TRAVELING WITH YOUR TODDLER

Jun 24

WHEN IS IT IDEAL TO FLY?

This is a question we get asked all too often! We know the stress that follows having to travel with your toddler! Wether you’re going for fun or a purpose, Wevolve is here to help! Flying with a toddler presents an entirely different set of challenges than flying with a baby. And it’s due mostly to mobility. Toddlers don’t like to sit still. They’re also more headstrong, prone to meltdowns, and have fleeting attention spans. But the stress of traveling with a toddler doesn’t have to end with your forsaking air travel until they’re teenagers. It just takes some proper planning, smart packing, and a little mental preparation.

For flights 4 to 5 hours or less, morning or evening is ideal if it will allow you to keep your child on their nap schedule (or somewhere close to it).

For example, if your child’s nap ends at 3 pm, and you’re flying from L.A. to Chicago or New York, you might try to book flights around 5:30pm. You can wake them up rested and relaxed from their nap at 3, put them right into the car and head to the airport. If they are rested, they are much more likely to be on their best behavior.

For very long, international travel, overnight flights may be better as your child will be more likely to spend a good portion of the flight asleep. If you have the flexibility to fly during non-peak times (like in the middle of the week) to increase the likelihood of getting a row with an empty seat, go for it! Non-stop flights are also ideal and usually worth the extra cost when traveling with a little one.

PREPARING YOUR CHILD FOR THE TRIP:

- Even if your baby/toddler is pre-verbal, spend time talking to him or her about how you are going on a plane.

- Read a book with airplanes and travel in them.

- Play with toy airplanes and tell your child that the two of you (and whomever else may be traveling with you) will be going on an airplane soon too.

- Be sure to have a calm and cool tone when talking about travel.

It can be a stressful subject for us parents, but you want to make sure you’re not passing that stress on to your little one who is far more intuitive than we sometimes remember!

HOW TO NAVIGATE THE AIRPORT/WHERE TO SIT?

- If you can reserve the bulkhead seat in order to get more leg room and play room, go for it! Never hurts to ask.

- If you can’t get the bulkhead, make sure you at least get an aisle seat for easy in and out. Your growing child will get restless and want you to walk up and down for a change of scenery and take trips to the bathroom.

- If you’ve booked a second seat for your child (required after age 2), decide whether or not you’re bringing your car seat on the plane with you. Sometimes it’s more hassle than help.

- If you’re flying with your child in your lap, consider wearing your child if they are still small enough to fit in the Ergo, Baby Bjorn, etc. It is great to keep your arms free and you will be allowed to keep your child in the carrier (and just get a quick pat down) as you and your stuff goes through Airport Security!

- But if your child is too heavy or unlikely to tolerate being worn, a stroller is likely essential. Don’t forget that strollers have to be broken down to go through airport security, and then checked at the gate. If you’re going to bring a stroller, hopefully it is one that is easily folded and lightweight. You can of course wheel your child right down the jetway in it, leave it at the plane’s door and it will be waiting in that same place after you land.

- Make sure that you wear shoes that are comfy and slip easily on and off while traveling. This is especially helpful in the airport/while going through security.

- Be sure to store at least one package of wipes in a place that is very easily accessible in case you want to wipe anything down in a hurry.

TIPS FOR ENTERTAINING IN FLIGHT:

- Go to the drug store, the grocery or 99cent store prior to your trip and buy a handful of cheap new toys that your child will be distracted by.

- Choose a few old toys (and maybe a book or two) that you already have and wrap them in tissue to add to your child’s fun.

- Take one toy/book out at a time on your journey. Try to maximize your child’s play time with each toy until you feel it’s necessary to surprise him or her with something else.

- Depending on the age of your child, a colorful box of band aids could be one of the most entertaining things to hand over to them.

- Try not to pack any noisy toys that will annoy fellow passengers.

- Things are going to fall on the floor while you’re in flight. Try not to worry too much about casualties. If you can’t get to something easily, that may be the time to distract your child with something new.

- If your child enjoys the iPad, this would be the time to be more lax re: screen-time.

BabyFirst TV is great: https://www.babyfirsttv.com - so many options for short, fun content that is specifically designed with babies in mind. If you have DirecTV, it’s channel 293.

Check out their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/BabyFirstTV/featured (favorites: Color Crew, Harry The Bunny, VocabuLarry, ABC Galaxy, etc. all their songs are great).

Although it’s great to have a pair of child-designed headphones for the flight, oftentimes, little ones are happy just looking at the moving pictures on the screen and that is enough to keep them entertained.

Just don’t forget to download an array of content to your tablet or laptop prior to your trip, in case you don’t have wifi access during your flight.

Other favorites to download for young ones: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Peppa Pig and Sesame Street still holds up.

TIPS FOR EATING:

- Try to bring more snacks, water, milk, formula than you think you’ll need

- Pack little zip locs in your carry-on with puffs, cereal, bamba, baby wafers, fruit/veggie pouches, squeeze packs, etc. – whatever you think your child will enjoy.

- Disposable bottle holders and Pre-sterilized disposable bottle liners (that come in a roll) can be great. Just throw away the liner. No need to clean.

- Or spring for the pre-mixed formula if available and possible.

Many parents love the Mixie when on the go, because it keeps formula dry and separate from the water until it’s feeding time

For those who are nursing, some moms rave about the L’ovedbaby 4-1 nursing shawl – can double as a lightweight blanket or canopy for stroller/car seat

If your child needs their bottle warmed while you’re on the go this is the perfect option for your trip!

DIAPER CHANGES

- Ideally, you can get them done on the airplane bathroom changing table. If for whatever reason, this is not an option and you have to change your child in your seat, ask the flight crew for assistance.

- For privacy, you may consider packing diaper pins or safety pins and a couple thin cotton blankets (like Aden & Anais) in your carry-on in case you’d like to attach blanket(s) from your seat to the seat in front of you.

- Pack at least a few large empty zip lock bags to put dirty diapers in and save the other passengers from the stink!

- You might want to put diaper essentials, like a small package of wipes, a small tube of diaper rash cream and one diaper in a couple of those zip locks and place them under your seat for easy access as soon as you get on the plane.

FOR TAKE OFF AND LANDING/EARS/COMFORT, ETC.

- Just like when they were tiny, their ears may still be sensitive to the changing cabin pressure. Pack LOTS of pacifiers in easily-accessible places (they’re bound to go missing) even if your child doesn’t normally use a paci.

- Can try to bottle or breast feed or give them a sippy cup with water to help as well.

- Yawning can also be helpful. Model yawning for your child, often they will mimic you.

- If you suspect your child may have a cold or an ear infection prior to your flight, make sure to call your pediatrician to find out if decongestant/drops/etc. are necessary.

- If your child has a lovey or special stuffed animal, bring it on the plane with you.

- Try to grab a couple blankets and a couple pillows as soon as you get on board. Most airlines do not have enough for all passengers.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE:

- Bring a roll of masking or painter’s tape to easily cover outlets and chords.

- Take a quick look around for any additional hazards and come up with a game plan

- Remember that you don’t need to pack everything that you’ll need for the duration of your trip. Just pack what you’ll need for the flight (x2 in case of delays) in your carry-on and have other essentials (like a week’s worth of diapers and wipes, etc.) delivered to your destination.

- Don’t forget that you will want to mimic your child’s at-home sleeping environment as much as possible so make sure you have black out curtains (or use a dark sheet or even garbage bags and that painter’s tape to cover windows!) in the room where your baby is doing naps and overnight. Also critical: the white noise machine! I always pack the one that we use at home, however Marpac makes a travel version too.