When it came to getting on a plane with our 2 year old Kenneth, we couldn’t help but feel pessimistic about how comfortable it was going to be for all three of us. Our flight time was nearly 30 hours, one way; the longest one could imagine. Therefore we knew we were in for a disaster lest we prepare ourselves well for the challenges ahead. We immediately turned to the internet and read extensively on what other parents have shared about their experiences and on what and how to pack. Thanks to being well prepared, we managed to make ours a memorable trip. We made the journey easy for our son and ourselves, the cabin crew and those who sat on the same flight with us.
Not everything I read about on the internet worked for me. Not everything that I packed came out of my luggage. Below I am going to share a few things that worked for us. Since ours was an unprecedentedly long flight with over 5 hours of wait time at each of the transits, I believe these tips could work for anybody who is planning on traveling with their tiny tot.
Prepare your mindset
You need not overwhelm yourselves thinking it will turn out to be chaotic. You’ve got this! Besides your child can feed off your anxiety, so if one thing doesn’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean everything else has to take the domino effect. As much as this is new to you, it is new for your child: therefore, it will be beneficial if you can spend some time beforehand with her/ him going through pictures and videos of planes and where you are traveling to. Get them excited about this new adventure. Also, make sure you take enough rest before the flight as it depends on your luck and your toddler’s mood whether you are gonna get any rest on the flight. So start packing well ahead of time.
Booking the Flight
Book non-stop flights if you can. However, that depends on how long your total flight time is. Otherwise, limit the number of stops or the layover time on the way. Flight delays are unavoidable yet the layover time in transits can be perfect for a kid like mine who needs to release some of that energy out of him by running around and relishing his freedom from a confined space at 30,000 feet above the ground. Also, make sure you buy your kid a separate seat along with yours. Some flights do permit you to keep them on the lap ( always check with your airline) but buying an extra seat will help him fall asleep easy. We found it easier to travel on an Aisle seat.
Spend some time on the internet researching for attractions and facilities specifically available for families traveling with children at the airports you are passing through and the airlines you will be using. This helped my family a lot in spending our transit time in a relaxed manner. We knew exactly what to look for and what to expect.
What type of stroller to take
There are a number of options available out there.
http://www.travelswithbaby.com/gear-best-lightweight-travel-strollers.html
http://www.wheressharon.com/x-featured-discussions/guide-best-travel-stroller/
The requirement is that you bring one that folds most compactly, is lightweight and easy to move or store. Can you do without bringing your stroller? The answer is no; unless you have a super awesome kid who likes to hold your hand and be by your side at all times.
The biggest mistake we made was to think that the one we already had at home wasn’t suitable. We ended up spending money on a new one when we could have easily used his usual cart/ stroller as it too suits the purpose. The stroller does take quite a beating in the flight ( as well as at your destination while being used, therefore don’t just focus on finding one that fits your flight’s requirement. Make sure your child is comfortable enough to sit or fall asleep in it. Make sure it does not end up being yet another piece of luggage you have to push through airports.
Boarding
Checking in and Boarding the flight is super easy as traveling with a small child allows you to get on the flight before everyone else. Make sure you wear slip on shoes and pack your bags with all your liquids and electronic items together in see-through bags so that it would be a breeze through the security checks. As soon as you reach the security line, take the baby off the stroller and fold it to plop on the conveyor belt at the security checkpoint. I took a baby leash with me, which came in handy at such times.
As soon as you are on the flight ( Since you are among the first few to get on it), make sure you store your hand luggage right above your seats. Take along a foldable storage box or a bag with a wide opening mouth that can fit right in front of your seat on the floor with all the little things that you need.
I took a box with me which came in handy as we could have everything we need at easy reach; such as the toys, headphones, food and blankets. Therefore, all our bags stayed in the overhead compartment, making our space nice and tidy.
Packing
Bring as much as snacks and toys on the flight as you can in your hand luggage. Mini sandwiches, string cheese, energy bars, candy and squeeze food pouches were some of the essentials I packed. Bring along some lollipops to eat, as it eases off ear pain experienced by small children when the plane is taking off or landing. Bring along a cup or a bottle and a straw. The flights I took didn’t have straws available for me.
So here’s how we packed. My husband pulled the stroller and carried his backpack. I pulled the two hand luggage bags. We also had a small kids bag (with a baby leash) that Kenneth carried himself. Although I did carry a diaper bag, it did not work for us which I figured out on the flight to our destination and opted out of it on our way back. My husband carried the needs for a diaper change in his backpack in a plastic bag. It worked out fine. The tiny washroom in the plane didn’t allow enough space to keep a diaper bag. So all in all here is what we packed ( I made sure I wrote down what was in which bag in my small notebook before heading off).
Wheeled luggage bag1 – for all our extra clothes and Kenneth’s blanket.
Wheeled luggage bag2 – for one full packet of diapers if your tot is still wearing them ( As our journey was long and I didn’t hesitate to take plenty), electronic items and chargers, a small medi-pack.
Backpack – for our toiletry, the foldable storage box, all food items and some extra toys, wet wipes, my make-up bag and feeding bottles.
Kenneth’s bag- His sleep toy and his toys, an array of matchbox cars and superhero figurines for him which I carefully wrapped in tissue paper to seem like gifts. Some of it were bought new and some were old yet much adored by him. The look on his face as he unwrapped them was priceless. Traveling with a toddler means you are aiming for a kid whose contentment lasts throughout the trip. So the longer you can keep him happy and excited, the better. Unwrapping these gifts got him really excited and helped kill time. We also took a pair of headphones for him to ensure peaceful sleep for the other passengers.
https://www.babycenter.com/packing-checklist-for-traveling-with-toddler
Other tips
- Make sure your toddler drinks plenty of liquids during the flight.
- They do give away crayons and activity books on the flight, however, make sure you pack some of your own.
- A small garbage bag will help you tidy up.
- The flight attendants are very helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask for help or for anything you need.
- Make sure if you and your kids need Visa on entry at transits or your destination so that there will be no unpleasant surprises.
- If your toddler decides to pull a tantrum in the flight, collect your wits and calm your nerves. You shouting on top of the wriggly tot’s shrieks may only make things worse. Try to talk her/ him out of it in all the creative ways you can think of. If it still doesn’t work pass a small note to those who sit in front and behind your seats apologizing. I had to do this once. We had excellent neighbors on the flight who were very understanding, much so owing to the fact that Kenneth was mostly a happy traveler and we made sure he would turn out to be one.
Peejay Writes 