Traveling with a Toddler

7 Tips on How to Have a Calm Flight with your child.

In this post, I will share 7 life-saving tips I've learned over the years of traveling with my toddler. Vacations bring some of the most memorable experiences you'll ever have. Planning and organizing your family's travel can make the difference between having a trying, tiring flight or a calm, restful one.

My son has been flying since he was two months old, at this point he's a professional at navigating through airports and TSA. (He often tries to help the airport staff load and unload the trays). He has his travel rituals i.e. running under the retractable ropes at the check-in desk. We've all been on a flight with a crying baby or toddler and looked on as the parents try without success to soothe them.

As a mom, I get it. At that moment we are overcome with a sense of worry and helplessness, nothing works and the baby just won't stop crying. It could be anything from air pressure causing the child's ear to pop. Feeling too hot or too cold or a tummy ache.

I promise you it gets better. Traveling with a toddler is a bit easier because they can communicate how they feel verbally or physically by signaling their wants. We're lucky to have a child who is a great travel companion, but it didn't happen overnight. Over the years I've learned a few tips that helped us all survive.

Try these suggestions to ensure your flight is peaceful and enjoyable for all:

1. Get the kids emotionally ready for the trip.

Obtain information in advance about your travel destination and share this information with your children to prepare them for the trip.

Plan an activity each day that the children will like: Finding a suitable playground has become a group activity. I recall a group of us meticulously searched on google maps for a playground in Prague, where we all had a good time.

Discuss these activities with your children in advance so they'll have something to look forward to.

2. Read a Book About Flying

If your children are seven years old or younger, look for books about flying that are written for their age ranges. Preparing children through stories and pictures can go a long way in quelling any fears they might have about riding an airplane.

Make story-time fun and add in some of your own flying experiences for discussions with your youngsters.

For children who've flown before, talk about the prior trip to help refresh their memories. You can learn from them what they liked and didn't like about their previous travels to make the necessary improvements.

3. Take something familiar

Take a familiar item along for the ride to serve as a calming influence for your child. Help the kids select a favorite small toy or belonging to provide a sense of security during the flight.

Instead of a new toy, choose a well-loved item. This might be a stuffed animal your child sleeps with or carries with him throughout the day. WARNING!! You must treat this toy as if it were another child. It will be a complete disaster if it gets lost somewhere.

Losing this toy can lead to a disastrous vacation. I have spent several hours searching for Zuma from the Paw Patrol. We've launched search parties in Portugal, Spain, and Jamaica for Zuma, who was always conveniently tucked behind furniture that you wouldn't think to look behind.

4. Include Simple, inexpensive toys and games your children enjoy

Purchase some of these items to pack in your carry-on bag. Then, pull out surprises every hour or so during the plane ride.

• Plan to have enough surprise items for the trip home as well.

• For example, if your son enjoys crossword puzzles, buy a new crossword puzzle magazine and pack it with a pencil.

• Maybe your daughter enjoys reading and has a favorite author. You might surprise her with a new book by her favorite author to read on the plane. Children's Travel Activity Book Available for free download in MARCH 2022 ONLY.
  

5. Fun gadgets to keep their attention

Let's not forget the incredible benefit of technological gadgets to keep the kids occupied during the flight. If your kids are old enough to have their gadgets, whether to play games, listen to music or watch movies, ensure they're packed in the carry-on.

If it's feasible, give your kids a new game or new music for the trip. This could keep them quiet, calm, and occupied for the duration of the plane ride. I tried to avoid this for as long as I can. Gadgets are the last resort when all my entertainment ideas have been exhausted.

6. Consider the flight as quality time

Engage the kids in discussions of subjects you want to talk about with them.

Listen to each of your kids talk about school, their favorite subjects, and their current interests. I've learned that my son really wants to go back to Jamaica, he wants to visit Africa, and that he's surprised that there are no Kangaroos in Austria!

When the kids wind down from this discussion, shift gears and bring out some of those little surprises mentioned earlier.

7. Be aware of the seating arrangements

The seating arrangement on the flight determines whether the flight is calm or calamitous. If your two children bicker frequently, it may be wise to have them sit on either side of you to keep a little distance between them during the flight.

Another option is to seat the children side by side to see if being together helps keep them occupied with positive interactions. If need be, you can switch the children's seats later to separate them.

Planning ahead for your family's flight increases your chances of having a peaceful travel experience. Follow the above suggestions to ensure that your family will arrive at your vacation destination relaxed, calm, and ready to enjoy a memorable family vacation.