Flying with Munchkins

A bit about what we did and learned flying with a baby and toddler.

Preparing to fly:

Talk about flying and point out airplanes more than a few weeks before.

Check out books from the library about airplanes and flying a couple weeks before your flight

Watch videos of airplanes landing and taking off

Get a toy airplane. Use it to talk about how an airplane starts on the ground, then goes fast and gets really loud before flying high up in the sky. Then talk about how it gets loud and bumpy for landings.

The week before start telling the little ones you are going to ride on an airplane together. Talk about packing and going through security.

Kayley's airplane from Fred Meyers, and books from the library

Packing your carry on:

Organize your items wisely. We had two bags devoted to the kids: one for diapers/snacks/clothes, and one for the fun stuff. Each bag was carefully put together so if we needed something, we knew where it was and it was easy to get to.

Bring more diapers, wipes, and clothes than you think you will need. Thankfully we didn’t have a diaper explosion. We did have large zip lock bags in case it happened though. Wouldn’t want to stink up the plane with soiled clothes.

Fun bag: Have an assortment of items to entertain your child with. They don’t have to be elaborate (see below for list of what we packed). Pack a couple 100% new to your child items that you do not pull out unless necessary. Keep these items put away except for future flights so they are extra special.

Snacks: To help with the ears, bring some snacks for takeoff and landing. And of course during the flight too.  We also had a few little packs of Crystal Light on the go packs to add to water to encourage drinking on the flight. Remember to open your sippy cup during takeoff and landing so the pressure doesn’t make the liquid go everywhere (we forgot to do this during takeoff once. As a result, Kayley’s cup holder had a pool of lemonade in it).

Have all (but the most favorite items [i.e. blankie and stuffed animal]) out of sight for a few weeks before your flight so all items seem “new.”

Not all of these items came as carry-on, but most did

 At the airport:

Give yourself more time than you think you will need. We gave ourselves 3 hours and it ended up being perfect for everything.

Give your kids a chance to run/walk around before your board. If there is a children’s play area, use it.

Watch the airplanes come and go and talk about it getting closer to your turn.

Use the family line for security, it moves faster and the people seemed nicer. Also, if you’re traveling as a family have a plan as to who will take which child, who’s in charge of what items (bags, stroller, car seat), and who’s walking through first. Don’t stress about it, but since I’m a planner this helped me not be stressed. And don’t worry about taking your time if you need to. You’re traveling with little ones! People will understand.

Use the bathroom and change diapers right before you board. This way there is less of a chance of having to do it during the flight.

Having fun in the play area

 Flying with munchkins:

If your toddler has her own seat and you think you will have trouble keeping them in it, bring your car seat (that is FDA approved) on board. I don’t think Kayley would have stayed in her seat otherwise, plus she seemed very comfortable in it (I think she had more cushion than us). The downside to some car seats is that the tray does not come down all the way. Her tray didn’t come down all the way, but it was not an issue for us.

Make sure your kids are eating/drinking during takeoff and landing to help with their ears. Kayley loved having her special snack and juice. Shilo nursed too fast to be eating the whole time, but her paci seemed to help her.

If your child can walk, let them at least walk to and from the potty (where the small changing table is located).

If your baby is getting tired of being held all the time, doesn’t want to eat or sleep, and is able to sit by herself (and isn’t too big), pull down your tray and let her sit on it with a toy. Shilo was happy for about 20 minutes when I did this. She just wanted to be by herself.

Talk to your kids about what is going on when everyone is boarding and getting settled. Make sure you also talk about what is about to happen (takeoff) and that it will get loud and possibly bumpy. Do the same thing before landing. Toddlers like knowing what’s going on. Look out the window with them and talk about it. Kayley loved this.

Don’t let your child see in the Fun bag. Pull out items one at a time, asking them if they want to read/color/sticker/play/etc without showing them exactly what you’re grabbing for. This made it so Kayley didn’t go through the items like crazy, wanting to experience each one of them. It helped to pace her on them, and made each item a mystery and surprise. We also didn’t let her in the Fun bag during our trip. That was strictly a mama and dada bag to get into (we also had other toys packed in our suitcases). Remember to keep your 100% new items for the end of the flight, or if your child is having a total meltdown – you be the judge.

Playing with the finger puppets

Sticker time!

Cups are so amazing!

Shake, shake, shake it! A steward made a shaker for the girls with mini pretzels

Chewing on her fairy while sitting by herself on the tray

Color time! And making paper airplanes

Finger puppet time on our way home. This time with her favorite princess, Ariel.

Kayley’s Toys:

Books (3) (She read her new princess book a lot, along with a few of her favorites)

Coloring book, medium pad of paper, triangle crayons, click pen (we ended up using the pad of paper and click pen the most)

Blue paint tape – sticks to anything and comes off of everything (she loved putting pieces on the window, her nose, the seat, etc)

Cookie Monster and Telly figurines (didn’t use them)

Play cell phone (didn’t use it)

BLT coaster set to use as play food (didn’t use it)

Magna doodle (new toy and Kayley loved it!)

Disney Princess finger puppets (Our emergency item. We used two princesses per flight near the end. They changed our whiny, won’t nap toddler into a cheerful little girl. Plus it was fun seeing Andrew play princess with Kayley)

Mini Mouse stuffed animal (a need item)

Blankie (a need item)

Shilo’s Toys:

Alphabet chain letters (6) (didn’t get them out on flight, but used them a lot during our trip)

Chew/crinkle monkey and crinkle/chew fairy(she loves her fairy)

Pull to vibrate bird toy, attacked to play key set (her favorite toy on flight)

Shaker (made by a steward with a cup, lid, and mini pretzels) (She liked this a lot)

Our used cups from our complementary drinks (her second favorite item on flight)

This worked for us, and it might work for you. Of course every child and family is different, but I hope you were able to get some good ideas.