When Toddlers Fly

Flying With Toddlers – It May Not Be So Bad!

April 26, 2015By Becky CriswellAs we were gearing up for our Walt Disney World trip last year, I was a nervous wreck about flying for the first time with our one year old son. Iworried, panicked, fretted, dreaded and maybe cried at bit at the thought of it. Well, guess what? We all survived, and I’m here to say it wasn’t so bad! I’d like to share a few tips with you in hopes that you can avoid the panic that I faced.•           Tire the kid out! Once we were checked in and settled in our terminal we had about an hour to kill before boarding the plane. We let our son run laps around the terminal and by the time we got on the plane he didn’t mind sitting because he was exhausted.•           Pack lots of snacks. This will keep them busy and satisfied!•           Bring new or favorite toys. Does your child have a favorite toy that always promises to keep them busy? Don’t forget it! It’s a good idea to bring something new, as new toys always hold their attention for a longer time.•           Does your child take a bottle? Have the bottle ready for take-off! Tired toddler + soothing hum of the plane engines + big bottle = sleeping toddler.  This put our son right to sleep and he stayed asleep for over an hour. Additionally, sucking on the bottle is a good way to keep your child’s ears from hurting due to the pressure during take-off.•           As an adult I have always been told to chew gum during take-off and landing to avoid the pain in your ears. What do you do when your toddler is too young to chew gum? In addition to bottles, as mentioned above, pack a chewy snack like fruit snacks or give them a pacifier to suck on.Your child will likely be mesmerized by everything going on around them. I hope a few (or all) of these tips will be helpful for you. Keep in mind, if your child does have a rough time, they will NOT be the first ones to cry or whine on an airplane. Focus on the prize…soon you and your child will be having the time of your lives on your amazing vacation!For more information about this blogger, Becky Criswell