Top 10 Tips for Flying with Kiddos
Algarve Coast, Portugal
We just returned from our family vacay in Portugal and we are toast! Alex went to work today and Knox and I are at home trying to get things back in order, cleaning, getting groceries, etc.
This was our 4th big trip with Knox and we learn something new about traveling with a little one every time we go! Here are some insightful tips we’d like to share with you!
Here are our top 10 tips for flying with kids:
When flying, remember YOU HAVE PRIORITY going through customs, security and boarding. Check with the attendants and ask where you can get through faster, since you are with a small child(ren). Usually, they’ll see you first and guide you to the front of the line. If they don’t, just speak up and ask! European countries are super helpful to mothers and parents:)
Bring NEW TOYS that your child has never seen before. Keep them hidden until things get rough and when you pull them out of your bag, its like Christmas for them! I’ve linked a ton of them on my amazon page: www.amazon.com/shop/chenoa.brookins
ORDER AN INFLATABLE FOOT REST PILLOW for your kiddo! We ordered ours from Amazon and it is easy to blow up and place under their feet making it a small bed for them.
CHECK YOUR STROLLER AT THE GATE before you get on the plane and it will be there waiting for you when you exit. Typically, the flight attendants are happy to help you get seated when you board the aircraft as well.
Keep in mind traveling can be cumbersome to your child too. GIVE THEM SUPPORT when they’re upset and let them know you understand. If they want to go run or climb some stairs or check out an elevator, go with them if you can! It will get them excited for their new adventure and give them more confidence being in a new space! We got really lucky with the Madrid airport. They have little playscapes in their terminals. It was hard to get Knox to leave them! lol
BRING A LOT OF SNACKS! We really have to be conscious of this since we’re vegan. The airlines don’t always have the food we eat and having our healthier choices keeps us stress free when in a predicament! You can bring all of this from home if it’s prepackaged. This will save you the headache and time trying to find snacks when you arrive at your destination;) our favorites are veggie straws, Clif bars, fruit leather, pretzels, dehydrated fruit and small nut milks from the dry isle. We also pack another bag of snacks in our checked bag, so we have some for the return flight. **Always thinking ahead**
We try and get the airport super early, that way we can order something in the terminal after we go through security. This food can be brought on the plane!
Some SCREEN TIME can really come in clutch when they run out of things to get excited about. You can sign up for the 30-day trial with YouTube to download movies and videos on the iPad. This was a lifesaver for us on our 10+ hour flight from Madrid to Dallas! Every parent and child is different, so I’ll let you decide what you think about giving your child a screen to keep them occupied;)
Take chewable children’s Motrin and Benedryl with you on the flight just in case! This eliminates any messy liquids;) They are sold at any drugstore. We found ours at Target.
Let them chew or drink something while ascending/descending to keep their ears from aching. When Knox was a baby, I just nursed him during the flight. Now that he’s bigger, we gave him his water out of his Klean Canteen and he did great.
And there you have it! Our top 10 tips for traveling with a little one. I hope this comes in handy for those of you thinking or planning your next adventure with your kiddos! Feel free to comment below with any other tips you might think would be helpful to other traveling families out there!
xoxo,
C
