Flying with young kids?

Keri C

Tomorrow morning I am headed out to Salt Lake City, UT to visit my father and grandparents. I have a 20 month old daughter, who has flown before and a new 7 week old daughter. I'm pretty stressed about how to handle airports with little ones and carseats and toys etc... We are flying out of Manchester and into Detriot for a 1hr layover... I'd really like some helpful tips and advice from other parents who have flown with litttle kids.

Answer
honestly its very hard,i travel with my kids all the time now age 3 and 5.i would suggest get a magazine for older daughter and maybe something to colour in.also be prepared that their ears might hurt.obviously make sure their fed n always have water and snacks,they might sleep through the journey if you re lucky.
don't be embarrassed to ask for assistance from staff,and if you have luggage that you re taking on board you will have to get a passenger to help you as you cant carry your baby,hold on to your young daughter and carry bags.whenever i fly i feel like a superwoman lol

Good LUCK!!!

traveling with kids?

sarahnsqui

we're going to be camping in Colorado for a family vacation with my husbands siblings/dad/etc...there will be a 14 month old and my baby who is 3 months...what are some ideas for activities?

Answer
14 mo old - We bought a child carrier backpack for my first son and that sures makes nature oriented stuff easier. My son loved the pack, and so if we went on a hike he just road along in the pack, the sites alone will keep them entertained for the most part.

At 3 months you can get a front carrier, and tote that one along.

Wherever you camp, scout out the area very well before you let the 14 mo old wander around, make sure there are not any dangerous critters or bushes or whatnot. Have a big tent so they can also just use the tent as a playarea.

Buy a few new toys (don't go overboard) and give them a new toy when you first get there, when they bore of that one, give them another new toy.... depends on the attention span of your child how long this will or if it will work at all. (my 16 mo old this would never work, his attention span is like 3 minutes.)

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Traveling tips && tricks ?

iloveyou

I've never travel for more then a few hours. I'm going to take an airplane to Europe soon and I was wondering what do you usually wear to be comfortable and what to do to keep entertain.. (:

Answer
As a frequent traveler and having rubbed shoulders with hard-core living off the suitcase type dudes, I've come to a list of travel tips. Although not quite like George Clooney in the 2009 Up in the Air, I earned my miles and am still in the top tiers.

Tip 1: Prepare Entertainment packs for kids
A couple of weeks well ahead of your trip, put together a small backpack for each kid of things to entertain him/her that is relevant to their age-group: such as coloring books, paper, colored pens and pencils, a small notebook or diary, reading books or comics, puzzles, card games, iPads/ iPhone with their favorite music, ripped videos, apps and games etc. Sometime I pack in addition what's called the "emergency pack" where I have with me extensively gift wrapped toy .. layers of gift-wrappers will keep the kids occupied.


Tip 2: Airline Food
If you foresee getting really hungry or on a night flight where you want to get the meal done quickly so you get to hit the sack. I'd recommend ordering a Vegan meal. Often you will probably be served first before other passengers. This may get you some envious looks from the passenger seated next to you but it does get you fed early.


Tip 3: Keeping Calm
Before you actually lose it, take a few deep breaths through your nose hold it for a few second and breathe out through your mouth. It helps to slow you down and think before you speak or act when temper sets in.


Tip 4: Time for luggage claim and recheck in
Often when you have connecting flight you may need to reclaim and recheck-in, this may take considerable time if the airport is huge. Just put in an extra hour into the time needed to make that connecting flight otherwise you would be rushing about the terminal like a fool.


Tip 5: Travel Light.
Some travelers have only one luggage. And to accommodate different travel needs this one luggage is often huge! This can be a problem when you are on short trips. By traveling light you may be able to expedite your entrance and departure from the airport by not using checked in baggage and stick with hand carry or carry on bags. You do save a lot of time and really beating the crowds. Think about the time when you stand at the carousel in the herd with the other travelers while you scrutinize ten thousand luggage looking identical to each other.


Tip 6: Money matters
I used to exchange local currency of the travel destination before the flight. This takes off some loads off my back but then again I realized that often withdrawing cash from the ATM locally within your bank network when you arrive does get better exchange rates. It may be worthwhile to check ahead of time what are the different rates offered.

Tip 7: Packing
Packing before flying back home in the hotel room often is the most tiring thing you could do on a trip. It's toward the end of a long trip and you can't wait to head back home. But you have to pack ....on hotel room tricks is to use the dry cleaning bag from the closet. Other than your sweaty workout clothes, you have soiled clothes which you need to stuff into your luggage alongside new ones? Most hotels offer a dry cleaning service and often they have plastic bags or recycling bags in the closet. Use this bag to isolate the smelly clothes from the new ones!


Tip 8: Protect Your Documentation.
It's a good Idea to make copies of all your passports and travel documents. You can then save them into a USB compatible storage device such as camera memory stick, or store them in the iPhone or iPad. Wherever you put yours make sure it isnât the same place as your passport. One of the things that make this so important is the brisk market for stolen travel documents. This is not a day in which you can easily explain how you identification became involved in the commitment of some fraud in a country far away from home.


Tip 9: Share the Plan.
Register with your government or state department. Tell your family and friends where you are heading. This will provide a way for you to be contacted should there be an emergency (you or your family).


Tip 10: Beware of travel scams
Do take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: Try not to wear conspicuous clothing or jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of money. While traveling do not leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.
Beware of travel scams like the infamous broken camera: When everyone is shooting away at sights and attractions, someone comes up with a camera and asks that you take his picture. But the camera or cell phone doesn't seem to work. When you hand it back, the "tourist" fumbles and drops it on the ground, where it breaks into pieces. Often he will either ask you to pay for repairs or pick your wallet while you are bending over.

Article by Best Resort Asia

travel tips please....?

mimi

i'm from the philippines. scheduled flight is on April 23, manila-taipei-new jersey. it's our first time.. will be traveling with 3 children ages 10, 9 and 7. what should i prepare? what should i expect to experience in the airports?

Answer
Go to travel.state.gov for an accurate idea of what to expect. I don't know what airline you are taking so I can't really say what to expect. I have taken Emirates with my two young ones under 4 and that's a very kid-friendly airline. They give out backpacks full of toys and books to kids along with handpuppets. They also have many snacks that you can just get up and get at will. If you are taking this airline, expect that. If not, I don't know what to tell you.

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What are some good travel toys? FAST

gracie<3

What are some good travel toys for an airplane with 3 kids. One 3 year old girl, 9 year old boy and 11 year old girl.

oh, and the airplane ride is about 6 hours[two different flights, 1st one 1 hr and the other is 5 hrs and is today

thanks

Answer
Coloring books, they are quiet. Bring books that you can read to them. If you have action figures or plush toys bring those, as they won't irritate the other passagers with repetative noises. Try not to bring hard plasitcs if at all possible, as kids will be kids and will bang on things with them for noise. Most airlines will have movies on, so that can occupy them for at least an hour (hopefully). Just try to pay attention to them and keep them busy. Play "eye spy" or have them draw you pictures of what they are looking forward too. Lots of ideas, just have to use your imagination, and keep theirs working too!

travel with 2 kids...?

Sexy Ma

what kinds of things should i bring to keep my 4 yr old son occupied? it is a 6 hr and 30 min flight so need tips
sally joe: I do that, my pedetrician even recommened it but bendryl only last for 1 1/2-2 hours with my son

Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly with my three kids on transatlantics about twice a year.

For such a short flight, you probably don't need to use any drugs. Usually, by the time you get to the airport, check-in, get through security, board your flight (pant! pant!) the kids are so tired they nod off on their own.

I saw it done on my flights. I can't take antihistamines so I can't risk giving it to my kids (family trait so it's genetic, I ended up unconscious in the ER at age 7). Make sure you try it out at home because twice as a Flight Attendant, they made the child wired. These drugs also can make the kid dehydrated. You wont need a full dose and sometimes the drugs make children disoriented and cranky. You don't want that on arrival! If you do the drugs, do them after take-off or immediately after the meal service so that it's well worn off by the time you land.

I was also warned that they can make the child have accidents (since they relax *everything*).

Some parents feel the need to do this because their children are hyperactive or just get overstimulated. Another consideration is naps. Mine, at age 4, had long given those up. I only saw it on really long flights, trans Atlantic or Pacific's.

Please note that it's not necessary to make them drink or suck on anything for take-off and landing. The AAP simply recommends that they be awake not on landing (which is too late) but at the TOP of descent. You'll feel your ears reverse pressurization too and the cabin will be busy with everyone getting ready for landing. Good time to be up, using the restroom for the last time, etc. If either/both fall asleep on the tarmac, as so many children do, please don't unnecessarily wake them up for take-off.

I just found that simple toys worked best. Coloring things, stickers, play dough, pipe cleaners, etc. Make sure to have at least one new toy or book for each. Give them just as you're getting seated and hopefully, these will keep them calm and occupied until you're in the air. You can read to them and mine liked the books with flaps that open.

If you opt for any electronical products, don't give them over until you're in the air, unless you're sure they'll understand that they can't play with them on take-off (tricky one!) Also, make sure they're fully charged and bring the recharger. Be careful with any game chips or cards. They get lost easily. I have a portable DVD player but there are other gizmos that play movies.

Bring snacks and empty sippy cup to fill instead of having them use open glasses. I bring a change of clothes for mine (just a T and shorts) because they still spill.

Please don't stress the sleep issue. No one will complain about a quiet, occupied child. Some parents focus so intently on getting their kids to sleep that when they don't, everyone ends up cranky and frustrated.

On the same vein, please don't mess with their sleep schedules, thinking that getting them overly tired will make them sleep better. It's actually the opposite. Make sure they're well rested to avoid any meltdowns in the airport or at the start of your flight. They need their energy! (and so do you mom so be organized with the packing and don't be up to midnight doing it). You don't need to make my mistake!

For more information, ten years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com

Flying alone with kids is not my favorite thing to do but if I'm organized and rested, I can handle it. It still beats not going!

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