Traveling with kids can be an overwhelming experience. So if you are planning a family vacation, you cannot ignore the tips for flying with kids. These tips can be a lifesaver. Traveling with one child is still manageable, but with 2 kids, it is quite a task, especially when the kids are young.
Of course, as a parent, you need complete focus, great organising skills, and lots of patience. These are the keys to making the journey less chaotic. It doesn’t matter if you are flying with infants or curious toddlers; you should be prepared. If you are traveling with children and don’t have the slightest idea what to do or how to manage everything, you must follow the necessary travel tips.
Need help? Don’t worry, you have come to the right page. The blog discusses 10 important tips for flying with kids. So if you don’t know how to travel with kids, we have got you covered. Let’s get started!
Is flying with a one-year-old child possible?
Is flying with a one-year-old child possible? Can I travel with my one-year-old child on a plane? If you are a new mom, I’m sure these thoughts have definitely crossed your mind. First-time parents are always learning new things to do whatever is best for their child. Thinking about the minimum age for traveling is one of the concerns.
To cut a long story short, of course, you can take babies on their first air journey. Air travel is safe for toddlers. Some airlines even allow you to travel with a 2-day-old baby. However, you must carry the doctor’s certificates.
Moreover, most airlines allow you to travel with one or two-week-old babies. But you must consider a fw things before taking them to their first flight. In short, yes, you can take your baby who is 1 year old or younger on a plane.
Is It Unsafe to Take Small Children on a Flight?
Flying with kids is indeed an exhausting experience. In some cases, it can be unsafe to take small children on a flight, especially with infants and toddlers. Most pediatricians advise new parents to avoid traveling with babies who are a few weeks old. One of the main reasons for this advice is that a baby's lungs aren’t fully developed until a few months old. When flying mid-air, the oxygen levels get lower, and an infant’s delicate lungs are not fully prepared to handle that situation. Thus, it is unsafe to take small children on a flight. So, try to avoid taking a very young kid on a plane.
10 Tips for Flying with Kids
To make the journey smooth and hassle-free, follow these tips for flying with kids. These tips can help you overcome any forthcoming challenges. Before you find out the tips for flying with kids, you should know that the journey can be quite exhausting, so be prepared. The following are some tips when traveling with children:
1. Consider Taking an Early Morning Flight
Taking an early morning flight is always one of the first and foremost important tips for flying with kids. With kids, delays in arriving at the airport often happen. But if you consider taking an early morning flight, you can avoid traffic and long airport queues. This saves significant time for people travelling with toddlers who get fussy in over-crowded spaces. Additionally, taking an early morning flight also helps the airline commence early departure. Once you have boarded the plane, your kid can take a nap, and you can get some rest too.
2. Opt for Airlines that Offer Perks for Traveling with Kids
There are many family-friendly airlines that meet expectations when there are kids on board. Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, and other popular airlines offer great perks for travelers with kids. The flight attendants make sure your kids stay occupied by letting them watch their favourite shows and movies. In fact, some airlines offer kids’ meals and snacks. Furthermore, some airlines have priority boarding policies for families with kids. This gives the parent some time to let their kids settle down before taking off. Thus, opting for airlines that offer family perks is a great way to engage your kids.
3. Prepare a List of Things You Need to Pack
Moving on to the tips for flying with kids, parents must prepare a list of items to pack. Preparing a list is essential because it helps you avoid overpacking unnecessary items. Of course, you don’t wanna stuff your luggage with things that aren’t even important and worry about the things you have left behind. Nobody likes this much chaos. It is better to prepare a list and highlight those things that will go last. For instance, your kid’s tablet charging over the table, or their favourite “Beary the bear” stuffed toy. Be sure to check the list one last time before you head to the airport.
Here are a few items for your carry-on bags that you should consider adding to your list:
- Toys or other comfort items that your kid might want mid-air.
- Diapers, wipes, pull-ups, sanitizers, rash cream, and other essentials.
- Fully charge tablets and mobiles with your kid’s favourite shows, songs, and movies pre-downloaded.
- Comfortable headphones suitable for your kids.
- Plastic bags for carrying wet clothes, dirty diapers, or trash. Your kids can also use trash bags or envelopes if something funny comes out of their tummy.
- Candies formulated to ward off travel sickness.
- Potable water bottle.
- Munching snacks to keep the kids occupied.
4. Pack Kid’s Favourite Toy to Engage Them
Consider packing your kid’s favourite toys to engage them and make their journey more comfortable and manageable. If you are flying with kids, you must pack toys they can snuggle with and play with. Bringing your kids’ favourite toys will capture their attention, especially when they are being fussy. In addition, if your kids are anxious while flying, their favourite toys can be a good distraction.
5. Cooperate with Multiple Airport Security Screening
Usually, people who travel with kids pack snacks in their carry-on bags. If you have packed some munchies, make sure they are easily accessible so you can remove them from your bag during security. You should know that airport security performs multiple scans if you have packed any food items. You must cooperate with the multiple airport security screening processes.
6. Carry Pull-up Diapers for Toddlers
If you are travelling with toddlers, using a pull-up diaper can be really helpful. If you have a young kid or if your kid is just potty-trained, you cannot take chances. Kids don’t have enough tolerance for controlling nature’s call. It is better to opt for pull-up diapers for your kids, as they are easy to put on and take off. Plus, they help you avoid unnecessary incidents.
7. Don’t Let Your Kids Sit in an Aisle Seat
One of the most important tips for flying with kids is never to let them sit in an aisle seat. An aisle seat is a bad choice for toddlers as it gives them too much freedom. They will be gone in a blink. Plus, in case of turbulence, it is dangerous for kids to just wander on the flight. Other than that, an aisle seat isn’t safe for young kids or fellow passengers. A flight attendant might accidentally spill a hot beverage on your kid. Simultaneously, if the attendant bumps into your kid while passing by, it can be dangerous for others. Try to give your kid the window seat, as kids enjoy peeking outside the window.
8. Be Careful: Air Pressure Changes can Affect your Kid’s Ears
When flying thousands of feet above the ground, air pressure tends to increase significantly. This change in air pressure puts quite some stress on your toddler’s ears, especially if they have a cold or an ear infection. If your kid has any such issues, make sure you have consulted a doctor and carried the necessary medicines. In addition, make sure your kids drink enough water, especially during the last hour of your journey. Drinking plenty of water can help ease ear pain or discomfort.
9. Show Gratitude Toward the Flight Attendants
Everyone deserves appreciation for their work. Similarly to flight attendants, you can show a little gratitude to them as a courtesy. To you, maybe it’s just a smile, but to them, it is a gesture that helps them stay motivated. During the holiday season, flight attendants are busier than on usual days. Plus, they are preoccupied with their work that they don’t have time to spend holidays with their families. Still, they are making amends to make you and your kids comfortable. So, you can say thanks to them or perhaps give them a chocolate as a token of appreciation.
10. Patience is the Key
Everybody gets it that traveling with a child can be chaotic. Sometimes they get out of control, and not everyone can adjust to the giggles and noises. Some might help you handle them, but don’t underestimate the cranky adults who get annoyed over every little thing. Patience is the key to tackling complaints. So, don’t lose your patience over some arrogant passenger who is annoyed by your screaming kid. Instead, stay calm and collected. Try to calm your kid and don’t get involved in entertaining a fight with annoyed passengers. There is no point in making an issue out of it.
Final words
As a new parent, flying with young kids can be challenging, but it is still manageable. If you are not sure how to travel with kids and want to learn, you must learn some pro tips. These were the top 10 tips for flying with kids. Just make sure of a few things when booking tickets and packing your bags to avoid any trouble during your journey. Don’t forget to book an early morning flight and pack your kid’s favourite items to keep them busy. Hope you found these tips helpful, and that you now know whether flying with a one-year-old is a good idea.