How to Successfully Manager a Plane Ride with Kids

Kids get antsy to start moving after a while. On a long plane, they get even more antsy and want to move around. We all know travelling with kids can be stressful. Depending on the age of the child, it can be overwhelming. Here's how to successfully manage a flight with kids.

Self-Care Prior to the Trip

-Take care of yourself before, during and after the trip

-Call some friends before flying

-Write down your anxieties and envision what a great trip it will be

-Exercise before the flight or a day before

-Carry an essential oil with you. Hand lotion might want to be avoided since it contains glycerin and glycerin tests positive for explosives at the airport. Take out the essential oil for a breath of calm before the storm

-If you're religious, say a prayer. If not, stay grounded and tell yourself everything will be okay

The actual trip

Timing is key

-Schedule the flight for the evening hours. So that kids will sleep better at night

Pack right

-If time is the issue, make packing your carry-on a priority over your suitcase. Finding things in transit is harder than when not in transit

Always go back to basics

-Guarantee that your kids have everything they need within easy reach- food, drinks, clothes, a favorite toy or plush animal

Comfort is good to consider

-Dress your kids in soft, comfy clothes in case they sleep on the airplane. Bring pillows and blankets to make them comfortable, no matter if it's a long or short flight

Consider entertainment

-Nowadays, there are specially-made Kindles for kids that can sometimes come preloaded with kid-friendly material. If there is no kid-friendly material on it, download some books or kid-friendly movies or TV shows to keep your little ones occupied. Just tell them when it's safe to start watching and make sure it's in Airplane Mode so it's safe. Since not all kids like in-ear buds, bring those oversized headphones for kids. And, you don't have to worry about the volume killing their hearing because most if not all kids headphones now come made with volume control on the actual headphones to prevent hearing loss

Avoid bringing car seats

-Nothing causes more headaches for parents than bringing car seats. You have to do all sorts of special arrangements at the check-in desk for the airline you're flying through. If you can, rent a car seat or arrange for family or friends to have one for you. So that you don't worry about bringing one and having the worry of it getting lost or stolen at the airport

Always ask for help

-There's nothing wrong with asking for help. The flight attendants are more than willing to assist passengers with anything they can

Self-Love

-Give yourself some love for making sure everything went smoothly. Remember that you are not alone here. Your spouse will also be there for you. And if you have older kids with you, they can help too