When my husband told me we were going to Europe for a few months, my first reaction was “Heck yeah!” Then I remembered I had kids.
For some reason, flying makes us parents so nervous almost to the point of putting adventures and experiences on hold until we deem the kids “old enough.”
After surviving an international flight with a one and nine-year-old, I am here to tell you it’s possible! It wasn’t the easiest thing that I’ve done, but I rounded up a list of things that did make parts of the travel easier. Whether you’re doing a quick, two-hour flight or a long haul, I’m sharing my tips for flying with kids and I think they’ll help!
Picking Your Seats
This tip is not the first on the list by chance. Picking a good seat is the best advice I could give any mom traveling by plane. Pick your seats as early as you can! Picking a seat that gives you and the kids extra space is always the way to go. I’d recommend reserving bulkhead seats. These seats have a wall versus seats in front of them. They have extra space which can allow kids to stand and stretch. Keep in mind everyone has the same idea, so these seats are the first ones to go.
The second best option, in my opinion, would be an aisle seat. I’d trade a window seat for quick access to the aisle any day. Taking off, landing, and looking at clouds can only entertain a child for so long. Restroom breaks happen. At some point, I couldn’t tell if my nine-year-old really needed the restroom or just wanted to get up to stretch.
» » » » » » » » » » » » RELATED READ: 8 Road Trip Tips for Traveling with Kids « « « « « « « « « «
It was nice not having to ask people next to me if they could excuse him for the hundredth time. It also helped when my toddler wanted to see something new. Walking up and down an aisle is better than a screaming baby, so don’t feel like you have to stay seated the entire time. Sitting for long periods takes effort for a grown adult, so it’s hard to expect a toddler to have this kind of discipline when it’s more than likely one of their first flights.
International “Long-Haul” Flights
This is an option that seems to be only available in bigger planes that fly those long-haul flights. I would suggest that if your child is under two, request a bassinet. We called to request this option after buying our tickets and made sure they put our request in our notes. Some airlines have the option to reserve a bassinet online, and it’s always best to restate in the “comments” area if possible. Keep in mind this is on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Luckily our family was able to get a bassinet. The bassinet clipped on the wall in front of our seat about 30 minutes after take-off. When it wasn’t being used as a crib, it worked as a small playpen.
Stroller
It’s important to know that a stroller isn’t considered a carry-on. You are allowed your standard number of carry-ons, plus your stroller! My favorite has been my car seat-stroller combo which has been amazing to travel with. Our stroller has the option of detaching the car seat and using the stroller/bassinet separately. This allowed us to check in our heavy car seat and use our stroller within the airport. Our stroller unexpectedly ended up doubling as a cart, hauling our carry-ons and backpacks in the lower storage area.
When the baby fell asleep in her stroller, it was a quick lever pull to turn it into a bassinet. We bought covers on Amazon for our stroller and car seat to avoid them getting wet or dirty. When boarding our plane, we would push the stroller up to the door of the plane then unload our carryons and backpacks, cover our stroller, and leave for the flight crew to put it in the compartment underneath the plane.
Snacks
My children shared snacks for our international flight, so I showed up to the airport with a bag of endless snacks. Luckily TSA is very understanding when it comes to children and their big appetites. Formula, breast milk, and baby food do not need to fall under the 3.4 ounces or fit into a quart-size bag. That means liquids like applesauce and squeeze yogurts are allowed in reasonable amounts. This also includes gel packs for keeping things like breast milk and other perishables cool. As long as you inform a TSA officer at the beginning, the screening process should be one of the easier tasks when flying with your children. Here is where you can find more information on TSA guidelines.
Nursing
The most common cause of discomfort for a baby while flying is being unable to relieve ear pressure. The swallowing and sucking of breastfeeding helps a baby with what is known as “Airplane Ear.”
Nursing can also act as comfort for a baby who is starting to get fussy and isn’t hungry or sleepy, just tired from a long flight. Instead of fumbling around looking for my coverup, I found it easier to flip my sweater around to cover my chest while I nursed. When I was cold, I put on my sweater. When I had to nurse, I put on my sweater. And when I was neither, I’d hang it on the back of my seat. I’m sure my husband also appreciated me not asking him to hand me my cover from the overhead compartment every five seconds.
Disinfecting
I would also urge you to buy yourself a pack of disinfectant wipes and wipe everything down before everyone sits down. You’ll thank me later when you see how dirty your wipe is after wiping down the tray and armrests. I don’t think caring for a sick child during a vacation is planned into anyone’s itinerary.
Medications
This was a tip given to me by a more experienced mother of three. When traveling with children, you never know what can come up and nothing is worse than not having your prescribed medications on hand. Sometimes bags can get lost in the transfer. So for that reason, I would suggest carrying your pain relief, nausea, and allergy medications in your carry-on.
Travel with Family
Travel with your entourage! I say this half joking, but if you have the luxury of traveling with aunts, uncles, or even grandparents, take advantage. Plan it with enough time so everyone can participate. Having an extra set of hands and eyes always helps! When traveling with other families, it’s easy to share the responsibility of the children. Parents can take turns having a date night. Nothing is better than sharing your travels with people who are near and dear to your heart.
Take Advantage of Your Surroundings
For my son, any store with candy or toys was something he had to absolutely see. This set the stage for a “maybe the next store has something you’ll like better” game, that helped make our three-hour layovers fun. For a child, this too is part of the adventure. New people, stores, and foods. Make the most of it!
Restaurants are also a great way to split up your time. Main course at one restaurant and maybe a hunt for a dessert in a different terminal. Looking out the window and watching the crew work was also a fun activity for my nine-year-old.
A great, stress-free traveling experience really starts by changing your mindset from “The fun will start when we get there” to “Our adventure starts the moment we walk out the door!”
Which leads me to my last tip . . .
You Set the Tone
Don’t forget who is the matriarch of the family and who is in charge, that’s you! If you can convince a child to finish their vegetables, you can convince an entire family they are having the time of their life. Even when the plane gets delayed and everyone seems to be having a meltdown all at the same time.
I hope you’ve found tips that you find useful in this post. I wish you luck on your travels, and one last reminder to not forget to enjoy yourself–it’s your vacation too!
The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of El Paso Mom, its executive team, other contributors to the site, its sponsors or partners, or any organizations the aforementioned might be affiliated with.
