We generally like to do one vacation a year and tried to stick with this plan even after having our son in 2012. I think it is great to travel with your little ones at a young age -- it isn't for everyone though and requires a lot of patience.
- "Are we crazy?"
- "What do we do if he ... (enter long list of possibilities)"
- "What about the other passengers? I don't want to annoy anyone!"
While I don't claim to be any type of expert in this category, we have now flown with our little guy 4 times (one time I even did it sans Daddy -- proud mommy moment), so I have self-proclaimed myself to be a great resource to the other Moms out there who have just booked their trips and did exactly what I did: franticly search Google for any travel tip possible that anyone could offer.
Below are my top few tips for air travel with a baby/toddler.
2. Just because you are on an airplane doesn't mean you can't get up and walk around. Walk up and down the aisle, stop and chat to any passengers who look interested and want to strike up a conversation., stand at the back of the plane and people watch. This one was hard for me because I don't feel overly comfortable doing this on a plane, but when it is the only thing that keeps your little one quiet and happy - you CAN do it!
3. Take any help that is offered - even from strangers! .... This is a weird tip I read on one blog and I was a little confused by it UNTIL we were flying to Mexico in January and our little guy was super fussy. He was overtired, confused and wanted nothing to do with anything we had brought for him to do, or play with. We were both getting frustrated and he could feel that which didn't help the scenario either. Out of nowhere, this lovely lady in one row over offered to hold him, spoke with him, and even rubbed his little tosies! She was AWESOME and it was so nice for her to open up and help us like that. As it turns out, this lady can be seen on CityTV (Grace Tartaglia - http://www.cityline.ca/guest-experts/grace-tartaglia/) -- Thank you, Grace! You helped us more than you know.
- STICKERS. He loved putting them on the windows and the tray in front of him. They are easy to clean up and throw away when done using.
- CLEAR MARKERS. I found these wonderful little colouring books that came with a marker that was clear, but 'unveiled' colour on the page when he used it. It was wonderful - he liked scribbling and seeing new colours, and there was NO MESS to worry about. You can also get ones that you add water to. We didn't like these as much because you had to squeeze the water out, and that was difficult for him (at 17m old).
5. Make friends with other parents and children on the plane. They are all in the same position as you! When I flew with my son alone, we had a lovely couple with a daughter beside us. The two little ones were passing stickers (see - stickers are a good idea!) back and forth, giggling and making funny noises together. It was adorable, helped pass time and tire them out. The Flight Attendants have also been little rays of sunshine on our flights - they were so kind, offering to help and even play peek-a-boo between the seats!
- When you check into your flight, find out how full the plane is. Ask if there is a row with an empty seat and if so, ask to move there. The additional room will make a big difference. When I traveled alone with my little one, we lucked out and got the entire row.
- Some security checks at the airport have "express" lines for families with small children. Watch for these - they're a life safer!
- If you are traveling with liquids (including formula, breast milk, etc.), be prepared to have them scanned during security searches.
- Don't forget to pack an extra outfit for your litlte one and yourself in case of any unplanned accidents.
- Travel as light as you can when it comes to "baby related equipment". Do some research about the destination you are going to and see if there are any rental companies so you don't have to bring everything. In Florida, we were able to rent a car seat, pack and play and highchair!
START THE CONVERSATION
Share your tips and experiences of traveling with your little ones below. I would love to hear from you!