First, I want to preface this article with the fact that I do not claim to be any kind of travel expert, especially when it comes to traveling with kids. I just happen to have two of them and live far from my immediate family. So because I love my family, I’ve had to figure this out and adjust through the years as my family has grown. And through these experiences, I’ve learned some things that I’d love to pass along!
Recently I took a flight with my two kids (4 and 1 years old) and these are some things I learned:
1. Know your kids
You are the expert on your children! You may not realize how much you’ve learned about your children in the span of their lives just by taking care of them on a daily basis. With this experience comes a certain level of personal expertise you may not realize that you have! You will know what time of day is the best time to fly with your children, how they will do if they miss a nap, what snacks are their favorite, and what novel toys might catch their attention. Trust that parental intuition above all! What worked for me, may not work for you, and I’m always open to hearing more pro-tips that worked for you!
2. Read the rules and tips from the airline you book with
I love flying Southwest for so many reasons 1) you don’t have to pay extra for your seat assignment or worry about checking in early because you can board at the Family Boarding time in between Groups A and B. 2) You are allowed 2 free checked bags and 2 small carry-ons per person (which is super helpful when you have diaper bags, purses, children’s toys and snack bags, etc). 3) I just love that you don’t have a lot of other hidden fees, no fees for cancellations or changes, and you can use and/or earn Rapid Rewards points! Here is a link to information about traveling with kids on Southwest.
3. Try to increase your adult to child ratio
I recently flew with my parents and it was so helpful to have two extra adults to help with the kids. On my return flight, it was just me with the two kids and that was another story!
4. Check your stroller at the gate
I was so happy I brought our double stroller for the flight, especially when I was flying by myself with the 2 kids and I had a layover to survive. Having the double stroller that I could strap in my 1 year old and tell my 4 year old she needed to stay in, helped me stay sane in a busy airport and make sure both kids didn’t go running in opposite directions. It’s fairly easy to have your stroller tagged at the gate and then fold it up right before you board.
5. Flying with carseats
The carseat part can be one of the biggest headaches of flying with children. It’s just very annoying to lug them from your car to the ticket counter at the airport, especially since you have little kids and luggage in tow as well. I highly recommend renting or buying a carseat at your destination for this reason. We have been lucky that all of our trips so far have been to visit family who already have carseats ready for us upon arrival and this is a huge weight off our shoulders when traveling with our little ones. Here is an article with helpful information about renting carseats. If you don’t have a carseat set up at your destination, it really isn’t hard to check your carseat at the airport. You can buy a protective travel bag specific for flying, which I highly recommend. This is the one I used when I checked my child’s carseat in the past.
6. Bring all the snacks
Pack some new snacks or old favorites and see if you can time the snacks for take-off and landing, which helps with air pressure changes. With my 1 year old, who still loves his milk, I bought it at the airport prior to take-off and gave him his bottle during take-off. Many young children may still be breastfeeding or drinking formula so I found this helpful site from TSA with all of their requirements for traveling with formula or breastmilk. When my children were drinking formula, I loved these Mixie Bottles! They are separated into two different compartments, one for powder formula at the bottom and one for the water at the top. When it’s time for your child’s bottle, you just press a button that opens the lid to the powder and shake it up to mix it with the water. This is great when you are on the go and not sure how long your pre-mixed formula will stay fresh and it also allows your child to have their milk at room temperature rather than being chilled in a cooler.
7. Bring small toys and allow screentime
In my experience, it is helpful to throw all of your normal screen time limits out the window during flying. It’s more respectful to the other passengers if you have a quiet, calm child during the flight so whatever can help with that, I recommend! The funny thing is, it’s the non-toy item that usually becomes the favorite of the trip (for my 1 yr old, a water bottle somehow kept him entertained for about 15 minutes) so don’t be afraid to try offering whatever safe items you can find to see if something sticks.
8. Stock up on antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizers, and masks
This goes without saying in the era of COVID!
9. Have a layover strategy
Try to find an empty gate and let your kids run around and stretch their legs. Another key when traveling with kids is the family restroom. I was so thankful I found one during my most recent layover. It was great that I could change diapers and help my 4 year old go to the bathroom in a contained area without fear of them running away!
10. Survival Perspective
Your kids don’t have to be happy the whole time, they just have to be safe! This was a helpful perspective for me going in to the flying experience. I just focused on the fact that there might be meltdowns and tantrums and lots of BIG feelings, but my most important job is keeping them safe. I’ll have time to get them more comfortable and happy once we’ve gotten to our destination and then back home again. (I once read that a parent recommended bringing some $5 bills to hand out to the people surrounding you if your kids are horrible and crying the whole time. To me this goes above and beyond to show other passengers you care and that you’re not trying to ruin their lives!)
These are just a few tips that have been helpful to me. Let me know what’s been helpful to you and best of luck on your next flight with your kids!
