Travelling with children can be stressful for any parent. Here are some tips and common etiquette to follow when flying with your little munchkins.

Desi Globetrotter guest writer Naveen, an international flight attendant and mom of 3, offers some helpful advice:

Strollers

• Get your stroller gate checked. Most airlines allow you to do this. You get a sticker to put on your stroller so you can bring it to the door of the aircraft. Collapse it there and it will be taken to the belly of the airplane. At the end of the flight, it will be brought back up to the aircraft door. Don’t rush to get off the airplane because you will be waiting for your stroller on the bridge. (Each individual airline has their own system for returning strollers, so ask the crew where you should wait for your stroller at the end of the flight when you board the plane).

Carry On Items

• Don’t bring on a million carry on items. You have your hands full with your infant, and flying is stressful, so make your life easier and have your baby essentials and your headphones/book/ ipad…and leave the kitchen sink at home. However, having said that: Expect delays. Ensure to pack extra diapers/clothing, milk/formula/and treats.

• If your child is 2 years old+ you must purchase a separate seat. Most young kids will not wear their airplane seat belt. However, since you purchased the seat, you can bring your child’s carseat onboard. Car seats manufactured in Canada must have a sticker that reads CMVSS on it. Most kids will buckle up in their own carseat. Another advantage to bringing your own carseat is that the carseat has them sit up higher and they are able to look out the window or watch the inflight tv. Also, if you are renting a car, you won’t have to rent a car seat for your child (plus, those rental car seats are filthy).

• If you are packing essentials for your infant/child have them handy and place them in a bag that fits under the airplane seat, so you have access to it at all times. Nothing is more annoying than people getting up during the flight and opening the bins to access their luggage….constantly. This disturbs other passengers and blocks the aisles for the flight attendants and for those passengers that need to access the lavatories.

• If you have an infant, you can carry them on board in a Snuggli carrier/harness so that your hands are free for your carry on items. However, you must remove the baby from the harness during the flight.

Up in the Air: Entertainment, Food and Ear Pain

• The seatbelt sign is usually on for the first 20-30min of the flight and the last 30 min of the flight. Ensure that your kids use the rest room prior to boarding the aircraft and prior to the plane descending. The best time to go is immediately after the service is done and the garbage is picked up. Don’t wait until your child has to go urgently. Washrooms always have lineups.

• Bring entertainment for your children. Keep them occupied. Sometimes the in-flight tv’s freeze up and are inoperative. Don’t count on them to work. Also, some airlines hand out or sell ear bud type headsets for Audio but these don’t stay/fit in little ears…so bring your own headsets from home.

• If airlines sell food (such as on domestic/transborder flights), they run out of selection, so bring your own food/snacks, especially if you have a picky eater or a child that has allergies. (Travel with your credit card. Air Canada does not accept Cash and most other airlines are beginning to go cashless also). If you are travelling on a long haul flight that serves complimentary meals (International), you can order an infant or child’s meal when you book your ticket. Keep in mind you might have to confirm your special meal request with the airline 24hours prior to departure.

• It is not uncommon for young kids to have pain in their ears for landing. To relieve this pain have them move their jaw (big yawns, gulping or drinking something). Nursing babies for landing also helps. Crying is not so bad because the jaw will be moving up and down. It’s just annoying for other passengers. Stuffing cotton in their ears or putting cups over their ears doesn’t work. If you want your child to chew gum for descent, bring it with you and have it handy.

Checking in and Managing Expectations

• Check in early if you want to ensure you are seated together.

• Best general advice for parents: Prepare for your child’s needs. Don’t expect the airline to take care of your child’s needs/demands. Don’t expect tv’s, headsets, gum, food, straws, blankets, pillows etc. Bring all the essentials yourself. Most airlines charge for everything now.

Air travel is very stressful. Adding kids into the mix adds even more tension. Be prepared for every/anything…. especially delays.

Author: Naveen, flight attendant and Desi Globetrotter guest writer.

Photo credit: Kevin Dooley