Summer is almost here and most of us are planning those big summer vacations. Mount Rushmore, the beach, maybe even a mountain rafting trip? But before you get there you know what comes first? An airplane.
Travel is really important to us, even after having kids we try to get away once a year. But once we added baby number two, travel became a bit more complicated. Check that – it can be torture. So a few weeks before our big summer vacation to Breckenridge, Colorado (my favorite place on earth) I scoured the internet, and asked every friend that travels with their kids – how do I keep the kiddos happy on the airplane? Not only the ‘will they sleep’ question, but what do we do if there are delays, and if they won’t stop crying?
After loads of research, mucho overpacking, and a lot of frustration, here are some of our missteps. Please don’t make the same mistakes we did, and maybe you will have an awesome and carefree flight with your kids! If they cooperate of course…
what not to do on an airplane with kids!
1. Don’t overload your carry-ons. I read every website on the best travel toys, and proceeded to buy all of them…then put them in a separate bag for each of my girls. Guess who ended up carrying their bags? Yep, miserable moi. One kid sized backpack is plenty of room for activities, toys, and snacks.
2. Car seats are useless. In my experience, unless you have a smaller baby that isn’t crawling or walking, car seats are useless. Through nine months old, our babies did really well in car seats on flights. But once they are mobile, toddlers detest the car seat (at least mine do) on the airplane. I used it for one leg of a trip and there was no space for her or me. She loved to get up and down on the seat, play with the tray table, and without the carseat I had room to change her diaper. Plus when I had her in the car seat, she just kicked and kicked and kicked the seat of the poor guy in front of her. If you don’t heed my warnings and do bring it on board, save yourself a big hassle and buy a Go Go Baby! Trust me – it’s worth the money and soooo much better than dragging a car seat through the airport.
3. Don’t worry about sleep. This is a tough one for this mommy, but all the websites say to book a flight during naptime…which is a great idea in theory. But what if the flight is delayed? I thought for sure my kids would conk out in the plane watching videos, but no go for us. Just do your best to get them to sleep, and if not, they will sleep in the car or go to bed early. My Ergo baby carrier actually did the trick about three hours into the flight to Denver. Emy slept on me for a catnap while I walked in the galley.
what to do on an airplane with kids!
1. Toys on the plane. Our girl’s favorite toys are silly putty, coloring books and crayons, small bubbles for the airport, sticker books, pipe cleaners, and the life saving water wow and travel aquadoodle. I’m telling you, these water drawing toys are the best invention ever for travel. And the pipe cleaners are fun not only for them to play with, but also to string cheerios and fruit loops on to make bracelets.
2. Snacks, snacks and more snacks. You cannot pack enough snacks for plane and car trips. I had applesauce pouches, sandwiches, cereal bars, mum-mums, goldfish, cheerios, and gummies. I let them eat whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. Lollipops are my secret weapon for travel, not only are they great for bribing good behavior but really help the little ones ears during take off and landing! Bring a few extra for the kids on board that don’t have them…you’ll be a hero!
3. All you need is a tablet. An iPad, a video iPod, a Nexus tablet…whatever. Just load it up with their favorite videos and new movies. The key is to get them a few new apps for the trip. We downloaded Palace Pets and the Doc McStuffins app, and this kept both little ones happy all week.
Living the life!
4. Blankets, pillows and loveys are a must. Even though our girls are older now, we still bring Aden + Anais swaddling blankets everywhere. Movie theaters, flights, Disney…they’re light and fold really small in a diaper bag. And whatever comfort item your children like…just bring it. Kids are resilient, but traveling can be overwhelming, exhausting, and overstimulating. A lovey and a pillow can make them feel more safe and comfortable.
5. Change of clothes for everyone. Chances are a diaper is going to blow, someone is going to get sick, have an accident, or spill, so do yourself a favor bring clothes. (For you too!) When I was breastfeeding, I always brought a tee or tank top in my diaper bag because I always ended up with spit up or poop on me when out running around.
Good luck wherever you head this summer and remember…this too shall pass.
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These are all spot on! Great tips!
Awesome tips! I haven’t crossed this bridge yet, but I may have to!
When Claire was 8 months old (and Jack 3) we were stuck in an airport for over 5 hours, waiting to get on our delayed flight. It was a nightmare. And then when she was 15 months old, we all ended up at the same airport with a SEVEN-HOUR DELAY. As in, we were there for nine hours because we got there two hours early and our flight kept getting delayed one hour at a time. It was San Diego, which is a small airport, too. We ended up getting home at 4AM and the kids slept like crap on the plane and it was awful!! Gotta say, I’m glad they’re a little bit older for the next time we fly!
Love these tips, by the way!
Yup, that’s perfect! #3 for what TO do, especially. Our flight to Florida was magical because of a laptop showing episodes of The 7D. And snacks.
Our flights were terrible times – bedtime and early morning. And you know what happened with the bedtime one? It was delayed. So Des was NOT happy. You just can’t depend on flight times as you said.
Going to Disney in August and thank you, thank you, thank you for the awesome tips!! 🙂
Don’t overpack the carry-on!! SO SO true. I flew solo across the country with Annelise right after she turned one and I had an overstuffed backpack with me. Juggling her, the bag, my purse, and the stroller was ridiculous.
These are all great tips!
I used to fly all of the time with my littles, but is has been several years since we have all flown! It just got so expensive for a family of 6, but we are looking at a trip soon. I am a little worried about containing the 2 year old in a small area, so seriously thanks for the tips! Your family seems to be pros at it!
I’m not going to lie, I have been too chicken to bring my kids on a plane! They are older now and I am still avoiding it like the plague. My daughter can be a terror! These are awesome tips so when I finally stop being a coward and we go out west to visit family, I will use them 😛
we always make our first treat a lolly or gummies for take off… so the kids are ferociously eating and not getting stuffed up ears. also, saline in their noses before flight so it keeps them moist and not dried out and therefore prone to infections swooping up into their little heads!
great tip, forget about saline spray!
Oh yes, tablets are travel life-savers! 🙂
HA HA HA – forget about the journey – that’s an awesome line. We are going to Seattle this summer with FOUR BOYS… I am not quite sure we are ready for such an adventure, but we are taking a direct flight, so that at least cuts the logistical nightmare down a little bit (connecting flights would cause me sleepless nights). I agree with the car seat issue – we traveled with ours in the cabin ONCE – and only once.
You will do great! Sounds fun!
LOVE these tips Kristen! We have previously avoided plane rides like the plague but we’re starting to talk more and more about taking the kids on one for vacation. We’ll definitely be using these!
do it!
Despite the hassle, car seats on the airplane are safety MUST for us, just as they are in the car (especially if you need it at your destination, checking car seats is not recommended as they can become lost or severely damaged). I actually found when my girls were younger, not having a car seat for them was easier. They’re used to being buckled up in the car with no negotiations so it was the same on the airplane, my kids are required to be in their seats, buckled up at all times with the exception of a potty break or diaper change if the seatbelt light is off. The more consistent you are about it, the easier it gets!
Oops, I meant to say not having a car seat was HARDER, not easier!
We don’t like car seats because we travel to the west coast frequently, and it’s hard for them to sit in those seats buckled for 6-7 hours. Plus they have no leg room in a toddler seat. Everyone has to do what’s best for them! Thanks for reading!
Great tips here!! I have never flown with my kids.. I know that sounds crazy when I say it.. but we just drive everywhere! ha!
No vacay? Really? Or are you a luxury RV girl?!
Great tips! We’ve used all of them. But for us, car seats are a must because that’s the only way they’ll fall asleep. Otherwise, they’re wiggling around to get comfortable. We use the Brica Roll N Go. It’s a lifesaver! Working on our post about that one.
Great tips. I’ve always found bringing new small toys helps.
And of course the iPad 😉 But when my son was tiny, there were no iPads, so the new toys helped out a lot.
So with you on ditching the carseat! My youngest never slept on planes, and we decided it was just easier to drive anywhere that can be gotten to if it doesn’t require an overnight somewhere. And how is it that when you think you’ve overpacked on snacks times two, you still always run out or cut it close?
These are great tips. I’m always concerned about all of our ears under pressure. So, once we get through security, I always stock up on drinks and when the plane goes up or descends, I give my son a straw and let him enjoy chocolate milk or apple juice. Lollypops work well for this, too.
Great tips. I totally agree about the sleep thing. Everyone told me my son would sleep on the plane… nope! Even though it was right during his nap time, he refused to go to sleep. The car seats can be a pain (especially if you have two), but I do get worried about the safety issue. I’m not sure how I’m going to deal with two car seats though.
Okay, I’ve never flown with my kids before (I have extreme flying anxiety). However, one day we would like to see Disneyland, Disneyworld, France, and return to Hawaii. I better take notes! Although by the time we make those trips, the kiddos probably won’t be so little anymore.
I can see why these would be very helpful tips.
Thanks for sharing!
xoxo
Great tips! I just shared something similar as we got back from international travel and couldn’t agree more.
Snacks, snacks, and more snacks were always key for me. For some reason, children get extraordinarily hungry the moment the airplane door gets shut. Go figure.
Great tips…and yes, we love those Aden + Anais blankets. My kids are 3 and 7 and I still bring use them. I am downloading those apps too! 🙂
Awesome!!