We’ve taken over 30 flights ✈️with our 4 and 6 year old and my most frequently asked questions in my DMs are about flying with kids! I’ve compiled a short list of my top ten tips for flying with kids below if there’s anything you think I’ve missed or any questions please let me know in the comments below!
1. Try to take day flights if possible – this helps with jet lag and honestly kids don’t sleep easily on flights so daytime flights are always preferred. ☀️
2. Bring their favourite blanket or or cuddly whatever security item they have (Just make sure you don’t lose it 😜 and bring extra if you have )
3. DO NOT, I repeat do NOT make any big changes in the weeks leading up to your trip! Eg on one of our flights when my son was 2 months old and my daughter was 2 we decided to take away her bottles two weeks before the trip- she was fine until we got on the plane and we realized she would not sleep without it- it was a nightmare and it was a red-eye to London-I do not recommend! 😒
4. Bring extra diapers and extra wipes especially for the plane- one diaper per hour of travel is recommended and I always say to pack an extra 2 just to be safe !
5. Bring an extra change of clothes for whoever is going to be sitting with the baby or toddler. On our way to Bermuda when my daughter was 1 she was sick (all over my husband) mid-flight and my husband did not have a clean shirt to change into until we landed (it was terrible)! 🤮
6. Bring extra snacks and assume you will be delayed on the plane so bring whatever you will need to entertain them and keep them fed and dry for that assumed delay with you from home or from the airport. We assumed we could buy milk on the plane for my daughter and she needed it to sleep which was not the case – another mistake we made that we suffered for! Our last flight also offered no snacks at all- not even to purchase!
7. Make sure your diaper bag or hand luggage is organized so you can find things quickly and easily and that the things you will need often can be stowed under the seat in front of you! Once the seatbelt light goes on you can’t get to the overhead compartment for a while so try to keep all essentials with you at all times.
8. Bring a STROLLER until your kids no longer fit (I’m not exaggerating) and gate check it !!! On the last trip we took which was a night flight from Mexico to Toronto, I saw so many toddlers crying their eyes out when we landed (at 1:30AM) and therefore parents losing it because they were trying to keep the kids close while they gathered their luggage and went through the security lineup. It was a messy situation. My kids are 4 and 6 and they were both fast asleep in my stroller from the minute we landed and until we moved them into the car 👌🏽
9. Be patient with your kids remember they are in a new place having a new experience and they are as excited as you are. Don’t expect them to be quiet and sit still especially in the airport. I recommend letting them run around in a lounge or somewhere before the flight to ensure they aren’t too hyper once we board !
10. Try to enjoy and be present in the experience that is travelling with your kids, and remember kids will be kids’ don’t stress too much about making sure your kids are perfectly quiet and stay still throughout the flight. As long as they aren’t interfering with other passengers or making an obscene amount of noise most people do not mind kids being on flights- plus they are humans too and we are paying for their tickets (after they turn 1) so they have as much right as anyone else to be on that flight ! 🥳
Momma In Training 