Flying With Children

For more room on the plane and in the airport, choose a midweek departure date - although this can not be guaranteed, it is more likely than if you travel at the weekend. With less people around you, you will feel less stressed about them being bothered by the occasional cry or loud laugh. 

Also, it is important to arrive at the airport in plenty of time, so that you do not have to worry that last-minute toilet stops or demands for sweets will slow you down from getting to your departure gate.

Preparation is the key when it comes to keeping children entertained on flights. A good way of keeping them happy is to wrap up some gifts that they can unwrap when the seatbelt sign is switched on and they can't move from their seat. Even if you have just wrapped up old toys, it can still feel like a present to the child, so can help to avoid tears. If possible, try to make sure that the toy is battery-free, so that you don't have to take the toy away on the descent (and undo all your good work!).

On take-off and landing the quick changes in pressure can often make your ears pop and whilst this can usually be resolved by swallowing, try telling your kids that! Sucking boiled sweets or lollies is an easy way to help the ears adapt to the pressure but obviously this will not work for babies. Try to time a bottle feed during take off and landing and again, as they swallow the drink, their ears should adapt to the change.

Sitting your kids by the window means that they will be able to look out and be entertained by the view and it can also be easier to get a child to sleep in a window seat, as they have something solid to lean on.

Alternatively, if toilet breaks might be frequent, sitting near the aisle could be the best option, so that you don't disturb other passengers every time you have to get out of your seat. If you are flying with an infant, you may like to consider sitting near the back of the plane because the baby changing facilities are often located in the rear toilets (check this with your aircraft). 

To make the flight seem like more of an adventure for your children, why not let them take their own small suitcase onto the plane as hand luggage (if permitted by the airline/airport). It is a great way to make them feel grown-up, and also frees up some room in your own hand luggage which would otherwise be taken up by toys.