by Michelle, Owner/Moderator
Summer is upon us and the time of year when many of us begin the (long) trek home to visit family and friends. A question/comment that often comes up between parents is “Do you have advice for a long flight (...long car-ride, ...long journey)?”
I’ve now been a travelling parent for four years (and my son has probably travelled more in his four years than I had by the time I was 25, even coming from a travelling family!), so I’ve heard a lot of different ideas of things to try and have tried some things myself, so I figured it was time I wrote about “flying with kids”.
FLIGHTS & TIMING
Personally, what I have found the easiest with a child under 4 is to pick your flights and connections wisely. I am very frugal normally, but with flights I’ll spend an extra 100-200CHF to get the right (fewest) connection(s) and the right departure time. My son and I have travelled mostly just the two of us (having a third person occasionally has not made it easier) and by far the best experience for us is with a flight that originates with a lunchtime or late morning departure. In this scenario, my son and I get a good night's sleep, we wake up at a reasonable time and have a normal breakfast. Then once we’re ready we can head to the airport without anything but a bit of travel anxiety (rather than travel anxiety + exhaustion!). At the airport we then have ample time to check-in and go through security.
AT THE AIRPORT & LOGISTICS
You’re at the airport, now what? How are you going to get around? With an infant, I’ve always had a baby-carrier (sling/wrap) and most mothers I know find that the easiest, especially since not all airports have gate-side pick-up for strollers. Using a carrier (note that a sling/wrap carrier can also double as a blanket or black-out curtain on the plane) means that the mother’s (father’s) hands are free to do other things, such as pulling a carry-on or if your infant car seat is legal for use where you are going, that infant car seat. For toddlers and preschoolers, an Ergo-type carrier, umbrella stroller or pulling seat that doubles as a toddler suitcase (e.g. Trunki) is what I see most mothers using. I’ve also seen or used specially-made items such as the Traveling Toddler, the ride-on-carry-on, or for travel to the USA, items like the Sit-n-Stroll or Go-Go Babyz. From age 5, children can usually get around on their own (though many mothers have told me they wished for an accessory!).
Now back to personal experience and logistics, no matter how I have moved around the airport with my child (infant, toddler or preschooler), I’ve always found it imperative to find a place where we can sit and wait comfortably. Key word here is “comfortably”! When my son was an infant and was breastfeeding, this could be almost anywhere where *I* was comfortable (he could nurse anywhere). From 16 months it’s been easier/better to find a play area or area where he is entertained (big windows to see out at the airplanes usually works for quite awhile, at least with boys!). Oh and when travelling don’t count on duty-free shopping unless you are travelling with another adult.
GENEVA AIRPORT
In Geneva Airport the playroom is on the first floor overlooking the main waiting area & information desk (to get there take the escalator up to the lounges then follow the signs). It’s possible to stay there for quite awhile as they have a bathroom for kids with change table and bath (adult bathroom nearby), a sleeping room, baby play mats, structure, toys and many books -- in at least 10 languages. It also has a departures screen so it’s easy to stay there until it says "go to gate".
Note: In other airports where the play area or lounge is before security or far from your gate, you can obviously stay there only until shortly before departure. Keep on the look-out for comfy places along the route to your gate. As long as you are near the gate and near a departures screen that will tell you when boarding commences, you don’t have to be AT your gate.
THINGS TO HAVE WITH YOU
PASSPORT, ID, CASH & LETTER OF PERMISSION TO TRAVEL
Remember your passport and ID of course. Some cash and coin for buying food in case the credit card machines are out of order and you need to buy something. If you are travelling alone with your child and outside the Schengen area or with someone else’s child, a letter of permission to travel is a good idea (mandatory for flights to Canada and USA). Check out the story on knowitall.ch "Are you traveling abroad alone with your children this summer?" for more info.
FOOD & DRINK
First, an unfilled water bottle (like a SIGG) that you can fill after security is great to have. If you are breastfeeding, everyone has told me and I have personally found that it’s imperative to make sure to have security- and customs-friendly snacks for yourself so your blood sugars stay steady whilst you wait to board (who knows if the flight will be delayed or if the food onboard will be gross?!). For older babies, toddlers, preschoolers, children of alll ages really, remember a snack. Think bananas, apples, pears, carrots (these can be steamed ahead of time for babies and they can finger feed themselves), well-cooked pasta (e.g. fusilli), granola bars, sandwiches, etc. Avoid fast sugars (unrefined sugars) and caffeinated beverages as this will make sitting still a nightmare. For non-breastfed babies, enough formula for the flight plus work in extra for possible delays (the pre-made sealed bottles are great for travelling as you then don’t have to worry about sterilising, heating, mixing in powder, tasting milk at security, etc.).
ACCESSORIES
For babies and toddlers, diapers and wipes are a must. Too many is better than too few. For kids only “just” starting to be trained, bring pull-ups and put one on your child right before boarding (your child might need to pee during turbulence or on take-off/landing and a trip to the restroom then is not possible). A change of clothes for baby/toddler and adult in case of spillage or blow-outs. If you’re on an overnight flight, pajamas. Crazy as it may sound, a lot of kids react well by sticking to rhythms or routines even when on a flight -- so for said overnight flights this might mean that after the meal and just before lights are dimmed, you make a trip to the rest room, where diapers are changed, clothes are exchanged for pajamas and then everyone returns to their seat to “sleep” (you might pull out the child’s own pillow or sheet from their bed at that time too) or in the mother’s case, at least to rest!.
TOYS/GAMES/BOOKS/STICKERS/DVD/IPOD/IPAD, etc.
If travelling with an infant, it’s nice to have a good book to read or movie to watch. Hopefully the noise of the plane will lull baby to sleep and you won’t need much else. Above 5 months you might need a teething toy or other favourite toy. As baby gets older parents need to perfect the art of “distraction”. Special things that are brought out only for travel are good. Books about airports, sticker books, crayons and colouring books, whatever your kid especialy likes, but NEW. An IPOD, IPAD, DVD stocked with movies or games is a good back-up. New short films and new books/toys often work better than old ones -- new adventure on a plane might mean that the tried and tested video or toy from home no longer catches your child’s fancy.
BOARDING & ON THE FLIGHT
Do you board early or wait until everyone boards to get on the plane? Personally, as I’ve mostly travelled alone with my son, for long flights I've always done early boarding. With pre-boarding, I’m virtually guaranteed overhead space for my carry-on luggage (late boarding only works on short flights, when you don't have carry-ons, or when you have someone flying with you who can get your seats and put your luggage away and then the kids can get on the plane LAST) and in winter my jacket/coat. Pre-boarding means I also have had extra time to set up my child’s airplane approved car seat or travel harness, get ou the toys/books, and overall set things up so that I have easy access to what I need for the flight (think about what that is for you).
With everything “to hand” you can use the toys/games when you need them. You can find food and drink easily and with everything organized, you can also get in and out of your seat and move about the cabin when you need to do so (not just for bathroom breaks, jaunts around the cabin are great for toddlers/preschoolers -- walking in circles around and around and around -- and around!)
MEDICATIONS AND POWDERED MILKS
Children’s medications and powdered milk you can usually take on board without restrictions (check with your airline). Powdered milk that you’ve pre-mixed you may have to open and taste before going through security.
ARRIVING AT DESTINATION OR CONNECTIONS
Stay seated and wait to get off the plane until everyone else has most deplaned. I was tempted to start this paragraph saying “Unless you are running for a connection (plane/train/bus) stay seated and wait....”, but really, stay seated, period. If your flight is late and you will miss your connection if you don’t run, it’s up to the airline to help you, so get whatever help airline and flight attendants’ can give and then decide what you need to do. Often the airline can arrange for an escort so you can get the connection. If you are travelling alone with more than two children, think about arranging airport assistance in advance (either at departure, connection and/or arrivals!).
Why stay seated? You’ve been sitting a long time, so you want to move about, right? If you’ve organized yourself well, you’ve been able to move about so it won’t be so imperative to stretch you legs. Also remember, if you stay seated, you then have ample time to put everything away, get babies/toddlers/preschoolers into a carrier or whatever device you have, ensure older children are ok, etc.
