Useful tips for travelling by plane with kids

Flying with children was something I dreaded when my children were younger. I remember before being a parent that there was always a crying baby on the plane and somehow they always seemed to be just behind me! Here are some tips that I have used to make it easier, hope the following you will these useful too.

At the airport
Transporting yourself and your baby or toddler can be an interesting exercise at the best of times and airports present greater challenges. You need to have your hands free to deal with luggage and general security requirements and, at the same time, not lose a child or put the baby down. If you have checked in your luggage, which may include your pushchair, suddenly you are left with nothing to transport your child in and no hands free for important things like hand luggage! One option, if your child is young enough, is to use a front pack or sling. This will keep your hands free and , since a pack folds down easily, it will fit into your carry-on luggage. Some airlines will allow you to include an umbrella-like stroller in your carry-on luggage, but you will need to check with the airline first.

One of the things I put into my handbag is a plastic toy road sheet and three or four cars, small enough not to weigh much or take up much room, but good for keeping the children entertained while waiting to board a flight.

Keeping them safe
Until my children were six years old I used to attach a label, giving their first name and my mobile phone number, to the inside of their jackets - so the label couldn't be seen by strangers. This way, if my child got separated from me, I could be contracted.

Help my baby is crying!
We all hope it isn't our child that cries on the plane, but even the best of us parents can have a crying child.

One of the things that upsets babies and children especially is the pressure on their ears, normally most noticeable during take-off and landing. The idea of the flight attendants giving you boiled lollies to suck is that this reduces the pressure on your ears. But children have a habit of eating these rather quickly, so they have little benefit for those sore ears, and younger children can't manage the lollies safely anyway.

Instead, get your baby or small child to drink from a baby bottle or even a small water bottle, as this will produce the sucking action and will help reduce the pressure on their ears. You will need to ask the flight attendants well in advance as landing is a busy time and they need to be buckled in, just like you! If you are still breastfeeding, and happy to do it on demand, this is the most natural and effective solution for a baby.

For older children, what works best are lollipops. The ones that take a while to finish are best, so the sucking action will help relieve some ear pressure and might just keep them quiet.

Getting more than hot water on your lap!
If you travel with young children, sooner or later they will end up sitting on your lap. This brings up a very parent thing, the christening of parents by children's vomit or food destined for their mouths that make it to your clothes instead. So here is a very practical idea and one I have used. Put in a spare top in case the one you're wearing gets dirty. A quick visit to the toilet to put on a fresh top before landing means being able to greet family and friends looking and smelling great!

Hope these tips have been helpful. For more information visit our website http://www.kidsfriendlynz.com/. Happy flying everyone

Gaye Miller