I love my kids. I love travelling on flights. Travelling with kids on flights? Well, I can just about tolerate it. Don’t get me wrong, my kids aren’t that troublesome, but something about travelling on flights brings out the worst in them. Over the years, I’ve gained enough experience to figure out how to tackle the problems faced when travelling with kids on flights. Here are 5 essentials that have made my life much easier!
Movies and games
Almost all International flights have in-flight entertainment with a selection of movies and games. But the same can’t be said for domestic flights. The last thing I want when I’m on a flight is to be apologising to my fellow passengers for my three restless kids. So I always make it a point to pre-download some of their favourite movies and games on iPads and phones before we board the flight.
If your kids are very picky, you might want to do this for International flights too as most of the movies and games on the in-house entertainment system are dated and are unlikely to grab your child’s interest.
Sleep mask
My husband and I are heavy sleepers and can sleep through anything but our kids haven’t acquired that talent… yet. Sleeping eye masks are godsent for kids when travelling on long flights. It’ll keep them safe from the flight lights that are switched on and off at random sometimes. If you are on an international flight, it will also help them maintain their sleep schedule and sleep well even when it’s bright outside!
Earmuffs
In an ideal world, there would be no snorers, crying babies, or loud people on flights. But we don’t live in an ideal world, do we? We live in a world where you should thank your stars if you are seated two rows away from any of the noise-makers. While I understand that not much can be done about the noise, my kids aren’t old enough to get that and that’s where earmuffs come to help. All my kids have their own sets of noise reduction earmuffs that help them have a relatively quieter flight.
Favourite snacks
If there is one thing that we can all agree on it is that aeroplane food is awful. From the dry sandwiches to the overpriced nuts, the food is nothing to build an appetite over. That is why I always fill my carry-on with small treats and snacks that my kids can munch on if they can’t digest the aeroplane food. Chips, candies, fruit bars, and trail mix should do the trick. You can also carry homemade snacks as long as it doesn’t stink up the plane and earn your dirty glare from your co-passengers.
Lollipops and chewing gum
The change in cabin air pressure during take-off and landing might not be a big deal to you but it can be really painful for your kids. What seems like a slight humming noise to you is actually painful on your children’s’ ears. Though my eldest doesn’t really have a problem with this anymore, I carry lollipops and chewing gum for the other two as they are still quite young. Sucking on a lollipop helps reduce the pain and distract them during the take-off and landing. Chewing gum does the trick too, automatically equalizing the internal pressure with the pressurized cabin.
I know travelling with kids on the flight might make you want to strap on a parachute and jump off the plane sometimes. But tricks like these can really make the flight journey much smoother. Let us know about the travel tips that have really worked for you.
