Parenting Article: Air Travel Tips when Flying with Kids

Parents are you going on an airplane with your kids this holiday season? If so, here are ten tips to help you.

1) Think of everything the children might wear, including shoe wear, in the weather you might encounter at your destination. Make a check list of all things you should bring. Things you might need to bring: Goggles, sunscreen (remember even at snowy places you can get a face burn.) Last time I flew you could only have tiny travel size bottles. Put these bottles in plastic zip up baggies in case the contents explode due to air pressure. Also, all beverages and packages with liquidy foods, yogurt, melted cheese, had to be thrown away at the security point. Other things to bring: hair brush, toothbrush carrying cases, tooth brushes, toothpaste, folding stroller, folding crib, your child's special snuggly, special medicated skin creams, etc. You should call your local airport to find out rules for carrying liquids and creams. If you're traveling to another country find out the rules for bringing in prescription drugs to their country. Medicine might need to be in its original container. Or you might have to show officials the prescription box. Find out. You don't want your child's medicine taken away.

2) Pack early. Don't be a last minute packer. When shopping at the grocery store you might suddenly remember something you forgot to pack and need. Buy now rather at the airport where it could be much more expensive.

To keep your children occupied at the terminal and on the plane:

3) Have a variety of activities for them. Each child should have their own backpack with their own activities. This is to prevent squabbling. Think ahead. Just how many hours will it take to get to your destination? Lay-overs are hard on most children so try to avoid them. Ask each child what they would like to put in their backpack. If they like to draw, put paper, coloring books and crayons in their bag. Items you might want to pack: Exciting new book(s) and magazine(s), new book(s) on tape with tape recorder for terminal use if other passengers don't mind (if old enough, headsets), Ipod, Mad Libs, dot-dot books, cross word puzzles, mini-games, mini-puzzles, hand held electronic games, little toys, and small stuffed animals.

For late departures and lay-overs:

4) For kids who have trouble sitting still, walk with them around the terminal. Bring books to read to them, or have audio cassettes with a small tape recorder and earphones. If you plan on bringing your lap top, bring a couple of movies your children have never seen. Once at a terminal I saw four children quietly seated in front of a laptop watching a movie. I'm not sure how well they could hear the movie. But I think with animation such as cartoons the action might make up for words so these type of shows might be worth a try.

On the plane:

5) Buy special treats before getting on the plane or buy treats a week before trip starts. You can let your child pick them out or surprise them. Explain to them the trip will take X amount of hours and that every half hour they will get a jelly bean/healthy treat. This will break up the trip in half hour installments. The time might seem to go faster because they will have something to look forward to.

6) With young children you should get aisle seats for easy access. You don't want to bother other passengers by frequently having to climb over them to walk the aisle with your child. Walk the aisle, if you're allowed, so your child will get energy out.

7) Remember to rotate activities while on the plane so your child doesn't get bored.

8) With babies and toddlers some parents like to take night flights hoping their child will sleep. You can try this. If you do, you can put them in their PJ's before you board the plane. Then when you get to your hotel you won't have to wake them up to put them in their PJ's.

9) For hydration purposes if your child is awake during the flight they should drink water.

10) If your child's ears hurt when the plane is ascending and descending get them to swallow several times. Older kids can chew gum. I've heard sipping on water helps, or for babies, sucking on a bottle works. Talk to your doctor about ways to help. Lastly, you really shouldn't fly if your child has a cold because of ear problems which could occur. If you plan to fly anyway, see your doctor before hand. He/she can prescribe medicine if they think it's necessary.