Trifter

Autumn is here and with it brings planning for upcoming holiday travel.  If you have small children and need to travel on an airplane, you’re probably looking forward to it about as much as a root canal.  I have 2 children ages 5 and 7 and have been travelling by myself with them between Asia and the eastern United States since they were babies and can tell you that it is not easy, but with proper planning and a lot of alcohol (just kidding!) you and your children can survive the flight in one piece while keeping your dignity and humanity intact.

TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH KIDS

1. As soon as you book your ticket, make sure you choose your own seats, don’t let the airline choose for you.  If you’re booking on line and the airline’s site won’t let you, you need to call the airline directly and do so.  My children and I have wound up sitting in different seats, even after I’ve selected them on the website myself.  This is a hassle because if the flight is full, you are at the mercy of a fellow passenger who must now give up their seat.  To be on the safe side, I now call the airline once after I book on line and again a week before in case the seating assignments have been jumbled up which is a frequent occurrence.
2. If you have young kids you need to start drilling into their heads the rules of courteous travel.  I started my kids when they began talking and walking.  I made it fun without sounding like a drill sergeant, but it got the message across.  Even now, they still repeat before getting on the plane,”no kicking the chair in front of me, no yelling, no hanging around the aisles, remember my pleases and thank yous.”  They make it sound like they’re brainwashed, but it makes everybody’s trip a little easier.
3. You need to bring plenty of coloring books,crayons (no markers please), blank paper, stencils and story books.  My kids are fascinated by the on board shopping magazine and all the funny pictures inside too.  My personal choice has been not to bring a computer game along because of its distracting quality; some of our best conversations have been those that have taken place on the airplane.
4. If you are traveling with an infant, make sure to contact the airline about securing a bassinet, which makes things a lot easier.  Depending on how long the flight is, bring enough baby formula to feed the baby.  If you are able to, bring extra for take off and landing because of the pressure buildup in their little ears, a pacifier will work too.  With all that milk being consumed, don’t forget to pack A LOT of diapers.  My babies went though about 50 percent more than they normally would, so better to be safe than sorry and very wet!

Bon voyage and best of luck!  Perhaps we’ll meet during our travels and our kids can entertain each other.