I am often envious of families flying with older kids
Seeing the parents enjoying a nice glass of wine whilst the kids sit enraptured by a movie or quietly reading a book. Meanwhile my toddler is running up and down the aisle like a lunatic and I’m counting down the hours till the end of the flight.
That said, I’ve done a huge number of flights with my munchkins (aged 2 and 4) over the years and accumulated some tips I wanted to share:
1.The best way to keep kids quiet is with snacks
For under twos I recommend teething biscuits, apple rings and rice crackers.
For older kids, bring homemade popcorn, chopped up fruit or a snack mix of nuts, seeds and raisins.
If your child has a seat (and you’re not on a budget airline) then they will be entitled to a children’s meal so don’t forget to pre-book this. Children’s meals are great, as they tend to arrive way before the adult’s meal and are usually full of treats from chicken nuggets to chocolate bars (which I tend to steal and eat for myself).
2. As they’re unlikely to sit through a movie – come with an arsenal of entertainment for the kids
My favourites are stickers (window stickers are particularly good fun), straws, pack of cards, stacking cups, buggy toys, mini books and colouring in.
Once you’re onboard there are lots of free activities you can offer from tearing up an inflight magazine to making sick bag hand puppets.
Encourage your kids to play peekaboo with child-friendly fellow passengers – it might buy you at least 5 minutes to rifle through a magazine.
3. A baby carrier is indispensable for travelling through an airport with young kids
I am a big fan of the Ergo which I could use till my kids were about 2 years old.
The baby carrier is convenient for when you have to hand in your buggy, long walks from the plane to the luggage carousel and also for jiggling a baby around to get to sleep on a flight.
4. Attempt to set ground rules for the kids
Try to keep them contained within their seats.
If they think it’s ok to run up and down the aisles then they will continue to do so!
Likewise for kicking the seat in front or pressing the ‘call’ button constantly.
5. Be prepared and pack for all eventualities
I once had a flight where my daughter vomited all over the seat before we had even taken off.
Luckily I had consulted a packing list and had a spare change of clothes for both of us!
My new favourite item to pack is an iphone charger (episodes of Peppa Pig on the iPhone and iPad are a life saver for toddlers!). Many airlines offer charging points just under your seat or by the tray table.
My Bio:
Originally from London, Nicola has been living in Asia for the past nine years. She has always been obsessed with travelling, from backpacking the globe to seeking out Asia’s finer luxury destinations.
After becoming Mum to two little girls (and now globetrotters in their own right!) she wanted to share her tips on making travelling with kids easier.
You can find her kids travel advice site at Jetlag and Mayhem and follow her on Twitter @jetlagandmayhem
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