Essential Tips to Keep in Mind While Flying with a Baby

As a new parent, you must have faced several issues while flying with a toddler. Toddlers and young children are very sensitive and can hardly cope with the stress of the journey. Besides, their impatient attitude can annoy other passengers on the flight. Therefore, it is common in every airport waiting area that some parents struggle with their babies to calm them and manage the whole situation.

In this piece, you will get a set of effective tips on flying with a baby. Keep reading to know more.

Flying with a toddler for the first time is as important as their first step. The world and its wonders are unknown to your baby. Therefore, you need to arrange everything properly to present in front of your toddlers and give the best experience to them. Following are some tips that can ease the effort of a new parent and give the baby a great experience of flying,

1. Plan Everything Before Flight

As a parent, you must monitor every aspect of your flight before booking the tickets. For example, you should be aware of the schedule of your flight and the type of seats you choose. Checking the schedule will help you decide the best time for you and your baby. Further, you must arrange seats properly to ensure that you all sit together in flight.

2. Avoid Red-Eye Flights

Red-eye flights depart at night. These flights are generally filled with passengers who want to have a comfortable overnight journey. Therefore, it is recommended not to choose a red-eye flight while travelling with your toddler. This is because your child's crying may also disturb others and hamper your peace.

3. Book a Direct Flight

When flying with a toddler, make sure you book a direct flight. This is because a flight landing puts extra pressure that may be uncomfortable for your baby. In addition, the noise of landing is also unpleasant to them. Therefore, it would be better if you go to your destination by direct flight to ensure a happy and comfortable journey for your baby.

4. Choose Kids-Friendly Airlines

With rising demand, the airlines involve themselves in providing kids-friendly features that are attractive and beneficial for new parents and their infants. If you research properly, you can get kids-friendly airlines easily who have different perks for little children.

5. Choosing Layover Flights

You can opt for layover flights to fly a long distance with your baby. Babies generally can't sit for a long time and easily get annoyed. On layover flights, you will get a break of at least 8 hours and be provided with a hotel to stay in. In this time, you and your baby can relax and revitalise yourselves for the next journey. However, you should not choose long-layover flights as it may make the baby impatient.

6.Visit Restroom Before Boarding

To avoid any inconvenience during a flight, you should visit the restroom for one last time before boarding. During this time, you should change the diapers of your babies and check whether they need to use toilet. Visiting restrooms before boarding is important because you may face discomfort in the small toilet of an aeroplane.

7. Pre-boarding Should Be Your Choice

As a new parent travelling with your baby, do not wait for the last moment to board. Instead, you should pre-board to avoid the pressure of a long queue of passengers behind you. In addition, in this extra time, you can make your baby familiar with the flight's interior and spend some quality time to make them cheer.

8. Try to Book an Early-Morning Flight

Early morning flights are generally less crowded and perfect for travelling with your baby. You can choose seats properly and enjoy comfort throughout the journey. Besides, you can do boarding properly without struggling with your baby in a long line.

9. Follow the Guidelines

Before boarding any flight, read the related guidelines on travelling with an infant in flight first. This is necessary because you can implement the regulations of carrying a baby on a flight. Further, you can claim the benefits the flight authority should give you under certain conditions.

10. Dress Your Toddler Properly

There will be a drastic temperature change on flights, or your baby might have to go to the toilet anytime. Therefore, you need to dress your baby in layers of comfortable attire. In addition, try to make them wear zipped clothes that are easy to open when necessary. Further, try to avoid shoes with laces as these increase the chances of tripping.

11. Talk to Your Kids

One of the most important tips for flying with a kid is to talk with him or her beforehand. You need to make your child aware of the journey, the procedure of boarding, and codes and conducts to behave in a public place. In addition, you also need to teach them security measures that they should follow while travelling.

12. Bring a Smaller Stroller

You should be very organised in bringing strollers as the regular big-sized ones may be hazardous in the airport crowd. Further, if you travel with more than one baby, consider using a baby harness to manage them.

13. Be Prepare For Security Checking

Travelling with a baby demands carrying huge luggage and many snack items. Therefore, it is obvious that you will be cross-checked before boarding. So, you should prepare for security checking and ensure you are carrying those necessary items for which you can give a proper explanation.

14. Monitor Your Kid's Health

On a flight, the air pressure fluctuates due to height. Therefore, you need to check the health of your child prior to boarding. If you notice any health issues some days before the journey, then you should go for a doctor's check-up and ensure whether your child can fly or not. Further, after boarding, give your kids plenty of liquids to keep them hydrated and lower the discomfort regarding air pressure.

15. Bring Snacks

To manage your toddler throughout the journey, pack some interesting snacks for them. Eating will keep them busy, and they will be happy with their favourite snacks. However, you should adhere to the rules and regulations of your airline while carrying snacks and beverages.

16. Keep Them Engaged

Depending on the age of your children, you can make them engage in different activities. For example, if your child is a little older, you can give video games to play or books to read. In the case of smaller ones, you can let them watch cartoons.

17. Keep Them Away From Aisle

Sitting by the aisle is inappropriate for children as passengers and food trays continuously will be passing by them. Therefore, to avoid mishaps, you should let your child sit away from the aisle.

18. Be Aware of Germs

Travelling with children demands extra protection. To keep the children safe from any kind of infection and germs, you should carry disinfectant and wipes and clean your child frequently. In addition, you should also track what they are doing or holding throughout the journey.

19. Stay Calm

You may face many annoyed people during the journey who may be harsh to you unnecessarily. In front of your child, you should not react unpleasantly to them as it would affect your child more. Therefore, you must remain calm and composed throughout the journey to tactfully manage every situation.

20. Take Toys As Surprise

When flying with your infants, don't forget to take their favourite toys as a surprise. Playing will cut down their boredom, and it will be easy for you to manage them throughout the journey. However, you should bring toys as per the airlines' guidelines.

You need to carry certain documents of your child for verification purposes and the child's safety. These documents include -

• Birth certificate
• Vaccination certificate
• Passport
• Mother's discharge certificate from hospital
• Other necessary medical certificates regarding special conditions of your child

To make your children comfortable throughout the journey of a flight, you can follow the below-mentioned guidelines,

• Make sure your child is wearing comfortable clothes
• Be attentive to their needs throughout the journey
• Try to be friend with  fellow passengers or other children present on the flight
• Schedule flights during their nap time
• Try to get a window seat
• Book another seat for your infant if you can
• Make your child excited about the journey
• Start preparation from the day before your journey
• Feed them properly before flying

Listed below are some essentials for flying with a toddler

• Necessary medicines for your baby
• Stroller
• Enough diapers
• Disinfectant
• Antibacterial wipes
• Drawing essentials
• Kids' meal
• Blanket for an extra cosy feeling
• Tablets and earphones
• Diaper cream
• A compact first aid kit, etc.

Hope these suggestions on flying with a baby will help you to plan your first trip with your infant. It is equally important to make children familiar with every mode of transportation. Therefore, following some necessary guidelines and safety measures, you can easily fly with your baby and enjoy travelling.