I’m excited to feature a guest post today by our contributing family travel writer, Lauren Griffith. Lauren shares her tips on flying with a toddler. Enjoy and be sure to share and comment below!
Like all first-time moms getting ready to do anything new with their kid, I had a lot of anxiety before flying with my toddler. I don’t know about you, but it’s always the anticipation of preparing for travel that gives me major mom-anxiety rather than being 30,000-feet in-the-air with your baby. Until now. We recently took a trip with our 20-month old to Chicago … in February. It was 3 degrees while we there. Roughly 50 degrees colder than what my Florida-born toddler is used to during a “cold” Florida winter day.
I have to admit, planning this trip was much more stressful and crazy than any trip planned when my daughter was an infant. We may have to invent a new word for the kind of crazy I was days and hours before this trip.
Our big day finally arrived and we were on the flight. We barely took off when I soon realized that flying with a toddler was VERY different than with an infant. Within 30 minutes, my daughter was either kicking the seat in front of us or using my bladder as a trampoline. Another kid sitting next to us, who apparently was born a 40-year old man, asked what my daughter had for breakfast. I replied, “Pixie Sticks.”
After the whole experience, it’s safe to say that I am now much better prepared for our next trip. Knowing what worked and didn’t work will help ease the stress of flying or traveling with our toddler next time. With that being said, here are few tips for flying with a toddler for other new parents.
Seven Tips for Flying With a Toddler
1. Plan ahead: Try to book direct flights, and avoid traveling around naptime. Flying during naptime is no fun for the toddler, parents, or the 100 strangers on the plane.
2. Buy that extra seat if…If your flight is more than 3 hours, consider buying an extra seat for your toddler.
3. Pack a few Wet Ones to wipe down anything in toddler licking-range.
4. Take a minute and plan ahead for you too. A friend orders spare copies of her driver’s license and keeps an extra one in her car, her husband’s wallet, and the diaper bag so she won’t ever be without it.
5. Take advantage of the kindness of strangers. Accepting help is something most people have a difficult time embracing. Someone tells me they love kids- I say, prove it! There is no shame in taking someone up on their offer to read to, play with, or otherwise distract your toddler. My husband had to travel back alone with my daughter, and a complete stranger offered to let her sit on her lap and look out the window for as long as she wanted. It made his return trip so much easier. People can really be amazing.
6. The power of distractions: Distracting a toddler doesn’t mean having to pack a heavy bag of toys. I carry-on a few lightweight books, a fully-charged iPad, and a crap-ton of snacks. I also have baby headphones because the only thing my kid loves more than licking a tray table is listening to Taylor Swift. Distractions can also be around you. When we were experiencing a downward spiral of emotions, I distracted my daughter by having her say hello to strangers. I also quizzed her on her colors, and let her show off her belly button. When all else fails, we snack. And make no apologies.
7. Have a plan B: I always make sure to carry-on the essentials for an unplanned overnight stay. Our fears were realized when our return flight from Chicago was cancelled, and we had to stay an extra night. Part of me dreaded having to inconvenience our friends- 37 weeks pregnant, basking in the quiet after our crazy family of three left their apartment- but another part of me felt like a benchwarmer called into play the last quarter of the Super Bowl. This was what I had prepared for, (over)planned for. And I was so ready.
If all else fails, pretend to faint, or fake a narcoleptic episode, or stroke and let someone else hold your toddler for the rest of the flight. Worst case scenario, you will be banned from all airlines and force your family and friends to come visit you in the comfort of your home! (Kidding! You probably don’t want to do that.)
About the author: Lauren Griffith is a Florida-native family travel blogger living in Jacksonville, Florida. She is a parent to one daughter, and occasionally her husband. Her hobbies include spending time with her family and taking day-trips in the Sunshine State! She loves to share her tips on travel and parenting with other new moms.
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