
- Eat before you fly-don’t rely on in-flight meals, in fact I did not eat my eve meal on the plane and neither did kids…I told the flight attendant no and not to disturb us if we were asleep at meal times. I just made sure I had food for us for when we woke. They also don’t always provide food if the child is sitting on your lap. And get yourself a sandwich as it’s easier to eat than the plane food.
- Pain killers: I always take an over the counter painkiller for myself ; sometimes sitting in static position as your little one lays on you, can give you aches and pains!
- Painkillers for your child: A sachet of calpol or similar painkiller is useful if your little one is struggling with ears adjusting to air pressure.
I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.
