Already planning your next trip? A lot of parents are looking forward to jetting off for a much-deserved break – and who can blame them after the past year or so? Provided that you’re able to go ahead and book a flight, have you considered everything you’ll need to keep your toddler safe, healthy, and relatively happy? Here are five useful tips to make sure you – and your little one – are flight ready.
Timing is everything
You know your toddler better than anyone. If you’re looking for a relatively peaceful flight, when are they least likely to be cranky or hyperactive? If your toddler usually sleeps through the night, then a late-night or early morning flight isn’t going to cut it, after all. Choose a flight that fits within your toddler’s usual schedule, if you can. For most parents, this is going to be early evening after you’ve had the opportunity to eat.
Entertainment is crucial
Boredom is going to be one of the crucial factors you have to manage when flying with your toddler. Having some electronic entertainment, such as a tablet they can watch cartoons or play games on, will be a life-saver. But they will eventually be bored of that, so you need some non-electronic alternatives, too, whether you’re reading to them, playing with some travel toys, or otherwise.
Bring the right tools
Your toddler might be able to walk just fine with you most places, but now you’re going to have to rely on a few tools even if they might have otherwise outgrown them. Taking a carrier on the plane with you is going to make it much easier to get them to bed. It’s also much easier to handle them when travelling through the airport with a stroller, so check out the best travel stroller to find one that’s convenient and easy to pack away. You don’t want anything too unwieldy.
Anticipate the hanger
Some of us are prone to bouts of hanger (hunger meets anger) when we haven’t had a snack in a while and toddlers are much worse at emotion moderation than us. As such, take a look at some of the best snacks for kids to take on the plane with them. You should have a whole host of snacks ready to pull out to keep them distracted and satisfied.
Know when you need to move
If it’s a longer flight (i.e. lasting more than an hour) then be sure to give them the room to move. If you can, find some time to walk up and down the aisle with them. Be sure to time it for after the flight attendants have made the rounds with the food and drinks carts, of course. If your toddler doesn’t have the opportunity to move, you should anticipate having a tough time keeping them calm.
Travelling with a toddler can undoubtedly add a little extra stress to the journey, but it will be worth it to see them light up at all the new experiences. Hopefully, the tips above help you keep everything under (relative) control.