As a seasoned traveller, I certainly know a few tips and hints when it comes to jetting off on holidays and ensuring the best flight possible. But I’m not here to share those tips, I’m here to share my top tips on travelling with a child under two in particular with regards to the flight. Because let me tell you, when it comes to those of us with kids there’s not a lot of insider tips out there!
Now I’m just focusing on flying with a child aged under two as that’s the extent of my personal knowledge to date (no doubt as my little one grows and we travel more I can share more at a later date). My first round of tips start at the ticket purchasing phase.
As we know, children under two years are entitled to a fare that can be as low as 10% of an adult fare and no taxes. Yes I hear you say….cheap tickets! And yes I completely agree BUT if your little one is edging closer to the age of two, is tall, heavy or like my child just cannot sit still for even a minute, it might be worth considering purchasing a seat for them. Think about it for a minute, you have a flight 4 hours or longer, now ask yourself, is the discomfort to you as the parent having to hold said child while they nap, bounce around, try and jump all over you and just try and get into everything really worth a cheap flight ticket? You won’t be able to watch the inflight entertainment, read a book or take a nap and if you are travelling as a solo parent forget about trying to eat your inflight meal with a child on your lap! Food for thought I say.
Speaking of food, if the airline you are travelling with allows it request an infant meal for your child when you book your ticket. Otherwise be prepared to have to share your meal or come prepared and bring your own food for them to eat. And lastly my final tip at this stage would be to pre-book/purchase/allocate your seats. You don’t want to be shoved at the ear of the plane in the last row by the toilet with a contact line of people looking at you, disturbing your child as you are trying to get them to nap or just firing questions at you about your little bundle of joy.
Next up are my tips for when you are at the airport.
Leave the expensive pram you purchased for your little one when you were expecting at home and invest in either a second-hand brand name model or a budget option for you holiday. Baggage as we all know gets jostled around, jammed into tight spaces and will undoubtedly be squashed under someone else’s heavy oversized bag. Prams and strollers are no exception! They might be handles as ‘oversized baggage’ but they are subjected to the same torment and stresses as our regular suitcase. Wheels will be bent, fabric ripped, frames warped, better this happens to a pram/stroller you didn’t overspend on. I hear some of you say – but I can take my pram/stroller on board the plane with me, the airline says so. Not so my friends. There is limited space on board to stow such items and if your flight is full of families or there is a bridal party travelling who wants their dress stowed on board then you will have to check your pram/stroller in to go in the baggage hold. The one conciliation is that the airlines will allow you to continue to use your pram/stroller right up until boarding time and then it’s off with the other bags it goes.
Once you are checked in, through security and have purchased the obligatory duty free to collect on your return and bottle water for the flight, head straight to your gate area. Find a space for your family and then let your little one run wild (within reason of course!), let them burn up that excess energy, let them run, jump, squeal in delight at the planes through the window. Your fellow passengers may stare but remember you are doing this for them too, they will appreciate having a quiet child who isn’t kicking their seat for the duration of the flight. And you, my parental comrades, can then enjoy the flight too! When it’s time to board the plane, do as the airline staff ask and be one of the first to board. It takes longer to settle into your seats with a little one and you don’t want to hold up the flight by being late to board.
My tips for during the flight are based on a four flight, which I had chosen to coincide with my little one’s nap time to make for a more pleasant flight for all involve. I know it may not always be possible to time your flight with nap time or nap time may be elusive so that’s where these tips can help.
Be Prepared! This surely is a mum’s got to motto…be prepared, be prepared, be prepared! Take advantage of the extra carry-on luggage most airlines permit when travelling with a child under two and pack that carry-on accordingly. Nappies, wipes, food, water bottle, dummy/comfort toy, blanket, change of clothes in case of an accident, warm clothing to counter the cool plane temperature and as much entertainment/distractions as you can pack. My go to for keeping my little one entertained is a favourite reading book, a favourite soft toy, colouring in book with washable crayons and blocks that can be built up into a tower. Mum friends also swear by fidget toys but you know your child best so pack what you know they will play with. Of course there are laptops and phones with downloaded shows or as a last resort there is the inflight entertainment but just be wary of your little one tapping the screen all the time and the inconvenience of headphones for sound.
Before take-off, if the cabin crew have not come through and provided you with a seat belt for your child, ding that overhead bell and get one! Your child’s safety is paramount so always make sure you are being looked after by the cabin crew as you should. No one wants to see a child injured during a flight especially if that injury could have been prevented.
My final tip for you when flying with a child under two is for when you arrive at your destination and when you return home. Don’t be in a hurry to disembark, check your seats thoroughly to ensure all favourite toys have been re-packed (you do not want to leave these behind!) and ensure you have thrown away any food items prohibited from being bought into your end destination. As you will have had to check your pram/stroller in as hold luggage, it will be slow going through immigration as you juggle bags, passports and a squirming child but thankfully most countries have either fast moving immigration lines or separate lines for families so your discomfort will be short-lived. Taking your time disembarking also means that your pram/stroller will have finally emerged at the ‘oversized baggage’ carousal – these items always seem to be last off the plane, so by not rushing to disembark means less time watching the carousal go round and round and round.
If you have a child under two and are looking to travel soon I hope these tips will come in handy. If talking about flying and jetting off on a family holiday has got you wanting one yourself then head to our family holiday page to find inspiration or contact our dedicated team on 1800 800 722.
Photos courtesy of Plantation Island Resort Fiji & Pacific Resort Rarotonga, Cook Islands