Flying with Kids Doesn’t Have to Be a Nightmare - Here’s 7 Ways to Make it Better

18/4/2019

Flying with Kids Doesn’t Have to Be a Nightmare - Here’s 7 Ways to Make it Better

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Some parents may be in a dilemma about traveling to faraway destinations with their kids, especially little ones — when they are at the peak of their energy levels and eager to explore the wonders of the world around them.

Having a family myself with first-hand experience of traveling with a toddler, admittedly it can be challenging, but it is not a bleak situation.

Aside from trying to book cheap flights online when you’re traveling, there are also other things you can do to make your flight more enjoyable and stress-free as a family.

Here are some ways that you, as a fellow parent, can adopt when embarking on a flight with your kids.

Maeleth on our flight to Hong Kong. She had a fun time on the flight!

1. Pre-flight education for your kids

Preparing for your flight is not just about packing items but also about emotionally and mentally preparing your children for it — if it’s not their first time flying, it’s still good to remind them.

Besides getting them excited about the trip, teach them proper flight etiquette, such as not to scream or shout in the plane, no running around in the plane, and not to disturb the people around them.

This type of education is useful for them for life — it teaches how to think for others and be considerate.

You can even make this fun by setting up a flight simulation: just put chairs side by side, pretending that they are seats on the plane, and you play the role of your child, while your child just has to be a stationary passenger.

Behave very naughtily and ask your child if that’s the right behavior.
You may get some giggles and laughter if you do it right, but he or she will learn what’s not right to do.

Purposely disturb your child (the passenger) by making a ruckus around him or her.
He or she will find it annoying and realize that it’s not enjoyable to be around someone disruptive on a flight.

By doing this, you’ll greatly minimize their misbehavior on-board the flight, and they’ll be looking forward to practice what they have learnt in the actual situation!

2. Plan with the duration of your flight in mind

Knowing how long your flight is will help you plan the suitable amount of entertainment to keep your kids engaged.

You can’t expect your kids to watch cartoons throughout the entire journey, especially if it’s a long-haul flight.
That’s not good for their eyesight — they have to take proper vision breaks in between.

If an adult can get bored on a flight, then you can bet the abundant energy a child has will cause them to be extremely restless.

3. Pack your carry-on items wisely

This correlates with the previous point: you have to pack all the things that your child will require on-board the plane — anticipate their needs.

Say you’re taking cheap Singapore to Taipei flights, and you estimate it’s going to be a relatively long flight.
This means that your kids will eventually get bored.

Pack an activity bag containing toys such as a travel-sized drawing board, small board games, stickers and sticker book, washable markers, coloring book, storybooks and snacks to eat.

The high air pressure might be uncomfortable for them, especially during takeoff and landing.
So make sure you bring some snacks for them chew during those times to alleviate the painful buildup of pressure in their ears.

4. Have an emergency kit on hand

You never know when an emergency might happen, especially when you are thousands of feet off the ground.
Let’s say the problem doesn’t happen to you or your family — you still have the opportunity to help others if you have the necessary tools on hand.

Make sure you have the necessary kit such as extra diapers, medicine, baby wipes, milk powder, small packets of milk, or even a first aid kit with you in your carry on.
It is very important always to be prepared, so that no unexpected circumstance catches you off guard.

I know it’s tempting to want to travel light and pack less, but with kids, it’s better not to take safety and health for granted.

Traveling with kids can be challenging, but the ways described in this post can help to make your flying experience much more enjoyable -- without the added stress.

5. Request for a Bassinet seat for an infant

If you’re traveling with an infant, you could request for a bassinet seat in advance if they have those available on-board your chosen airline carrier.

It will make nap and sleeping times easier and more comfortable for your little child, especially for long flights.
He or she will be snugly strapped in so they’ll be safe too.

When your baby is awake, you can use the bassinet as additional storage space to put your items — I remember the long list items we had to bring along when we brought Maeleth to travel, back when she was under 1 years old!
Having a bassinet seat with lots of legroom was really helpful.

6. Take turns with your adult travel companion to watch the kids

Are you traveling with your spouse or other adults that you trust?
You can discuss and agree on a roster to take turns to watch the kids, so that everyone has sufficient time to rest and recoup some energy.

Entrust your kids to one of their regular caretakers.
Only they will know how to handle your children and will care enough to watch them properly.

You don’t want to be stressed out and feeling defeated before you even touch down at your travel destination.
Remember not spend the whole flight watching movies.
You need to get some shut-eye as well, for the longer journey ahead!

7. Having done the above, don’t think too much on what could go wrong —Have fun!

Yeah, traveling with kids has its challenges, but don’t forget to enjoy it. Don’t obsess about the worst that could happen or that will steal the joy of planning for your family vacation.

Traveling with kids is a fulfilling experience that you will cherish as a parent.
I enjoyed every moment of traveling with my family and I’m sure you will too — many good memories are made while traveling overseas.

Seeing the twinkle and wonderment of a first-time experience in your child’s eyes — that’s a sight that reminds you of the beauty of life.
Kids are excited, hopeful, still dreaming in life, and travel brings out that inspiring curiosity inside them — we need to learn from them so we don’t become jaded.
Life still holds many good days ahead of us!
Enjoy your flight, stay safe and be blessed.

Pinterest Pinnable Image: Who says flying with kids is a bleak situation? Before traveling, think about the 7 points in this post to help you enjoy a smooth, stress-free flight experience with your children.

I hope that you have been blessed by reading this post on "Flying with Kids Doesn’t Have to Be a Nightmare - Here’s 7 Ways to Make it Better".

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Milton Goh

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