As you’ve probably seen me say here many times before, I’m all about traveling and seeking adventures with your kids but I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t anxious about flying from Massachusetts to California with them. Six hours squished like sardines on an airplane with a 5 month old and a 2.5 year old is what parents have nightmares about. But, spoiler alert… our trip was worth it.
Flying with babies is actually fairly easy, in my opinion. They are often easily soothed with a bottle or nursing, sleep, and don’t have the endless energy and 30 second attention span that toddlers possess. Toddlers are a different animal. So for weeks before we left, I began preparing for our trip with a toddler. Here’s how we survived… and received multiple compliments about how well behaved our kids were!
Timing
Try to book your flight around nap time. Since your kiddos likely won’t sleep great on the plane, an overnight flight will really cut into that precious sleep… and we all know how miserable over-tired kids (and parents) can be.
We didn’t have a plane bed but have friends that swore by them. May be worth the purchase for longer flights.
Comfort
Dress your kids and yourselves in comfortable clothes. Layers are a great option since the temperature seems to vary during flights. Bring a blanket to use as a pillow or cover up with.
Activities
We dedicated an entire carry on backpack to activities and snacks. Surprisingly we didn’t use everything we brought but it was nice knowing I had lots of tricks up my sleeve. Here are some of the toys and activities we packed. Also consider bringing favorite books, small toys, a stuffed animal/comfort blanket.
Melissa & Doug make-a-face reusable sticker pad
Melissa & Doug water reveal pads
Coloring book and crayons
Winnie the Pooh learning cards
Food
Gone are the days of airplanes serving meals… and even if they still do, most toddlers aren’t eating airplane food (can you blame them?). We packed lots of food for the whole family because 6 hours is a long time without a real meal. While you could buy food at the airport, it’ll be much more expensive and the options are limited. Some great foods to pack are boiled eggs, fresh fruit, cut up vegetables with hummus or guacamole, cheese, sandwiches, peanut butter crackers, and nuts.
Last Resort
I try with all my power to keep my kids away from electronics but sometimes you just have to bend. The last hour of each flight was the most challenging and we allowed our 2 year old to either look at pictures on our phones or play with an old iPad we cleared off and downloaded a few games on. Also, when it is safe to do so, let your little ones wander up and down the aisles to get some energy out and stretch their legs.
Don’t give a damn
No matter how much you prepare, there are factors you cannot control like limited space and their ears hurting which may lead to your kids still having a difficult flight. But it’s okay. Try to ignore any angry glares or snide comments because you’re never going to see these people again. Your kids have just as much a right to be on that plane as your neighbors.
So overall, a plane ride, no matter how long or short it may be, is likely going to be stressful with kids. There’s so much extra to pack, so many factors out of your control, and you can likely forget about napping during a flight again until your kids are older. But, from experience (my two year old has been on 12+ flights), the adventures you seek and memories you create together will be worth the frustrations involved in arriving at your destination.
Take the trip. Surprise your brother that moved across the country. Visit your best friend that relocated for work. Explore national parks. Breathe in the salty air on faraway beaches. Don’t let fear hold you and your family back from living your best life.
Love, Jessica
* this post contains some affiliate links and I may be compensated but all opinions are my own.
Love, Jessica 