Family holidays can build memories that last a lifetime, but if you have an unhappy child in your midst you can really question whether it’s worth it. If you’re making plans for flying with a toddler, here’s how to make your trip as stress-free as possible.
There are countless benefits of travel and even though your child may be too young to appreciate them all, you can still enjoy the world now that you have a little one. Sometimes even more — you get to enjoy VIP treatment in the airport as staff often fast track you past queues for the sake of your little one.
My family has travelled extensively with my two-year-old daughter. She’s been on several domestic flights, and we’ve taken her to Asia and Europe as well. We’ve learnt a lot along the way and have enjoyed making memories as a family. When she’s older, I’ve no doubt she’ll enjoy hearing the stories and seeing the photos of our time away.
1. Prepare for take off and landing
One of the biggest surprises when flying is the change in air pressure. While the sensation of ear popping may not worry a seasoned traveller, for a first-timer (especially such a young one), it can can feel uncomfortable.
There’s no surefire way to avoid this, but some of the common fixes include:
- Making sure your child is well hydrated before (and during) the flight
- Giving them something to eat
- Giving your toddler a dummy or something to suck on
2. Book late night flights
Sleeping on planes can be difficult, so give your child their best chance for some shut eye. By booking a flight that coincides with their bed time, they’ll naturally be sleepy and fall asleep during the journey. It may well be on your lap or shoulder, but having a well-rested child makes all the difference when flying with a toddler.
Don’t be surprised if the excitement of the holiday keeps them up later than normal. Being on a plane is an amazing moment for young children, so let them soak in the moment before trying to get them to sleep.
3. Pack toys and snacks for your little one
Toddlers often need more creature comforts on a flight than adult passengers. Pack cuddly toys for entertainment, a blanket for extra warmth and plenty of snacks for each journey. This will help keep your toddler comfortable and entertained in case of flight delays or unexpected bumps. You probably shouldn’t pack snacks that are too high in sugar, but there’s no harm if you pack a few extra treats just in case.
Wrapping up toys — even if it’s just something small like a colouring-in book — can help make the journey that little bit more special.
4. Go slow to beat jet lag
Everyone has their own tricks for beating jet lag, but many of these don’t work so well on children. One of the best ways to counter this is to break up the journey in some way.
One of my friends swears by the idea of taking three flights from Australia to Europe. Although most adults prefer to just get it over and done with, changing planes and seeing new airports breaks up the journey, lets his children stretch their legs, and allows them to eat at familiar restaurants if the airport food hasn’t been to their liking.
When I’ve flown with my daughter to the UK, I’ve always tried to add as long of a stop as possible in the middle. By doing this, I can book an airport hotel and we can have a proper sleep so we’re not so exhausted or emotional for the second leg.
5. Choose a toddler-friendly destination
Save destinations centred around cultural activities for when children are older. When we flew to Europe to visit family, we decided to go to Rome and Budapest. Both of these places have plenty of beautiful cultural highlights in their favour, but do you know who doesn’t appreciate these cultural aspects? Toddlers.
I can tell you with certainty that the first half of Museo Leonardo da Vinci is incredibly fascinating, but that’s as far as I got before my little one started protesting. This limit on where we could go meant that neither parent really felt they got their full money’s worth from that holiday.
Next time we flew, we went to Bali. And we had an amazing time. Digging on the beach, playing in a children’s room and swimming in a pool are much better ingredients for a holiday with a young family than museums and ancient architecture.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Flying with a toddler can be an ordeal at times (especially as a solo parent), but cabin crew and airport staff are on your team. Everyone wants to help you through your journey — if only to keep the other passengers happy — so be sure to ask for help.
Most airlines these days have entertainment packs for children, but if there’s anything you need on your journey someone will only be too happy to help. So if you need someone to get something out of the overhead locker while your child is sleeping on you or you need help at the baggage reclaim area, flight crew will be on hand to help. Flight attendants often have spare snacks, nappies, and even toys at their disposal.
You’ll often find sympathy with other parents too — just ask. Or make the face.
7. Give your toddler some leeway
You may have strict rules about screen time and other behavioural goals in normal life, but this isn’t a normal day. While you may have packed enough toys, books and crafts to last the entire holiday, sometimes that’s not what they want.
With so many screens on board, they’re bound to get envious of other passengers watching films. Giving them a bit of extra screen time while they fly isn’t the end of the world, even if they do just want to watch the same half-dozen episodes of Bluey on repeat.
There aren’t too many other activities on the plane. While we’re advised to stay buckled in our seats, letting them stretch their legs up and down the aisles is welcome relief on long flights. You may find yourself hanging out by the galley for longer than you expected.
8. Be kind to yourself
As with any aspect of parenting, you can do absolutely everything right and somehow end up with a crying child. You aren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to suffer this fate on a plane. While it may seem like the whole plane is staring at you, it’s likely out of sympathy more than anything else.
Just like on the ground, you need to make sure you look after yourself to be able to look after your child. There’s a reason cabin crew tell you to fit your own mask first. Try to get some rest, eat and drink (water) well, and think happy, beachy thoughts when you need them.
Oliver Gaywood is a travel writer for Skyscanner Australia. Originally from the UK, he has journeyed around the world extensively, seeing much of Europe, North America and Southeast Asia, as well as every state and major territory in Australia.
