the travel blogger

Flying Long Haul with Little People

My definition of long haul is 7 hours plus. The longest flight we have taken with our kids is 17 hours, Perth to London, when they were age 3, 7 and 8. So I feel equipped to cover this subject. Whether it’s to visit family in New Zealand, or Mickey Mouse in Orlando, it’s ALWAYS worth the travel time. As the parent you need to be mentally ready. But it can be done! And even enjoyed. Break the flight down into sections… Boarding the plane is exciting. Take off can be testing with babies who need to pop their ears (plan to feed them during take-off and landing to help with this) and toddlers who need to stay strapped in their seat when they may not want to be. Bribery is a good tool…. Screen time and Haribo are totally acceptable here. Check out the movie list…. Hook them up with their headphones for the first hour or two of the flight. Food and drinks trolley – excellent – this passes a good hour. I find that age 6 and up they are really just content with the movies and games… for most of the time. I do always have some other things in my bag that they aren’t expecting like a magazine, snacks and of course – playing cards! For me the most challenging age is the 1.5 years to 4 years where they are fidgety/tired/hungry and if you are parents of this age group there is a certain amount of acceptance needed. They are going to cry, probably kick the seat in front a lot, need to have cuddles and stimulation at different times…

Let them sleep when they want to… you can recover any lost routine once you get to your destination, the flight is about survival with the least amount of stress. After a good sleep you are on the home straight. Another meal will be served! Another movie! A stretch of the legs… maybe brush their teeth and get excited about being there soon. Mine are always fascinated to look at the moving map to see where we are flying over. Recently I put this subject out to my customers to ask for their top tips. More than one told me tales of exploding baby poos – why does this ALWAYS happen on planes, is it the air pressure? Another told me they always wish they could tell the mothers and fathers with crying babies that its okay…. Just comfort the child…people are not judging! Anyone who stares… let them. They are likely to be in awe of your bravery. If you are travelling with a baby under 2, you can request a Bassinet. This allows one parent plus the baby to sit at the bulkhead (extra leg room) with a small cot/babyseat, freeing up your arms and some space on your lap when they sleep. If you consider removing your usual flight length restriction for your next family holiday, let me come up with a holiday created for everyone’s tick-list, kids included. You might be surprised at where you can get to for your money!