No matter how hectic your schedule may be, and no matter how
many responsibilities you may have, it is always wonderful to hop on plane and
go on a family vacation with the kids that you love. But if you have toddlers
to take care of, the idea of flying for extended periods of time may leave you
anxious and frightened, even causing you to stay home instead.
As a parent of little ones though, you deserve a chance to take
a break and relax – so try these five tips when on the plane with your toddlers
to make the flight a breeze!
1. Always Be Early
Although the general rule for travel says that you should
arrive to the airport nearly two hours before your plane departs, family vacationing
with toddlers means that you may want to add an extra hour on that time to
account for bathroom breaks, lost toys, tantrums, and even stops for food along
the way. Even if this seems like a lot of wasted time, remember that once you
get off the plane you can look forward to family vacation.
2. Bring Snacks
A plane can get loud, hot, and stuffy, and a hungry toddler
will become fussy and start to cry and scream in these conditions. To make sure
that your little ones keep to themselves, bring along all of their favorite
snacks, and let them munch throughout the entire travel process.
3. Use Music
Because the interior of the plane may be filled with noise
from the engine and cabin, your toddler may have an extremely difficult time falling
to sleep, instead crying every second to get your attention. If you want to
calm your kids down though, and even get them to sleep, bring some large
headphones (note: not earbuds), some of your children’s favorite tunes, and an
MP3 player. When they look tired, have them listen to some quiet music as they
drift off to sleep.
4. Clothes and
Blankets Are Important
The atmosphere of a plane always seem to work in opposition
to how you feel – if you are too hot, the heat often blasts out of the vents;
but if you are too cold, the air condition gets stuck in the on position. Don’t
let this upset your children though – make to layer their clothes appropriately,
so that they can always take off or put on to keep comfortable throughout the
trip.
5. Relax and Prepare
for Anything
It often doesn’t matter what you do to prepare – each trip
comes with its own set of surprises, some of which may seem like unfortunate
setbacks that leave the family in disarray for a few hours. But remember that
while small misfortunes on the flight, such as nauseous children or terrifying
turbulence, might bring about a few tears, once the plane lands you can get
ready for a family vacation filled with family time fun.
Get Ready to Fly!
If you are the proud
parents of a toddler or two, then you understand how scary it may seem to
travel together in a enclosed plane for hours on end. But if you want to get
away and family vacation together, try these five simple tips to keep calm and enjoy
your hard-earned relaxation.