Any advice for flying with two small children?

Question

They are almost 5 and almost 3 and have never been on an airplane before.

Answer 1

bring gum for air pressure changes... buy a cheap dvd player and have them share the headphones.... coloring books are very useful... bring snacks as the airlines don't really provide them anymore... and they will inevitably get both really bored and really irratable - not much to do about that.  Good luck.

Answer 2

give them plenty to do, make sure they nap cause it long days for them and they get so cranky.....make it fun, if you stress out so will they and it'll be horrible, snacks to keep em chewin for the ears

Answer 3

I brought my kids on a 2 day bus trip. They were 5 and almost 3 too.  I found these little drawing tablets that they could draw on and erase... like those magnetic tablets with the sliding thing to erase. They used these the most and avoided paper and pencils or crayons. I also brought some interactive books like I Spy. Where they can look for certain items in the pictures to keep them busy.  Since they have never been on an airplane before I'm sure they will be curious about alot of the things they see. This gives an opportunity to explain and takes up some time lol.  I also bought my kids a disposable camera so that they could take some pictures of their own.  But it did take alot of my involvement to keep them busy lol.

Answer 4

You remind me of the good old days when my family had just barely began. I had a four year old and a two year old, and I was pregnant with the third child, and let me tell you how hard that was for me! My kids were too excited to be on an airplane to sit still and I had a headache while trying to watch my kids, because my husband too, couldn't keep the two kids I had from fighting and screaming things out loud like, "Whoa mommy, look at the city it looks so tiny!" When they got tired and grouchy they whined, and so the point of me telling you all of this is... Yeah my first time doing this same thing as you was a not peechy, but I figured out how to have the best possible trip that you can on the flight home. When you fly back, bring snacks, and sit them near the window, and allow them to look at a book with lots of good pictures in it. I also found it a good tool to tell them what is going to happen, and bring gum for them to chew. The gum will help them to feel better if they get earaches from the high elevation of being on a plane for the first time. You may also choose out music that is calm, quiet and relaxing, so that they can calm down and ease their stress or whatever their jitters may be. Have toys or movies for them to watch, and whisper to them when you speak to them, because it really is contagious to whisper to the kids, because then they whisper back, "Why are we whispering mommy?" and you don't have to tell them, and I think they will get the message. I also had coloring books and puzzles and I honestly think that those were the things that got them thinking as well as keeps them quiet. Good luck and have an enjoyable flight!

Answer 5

Try to fly at night if you can.  That way the kids may be more apt to sleep.  If you can't do this, make sure you wake them early so they are very sleepy during the trip.

Answer 6

depends on the length of the trip, how much you need to worry.

My son always falls asleep due to the rumbling and air pressure.

DONT bring anything that is noisy!!!!!  (OR make sure they wear earphones)

The surrounding seats will be very annoyed.  Commom courtisy issue.

bring gummy bears to chew.  Toddlers usually swallow gum, so they can swallow the bears instead.

Bring a couple of activity books with dry erase capabitity.

Give them benedryl 1/2 hr before you take off.

have a good flight!  Getting there is just 1/2 the fun!

Wait until they are out of their element for a few days!!! That is when it gets real exciting!

(really, its all good, just keep your patience and thinking like a kid will keep your ideas coming)

Answer 7

Kids can get really fussy or cranky in airplanes, especially during long flights. They can get pretty bored too, so make sure to bring either of the following: a portable dvd player with their favorite shows to play again and again or a toy they can play with for hours. It always works for my toddler.

If you are having an international flight, the airline usually provides some drawing and coloring stuff as well as thingies for kids to play with. Have a nice flight!

Answer 8

first time for everything.. i'd just sit them down and explain to them what's going to happen and that they have to be on their best behavior while flying or the pilot will pull the plane over and drop them off

Answer 9

I've been flying internationally & domestically with my children since they were each 2 months (now 8, 6, & 5 months). At least three trips a year are the children and I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. We do another 8-10 international and domestic flights a year as a family. I have never had any problems with my children. Here are a few tips and suggestions:

1.) Pack plenty of things to entertain your children: a few books, toys, a portable DVD player (be sure to bring extra batteries) or let them use your laptop (make sure it's fully charged) with a few movies, & one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal. I always bring a small pillow & blanket from home for my children (even now) because I know 100% that they are clean, and my children are accustomed to them.

My children bring along their own coloring books, a Doodle Pad, their Leap Pads (with a few booklets), & scrap paper that they can make their own drawings with & play games such as tic-tac-toe. My daughter used to like to bring along a doodle bear when she was younger so that she could draw on that as well, & my son likes to bring along some action figures to play with. I found that buying a Rose Art kit is great! It has crayons, markers, coloring books, coloring sheets, & stickers that they can color. It definitely keeps them entertained!

http://www.megabrands.com/en/products/de...

I take the contents of the kit out of the box & place them in something a little travel pack. Here is what my sons looks like:

http://photo.ringo.com/259/259570458O312... - outside

http://photo.ringo.com/259/259570434O294... - inside

You can also play games like pat-a-cake, or I-spy, & tell stories to your children as well. If you tell a story, try to make it an interactive one where they have a part in it so they stay interested.

Consider going to the store & letting your children (I let my children start this at the age of one) pick out their own carry on bags & a few inexpensive toys that will be used only once you are on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without them seeing so they have an extra surprise when they open their carry ons.

2.) Bring Snacks! just add water packets of food, cheerios, goldfish, animal crackers, dried fruit, etc. are great. New regulations also allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz (100ml), -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food, yogurt, cheese, puddings, etc. with you also as long as they are in containers less than 3oz (100ml)

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/p...

As long as your children are with you, you are able to take as regular milk, and/or juice that you will need for them for the duration of the time you will spend in the airport & on the flight (as long as it is within reason).

All that you must do is:

1. Separate the milk/juice from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size (1 liter) zip-top bag.

2. Declare you have the items to one of the Security Officers at the security checkpoint.

3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/c...

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

3.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of wipes, ointments & other essential things. Just remember the new law regulating liquids, gels, & such & pack accordingly. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm You can usually find travel size baby products in stores & they are wonderful for plane use. One thing I always like to carry with me is hand sanitizer! I always wipe the trays down with that (followed by a baby wipe) and use it for my kids after taking them to the bathroom (even though they wash their hands). I know that airplane bathrooms are not the cleanest, so that is why I try to be vigilant.

Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your children. You will need this in case they get sick, spill something on themselves, or in case your luggage gets lost.

Bring any medications that you might need for your children should they get sick or that they take regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz (100ml) rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Do NOT give your children medicine with the hopes of it making them sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well. I have also seen where it backfires; a parent gives their child a dose of Benedryl to make them sleep, but instead it gets the child more hyper and the parents get absolutely no rest on the flight (and neither does anyone else).

Try to have your children use the restroom as close to boarding as possible. This will help to make your children feel fresh and more comfortable for take-off (which could also mean less problems).

4.) Not all children have a problem with the pressure changes in their ears. If yours do however you'll want to know how to help. For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:

*Give them something to drink (milk, water, juice - it doesn't matter)

*Give them gum to chew

*Give them candy or hard mints to suck

*Tell them to yawn

*Pinch their nostrils shut, have them take a deep breath in through the mouth, then tell them to (gently) blow as if trying to blow their nose

*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears

*Gently but with some pressure, rub their necks repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

5.) Try to book a bulkhead (front) seat where you will have more room. The airlines recommend children under 40lbs to use a child safety device while in their seats.

A CRS is a hard-backed child or infant or child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft.

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use. Almost all car seats pass this requirement. Booster seats are NOT approved for use in airplanes.

There is also a new device that is approved by the FAA for airline use ONLY. It is called CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) and costs $75. It weighs 1 pound, is certified for all phases of flight (taxiing, take off, turbulence and landing), adjusts to fit ALL size airplane seats, and is approved for kids 22–44 lbs.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

If you choose not to use your childrens car seats for the plane ride, you will be allowed to gate check them (along with a stroller). It will not count towards your checked luggage. This means that you will need to take it with you to your boarding gate, & one of the handlers will take it from you before you depart, tag it, & put it in a special compartment for you. When you exit the plane, it will be waiting for you at the door as well.

There are many products out there designed to help the traveling family. Here's a product that can attach to most car seats so that you can use it as a stroller and get it through the airport more easily. http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...

6.) Before you travel, I suggest preparing your children for what to expect so they is not caught off guard and scared on the day of travel. You want to make sure that you tell them what is going to happen from the time you get to the airport until the time you arrive at your destination. You don't need to go into any great detail here, but give them something that they will be able to reference when actually traveling. If you are able to, I suggest doing a dry run of the airport. This provides you with an opportunity to explain to them what is going to happen while they can see first hand what it looks like. Here are links that talk about what to expect when flying (also includes information about what to do at the airport) that may help you out a bit:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://jamiehassen79.angelfire.com/plane...

I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules & regulations for the US, EU, UK, & Australia, offers tips & tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/f...

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 10

Most children of about this age are fascinated by aircraft, if they are at all nervous then try to arrange for them to meet with the flight crew before hand. If it is a long flight you will need to prepare in advance and gather entertainment material such as a portable DVD player or colouring books, etc. Above all, remember the passports!

Bon Voyage!

Answer 11

Get a window seat. Buy some new toys / books to have on the plane. Bring snacks and water for them. How long is the trip? If it's overnight, have them wear their pyjamas on the plane and take a blanket to wrap around them.

Can you take a little field trip to the airport before you go? So they can see what will happen?

There are also lots of books at the library about airplanes, travelling, etc. You can get some of those and read to them about what might happen.

Call the airline and let them know you are travelling with children and ask what they can do - some airlines have kids' packages, colouring books, etc.

And take it easy! You wear comfortable clothes too. If possible, take an extra set of clothes for everyone in your carry on. If they have special stuffed animals, take them on the plane too. Ensure everything is clearly labelled with your name and address in case things get lost.

Have fun - it's a great adventure for them and you!

Answer 12

Poor you , i did the same thing a couple of months ago on a 9 hour trans Atlantic flight and it was torture as there is no escape. Getting them to sleep is the best option but that is easier said than done . Good luck .

Answer 13

Say the going to fly and that is very fun up ( I have Seen that some airline provide sleeping pills for those small dogs see if you cant get a couple of those)

Answer 14

I would suggest a portable DVD player with a couple of animation movies they either haven't seen, or like enough to watch over and over.

Answer 15

Portable DVD player, PSP, or Spoon of Nyquil