Airplane
Advice: Pre-Boarding and During the Flight
Pre-Boarding
- Be sure to make photocopies of your family's airline tickets.
If one gets lost, this will make it a lot easier for you!
- Flying will be more pleasant if children work off energy before
boarding. Use every opportunity to walk and move around before
boarding.
- Let children walk with you from parking the car. Watch planes
flying into the clouds while you walk around.
- Don't try to have children sit quietly while waiting for the
plane. Obviously they have to be supervised and civilized while
waiting for the flight. Go from window to window. Watching planes
take off and fly into the sky entertains almost any age child.
- Play Areas in airports- These spots are wonderful-- unless your
flight is ready to leave and your child isn't. Tell your kids about
the time limit right when they start to play. Remind them gently.
Countdown the last minutes. For toddlers, have some enticements on
hand to ease them away.
- Consider a small meal in the departure lounge before you board if
the kids are getting hungry. Yogurt, cheese sticks, crackers,
anything to keep them from getting hysterical!
- Take children to bathroom before boarding and landing. When the
captain has the seat belt sign on, children can not leave their
seats even for nature. Explain this before you fly and they might
not even use the bathroom as an excuse for roaming around.
- If your children are small you may want to take advantage of
pre-boarding. This gives you first choice at overhead storage space.
One of the parents can pre-board with all the stuff while the other
parent stays in the waiting area with the kids. Let the kids run
around for a while and board at the last minute. You won't have to
worry about not having overhead space and your kids don't have to
sit too long on a plane that's not going anywhere for the time
being.
During the Flight
- Be sure to dress your young children in something bright,
patterned, if possible so it doesn't show stains. The cuter they
look the better your receptions by stewards, the business man seated
next to you, etc.
- When traveling with a child under the age of two and a spouse or
second adult, request a window seat and an aisle seat in the same
row, with an empty seat in between. The middle seat could be one of
the last filled, increasing the possibility of a vacant seat for
your child's use.
- If you are traveling with an infant, you may want to use a soft
front pack which will allow your hands to be free.
- If you're deciding whether or not to purchase a ticket for a small
child (children under the age of two travel free, when seated on the
adult's lap), consider their temperament. Do they prefer to be held
a lot or to sit alone? Are they mobile? Will you be comfortable with
them on your lap for the duration of the flight? It may be worth it
to buy the extra ticket!
- Many airlines have bassinets which you can request in advance for
small infants.
- You might want to read the information presented at this link, Using
Child Restraints on Aircraft to learn safety guidelines.
- Keep a color picture of your child's face in your purse or wallet
in case he or she gets lost in a crowded airport or shopping area.
- Whenever possible, book a nonstop flight. This streamlines your
trip and prevents change-of-flight problems.
- Whenever possible, travel during off-peak hours. Peak travel times
can be very crowded, especially during holiday seasons. The less
crowded a flight is, the more comfortable you will be, and the less
your child's behavior will affect other passengers.
- If you're traveling out of the country, consider taking red-eye
flights. This will not disturb your child's normal sleeping patterns
as much as a daytime flight.
- Let children take turns at the window. The window is the best
place to sit on the air plane. Make certain every child has a chance
to see the world from a great distance above the earth. Also, let
kids enjoy the experience of take-off or landing.
- Know what to ask for on the airline. Pillows, blankets, playing
cards, and often fun packs for junior travelers, are all usually
there for the asking.
- Pack some finger foods, like fruit, pretzels and cereal for your
children to enjoy during the flight. These items might help them
adjust to in-cabin pressure changes. For younger children, try using
bottles, "sippy cups" or pacifiers to help ease inner ear
pressure. For older children, chewing gum or lollipops can serve the
same purpose.
- Request special meals for your children at least 48 hours in
advance! Airlines really go out of their way to make these meals
appealing to your kids!
- Ask the flight attendant to serve your children their meals before
starting the general meal service so they don't have to wait and you
don't have to eat and struggle with the children at the same time.
- Have your children's' ears checked at the doctor's office before
you go so that you know all is clear! This will make you and your
children (and everybody on your plane) happier!
- Some popular home remedies for popping the ears include hot towels
(place one over each ear and the heat will expand to the middle ear,
relieving the negative pressure on the drum), hot cups (place the
hot towels into two paper cups and hold a cup over each ear), and
blowing (have your child blow through the nose while you hold both
nostrils closed...although this may be painful at first it will help
to relieve the pressure). Also try to get your child to yawn, which
will help make the ears "pop" and relieve the pressure.
Exaggerated facial movements will also help and can become a fun
game!
- On our doctor's advice we have always given our young children a
dose of Triaminic Night Time before we have flown. (we have used the
above mentioned remedies as they grew older) This helps relieve the
pressure on their ears and it makes them a bit sleepy. If you are
lucky, they may sleep through a good portion of your trip.
- If all of these suggestions fail and you find your child screaming
at the top of their lungs, just remember that the screaming will
help to relieve the pressure on their ear drums!
- Be aware that clogged or painful ears can take as long as three
days to return to normal. If your child has problems after that, see
a doctor.
- If your child is on medication, be sure you have enough for the
entire plane ride. Keep medicine with you in your carry-on and also
have a prescription handy just in case.
- Invest in a child-sized roll-on suitcase for your younger
children. They will really enjoy pulling it behind them at the
airport just like all the grownups!
- Pack a bag of surprises for your children. There
are lots of neat travel-sized toys (such as the Travel
Magna-Doodle and the Travel-Sized Etch-a-Sketch) and that will work
great. Don't forget the old standbys such as crayons, colored
pencils, a roll of Scotch tape, stickers, safety scissors,
notebooks, coloring books, small wind-up toys, rubber stamps with
ink pads, and finger puppets. Audio books with a Walkman are also a
good choice. Try not to get noisy toys since you and everybody else
will have to listen to them over and over. Also, try to avoid
bringing along toys that are sharp, heavy, or that break easily.
Pull some "tricks" out of your bag as needed while you are
on the plane.
- Always pack changes of clothing in your carry-on luggage for your
family. A fresh shirt can be a lifesaver.
- Arrange for children to trade places to share parents. This travel
time is an opportunity for some quality time with each child. Plus,
children who are enjoying uninterrupted attention from Mom or Dad
are less likely to grow restless while flying.
- It might be a good idea for you to be friendly with the people
sitting around you. Introduce yourself and introduce your
child/children - most people like babies, some just don't know it.
If your child starts to cry and they have seen you to be a pleasant
individual they will tend to be sympathetic rather than annoyed.
- Most airlines will allow you to bring a stroller for your infant
or toddler with you at no additional cost. Instead of packing your
best stroller, invest in a cheap umbrella stroller. Umbrella
strollers fit in the overhead storage bins on the plane and allow
you to have access to them right away when you are exiting from the
plane.
- Bring your own car seat with you! Car rental agencies charge about
$5 a day to rent a car seat and often their car seats are dirty and
not good quality. Sometimes, rental agencies may be all out of
them.
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Traveling By Car
Some examples of items to include would be glitter markers,
plastic animals, toy cars, puzzle books, stickers, little activity
books, mazes, dot-to-dot, threading sets (pictures with yarn), felt
boards, small magnetic puzzles, Go-Fish cards, silly putty, rubber
stamps, trading cards, and so on. Each child's surprises can be
wrapped in different paper to make it easier for them to pick out.
To make their car ride as comfortable as possible, you might want to
use car shades to keep the sun out of their eyes. Sun glasses
will work too if your child will wear them. Take sun screen and
a hat as well.
Wake any sleepers about ten minutes before you plan to stop so they
can re-enter the world with a minimum of grogginess (this will allow
them time to get their shoes back on as well)
Fast food restaurants, such as McDonald's or Burger King, that are
equipped with playgrounds are also a great idea! Our children really
enjoyed being able to use these areas when they were finished eating.
When we were traveling in rainy weather, indoor playgrounds were a
life saver! If your children's Happy Meals come equipped with toys,
you may want to put them aside for when you get back in the car. This
will make the transition of getting back into the car a little easier!
Audio book tapes are great. Bring your children to the library
before you travel and allow each of them to pick out a few of their
favorite selections.
Edible Jewelry: Here is a great activity for the car trip. Provide
your children with sweetened cereal rings and string licorice. The
children can string the cereal rings onto the licorice and make
necklaces and bracelets. When they get hungry they can snack on their
edible jewelry!
Don't forget the snacks. You may have just passed by the last
restaurant for 50 miles but your kids are hungry. Those snacks can
come in handy. Excellent choices include pretzels, raisins, crackers,
string cheese, dry cereal, fruit, carrots and celery. An idea to make
them more interesting is to put them in special decorated baggies to
peak your child's interest. You can put colorful stickers on them or
store them in paper bags with pictures of the places you will be
visiting on your vacation. Dried fruits such as raisins, cherries,
apples, papaya, bananas, apricots, pears, and cranberries won't bruise
or spoil on long trips. Cut celery and carrots into sticks.
Place in plastic containers and add several ice cubes. This will
keep them cool and crisp.
A water bottle for each child is also a must! For older toddlers and
children, invest in a small individual thermos for each with an
open-and-sip spout that doesn't require pouring liquids. This should
be washed each evening in preparation for the next day. Fill it with
water only-it is thirst quenching, doesn't stain if spilled, and
children drink less than a sweetened beverage.
If you want kids to fall asleep, sometimes stroking their heads,
along with soft music and the motion of the car, will do the trick.
Prop little kids' heads up with pillows in the car seat. Pack enough
pillows and blankets for everyone.
To combat motion sickness, experts suggest eating lemon drops, lemon
cookies, or peppermint; also, try foods high in carbohydrates, and
salt-covered foods such as crackers or pretzels, which cut down the
production of that which causes nausea. Ask your doctor for advice.
Also, if your children are susceptible to nausea, don't allow them to
read while the car is in motion!! (even looking down to color can
bring on nausea!) If you don't mind using a medical alternative,
Chewable Dramamine might help your car sick child.
An Inflatable Potty might turn out to be a godsend for those extra
long drives. Don't forget the toilet paper and plastic garbage bags
with twist ties for disposal.
Bring along a first-aid kit. Don't forget to pack a thermometer,
adhesive bandages, non-aspirin pain reliever, insect repellent,
sunscreen, antibiotic ointment, and medication needed for family
members. Keep the kit handy!
Plastic bags of several sizes can be used for dirty clothes, vomit
of a car-sick child, and placing beneath the sheets of the motel bed
for children who sometimes wet the bed.
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Food Smarts
Don't worry about atmosphere when you are traveling
with children. We all know how children are, when they are hungry they
want their food served quickly in a manner that's familiar. This
doesn't have to mean fast-food for every meal!
You may want to consider limiting restaurant meals to one a day if
your kids are under the age of ten. We have enjoyed staying in
suites or other accommodations that have a small kitchen. Not having
to go out every morning to breakfast can be a real time and money
saver! There is also the option of a picnic for lunch. You can pack
plenty of healthy food and you won't have to worry about your
children making too much noise while you are eating!
Carry low-fat snacks like bagels, pretzels, carrot and celery
sticks, and fruit in the car. Stay away from too many junk items
like chips, cookies, and candy bars.
In restaurants you can order "family style" where you
share the main courses rather than order each child a meal. Another
option is to ask if your children may order half-portions from the
adult menu so that they aren't limited to endless meals of hot dogs,
grilled cheese, french fries, and the other high-fat menu items
contained on most children's menus.
If you have a picky eater in the bunch (such as our son was while
we were in Germany) it may be worth carrying along some food with
you into the restaurant that you know he/she will enjoy. This also
helps if your children are very hungry. They will be less impatient
and crabby if they can have something to eat immediately.
Last of all, bring along something for your young children to do
while you are waiting for the food to arrive. A small art box
stocked with markers, stickers, paper, a puzzle or coloring book, or
even a few plastic animals will be sure to keep your kids busy
before their food arrives.
Carry a multi-sectioned pillbox and fill with cereal, goldfish
crackers, raisins, and other small treats. Opening and closing the
doors will keep your toddler busy for a while and the small snacks
will help to hold them over until their meal arrives.
If possible, let your toddler sit facing a window. Cars and people
will help provide distraction.
Avoid booth seats with an unrestrained toddler. (If you don't
understand the wisdom of this tip, you will after you sit in a booth
with an unrestrained toddler!)
Bring your child's own training cup to avoid spills.
Don't forget to tip your restaurant personnel generously (especially
important if you have young children who tend to leave a mess!)
Here are some quiet games that you and the children can play in
the restaurant
1. Water Snake - take the plastic straw covered with paper
and scrunch the paper down until it forms a tight accordion shape.
Put the paper on the table and using the straw, put a few drops of
water on it creating the snake.
2. Shuffleboard Pennies - for this game you need several
pennies. Two players sit opposite each other. Place the pennies in
the center of the cleared table. First player hits the penny with
the finger to try and get it as close to the opposite edge of the
table as possible. Players alternate turns, shooting the pennies
from where they last landed. If the penny lands within two inches of
the edge = 1 point. If it's slightly over the edge = 5 points. If it
falls of the table = lose a point
3. Guess the Check - Always a favorite.
4. Another variation of Add the Check. If the kids find an
error they get an amount equal to it.
Don't forget the plastic containers. (such as those you use for
school lunches) This will allow you to conveniently save uneaten
portions for later.
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Memories That Will Last a
Lifetime
If your children are old enough, pack a camera for them.( a
disposable camera might be a good idea) Don't try to tell them what
to take pictures of. Let them take what they find interesting.
Remember a child's perspective is different than an adult's.
Have your children make a Video Diary. Give your children a chance
to make their own video of the trip. Have your children act as
reporters and directors. You will be surprised at how much they will
enjoy this!
Have them start a scrapbook! If they are very young you can
encourage them to draw pictures of what they are seeing. Have them
cut out pictures from brochures and paste them in. Record what
countries, cities, or states you have visited during your travels.
Have them save ticket stubs and include them in their books. If they
meet any friends they may want to ask them to sign their books as a
special memory. If your children are older let them put in their
books what they find interesting. Maybe they would like to write
down all the makes and models of cars they see or all the different
wildlife they view. It's their book so they should put what they
want in it!
If your travels involve the "great outdoors", a Nature
Walk Diary is a must! Be sure to bring along a notebook,
markers, a glue stick, a small stapler, and some envelopes. Your
children can collect flowers, leaves, stones, shells to add to their
notebook. Wild flowers can be pressed between pages. Have your
children sketch pictures of landscapes to include in their notebook.
Get your film developed someplace that gives free doubles. You can
let your kids pick out some of their favorite pictures which they
may want to add to their scrapbooks or give to their best friends.
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Most of All, Have fun!
Don't forget to pack your sense of humor! It's essential to
survival when traveling with children!
Try to plan a balance between things you enjoy doing and things
your children enjoy doing. It may mean a few stops at a playground
along the way or running through a fountain in the town square but
these things might be what your child will remember most!
Even young children enjoy museums and cultural exhibits in small
doses. Plan short, varied activities for toddlers, and always follow
an activity requiring attention and quiet behavior with something
fun, that allows children to run around and get some exercise
No matter how much you have planned and organized, be flexible
enough to shift gears!
Relax, have fun, and retreat to a vacation state of mind. That's
what you are there for and that is what your children will remember.
Take the time to listen and hear what your children have to say.
Savor these moments; they disappear all too quickly!
Remember, nothing beats a lazy afternoon of kite
flying in a mountain meadow with a picnic lunch!
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