Airplane travel with young children

Anika’s first flight was a six hour trip to San Francisco. I was terrified.  Visions of my extremely active 11 month old screaming the entire time were all I could imagine. Prior to the trip I spoke to many parents, gathering tips from those experienced in the art of airplane travel with young children.  I also spent an embarrassing amount of time on Pinterest. In the end, things went great and the fears that I had did not come to fruition.

Below I compiled some of the wisdom gained from other parents combined with some of my own tricks. I’m grateful for the information that has been shared with me and want to pay it forward to any other terrified moms out there preparing for their first flight with a young kid(s).

Days leading up to the flight…

I like to prep our kids before a flight, especially their first trip. We read airplane/airport books recommended by our librarian and watch television shows where characters go on an airplane. We discuss everything that’s going to happen. Some topics include baggage check, security, airplane boarding, the plane seat, the plane seat belt, take off and landing. I answer any questions they may have. My kids definitely do better with new experiences if they have been given some sort of frame of reference. 

At the Airport 

Airport logistics

Make sure to get to the airport early. This way there will be time to get through the airport before your flight with less stress and allow the kids a chance to run off energy once you are through security. We like to gate check our stroller for free so we can use it to get through the airport quickly. Also make sure to bring a copy of your children’s birth certificates in case you are asked for it when checking in for your flight or going through security.

Going through security…

• Young children do not have to remove their shoes.
• Formula, breast milk and baby food pouches are allowed through security. Let them know you have it and pull it out of your bag when sending it through.  Over a certain amount of these liquids will be inspected more throughly, but they are still allowed.
• Babies can be worn through security but you will most likely have your hands swabbed.
• Check out the TSA Traveling with Children webpage in advance to get all the official info.

The Airplane

Carry-on Bag

A well pack carry-on is crucial. I highly recommend a backpack since it stays more organized and frees up hands.  I use ziplock bags inside to help further organize and provide ease when pulling things out for security. Below is a list of what I find useful. This will vary based on number and ages of kids.

• I like to have something for the kids to suck on during take off and landing. This will be different depending on the age. Things like pacifier and bottles/nursing for babies and toddlers and water bottles, lollipops or even gum for older kids. 
• Snacks (starting in order of boring and increasing in deliciousness and excitement level as needed, great tip I got from a friend!) I pack applesauce pouches, goldfish or cheddar bunnies, peanut butter crackers, nuts, dried fruit, gummy snacks and cookies ( when bringing out the big guns)
• A few activities. I pack things like Melissa and Doug sticker books, Water Wow Books, books to read, a super cool new little toy they have never seen before, older kids a case with colored pencils or gel pens and a coloring book or blank pad of paper. I’m careful not to overpack activities because then I have extra junk to deal with and my kids will blow through them quicker because they want to see what else I have. I find if I pick two or three (maybe more depending on the length of the flight) fun things this seems to be plenty for both the flight there and back. If you have a child under the age of two don’t bring crayons or anything that has small parts that can roll. At the end of our last flight my son decided it was hilarious to drop the crayons on the floor and watch me scramble to pick them up before they rolled away. 
• iPad with headphones (Netflix pre downloaded shows, audiobooks, apps for kids)
• Change of clothing and extra plastic bags to put soiled clothing in. Trust me on this. Hopefully it will be an unnecessary item but if there are any poop, puke or pee incidents you will be so happy you have it. 
• Diapers 
• Wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Lysol wipes to wipe down seats, armrests and tray tables when you first get on airplane.

During the flight…

On the airplane have it in your mind that you will be entertaining your child the whole time. Have zero expectation of sleeping, reading, watching tv and if you do luck out and there are moments of quiet enjoy them. Engage fully with your child. Slowly surprise them with the activities or toys you’ve packed for them. Hand them out one at a time, spacing them out as far apart as you can and stick some snack breaks in between. Also a potty break can kill ten minutes of a flight if you take into consideration the amount of time it takes to walk there, use the potty, wash up and walk back. Think about the flight in fifteen minute intervals to help both you and your kids break it down and make it seem more manageable.

Most importantly remember how cool this is! Your kids are going on an airplane! Just that alone is so fun. Explain to them what’s going on. Reference all those books you read in advance of the trip. Show them out the window what it looks like. Explain what the pilot does.  I know that my attitude is contagious to my children. If I’m super excited and into something they will often be too. I try to look at the airport they way I did my very first plane ride, not something I had to simply get through to get to our destination, but a fun part of our trip that we get to take part in. Just reframing the way I think about it helps make things go smoother. 

And if things go south…

Our kids have flown multiple times and have been at various ages each time. Anika was four her last trip and had reached the sweet traveling spot. She was just so easy. Jacob was great for the most part, but on each flight at some point he cried for a solid 20 minutes. On the flight there he didn’t want to be strapped into his seat belt for landing and on the flight back he pooped just as we were about to take off. He screamed at the top of his lungs all during the flight attendants safety instructions, “I pooped! My butt hurts!” All I could think was, we are “that family” on the airplane…the one with the poopy smelling, screaming kid…

But we got through it. People were understanding and they will be understanding to you too. If they aren’t remember you will most likely never see them again and if people can’t be empathetic to parents with screaming babies and kids on airplanes who are doing their best to calm them, then that’s on them not you. 

So to sum it up to make an airplane trip successful, prep your kids, pack the right stuff, pick your battles and brace yourself for rough moments but be pleasantly surprised if you don’t have them.