Airplane Travel: It Can Be Fun…

August 15, 2009

… when you’re prepared for it.

(To see the updates to this post, click here.)

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The Running Man and I are taking our 2 adorables on a flight on Monday, so I solicited some help from other moms and dads. Wow! Did they deliver. So here’s what I learned (and I’ll let you know how it goes)…

Preparation:

1. Take the cheapest umbrella stroller you can find that is super easy to fold.

2. Wear shoes that can be easily removed for security for both you and your adorables. No belts either.

3. Everyone in the family carries their gear in backpacks, and that goes for you too. You get the added benefit of both of your hands & arms free – you may need them.

4. Once they hit first grade, make them responsible for their own little bag. They should help pack it and pull it. This gives them something to do and a sense of responsibility.

5. Pack a change of clothes and a few essentials for that first night. The airlines NEVER lose luggage, right?

On Flight

Pretty much everyone agreed it boiled down to entertainment and snacks. This is not surprising or new, but some of the ideas for what to include were awesome.

Entertainment…

1) A new idea (to me) that was offered by several experienced parents: wrap the “goodies” (even if they are their old toys) so it’s a treat to open them. Dole them out one by one. One brilliant parent suggested putting them in large Easter eggs so security won’t thwart your efforts.

2) The portable DVD player is the greatest invention EVER. Don’t forget it! Make sure it’s charged and don’t forget the headphones. These DVD players have really come down in price – you see a list of them here.

3) Likewise for the Didj (for adorables 6-10), Nintendo DS Lite (for older adorables), and the Leapster (for adorables 4-8). Don’t forget the headphones for these either.

4) If it’s going to be a long flight, bring an extra blanket for each child. Lay it down on the floor at your feet and let the kids make a little play pen down there. It’s super fun for them and they are contained.

5) Bring coloring books, crayons you plan to lose, stickers are great fun for them especially if they are varied enough to use to make stories, and blank notebooks for drawing.

6) Something random: box of Band-Aids or blue painter’s tape that they can decorate with. Band-Aids take a long time to get all the pieces off and wasting time is what we’re after.

7) Wikki Stix. Haven’t heard of them? Neither had I, but after several people recommending them for the airplane, I now own some. Click here to see.

Snacks…

1. Some moms and dads recommended healthy snacks, but I say whatever the adorables will eat and gives you some bargaining power. I would agree to limit the amount of sugar, or is it only my adorables who get a little crazy??

2. Bring along single packets of Crystal Light to liven up the water on the airplane.

3. Lollipops! They take forever to eat and kids can’t scream or talk loud for that matter when they have one. (Here’s the sugar allowance!).

4. Animal cracker cookies that are 1 or 2 bites tops are awesome and grapes are a nice little self contained snack. Raisins sounds like a great idea, but anything that they can get a handful of is just asking for a mess. Limit the snack options.

5. Bring the disposable, plastic sippy cups – they are easy to pack/stack and you don’t have to worry about spills.

6. Either purchase bottled water after going through security or bring an empty bottle and fill it in a drinking fountain once you’ve cleared security.

7. Bring ziploc bags – for wet clothes, diapers, trash, etc.

8. If you are nursing, “nurse them silly”, especially during take-off and landing. More often than not, this will put babies right to sleep.

For moms and dads…

1. Get some great sleep the night before (baby willing). This will help you keep your calm when things start to boil. Patience, my friend.

2. Relax. The adorables don’t need to be silent and you will never see any of these people again, so who cares??

3. Relax some more and remember that in X number of hours, you’ll be at your destination and you’ll be done.

Other Helpful Articles:
We Just Got Back: Tip Sheet: Flying With Kids

We Just Got Back: Baby, come fly with me

LaJolla Mom: Long Haul Travel With Kids

Junior Society: Up, Up and Away!

Many thanks for the wisdom of these people:

Gennifer Birnbach, Sherri Bergman, Jason Kotecki, Susan K. Bobrick, Sherry Richert Belul, Lynette Mattke, Craig O’Connor, Corinne McDermott, Talia Goldfarb, Shenan Reed, Pete Herzog, Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, DaleAnn Busch, Jill Smokler, Phil Petree, Gabrielle Melchionda, Katie Dillon, Alicia Rockmore, Elizabeth Rodgers for TravelingMom.com, and Baby Travel Pros