Making Room for the Little Ones
The last plane trip I made with a toddler was a flight from Denver to Salt Lake City with my daughter and my 18 month old grand-daughter. We brought plenty of little toys and items to keep her busy for the 45 minute flight but she wasn’t interested. She tossed them on the floor and stayed glued to the window for the whole flight. It was her first airplane adventure and she was absolutely transfixed. We were lucky.Most of the time flying with children can be challenging. The most important thing to remember is to do everything you can to travel light, which means thinking in a portable mode. It is suggested that parents pack only one or two diapers along with a small package of wipes depending on how long the flight is. Look around for sample sized items like rash cream and baby powder. Another thing a parent can do is put everything in small plastic containers. Carry disposable bibs and sterilized bottle liners. It may be hard to do these days, but check and see if you can bring along a bottle of your own heated water. If the answer is “no” check and see if someone at an airport restaurant will fill up an empty baby bottle with hot water. Carry your own baby food, preferably in plastic containers along with plastic utensils. Passengers used to be able to take their own jars and tins on flights, but in today’s world that may be difficult. Check with the airline and see what baby changing arrangements they have. Some planes have restrooms that are a little larger and can accommodate a parent and child when diaper changes are needed. Get as much information as possible before you leave on the trip and then immediately approach the crew upon boarding and ask what assistance they can give you.
Carry a fold up stroller that can be stowed in an overhead bin. Also, be sure to take along some type of child restraint system (CRS). There is one that is approved by the FAA and there are several types of special harnesses on the market. Some airlines furnish a CRS, and will ask you to check in your unit as extra baggage. It is best to buy a seat for the child. Most passengers that I see hold their very small children on their laps. A CRS is a hard backed safety seat that can be used almost anywhere: Planes, trains and automobiles. Purchasing one is a good investment. A good alternative to a CRS is a flight harness because they can actually be folded up. For the real little guys a real good use of money might be to purchase a baby sleeping bag. They are softer and more comfortable. When traveling with very young children check with your doctor and ask which sedatives would be proper for them. Some sedatives work well while others can actually cause hyperactivity.
Talk to your agent or airline representative about seating arrangements. Sometimes it is good for parents to sit apart from one another so that they can relieve each other if tending the little ones gets to be too much. Some airlines allow children under a certain age to travel free if the child can sit on a parents lap. Each airline has a different policy. A good idea is to try to travel at off times during the day when there is liable to be a good number of empty seats. Very often a passenger who has children with them can work out a more suitable seating arrangement than child on the lap. Travel with more than one child is when additional seats may need to be purchased. Some airlines may provide special bassinets for babies. Most of these types of arrangements need to be made ahead of time. Spending a few dollars on a leash for toddler control is not a bad idea. They are very handy in airport waiting and baggage claim areas. A mother traveling with an older child, a baby and a toddler will find a leash a treasure.
Check with the Department of Transportation or your agent about any paperwork that might be needed when traveling with children. Children do need a passport when the family decides to take a trip to Italy.
Taking any trip with children can be a really great experience if proper preparations are made. If the right program isn’t in place it can be a nightmare.
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