TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH A TODDLER
Written by: Caroline Meyer
Travelling with a little one can be very challenging. The little hands seem to get in to everything and they also seem to like exercising their voices a lot more outside of the house! Keep the wipes close and your checklist closer!
Don’t plan your vacation shortly after your little ones have been vaccinated. Vaccinations can bring on unexpected side-effects such as diarrhoea, fever and rashes. This can result in an unpleasant time for the whole family instead of a fun holiday. Make sure you pack twice as much clothing for your toddler as what you think you might need. If you thought they made a lot of messes at home, wait until they discover a whole new way to ruin their clothing. Extra clothing is a good way to prevent having to find a laundromat while on holiday and spending a day doing the wash instead of having a good time.
Use the benefits available for parents travelling with small children. You know the flight might already be painful if the little one has to stay on your lap for a few hours. Make sure you get the early boarding and if there is a seat open, beg the flight crew to shuffle people so you have one next to you to slip the toddler in to and give your lap a break during the flight. If possible, book a night flight so you have a good chance of your toddler sleeping for at least some of the journey. Make sure you book early so you can pick your place close to the front for easy entrance and exit. Some airlines actually add in a bassinet in the front row after take-off for your convenience. Don’t be afraid to ask.
It’s also imperative that you pack snacks and toys for the trip. Little ones that are hungry and thirsty are a lot grumpier than ones that are happily munching and colouring in. Add in your child’s favourite snacks and hope it is enough to keep them happy for the entire flight. Don’t forget to pack your first aid kit especially painkillers, Band-Aids and other essentials for treating boo-boos. It’s also important to treat potential ear ache from the pressure change during take-off. Give a snack that keeps your toddlers jaw moving or sing songs and chat. A moving jaw helps release the discomfort from the inner ear pressure.
Instead of the usual carry-on bag, you might want to consider a back pack so that you have hands free to deal with the toddler when getting on and off the plane. If you have one with zips and pockets you can pack well and know exactly where everything is, reducing the time needed to get out what you need and lowering the risk of a screaming toddler especially when the lights are dimmed…
Some airlines don’t allow fluids over a certain amount through security while others do allow for milk in excess of the usual allowable. Most will also allow snack pouches. Make sure you are aware of the regulations before you prepared for the flight. You might have to buy your juice and water near the gate though. Put all of the snacks and milk etc. in to a Ziploc bag and have it on the top or in a side pouch to show security and have it hand inspected. Once you are through, you can repack your bag to have everything at hand that you might need on the flight.
Keep Calm! That may sound redundant, but flying can be stressful and adding a toddler in to the mix can make it even more so. Plan ahead and do you best to stay calm. Don’t worry about the possibilities of a horrendous flight and a screaming toddler ahead of time or you will just increase your own tension and make the whole experience more stressful for everyone. IF something happens on the flight, deal with it then. Chances are things will work out way better than you expected.
While you can’t plan for every eventuality, you can do your best to make the flight as pleasant as possible for your family and the rest of the passengers on board the flight. If you get through the plane ride, the rest of your trip is likely to be a breeze!