Flying with children need not be a nightmare
When an EB member was looking for advice on how to handle three small children on a flight flight to New York, other members were quick to provide advice. Here’s a selection of EB’s top tips for travelling long-haul with kids.
Buy a ticket for your baby. Those bassinets generally only fitted my two kids until 6 months.
Have something for the kids to suck on or swallow when taking off and landing. Landing is the worst because the pilots generally start descending without notifying the passengers and it lasts a lot longer than the take off.
Rachel Emma
Bring a trusty stroller or pram. Little legs are not very good walking long distances and if you're trying to catch a train or a bus it's just better to wheel them rather than dragging them through the streets. If you have a leash, use it especially through security gates and checks.
Bring lots of toys especially ones they've never played with before. The 3 and 5-year olds will probably be happy watching the in-flight entertainment the whole way. Little snacks like sultanas and biscuits are also a godsend when there's nothing else to eat. If your kids are not fussy, order proper meals for them instead of kiddie ones as kids meals are just awful grease laden things. Adult meals are more balanced and more likely to have proper meat and veg which keeps them satisfied a bit longer. The only downside is they get their meals the same time as yours so you can't feed them before yourself. The upside is you get to eat their leftovers!
We changed the kids into their pyjamas before getting on the plane if it's going to be a night flight so they're more amenable to sleeping.
=R2=
Book an airline that has screens (Singapore has screens for each person to watch and choose movies/games) or take a DVD player.
Take activities, snacks, drink bottles and spare clothes for everyone, and nappy wipes for freshening up.
Book a night flight - so it is night from here when you travel.
A new me!
We always stop in Asia on way over and back. It adds time, but it’s worth it just so they can expend energy! We get middle seats now , so get 4 in a row, and can usually get the front row so no poor people in front have to suffer get their seats kicked!
Hamiriver
I can recommend flying at night. DS slept for most of the flight, think it was the general movement of the flight. When awake I would walk him up and down. Try to relax. It doesn’t last forever and if your child screams or throws a tantrum it won’t be the first.
Mangie
I took pyjamas for the kids when they were younger. And a blankie, so they could have dinner, get ready for bed then settle down for the night.
Each child has their own backpack with lots of new toys and a favourite cuddly. We like things like Play-Doh, colouring or puzzle books, pens or crayons (don't need sharpening), toy cars, travel games, etc. If the kids have their teddies, I've found those toy baby carriers/ slings useful for keeping hold of them. Or, last time DS had a monkey backpack harness which he cuddled on the plane, then wore in the airport, with me holding the other end. Everyone thought he was the cutest thing ever.
The Trunkie cases are also great, as the older kids can ride them through the airport with you holding the long strap. As a PP stated, you will need a complete change of clothes for each child. And for yourself, in case you get thrown up on or drinks get spilled. Have a great trip and good luck.
Mindy05
I highly recommend a Nintendo DS for older (4 y.o+) children (our parents bought one for DS1 for the trip), and portable movies for younger children (we took an iPod and iPhone). They saved our sanity on numerous occasions!
Kittennic
Make sure you have down time for you all to recover though at both ends of the trip.
Lanthe
Split the in-flight child responsibilities as one adult for the 2 older children, and other adult for the baby. Then swap every hour.
Al.Packer
My husband always boards the plane first and sets up whilst I stay in the boarding lounge with DD and ran her around as much as possible. Families are invited on the plane first but there is no way I was going to make her stay on the plane for a minute longer than she needed to. I think the other passengers could appreciate what I was doing too. Balloons, mini bubble blowers and her trunki suitcase came in handy during this time.
I packed heaps of new toys and brought them out at different intervals so there was always something new (or a favourite toy that I had put aside a week or so before). I individually wrapped everything so it was exciting and unwrapping filled in a bit more time. The sticker books were a hit - she covered her body from head to toe in them and stuck them all over her drawing book. Links also came in handy so I could attach toys to them instead of having to pick everything up off the floor all the time.
I took an ergo carrier and it was a lifesaver, both at the airport and on the plane.
Muslin wraps are great for putting over the top of the seats to block out the lights.
Watsi
