There’s a lot that goes into flying with children. Booking the flights, checking in, getting through security, and then the biggest task of keeping them pleasant while on board. It’s stressful!! I’ve flown a lot with my kids and here are some tips that can help you out:
Booking the Flights
Children 2 years old and younger can legally sit on an adult’s lap. You do not need to purchase them a seat ticket. Most airlines now have this information easily on their website. If not, purchase all the other tickets and then call in to add the lap child. I’ve never been charged anything for this. Don’t book the seats online. Most airlines will charge for assigned seats. Instead, after you get your confirmation number, call in and tell them you are flying with children and need to be seated together. If they can’t accommodate you over the phone, they’ll be forced to accommodate you at the gate. They move other people around to seat your children next to you. You may be separated in groups, but at least your kids will be sitting by you or your husband.
{shhhh…secrets}
When I called JetBlue to get seated together, I told them that my husband had a bad back and will need my assistance while on board. (He does have a bad back, so I wasn’t entirely lying.) They sat us all in the row that they reserve for people that need assistance. Not only were we all together, but we also got the extra leg room! Score! (Don’t worry, we didn’t take up the entire row, so people with real issues weren’t out of luck.)
When I called Aer Lingus to get seated together, they saw that I had a lap infant and asked if I wanted a “bassinet seat”. I’ve never heard of those before, so the sweet lady explained that it’s a little bassinet that folds down like a diaper changing table in front of the seat. You can lay the sleeping baby in it when your arms get tired. Um, YES! I booked that seat and it was the best thing ever to be invented!!!! Why aren’t they used on every plane?!
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He’s a little big for it, but it’s still a comfortable option when flying with children!
Checking Bags
Each airline has different baggage policies, so make sure you double-check with your airline before taking my word for it…
Every airline I’ve flown will check carseats for free. I’ve never brought my carseats on board with me. It seemed like a headache, so I’ve never bothered with it and I’ve never regretted it. Every airline I’ve flown will let you gate-check a stroller, which means they tag it either at the ticket counter or at the gate counter and you can leave it (folded up) just outside the airplane as you’re boarding.
Getting through Security
Get to the airport early enough to allow plenty of time to get through security. It usually takes longer with kiddos, but it doesn’t have to be a pain. When possible, pack all your liquids in a checked bag instead of a carry-on. It makes getting through security so much easier. If you must put them in a carry-on, do your homework and make sure your liquids are the right amounts and stored properly. Each person is allowed a quart size bag filled with liquid bottles that are each 3oz or less. I put my ziplock bag in a specified pocket, so I can easily grab it. You can bring filled sippy cups or bottles through security. They will just need to check them separately, which takes a couple extra minutes. Our stroller is too big to fit on the conveyer belt, so we just wheel it through and they do a separate check on that, too. They now allow children 12 years and younger to keep their shoes on, so that helps. Laptops and iPads need to come out of the bags and the laptop needs to be in it’s own bin on the conveyer. Don’t worry, though, the TSA Agents have always been really nice and patient with us and they should be able to help you through it!
Keeping Kids Happy on Flights
I’m not going to pretend to be a professional on flying with children, but I’ve done it a lot and have only had to deal with one 15 minute tantrum. So, either I am a professional or I have freakishly well-behaved kids. I’ll admit, it’s the second reason – my kids are rockstars. Keeping them constantly distracted is the trick, though. Once they realize they’ve been stuck in one seat for hours, all crap hits the fan. I’m not ashamed to admit that my kids get special treatment on flights. You can judge me all you want, I don’t care. After almost every single flight, at least one person comes and tells me how great my kids are.
My Survival List when Flying with Children:
- iPads (aka LIFESAVORS)
My husband and I limit their time on the iPads at home, but while on a plane, our kids can play as long as their hearts desire. Put a couple of their favorite movies on there along with some fun new apps. Some flights offer wifi, so that can be a bonus! - Snacks
This should be a no-brainer. If you don’t have some packed, buy some. Even adults get grouchy when they’re hungry. Besides, when their mouths are full, they won’t be talking or screaming. I let my kids snack the entire time if they want to. - New Toys
Sometimes, I’ll make a trip to the dollar store beforehand to purchase 2-3 new toys. If you don’t have an iPad or they’re forced to share the iPad, I recommend doing this. Don’t let them play with the toys until you take off. Give them one at a time, so they don’t get bored with the toys all at once. Steer away from toys with little pieces that will fall on the floor. You’re already guaranteed to spend half the flight picking crap off the floor as it is. - Protect the Ears
When flying with children, the pressure changes can be hard on their little ears, especially if the kiddo is suffering from any congestion. Here are some things you can give them while you’re ascending and descending to help their ears “pop”: sippy cups, hard candies and/or lollipops, binkies, and gum have been my tricks. If I have a congested kid that I’m worried about, I will even give them a little dose of children’s ibuprofen before the flight just in case.
And that’s all she wrote – don’t be scared![/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
Excellent post, Katie! We’ll be flying with Aer Lingus with our 14 month old next month and they offered the bassinet option to us over the phone, but I hadn’t a clue what it was so I said I’d do some research on it first. A quick Google and here I am. Based on your review, I think we might go for it. The only reason I’d hesitate to get it is if it’s in the middle row. I like the idea of getting a window seat so we can contain our daughter on one side without too much struggling!
Thank you for your blog post! It’s been a huge help.