Guest Blog: Flying With Kids

Late last week we asked a question on our fan page wall about flying with children and if parents enjoyed doing so. We received a quick positive response from fan Jessica J.W. Baker and she also had a plethora of helpful tips for making flying with your children enjoyable. We asked her to put all of those tips into a blog post, happy reading! And, thanks to Jessica for this insightful and practical information.

When Harrisburg International Airport (via Facebook) posed the question, “Do you fly with your children, and do you enjoy doing so?,” I immediately replied “Yes and yes.”

In response, HIA asked if I had any tips to share with parents who might be traveling with children for the first time this holiday season, and my mind raced!

Our 5 year old daughter (who first flew when she was 10 months old) loves to fly as much as we do, so it’s never really been a challenge for us to hop on a plane. In fact, as she loves to observe and learn, my “teacher-brain” tends to kick in, and we use the trip as an excuse to explore something new.

So, here are a few ideas you may find helpful when preparing to travel with children.

1. Whenever possible, give the child a window seat!!!

2. Prepare a special bag of "dollar store-ish" finds (like bags of birthday party favors, a new paperback book to read together, etc.) that are to be opened on the plane, one-by-one, [periodically] throughout the flight(s).

3. For even more fun, wrap the surprises in coloring book pages (or online find print-outs), and make the first present the child opens be a pack of crayons or colored pencils.

4. Glow in the dark figures (we have a tendency to go with packs of glowing dinosaurs) are great. Turn on the overhead reading light, hold the animal up for a few seconds, then allow the child to curl up in the corner of the seat and "peek" at the toy in the dark. Then they turn into great toys to play with and read to, as well as provide the child someone else to “teach” about all of the cool things they are learning on their trip.

4a. Make sure you also pack a few extra Ziploc bags, in case the packaging is not reusable. Don’t want the little creatures falling all over the floor and all through your carry on when you disembark!

5. DEFINITELY take advantage of "early boarding" if available, and,

6. Once you get to your seat and stow all items, head to the bathroom of the plane and let the child check it out and use it. Then, if the child needs to go during the flight at some point, all aspects are familiar and he/she is already familiar with the feeling from being there while on the ground. It's such a different experience, too, that it's often like a mini-field trip during the middle of the flight - great when restlessness sets in.

7. Before takeoff, ask the flight crew if they have five or six extra, "prepackaged" hand wipes. Inevitably something will hit the floor or get shoved into some little crevice, and you'll want to give it a quick wipe-down before the child resumes playing with it. If you can't take your own due to lack of storage in your carry on, etc., the flight crew is usually willing to give you a few.

8. Instead of making the flight simply a "way to get somewhere better," make it sound like the biggest part of the adventure. Take a map of the area over which you will be flying and share what is under/near you as you travel. Explore the nooks and crannies of the plane, let the child make a list of questions to ask the flight crew (even if they want to write them a note and ask the steward to fill in the answers and give it back if he/she has time), and ENJOY IT TOGETHER!

9. Use the available in-flight magazines as a source of a game. Perhaps a "scavenger hunt" for select letters, words and/or pictures (dependent upon the age of the child), or - one of our favorites - "If You Had All The Money In The World, What Would You Buy For...?" Randomly name a friend or family member, and look through the magazines together, searching for something that you would buy for that person – really matching it to his/her personality and interests. If you're on a REALLY long flight, your surprise bag could include index cards and a glue stick, and the child could tear out each selected picture/item and make a card for each person, writing about why he/she chose that specific gift. Upon arrival, the child will have something to give to that special person…or even mail as a postcard! :)

10. Remember to plan and pack things for the trip home – before the trip even begins! Don’t depend upon having extra time to pull something together during your trip, and don’t depend upon exhaustion to bring sleep on the flight home. Flight delays do occur, and you will save A LOT of time and money by planning a few things (like those listed above) “just in case.” Also, catching a glimpse of a bag labeled “SURPRISES FOR THE FLIGHT HOME” gives the child something to look forward to throughout the trip, and you’re less likely to encounter your child’s “evil twin” as you pack up to get back on the plane.

Your trip’s itinerary should not start when the plane arrives at your destination and end when the plane takes off to head home. As soon as you leave your house, the adventure begins, and the more you make of it, the easier it will be…for everyone!
____________________________________
J.J.W. Baker
December 4, 2010

Have you used any of these tips that Jessica recommends, or something similar? What more can you add to her suggestions?

Air Travel with Tiny Tots

Recently one of our Twitter followers, @Tleaving, asked for insight on making traveling with an infant less stressful. While we cannot guarantee a hassle-free trip when traveling under any circumstances, not just when flying with a little one, we advocate educating yourself as much as possible prior to departure. Knowledge is power when traveling.

But, back to the subject at hand, flying with baby. How do you make it easier? With this question in mind we forraged through the interweb and found a whole host of tips, tricks and secrets that are intended to help you, the parents!

We started with the new website, ByeByeWithBaby.com. This robust site compiles a comprehensive listing of places where mothers can nurse, change diapers and other family friendly locations. They contacted all of the airports in the country, including HIA, and logged locations of nursing rooms, changing tables and play areas for children.

Before you arrive at any airport for a trip, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Transporation Security Administration's (TSA) policies for clearing the security checkpoint efficiently with your children and their carry-on belongings. A full run-down of what we're about to paraphrase is available online.

When packing a your children's carry-on please note that medications, formula, juice and breast milk are permitted in reasonable quantities and are not required to be in the zip lock baggy with your gels, aerosols and other liquids. The TSA recommends only carrying liquids and gels that are needed for you and your child's immediate comfort.

When queing at the security checkpoint begin by collapsing and folding up strollers and other child-related equipment as all kiddie items, including diaper bags, toys, blankets, strollers, car seats, backpacks, baby slings, etc must go through the x-ray machine; there no exeptions. If these items will not fit on the conveyor belt to go through the machine, please be prepared for a TSA employee to hand inspect that item.

You and your munchkin need to walk through the metal detector after all of your items are on the conveyor belt. You are permitted to carry your child through and will not be separated from your child at any point during this process. If you need an extra hand gathering your items from the x-ray machine once you've cleared security, feel free to ask a TSA employee for assistance.

Oh, and another quick security checkpoint tip, as this question is frequently asked, if your child is under 18 and flying with you, you do NOT need ID for them.

FlyingwithKids.com had much to say about what to do once you've arrived at the airport and after security, so we pulled out what we found to be the most helpful of their tips:

• When you've checked in for your flight, ask the attendant if the flight is full. If it's not an overly full flight some airlines will allow you to move your seat next to a vacant one which affords you more room for you and your child.
  
• Keep a small bag with a diaper, wipes, and rash cream readily available for those unexpected "uh ohs" that happen!


• If you have a larger, squirmier child that requires a diaper change once you're on the plane, as the flight crew if they have a space you can use to change the diaper, as the changing tables in some aircraft bathrooms are quite small.


• ALWAYS test the temperature of in-flight meals before sharing them with your children, often the foods are quite hot.


• Disposable bibs are a great must-have for in-flight meals.


• If you have formula that needs warmed, you are often able to ask the flight crew to warm it for you with enough notice.


• Most strollers do not fit in the overhead bins of smaller aircraft, research the bin restrictions of the aircraft you're flying on before you get there.


• An infant front-pack is often helpful for carrying your baby when you're also trying to haul luggage with you through a terminal.


• If you don't purchase a seat for your child (under the age of 2) you will be expected to hold the child during the flight.


• Print out a copy of the Federal Aviation Administration's Childproof your Flight brochure, you won't regret it!

One final tip that we'd recommend is bringing along items that you know are familiar and comforting to your children: a favorite, toy, blanket or book. And, if your child is of an age that you can explain to them a basic understanding of what it's like to fly on a plane, prepare them for what to expect.

There are many, many resources online for increasing the success of your air travel experience with your children. We recommend additionally perusing:

• 5Ts to Happy Travel with Tots


• Before You Travel by Air with Baby

Have we missed anything you think is pertinent to traveling with your children? What tips and tricks can you offer to parents of young children for air travel?