I have had a couple requests to share my ideas for flying with littles.
We have flown several times with children. Sheldon and I first flew with Adelina when she was a two and a half month old (and she was a CRANKY 2-month-old, let me tell you). We flew from California to Utah together but I returned with just Adelina. We flew with Sawyer when he was about 4 months old. Then we flew to Denver and back with both kids at 3 and 1 (with a layover). Since then I have flown 3 times WITH kids and WITHOUT Sheldon.
4 out of 9 of those trips were just the kids and me, and I STILL LOVE TO FLY! Flying with kids has become a fun adventure for all of us. Each trip we have learned a few more things. Here are the things I wish I had known from the beginning:
CHECK-IN
The less stuff you have to haul through security and the airport, the better. I try to check as much stuff as possible. I only keep out a diaper or two, snacks, spit rags, and a FEW entertainments. I know flying with kids makes you want to pack it all and the kitchen sink, DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE TEMPTATION. It will make the trip much smoother if you can fit everything into bags that can be easily carried. I cannot stress this enough. It is so stressful when they change your gate and you have to run across the airport carrying 3 bags – because your kids refuse to carry theirs – and stuff is falling out of your diaper bag. Just don’t do it.
Carseats and Strollers
I like to check my carseats with the suitcase. They usually put them in a nice plastic bag for you and whisk them away, all free of charge. You can do this with your stroller too. My stroller, however, I like to keep with me until the plane ( “gate check”). Strapping kids into it can make maneuvering through crowds much easier! You won’t have to carry any of your bags. And if you are in a hurry you can actually move quickly, rather than dragging little legs behind you. Keep the stroller.
Sometimes they’ll give you a tag when you check in at the counter, but I often take my stroller all the way to the gate and ask for one there. Be sure to ask for one BEFORE they call for boarding (more on this later). Or you may have to wait until everyone has boarded..not fun.
TSA
Going through security with children can be SO STRESSFUL. But here are some things you should know:
- Food and drink requirements are DIFFERENT if you’re traveling with children. Applesauce packets are fine, you can bring breastmilk in small portions, children’s ibuprofen, etc. I put all my food items in a ziploc bag when packing and I pull it out to place in a tray separately, like shoes. TELL the officers that you have it. They will almost always screen the formula powder separately and will sometimes screen other food too.
- Kids can keep their shoes on. You still can’t.
- The stroller has to be screened as well. If it can fold and fit on the belt they usually prefer that: if not, they screen it later. Be sure not to grab it until someone says it’s okay.
- General TSA stuff: Tablets need to be pulled out and placed separately, but phones do not.
9 times out of 10 the TSA officers are kind, understanding, and helpful. If you happen to get one that is less than kind, just remember that they are doing their job to keep us safe and a jerk probably yelled at them for something dumb 10 minutes ago. True or not, it helps me not get offended or hurt!
In the Airport
If things went as planned and you got to the airport 2 hours early and security was smooth, you will likely have time to kill while waiting.
To-Do: Essentials
Get a tag for your stroller. They put it on the stroller so you can identify it after the flight and you can just ask the people behind the desk at your gate.
Fill water bottles – don’t forget the baby bottle for the formula! Also, for the older kids, it’s hard to find white milk in airport stores. We had to do strawberry milk once.
Go to the bathroom – if you are traveling with a potty trained child with a small bladder I recommend just putting them in a pull up. It’s safer than stressing about going potty when they can’t.
To-Do: For fun!
Eat a snack or two
Watch the airplanes fly in!
Play “I Spy”
I try to find a less crowded area with the kids, usually an unused gate nearby. They seem to be able to sense the anxiety in the air when it’s crowded and people are lining up and it can just be a lot for them.
Inflight
Now comes the fun part! Sometimes you have lots of time to fill before the plane even takes off. I use this time to get bags where I want and can reach them, we talk about expectations and I get them excited for the flight itself. Some dialogue like the following:
“I am so excited for take off! We go really, really fast and then you can feel us IN THE AIR! It is so amazing.”
“Sometimes, when we fly through the clouds, it gets really bumpy like a roller coaster. It will be okay though! If you are scared you can hold my hand, or the arm rest.”
The trick here, I believe, is to never let them catch a whiff of anxiety on you. Let’s be honest, especially your first time, that may be the most overwhelming feeling, but if you can “be strong for them” and just put on a face of confidence for a little while, they will fare so much better. And soon, you will FEEL better too.
Takeoff
Take off really is so fun. It will never get old to me. As the airplane climbs though, the pressure can hurt the little one’s ears. I usually breastfeed at this point- not only does it relieve the pressure in the ears, but it also puts them to sleep, resulting in less stress. Bottles work great as well. For older kids I give them a snack. I’ve heard that suckers help as well. I haven’t done suckers – they can be really messy with my kids – but any chewing and swallowing helps! This can also be a good bribery point. “Once we take off, you get to have a snack!”
Honestly, I don’t think my kids have ever complained about ears. I know it bothers the infants, but mine have always done well to just drink or breastfeed.
In Flight Entertainment
Books are a mom’s best friend in the flight. Is there a child alive who doesn’t enjoy being read to by their parents? I could sit and read to them for hours and they wouldn’t fuss. They only take a tiny bit of room in a bag, too. This worked better with a 2 and 4 year old than when I had an infant as well, infants make that a challenge.
Coloring books are fun, but I recommend the triangle crayons! They don’t roll.
Screens work. I got some awesome toddler headphones (like these in the shop) that can connect to each other and they are fantastic! We downloaded lots of fun apps and a few movies. What more do you need? In fact, this last flight when I had all three kids to myself, this was a LIFE SAVER. I didn’t have any books (my bad!) and I couldn’t do much to entertain them because my baby was a lot.
As far as snacks go, my favorites include: granola bars, non-crumbly crackers like wheat thins, puffs for the babies, applesauce pouches, goldfish. Really anything your kids like that they can manage without making a huge mess. Now that I think about it, a couple of tortillas would be a good idea with mine! They love eating them and they would take some time.
Snacks to avoid: crumbly crackers like Ritz, cereal bars with jelly in the middle that break, bottles that can spill, etc.
Cleanup
The ziploc I packed the snacks in becomes our inflight garbage which is so nice to have! I also keep wipes easily accessible. Honestly though, there is no way they plane will be left spotless and that is okay. Just do your best!
Flying with kids really can be a fun experience for everyone. There are usually nice people who will think your kids are adorable. Don’t worry about noise, the planes themselves are noisy enough that it blocks out a lot of sound. And no matter what, the flight does eventually end!
