“It’s been a long day already,” I think to myself as I watch the kids sleep on the baby monitor in our room, while we get dressed. It’s only 7 am but we’ve been up since 5:30 am.
I sit down for just a minute to catch my breath and start going over a few details on the packing essentials. But my thoughts are interrupted with the sound of the older child singing a happy song on the monitor. Soon the toddler is up too and within seconds they’re out of bed and yelling celebratory nothings about travel, the hotel, the beach- they’re excited understandably.
Me, I want to be! But I’m slightly wary of the day that lies ahead. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
Preparation is key. We’ve had more than our share of horror stories to tell on flights, but we always came out of them a little wiser. From being the only helpless folks getting stared down on an International flight with a screaming toddler to having to change a diaper in a car on the way to the airport, believe me, I’ve got stories to tell.
But the horror stories are also lessons for posterity! And we are quick learners. So, I stop the panic (most often, it's just a personality flaw that comes with the motherhood club. You know, the kind you have a lifetime membership to!)
And while I’m constantly learning so much from my own experiences, I look back on the newbie -parent in me and wish someone had been around to tell her
“Relax girl…here’s what you need to do!”
So, here are some tips to make flying with your child at least somewhat uneventful or maybe even perfect!
The checklist:
All the essentials like medicines, swimming equipment, shoes, anything that must go on the plane with you has to be on this list. This one takes a bit of time to compile so be sure to get started on it well in advance. I had to sit down at it about 10 days before a trip and kept adding and subtracting items as further trips came along. It will never truly be a final list (not till the day you don’t need to make them anymore) but at least you’ll have one.
No heavy equipment
When travelling with kids its perhaps not the easiest thing to do, but when mentally waving off what harm a little excess baggage could do, don’t forget about the toddler you’ll most likely end up carrying around half the time. If you love your back like I hope you do, go compact. Ditch the heavy-duty city stroller for a lightweight stroller. If you have a small infant travelling with you, take a baby carrier along so that on occasion you can even be handsfree. And if you must travel with a baby car seat, check with the airline while booking if you can board with it or not. And never pack the cat. I’m told they don’t like that very much!
Layers trump onesies
Your tot is most likely to pass through several different climates all in the span of 24 hrs or less. That’s why so many kids end up falling sick after a journey and while there’s no saving them from all that stale aircraft air (a couple of chewable vitamin Cs should hold you in good stead there) we can make sure they’re neither too hot or too cold. And there’s always the chance of a sudden "oopsies along the way." So dress them in comfortable layers, that can be added on or done away with as and when you see fit. (A thin T-shirt with a knit jumper and a skirt /pants and slide-ons. Always carry a backup pair of t-shirt and lowers for children under 3. And of course, if you’re travelling to colder climes, no harm in adding another layer so long as you can take it off!
Don’t be a bag lady!
Ever get just the right number of clothes into your suitcase, and then you think, "but hey I got that cute dress for her that would look so cute at that place", then you want to take a new pair of shoes to go with it. Soon, one thing leads to another and before you can bat an eyelid, you’ve packed half of your child’s wardrobe, toiletries, and the cat! (not again!)
Take a step back mommy. You don’t want to be the lady in the check-in line playing Tetris with her luggage. The general rule of thumb is 2 pairs of underwear per day, one day outfit, and one sleep outfit. Only add another to this daily format If you plan to dress baby up for your nights out on the town.
Organize your kid's clothing in sets (according to the number of days) just so you know you’re not repeating anything. A few generic colours of clips and bands if like me you like to accessorize the little critter. Don’t forget to pack a few general meds for fever, vomits, colds, squitters & mosquito spray/ patches. Most hotels are happy to sterilize your baby bottles for you and almost all of them provide adequate baby and child amenities. If you plan to stay at a budget hotel, or a no-frills Airbnb carry a hooded towel of your tot’s size or a bathrobe as well as your basic kiddy toiletries and you’re good to go!
Pick your seats in advance
When you book your seats on a flight the computer chooses for you, so definitely dive back in to see if you got the ones that work for you before you consider your job done. Some airlines charge to have people seated together / some charge for seats with more leg room. Considering you’ve spent so much on the tickets already, doesn’t hurt to pay a little extra and get a more comfortable arrangement for yourself and the kids.
Fly by day & board early
You’ve probably already heard the nice (or not) lady at the boarding gate announce for the early boarders – business class seats and you. Yes, you mom and dad! Think of this as the airline giving you a free pass at all that overhead luggage space in the cabin without having to fight angry co-passengers. And take them up on their offer!
Speaking of early, always book a day flight. Simply because, kids are definitely in the category of things that go bump in the night: in other words, any crankiness, travel-related inconveniences & idiosyncrasies are always easier to manage in the day. Besides you get to actually maximize the fun of having booked that half day at the hotel on the day of your arrival!
Little treats for little ears:
Most kids and even some adults suffer the brunt of air pressure attacking their sinus passages. So be sure to carry some treats for them to suck on during takeoff and landing (my vote goes to the humble Gummy Bear!) Juices, water and breast milk are great too for tiny (perhaps even toothless) sippers if you don’t mind a few thousand toilet trips thereafter!
In-flight entertainment (No, we’re not talking about your co-passenger)
Cooped up with those little cannonballs of energy in an enclosed space for at least a couple of hours? But what do we do with them for so long?!
Here’s where the tricks all come out of the bag. (But be sure to hold out on them for as long as you can-till they can't take the boredom anymore- I tell mine to make shapes out of the clouds, count the clouds, flip through in-flight magazines, pretend play- whatever they agree to do without involving me!)
All kids love a blank sheet paper and a bunch of colours to unleash that inner Van Gogh. Carry washable colours for your own peace of mind in case your little scrawler decides to start decorating the co-passenger’s sleeve during that one second you decide to look away! (Another suggestion is Melissa and Doug’s range of water-based colouring pads – saves lives!)
Paper games like tic tac toe and sticker activity books for the older kids or even a tiny magnetic board of Ludo or snakes and ladders. If you have an enthusiastic reader on your hands then carry a couple of LIGHT favourite books
Have a new plushy toy or action figure you’ve been meaning to get for the kids, pack it and save it for the flight. The kids will enjoy unwrapping those presents and be a little kinder to you because – who brings Christmas in at 36000 ft above sea level?!! You do cool mommy! You do!
And if all else fails you have the last resort- the iPad. And if you’re a disapproving customer like me and are terrified of raising a screen freak- remember, there are exceptions to every rule. This is where you swallow the mom-cop and go “Ok. Maybe just this once” And then again on the way back!
Feed first, eat later
If you’ve got kids who can’t or for some reason don’t want to feed themselves, you absolutely must tackle it before you eat yourself. I like to carry a favourite sandwich on board for my girls or if possible, feed them at the airport before we board. Because hungry moms are the sweetest, kindest, most energetic souls- said no one ever!
The best foods and snacks to pack when travelling with kids!
Land to loo – better safe than wet.
So, you made it to the other end without self-combusting? Congratulations mom and dad! You can collect your badge of honour at whatever spa you plan to check into at your destination – Nah, just kidding. You don’t get one.
But before you heave that sigh of relief and hop into your airport transfer. Don’t forget to take the babies for that last trip to the bathroom. No doubt it will be bursting at the seams with a million other passengers. But power through it -consider it that last thing to check off your list unless you want to stop for a leak on the high way – which believe me, comes with its own challenges.
Shop Here: Stroller, Anmol Baby Carriers, Onesie, Diaper Bag, Washable Colours, Melissa and Doug’s range of water-based colouring Books, Tic Tac Toe, Stickers, Magnetic Board
Mansi Zaveri
Mansi Zaveri
Rhea Punjabi
KSP Team
Rushita Sheth
KSP Team
