Nervous About Traveling with a Toddler?
Just the thought of flying with a toddler is enough to get your cortisol levels going. I know before our first international flight with Louie as a baby my mind was running wild, I was beyond nervous! Gone were the days when I looked forward to the journey ahead of arriving at my destination. Before having kids, I LOVED going to the airport early for a peruse through the shops. I loved stopping off at the bar for my pre-flight ritual cocktail, and I even looked forward to the long flight where I could read a book, watch a movie, and be totally relaxed. Since I flew internationally a couple of times a year flying was my “relax and unwind” time. You’d see those parents on the flight with their little kids, struggling, not being able to have a wink of sleep and your heart goes out to them but as you sip a glass of wine you also think “glad it ain’t me…yet!” Then before you know it, you’re that mom! Juggling all the bags, wrangling your kids, and looking flustered as anything because you’re doing it all while trying not to bump into anyone as you walk to your seat.
Louie and I travelled from New Zealand to California last year, just the two of us as my husband was unable to come. The thought of doing a 13-hour flight with a two-year-old sent me into a tailspin.
“Will he sleep at all?!”
“What if he throws a tantrum?”
“How will I change him in that tiny bathroom?!”
“How will I keep him in his seat the whole time?!”
I was beyond worried, but it turns out, he did SO well! Better than I had imagined, I mean we even got compliments from everyone around us (go Louie!) Since we had a successful journey, I thought I would share my tips on how we mastered a smooth flight.
Get Active and Board Last
Let your kids get as much exercise in before they get on the plane. Let them walk around and run up and down the moving walkway (Louie loves escalators, so this kept him busy for quite a while). Go to a terminal where there’s no one there and play hide and seek through the chairs. Airlines always let families board first, but I caution against this as it’s adding more time to keeping your kids in a contained space. I would recommend boarding last, again let them run around and stretch their legs as much as possible.
Schedule Flight to Match Their Sleep Schedule
If you have the option, try to book a flight that lines up with their sleep schedule, whether it’s a night flight to match their bedtime or an afternoon flight that matches up with their nap. This helps because then they will most likely sleep the whole time. Also, have them in pyjamas before they board the flight so you don’t have to worry about multiple changes. That way they are all ready for bed when they get on the plane!
Pack Healthy Food and Snacks
No matter how long our flight is, we never eat the plane food. We always pack our own meals and snacks and even bring our own water. Bringing your kids’ lunchbox is a great idea! For Louie, I packed:
-Bell Peppers
-Bananas
-Carrots
-Apples
-Healthy Pancakes
-Sesame Date Truffles (recipe here)
-A mix of raw nuts
-A mix of dried fruit (ensure that there is no sugar or oils added, just pure dried fruit)
-Super Seed Crackers (recipe here)
-Seaweed Snacks
**Note: Keep in mind that if you are travelling internationally, you will need to eat or dispose of your fresh produce on arrival, so don’t pack too much to avoid waste. Dried fruits/nuts and things you have prepared are fine.
Bringing our own water bottles is a must for us. We pack ours in our carry-on empty so we don’t have to deal with emptying its contents at security and then just fill them before we get on the plane with bottled water. It’s really important to keep up your fluids when you fly, so having your own water bottle makes it so much easier than having to ask the flight attendants throughout your flight.
Entertainment at their Fingertips
In all honesty, this one goes against every bone in my body, BUT after my husband insisted on bringing it just in case, I reluctantly packed an iPad with two of Louie’s favourite movies. I really don’t like to admit it, but this was a game-changer. I have never been a big screen time fan. Louie doesn’t get much tv time, so this was a treat for him. Dare I say it was a treat for all because it kept him so entertained. Yes, there are screens on the back of every chair but I found that for little kids it’s literally at a “pain in the neck” level for them to constantly be looking up so having the iPad at eye level made it little people-friendly. He didn’t have any headphones. He was quite content watching his movies with no sound.
Have a Bag of Tricks
Surprise, look what I have!-Go to the dollar section of any store and pick out a few fidgety hand toys for the kids to bring out during times of stress! Whether they are getting antsy, not wanting to sit in their seat, or when it’s time for landing, whipping out a new toy they have never seen before brings such excitement to them! It will buy you extra time and will keep them preoccupied for a while.
Stickers are also a must for the trip. Louie had a blast peeling off stickers and placing them all over him and me. Also, it makes for a great item to share with other kids onboard!
Magnet Travel Games– I found these mini magnet games that are great for travelling, one of a fishing game where you had a hook and it attached to magnetic fish. Louie was still small for these BUT I know they will come in handy down the track. If you have older kids, I would recommend getting some.
Colouring Books have a couple of colouring books on hand too, I bought the “colourless” books where the marker is clear but when you colour, it brings colour to the page. MESS FREE!
Change Diapers with Ease
If your little one still isn’t potty trained, I would recommend pull-ups as opposed to diapers. Airplane bathrooms are tiny and to change a toddler on their change table is literally impossible. Pull-ups were amazing because I could just have him stand on top of the closed toilet to change him. If you have a baby, I recommend bringing along your own travel mat that you can lay on top of the table for sanitary purposes. Also, a bit of cheeky advice, if you are flying in economy near the front where most families do, the bathroom right in front of you that belongs to premium economy is A LOT bigger and makes going to the bathroom with kids so much easier. I would recommend sneaking in there and if the flight attendants say anything, just explain to them you need to change your child and that the bathroom is more accommodating. (I had one flight attendant tell me I couldn’t use it, but then I asked another, and he said it was fine, go figure!!)
Pack a Wellness Bag with My Essentials
Keeping your little ones immune system fighting fit during a flight is of utmost importance, especially because when travelling you are more prone to getting sick. The below items are my must have essentials for your carry on.
Echinacea Tincture
A week before we flew out, I was boosting our immune system with Echinacea, by placing the tincture in our water daily. During the plane, I also continued to administer echinacea in our water. I would recommend continuing it for a couple of days after you have arrived at your destination.
Propolis
We LOVE propolis in our family. It is our go-to when we start to feel run down and a cold coming on. Propolis is made by bees which they use to glue their hives together. It’s been proven to have antibiotic, antiseptic and antiviral properties. We use it in tincture form and add it to our water.
If you have allergies to bee stings or bee products (including honey), you could react to propolis in the same way, so use it with caution.
Lavender Essential Oil
When I made Louie’s bed on the seat, I sprinkled a few drops of lavender oil onto his pillow and the back of the seat to add a soothing scent. You want to make their small space as cozy as possible.
Frankincense oil
Frankincense is amazing if your little ones have a cough, simply put a drop under their feet with a carrier oil.
Bachs Rescue Remedy
A flower essence that helps relax and calm the mind during stressful situations. They come in sprays, tinctures and pastilles. You can purchase their items specifically for kids. I had the spray and gave some to Louie during the flight to keep him mellow. I also used it on myself and it works a treat. It’s a great one to keep in your purse!
Herbal Tea Bags
Airplanes normally don’t provide any herbal tea options, so it’s always handy to pack a couple with you. Louie also loves herbal tea, so I bring either nettle tea which is high in minerals or chamomile, which is calming.
Utilise Your Leg Room
Some airlines let you use an inflatable footrest which can be handy for extending your child’s seat. We purchased a Plane Pal and absolutely loved it. Again, you will need to double-check with the airlines if they approve these but if they do, bring one!
There you have it, my tips and tricks for flying with a toddler. The most important thing you can do is to be there for your kids throughout the flight, entertain them and have fun! It won’t be the most relaxing thing and you won’t get the rest you would if you were at home, but it’s all a part of the journey. A long flight is a big feat for little ones, so always be compassionate, patient and understanding. Above all, it’s a short price to pay for an amazing adventure awaiting you on the other side!
