Some parents flying with babies and tots have taken to handing out ‘apology’ goodie bags to other passengers. It just shows how stressful (and expensive) it can be to fly with wee ones! But what if you could keep your kids and fellow flyers happy without being Santa Claus? Yes, it can be done!
Firstly, be prepared. Lay the groundwork before the flight by downloading age-appropriate games or apps to a smart device. With that, pack a “keep sane” kit of a pillow, blanket, and some toys. Don’t bother with fiddly toys or coloring books – pencils rolling under seats is a nightmare. Stick to story books, finger puppets and magnet sets.
Secondly, bring healthy snacks to avoid screaming sugar-highs in a confined space. Try fruit, vegetable snacks such as carrots, and wholemeal biscuits. For babies, take any pre-prepared food you might need and some extra freezer bags to minimise mess and leaks when storing empty containers.
To keep as stain-free as possible after snack time, don’t scrimp on the wet wipes and hand gel, or on extra clothes. Pack an extra t-shirt for you in the case of a food disaster, and disposable bibs also to give the rest of your luggage a chance of staying reasonably clean. Your carry-on bag should be like Mary Poppins’ carpet bag; small but able to carry lots!
With your bag sorted, it's time to fly. Once you’re in the air, allow babies to breast or bottle feed during take-off and landing, as the swallowing helps the air pressure. You can keep bigger tots calm by giving them something to drink or chew.
For small babies, your number one aim is to get them to sleep as long as possible during the flight. Ask your airline ahead if time if they have cots available - this will hopefully ease some of the pressure from you and your baby might find that more comfortable. Once it's safe to do so, try walking restless babies up and down the aisle; not only could it calm them down, but other passengers will love it too!
Finally, do what you need to do to keep your little one happy, whether it’s singing or playing peek-a-boo. And they could even have a name tag with their name and age, telling other passengers they’re “trying to be good” to inspire some patience among your fellow passengers. Follow these tips to keep the mid-air meltdown at bay and everyone else will have a peaceful flight. Win-win!