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Traveling with children can be an experience to say the least. Knowing this is a stressful situation and knowing I don't have kids, I enlisted help to provide tips! My friend Lindsey has a two year old and she has traveled with him 65+times, mostly alone. She definitely knows the drill. I asked her to share some of her secrets with parents. Her tips below:
- Start flying with them at as early an age as possible. The longer you wait, the more stressful it will be... and the stress really comes from the parent freaking out about what could happen.
- TSA PreCheck is a must! Anything you can do to make the process faster is key. In PreCheck you don't have to take off a light jacket or your shoes, etc. You will still be stopped and asked to wipe your hands for testing and test all liquids.
- Lounge Access - If you have a card for lounge access or a business ticket, then I would look ahead to see where lounges will be and if there is a family room. Many international airports have family rooms within the lounge or the lounge will let you use a conference room if they aren't booked. I pay a fee for Star Alliance card, so I can access any of those lounges.
Basic Tips
- Try to book non-stop flights
- Get a middle or aisle seat:
- some people prefer to take middle and window to trap their child at the window and manage the crisis. I always prefer the middle and aisle for access to the bathroom or to take a walk if the flight is long. Our flight is almost always 5 hours, so my kiddo will need a break.
- Check in online and curb check bag if possible:
- This is much faster assuming weather conditions outside are ok to wait a few minutes. Have cash on hand to tip. Yes, in today's world it is nice to use the airline app on your phone and have your boarding pass, but with a child I always print or have skycap print the boarding pass. You don't want to hold up the line scrambling trying to find it or the phone when you are stressed out.
- Uber vs Cab:
- It's much easier to Uber. You can jump right out of the car and avoid a cash or card transaction.
How to Pack:
- One Big Suitcase:
- I have a large suitcase from Tumi that rolls easily that fits both of our things,. This allows me to get around the airport alone with a stroller, diaper bag and one suitcase. It may seem cute to let your kid carry his/her bag, but make sure they are truly old enough to manage it the entire trip or you will be wishing you had an extra hand or three to manage it all.
- Diaper Bag:
- I highly recommend buying a diaper bag you can throw in the washing machine. I always wash my bag after trips. Think about how dirty the airplane and ground has been. Yuck!
Items to Bring
- Wet Bag for clothes if you have an accident/change of clothes
- Extra set of shorts/tshirt
- Extra set of pjs
- Socks
- Thin small blanket:
- Love Aden & Anais Swaddle (becomes perfect travel blanket)
- Munckin Diaper Bags:
- attachment to the outside of diaper bag to throw away dirty diapers in the plane as well as place for all of your garbage with a child as it accumulates. Everyone will appreciate this.
- Extra shirt for mommy if you have a baby who can throw up on you
- Coloring Book/Crayons
- Suckers are a hit at check-in line or if kiddo is having a breakdown. Organic ones are available at Whole Foods
- Hand Sanitizer attachment to diaper bag
- Bring a ziplock bag with some snacks and squeezable food bags:
- I usually bring snacks in individual ziplock bags because you don't want to open a small snack and not be able to re-seal it.
- Kid Headphones:
- They make fun ones, and some airlines can have an anal flight attendant or passenger who is pissed if they can hear your kid's movie or game. Always good to have them
- Wireless headphone for parents:
- Definitely easier to have them around your neck so you aren't trying to hold your phone or your kid is grabbing your phone. Depends on child's age.
Additional Tips:
- Wipe down the trays as soon as you sit down as those are never cleaned, and your child will put snacks on it, etc.
- Make sure your phone and iPad are charged up. Some flights have outlets so you can charge in flight.
- You can never have enough diapers, snacks, wipes in the event of a cancellation or delay.
- Make sure to bring milk. They should just scan it for you as most flights don't offer milk.
- Wear something comfortable and easy.
- Travel Formula is available from Similac so you can just open the bottle and pour it into a sippy cup.
- Always have a bottle of water with you as you never know if the flight attendant will take awhile to get to your seat or with turbulence nothing can be served. Your little one always needs water or to mix formula
- Baby Carriers are helpful but make sure they are easy to get on and off.
- Since 99% of parents check a bag, you can forget that your bag might be lost. This happened to me from Panama to LAX to SD, and thank goodness I had my contacts. It's still a great idea to have a ziplock with extra contacts, makeup, etc. if your bag is lost.
International Flights:
- Check if you need a Visa as rules constantly change. Have copies of your son or daughter's birth certificate. Check to see if travel letter is required and have copies of all passports as well.
- I am a huge advocate of Global Entry which can be done for kids as well. If you have an American Express Platinum, then the cost is reimbursed. There are a few other participating credit card companies as well you can check out.
- You will still have to wait for you bag, but it's much better to skip the long line so you can get to the bathroom or handle whatever issue may arise
Do your research, travel prepared, and hope for the best!
#traveltheskies
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