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Travel -
Flying with Kids |
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section provides some simple advice for making traveling with children that
bit easier. |
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Bookings | Getting to the Airport |
In the Lounge |
Preboarding? | During the flight
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Bookings |
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Non-stop flights are
preferable in most cases as there is only one ear-popping descent to worry
about. Also, with non-stop flights the hassle of lugging everything and
everyone to a connecting flight is avoided. Depending on the length of your
flight and the temperament of your child, a layover may me more preferable.
Some parents find that splitting international or long domestic flights into
two legs is helpful; their children can enjoy a brief change of scenery and
stretch their legs.
If you're catching a
connecting flight, New York travel agent Rabia Shahenshah suggests budgeting
at least an hour for the connection. If you don't want to battle crowds,
avoid peak flying hours. The emptier flights depart late at night, in
mid-afternoon, and early in the week. If avoiding potential delays is a
higher priority for you, consider booking the first flight of the day.
Most importantly, view
the journey through your child's eyes as much as possible. What time of day
would be best for him? Will he be tired enough to sleep? Too excited to
sleep at all? You're the expert when it comes to your child's personality
and scheduling needs.
When booking your
flight, special meals can be requested for your child if he's a picky eater.
Every major airline offers special meals, but most require notification at
least 24 hours before takeoff. Children's menus feature familiar items like
peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and burritos; some airlines even offer
meals from popular fast-food restaurants. Your child will likely prefer one
of these options to "mystery meat" and rice. (By the way, you can order a
child's meal for yourself, too.)
It's good practice to
schedule an appointment with your pediatrician before the flight if your
child has symptoms of a cold. He might have a mild
ear infection,
and you may not know it until it's too late. An infected eardrum can rupture
during the descent, causing excruciating pain and permanent hearing damage.
If this is a possibility, you may need to postpone your flight (ensure that
you have travel insurance coverage). |
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Getting to the Airport |
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In her 28 years as a
flight attendant, Chicago-based Cheryl Kinkead has witnessed countless
parenting successes and disasters. She suggests arriving at the airport
early so you can have your seats assigned (or confirm assignments made at
the time of booking) ahead of the crowd. Otherwise, if it's a full flight
you risk being separated from your child.
Another reason to
arrive early: Bulkhead seating. Many parents swear by these front-row seats
because of the increased legroom and proximity to the lavatories. Normally,
these seats are reserved for frequent fliers until the day of the flight -
when any remaining spots go up for grabs. Bulkhead seats do have their
drawbacks though - for one thing, says Lani Leydig, a travel agent based in
San Mateo, California, there's no under-seat storage; if you request
bulkhead seats, say good-bye to your carry-ons until the "fasten seat belt"
sign is turned off. |
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In the lounge |
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While you wait to board,
encourage your child to expend as much of his energy as possible so he'll
either sleep or relax during the flight. Some airports (Seattle, San Jose,
Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Boston) have Kidsports play areas, complete with
blocks, slides, crawl spaces, and the like. If you find yourself in one of
these child-friendly airports, it's important to establish a time-limit
right away. Keep reminding your child that it'll soon be time to go; this
may forestall a tantrum later.
This is also a good
time to help calm your child's fears about flying if he's anxious, and to
help him feel comfortable with the transition from ground to air, says
Georgie Chambers, a mother of three from Davis, California. Ask him what he
thinks takeoff will feel like. What will the plane look like inside? What
kinds of sounds will it make as it takes off and lands? Remember most of all
that your child will react to your own actions and reactions - if you are
nervous and worried then he will be too.
Reiterate your travel
plans to your child. Remind him where you are going and what you'll be doing
there, so he knows what to expect. This is also a good time to talk about
behavior on the plane. If you anticipate trouble, try using a reward system
to manage your child's in-flight behavior. Explain that he'll receive a
special treat — a gift, some special time spent together, a trip to the
ice-cream shop — if he sits quietly. And don't forget to make a pit stop
before boarding, to cut down on trips to the tiny airplane bathroom. |
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Preboarding? |
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To preboard or not to
preboard? It's a long-standing debate. Families in favor say it's best to
board early to ensure finding plenty of storage space. Preboarding also
gives you time to properly position your child's car seat in the plane. That
said, your child might not be thrilled about confinement in a cramped cabin.
Airplanes tend to be stuffy before a flight, and you never know how long
you'll wait before takeoff. That's why some parents advocate waiting until
the last moment to board. |
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During the Flight |
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Once the flight is under
way, it's time to play Santa Claus. (Santa flies, too, right?) Every hour or
so, give your little one a
gift to unwrap.
The presents don't have to be fancy or expensive (they might include books,
snacks, or stickers) but it's best to give items your child has never seen
before, since these will hold his interest the longest. A little creativity
goes a long way, too. Airsickness bags dolled up with crayons become
puppets. A piece of paper taped to the window serves as a sticker gallery.
It's important for your
child to be entertained, but you can best achieve that goal by giving your
child attention. Explain the sights as the plane takes off and lands. Take
an active interest in the things that amuse him. The more secure he feels,
the happier his trip will be.
Inevitably,
your child will want to walk around the airplane. If the aisles are free of
carts and the seat belt sign is off, take him for a stroll. He may even meet
other children his age.
In the confines of the
cabin, it's wise to be a little more lax with discipline than you normally
would be. Quiet conduct that you ordinarily wouldn't tolerate may be
preferable to the protests that you could provoke by being too strict. If
your child does reach the boiling point, remind him that he stands to lose
his good-behavior reward. And if he still doesn't cooperate, it's important
to follow through — don't give in and give him his reward once you're off
the plane. If he learns that Mommy and Daddy are softies in public, his
behavior in these situations will only get worse.
Air pressure changes
during ascent and descent cause the eardrums to bend outwards and inwards
respectively, causing some discomfort. The ascent is usually not as much of
a problem as the descent simply due to the way the ear works. Swallowing is
the surest way to relieve the discomfort so have a bottle, sippy cup, or
juice box ready for your little one - just make sure there's enough to last
for around 20 minutes.
Back at the gate, it
pays to wait while other passengers leave the plane. The cabin staff will
most likely help those bringing up the rear — including children and their
tired parents. |
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