So here comes the fun part (haha!) – the journey. Thirty years ago the use of medication (and I’m talking make-your-kids-so-drowsy-they’ll-sleep-through-the-flight antihistamines – nothing stronger) was quite commonplace. I’m a doctor, and there’s no way I’m going to say that its ok to drug your kids for a flight, no matter how good an idea it might seem to a stressed out parent at the nth hour of a trip. But trust me when I say that there are non-pharmaceutical engagement and diversion tactics you can use to make the journey easier, and they work – really!!
These are things I do, feel free to change an adapt to what you think might work with your child.
– before the journey – engage them in the packing process. They’ll see some of the things you will be putting away in the suitcase (explain that “this is for when we get there”) and some things for the carry on (“these are for the airplane”). That way there might be some flicker of understanding when you explain that you don’t have the dollhouse with you to play with on the plane. Bear in mind that this might backfire at the packing stage when they insist that you pack the dollhouse in the first place. Good luck with that.
-take their favorite teddy/blankie/doll, whatever, as long as its a reasonable size. You can also get the child to explain to the teddy what is going to happen when they go on the plane (that’s always fun to listen to!)
– I usually bring little presents for each child – wrapped in newspaper. Small, age-appropriate games or toys without too many pieces that I take out later in the trip, once the novelty of the plane, the seat, the buttons, the screen, the airline’s inflight kids kit etc has worn off. Each child usually gets a coloring book or activities book of sorts as well. Crayons win over pens and markers, but the best I have found are the Colour Wonder sets by Crayola. The marker pens in them are colourless unless they are used on the special paper, where the colours are visible, so you don’t end up with ink marks all over their clothes if an uncapped pen spends the flight duration in the seat. (Don’t forget to take a change of clothes regardless)
-snacks – not the crumbly kind unless its necessary. Raisins and dried fruit are quite good.
-now the controversial iPad, iPod, PSP, Gameboy or what have you. I take it along. There are some great apps including games and story books etc on the i-devices which are great for keeping little ones entertained (so that you might actually be able to watch a whole movie, albeit in pieces, if you are lucky). I get new apps/games for the flight, so they had something new to explore. Little ones like looking at family photos.
I’m sure all of this you probably already know, and that you have your own methods and tactics that you have tried and tested already. If I have one – most important – tip that I can give it is to be prepared for the landing. Take-off is not that much of a problem, even though so many people lump take-off and landing together as if they cause the same problems. Landing is when the kids might need help in equalizing ear pressure. For infants and little ones breastfeeding/ bottle-feeding if it is feeding time works better than a pacifier. It is the swallowing rather than the sucking that helps, so having something to swallow helps. If you’re successful in timing a feed with landing then that’s great. More often than not, it doesn’t work out that way. A trick is to drop a drop of sterilized water (or diluted juice if they are older) into the inside of their cheek with a syringe very now and then (only a drop mind you – and in the inside of their cheek – not right into the back of their throat). That would stimulate salivary glands and get them swallowing at least every once in a while, which will help equalize the pressure. Start when you feel the descent, usually a few minutes before they announce it. Older children are easier, and I find lollipops work best. If they are old enough to chew gum without swallowing then that’s an alternative.
Its not that dramatic traveling with kids. As long as they are briefed about staying close, not touching the seat in front with their feet and being on their best behavior before you leave for the airport, and as long as you have enough to keep them entertained for the journey, and as long is the plane is not delayed and the luggage isn’t lost and no one has a bout of vomiting or diarrhoea during the flight it’ll all go well. You’ll be fine!
Twinkle 