Air Travel - Flying with an Infant/Toddler

Air Travel with toddlers doesn't have to be a stressful experience. Here
are some exclusive tips that will help you make it through your flight.

Schedule your flights to coincide with nap/bedtimes.
Whenever possible, try to book direct flights during the time of day or
night your child would normally be sleeping. In all likelihood, they
will keep up the pattern and fall asleep despite being 25,000 feet in
the air. Any sleep they get on the plane will serve to cut down the time
they must be entertained while awake!

Car seat on the plane?
When our daughter was an infant we choose to save the money and only
purchase seats for ourselves which meant she spent the duration of the
flight(s) on our laps. More recently, we have taken to carrying-on the
car seat which accomplishes two very important things: freeing up our
laps, arms, and such, and keeping her in the seat. It also adds some
familiarity to a new vehicle/mode of transportation - a little piece of
home(life) in a new place. Yes, it is frustrating having to carry the
seat around the airport, but the in-flight payoff is worth it. One Step
Ahead sells an adapter to turn a car seat into a backpack which may help
you manage your carry-ons.

Managing the Flight
An easy and effective way to manage your in-flight,
family-with-toddler(s) experience is to break the trip down, mentally,
into 20 minute segments (to borrow an airline term). So, if you have a 2
1/2 hour flight, you really have only 7 twenty minute segments to
schedule and occupy your child's (or children's) time. When you think of
your flight in this manner it becomes a relatively manageable event.
Here are some parent and flight tested tips on segment ideas that will
occupy and entertain your kids, providing you with some down time to
peruse the SkyMall catalog, and not have you lugging a suitcase full of
toys around the terminal.

(remember: each idea has to occupy a mere 20 minutes, anything more than
that is a bonus!):

* A new toy or book (nothing fancy, just something brand new to him or
her)
* Crayola Color Wonder Markers (an inventive product that will only
write on the special Crayola paper) - This is a favorite of ours. No
messes at all and no toxic marker smell. The marker caps make for great,
silly kid fingernail extensions. In fact, if your child is anything like
ours, the caps alone could be their own segment.
* Tape and/or Stickers - Plain old Scotch tape can be a load of fun for
a little one. Roll it up inside itself to make a sticky circle and let
them stick it to their nose, your nose, between their fingers...just
good old fashioned fun with a 2 inch piece of tape.
* Magna Doodle (Travel Edition) - A classic toy that our modern kids
still enjoy. (Note: really young ones may get frustrated at their
inability to, independently, erase their work as the tab to clear the
screen can be rather difficult to slide)
* A Discman/Portable CD player - If you do not have an old one
collecting dust somewhere, they can be had relatively cheap in the iPod
age. This is perfect if your child has a particular CD they are diggin'
at the moment (or if you have made a Mix CD of their favorite songs). If
they have never used a portable cd player before, the novelty of this
device combined with the music they already love should carry you for
two segments. Be sure to keep the volume at a low level and use only the
classic earphones with the large, round and padded ear pieces that sit
on the outside of their ears. kid size earphones?
* Their favorite book(s) - (often a bedtime book, which is essential if
your flight will involve a nap or take place during bedtime).
* For older toddlers/young kids: some brochures/city-location guide
books. Allow and encourage your kids to plan a day trip, museum visit,
etc. Give the reigns over to them for a period of time (whatever you are
comfortable with/have the time for) providing they devise a plan using
the material you bring on board. Not only will this occupy a good amount
of time, but they will love the chance to be the boss and decision
maker. By engaging them in the trip planning you will also increase the
chances of them enjoying themselves and going along with something you
want to do (reciprocating the favor). For the younger members of your
family, use the brochures as a conversation piece to get them excited
and interested in what they will be seeing during the vacation.

Snap-Crackle-Pop (Dealing with the altitude and popping ears)
Be sure to pack their favorite beverage and snack on board. Not only
will the eating and drinking occupy a segment but it is also an method
of reducing the impact of air pressure on their ears. By drinking or
chewing they will hopefully not feel an uncomfortable amount of pressure
while taking off and landing.

Enjoy your flight!

Copyright 2006 OutWithTheKids.com