Top tips for flying with tots

NEW YORK —

Visitors to the website airfarewatchdog.com were recently asked to share their top tips for managing little ones when flying. Here’s what travelers had to say:

1. Three words. Portable DVD player!

2. A bag full of toys and treats. Books, stickers, paper, magazines, to help with boredom. Also Gameboys now if they’re older.

3. Take connecting flights. The ability to get off the plane and run around before the next flight is really helpful.

4. Fly an airline like Frontier or JetBlue with live TV. That TV is a great babysitter!

5. Request a window seat so your child can look out and lean against that without disturbing people.

6. Never do early boarding. The less time on board the better. Sometimes you can sit there for an eternity while waiting for the rest of the cabin to fill—this can make the trip unbearable for a kid.

7. Don’t hand out all the toys at once. Milk what you’ve got and for as long as you can—maybe you won’t have to go through the entire bag of tricks which can be a bonus for the trip back home.

8. Include a discussion on expected behavior, including how you and others are supposed to behave.

9. For kids still in car seats, it has always been extremely helpful to lug that car seat with you. Kids are used to sitting still when in their car seat, so it makes keeping them happy and well behaved much easier.

10. Hand the kid a pen and tell them to draw mustaches on all the people in the in-flight magazine. Let them know they’re only allowed to do this on an airplane. This will give you at least an hour of quiet contentment.

11. For kids older than 6 or so, give them an incentive to behave. One Airfarewatchdog.com user pays their kids a quarter for every hour they are good. That way the children don’t taunt one another. They used this trick when going to Disneyworld—and only lost 1 hour worth of bribes!

12. For toddlers and older kids, always bring one empty sippy cup for each child. When the flight attendant comes with the drinks, just ask him/her to fill up the sippy cup instead and we don’t have to worry about spills.

13. About 30 minutes before landing, make sure the children have something to drink in their cups upon touchdown.

14. Prior to any flight review the 4 essential plane rules:

* NO kicking the seat in front.
* Inside voice only.
* Sit down and put the seat belt when told to.
* No playing “up and down” with the tray.

15. Fly at naptime or bedtime whenever possible!

16. If you see/hear other children acting up or screaming, remember to thank your own child(ren) for not doing that, for being better behaved, and for setting a good example.

16. If all else fails, bring along little gifts to “thanks” passengers who were understanding when your child started crying, like good chocolates or $5 Starbucks cards.

Aviation.com

Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

BlackFlag at 10:40 AM JST - 10th October

I was one of the most well behaved kids ever. I never screamed, cried, kicked seats, or did anything to disturb strangers

hahaha
beavis at 11:17 AM JST - 10th October

To any responsible parent, most of these suggestions should be common sense.
Altria at 11:38 AM JST - 10th October

17: Sedatives
rtrhead1 at 12:18 PM JST - 10th October

wow flamm, you went through that whole list tearing it apart because of how bad it is, then you suggest drugging your kids. model of parenting you are.
flammenwerfer at 02:22 PM JST - 10th October

Phenergan is hardly 'drugging', its over the counter like paracetemol, its not giving the kid valium. I myself I have never used it with the kids, mine sleep like champs wherever, whenever - but I know others who swear by the stuff when flying. It's win win for everyone, the kids relax and sleep well , the parents can relax too and your fellow passengers will love you for it.

"Phenergan is an antihistamine. It blocks the effects of the naturally occurring chemical histamine in your body.

Phenergan is used to treat allergy symptoms such as itching, runny nose, sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, hives, and itchy skin rashes.

Phenergan also prevents motion sickness, and treats nausea and vomiting or pain after surgery. It is also used as a sedative or sleep aid."
rtrhead1 at 05:19 PM JST - 10th October

it is a drug. over the counter just means you don't need a prescription for it. is asprin a drug? it's over the counter. if you are giving them to your kids so you can have an easier flight, how is that any better than the list above?
Soochi at 10:30 PM JST - 10th October

Take connecting flights. The ability to get off the plane and run around before the next flight is really helpful.

Whoever suggested this as a top-tip needs to be removed from the gene-pool for the sake of all humanity. Here's a thought, how about you do away with the "next flight" altogether and go direct! Genius!!!
rtrhead1 at 10:36 PM JST - 11th October

have you ever had a child stuck in a plane for 12 or 14 hours straight? it ain't no picnic.
Sarge at 11:20 PM JST - 11th October

Altria's #17 is the best tip here.
timorborder at 12:09 AM JST - 12th October

When I was a little fella at boarding school (aged 6 or so) many years ago, all the little kids used to get a glass of "special" milk in the evening before they went to bed. This knocked us out like being hit by an elephant. Only years later did I find out that the "milk" was in fact about 30% whisky by volume.
JPYuki at 09:50 AM JST - 13th October

If all else fails, how about Duct Tape?
Farmboy at 10:05 AM JST - 13th October

I have to agree with rtrhead1. On a long 14 hour flight, it's a rare child who can sit sedately, doing nothing, and it's a rare parent who doesn't feel pretty wasted by the time the destination is reached. The suggestions given are good for short trips, I think.
absb1006 at 07:03 PM JST - 13th October

I have been on many planes with my very active son for a straight 14 hours since infancy. He is now 3. I have never drugged him, OTC or not.
Soochi at 08:43 PM JST - 14th October

>have you ever had a child stuck in a plane for 12 or 14 hours straight? it ain't no picnic.

Yup, two of them 2 or 3 times a year in cattle class. We took sprog No. 2 on her first flight at 4 weeks. Wouldn't even consider anything but direct with them.
elbudamexicano at 03:35 PM JST - 23rd October

I am a father, and what I found out to work quite well with my little boy is to take him for a walk. Just go walking to the back of the plane, near the bathrooms, the kitchen etc..usually the flight attendants are very kind and will give my son something nice, cookies etc..and let JET LAG do the rest! NO DRUGS!