If you have young kids, then you may find the mere concept of flying difficult. After all, you can’t expect them to be as calm as you are when going through the airport, and you may even find that you become exhausted before you even get on the plane. If you want to avoid any potential mishaps, or if you want to make sure that your kids have the best time when you go abroad with them, then this is the guide for you.
Learn the Language
If you can, you need to take the time to learn the language of your destination as this may help you to make conversation with others. You can get your kids involved too if you want. Check out Preply.com to find out more.
Early Boarding
The early boarding privilege is a major benefit if you are flying with kids. It’s quite possibly the airline’s way of saying “we know the flight is going to be hard, so why don’t you make sure that you get your luggage on board before everyone else”. If you want to take advantage of this, then make sure that you arrive at the airport nice and early, so you don’t have to worry about clambering onto the plane in a rush.
Make Friends
You will probably need some allies when you fly abroad, so when you are in the waiting area, try and strike up conversations with other parents. Ask them how old their child is, where they are going or anything else of the sort. You might not make any friends for life, but at the end of the day, you will have someone who you can exchange frustrated words with and most of all, they will understand what you’re going through, which can be a major bonus.
Have a Chat with the Flight Attendant
If you have a child under the age of two and is flying for free, then you need to get ready to have a conversation with the attendant. They will be able to help you by showing you how to hold your baby when you are taking off and landing. They can also help you by explaining any tips that may help you when you are on your journey, so make sure that you keep that in mind.
Bring Some Things to Do
It’s vital that you bring a portable DVD player with you and that you also take a Kindle, Nintendo or LeapPad if you have one. Colouring books are great, and you can easily give your kids some pencils to use if you want. That being said, make sure that you don’t pack too many because if you do, then you may find that they end up going everywhere. Pencils and crayons are better than pens, purely because they give you the chance to put them away in a hurry without having to think about finding the caps or ink going all over your bag.
Bring Some Snacks
Your child probably won’t want to eat what is on the menu. By the time the snack cart gets to you, you may find that there are no sandwiches available, and this can become a bit of a disaster. If you want to help your kids here, then you need to make sure that you bring some snacks with you. You also need to bring some sweets, like gummy bears when things are really stressful, as this can be a real lifesaver for you and for your kids. If you want to make this even more effective, then don’t tell your kids that you have packed them, as this will make it much more of a surprise.
Take a Walk
If you are at your wits end with a very fussy toddler, then one thing that you can do is go for a walk. On an airplane, you may find that you don’t have much space to do this, and it can be a very frustrating experience. That being said, you should try and go for a walk because your kids will enjoy stretching their legs, and it may even help them to calm down on a stressful journey. Sure, it may be a bit hard work, but it is well worth the effort.
Sanity Seat
If you are travelling with a partner, then it is a good idea for you to have a sanity seat if you can. One person will sit with the kids while the other sits in a completely different part of the plane. When things get bad, you can then swap places with the other person. The great thing about doing this is that your kids will often behave when another person comes in, and it also changes things up a bit. As if that wasn’t enough, you may also find that you can cut down on the amount of stress you experience, as the burden will be shared. An inflatable toddler bed is a great option to settle your child next to you on the flight.
How to Handle Ear Complaints
Kids come down with colds quite often. In situations like this, they may find that flying becomes even more difficult. If your child doesn’t have a cold or sinus issue, then you should still expect them to complain about their ears. You can tell them to try and chew gum, or you can ask them to yawn to try and relieve the pressure. That being said, headphones are a fantastic solution, and they can help you to calm your child down in no time at all. You can play them some music, or you can just use them to block out the sound around them.
Lie to your Kids
If your kids get irritable on the flight, then it doesn’t hurt to lie to them. Tell them that there is 25 minutes to go, even if there’s an hour. Your kids probably won’t know the difference, but it can stop a meltdown from happening. You may even find that they begin to get excited about landing, and this can save you a lot of worry and stress. Of course, if you are having a hard time keeping your kids calm, then remember that you can get out a game, or you can put a movie on. This will help your kids to get whisked away into a more entertaining world.
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