If you have small children, you may have questions about taking them on an airplane to your next vacation destination. Not to worry! In this blog post, we will share some tips and ideas to help make flying with small children a little easier!
IDEAS AND TIPS
First and foremost, it's important to pack plenty of snacks and drinks. Being on an aircraft for several hours can be tiresome for children, and having their favorite snacks and drinks on-hand can help alleviate some of the discomfort they may experience. Pack items that are easy to eat and won't create a mess, like granola bars, crackers, and juice boxes. If you’re flying internationally, we recommend you skip bringing fruit with you as most countries do not allow travelers to bring fruit into their country (this includes the United States when you return).
In your carry-on bag, be sure to pack an extra set of clothes and plenty of wet wipes. Accidents can happen, and you don't want to be caught without some extra clothes or a way to clean up any spills or messes quickly. Also, consider including some comfort items for your child. Whether it's a favorite stuffed animal, blanket, or toy, these small things can bring a great sense of comfort to young children who may be nervous about flying.
Airlines do not require you to purchase a separate seat for infants as they can sit on your lap during the flight. However, for long flights in particular, consider purchasing a separate seat for the baby and bring along a car seat/baby carrier (or check out this accessory you can buy!) This can be more restful for them and give you the freedom to move around the cabin. For bigger small kids, consider bringing their car seat as well on the flight. This can make them feel more secure and comfortable during the flight and, as a bonus, it can give them a familiar place to rest if they need to take a nap.
Try to plan for sleep time during the flight. The comfort items we mentioned above can help your child nap more easily. You can also plan your travel so that the flight departs and arrives during your child’s sleep or nap time.
In terms of keeping small children entertained during the flight, there are many ways to do this. Pack plenty of activities, like coloring books, stickers, and small toys. Bring a tablet pre-loaded with games or TV shows your child enjoys. Also, many streaming services like Netflix, Paramount +, and Hulu allow for downloading content so your children can watch their favorite shows offline.
Aside from all of these, consider direct flights. This may mean having to forego your local convenient airport and drive to a nearby larger airport with more flight options - but it can make a big difference by not having to shuffle the kids along to make it to a connecting flight.
ORGANIZATION AND DOCUMENTS
Since you booked your vacation with Generations Getaways, all your travel documents and itinerary are in your handy app we provide you. While you won’t have to worry about organizing those (they are already organized for you), we cannot help with your and your children’s necessary documents and identification. When traveling internationally, especially with small children, there are certain documents and identification required. This could include a passport or visa (be sure to check what is required well in advance and prepare all necessary documents and identification). If your child has a different last name than you, you may require even additional documentation.
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Whichever way you choose to organize these, make sure you have these with you at all times while you’re traveling. Keep these, along with other carry-on essentials like hand sanitizer, lip balm, and tissues, in YOUR carry-on or in your personal item that most airlines allow you to bring on board with you (like a purse or a backpack). DO NOT pack these in your checked luggage!
Keeping everything organized can also be important when traveling with small children. If each child has their own airplane seat, they can each bring a personal item (a small tote bag or backpack) on board the plane (as long as it fits under the seat in front of them). Consider packing each child’s personal item with their own activities and snacks, so they can reach what they need without having to rummage through your bags. Depending on your children’s ages, you may also want to label their bags with their name and YOUR contact information. This can be especially helpful if they leave their bag behind somewhere at the airport or if they get separated from you for any reason.
When it comes to organizing your checked luggage, pack each child's items in separate bags or use a separate packing cube for each child to make things easier to find when you arrive at your destination.
Following these tips can make the experience of flying with small children much less stressful. However, of utmost importance is to be flexible! Expect things to happen – because they will! Things like flight delays, last minute gate changes, and kids having to go to the bathroom at the most inopportune time are inevitable, so be prepared, be flexible, and go with the flow.
With some careful planning and preparation, you can make flying with small children as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. It can even be empowering and teach them responsibility if they each have their own tote or backpack with their own name on it. But ultimately, this is all to help ensure that both you and your children have a positive experience to kick off your vacation.