All parents deserve a break from the routine, and kids thrive on the undivided attention they get from one and all during a trip. Traveling is a great learning experience for them too. However, kids can be completely unpredictable and un-self-conscious about showing their displeasure to anything, tinging the excitement of most parents with stress. Here are some strategies to ensure the happiness and health of your young ones (and your sanity!) on a flight.
Prepare your child mentally
You know your kid best, and how to get them excited for the forthcoming trip, so start mentally preparing them a week in advance. If they’ll be flying for the first time, tell them everything about the importance of following the rules, putting on a safety belt, and ‘behaving well.’ Small white lies such as flight attendants rewarding the best-behaved kid might work (stock some cookies in your handbag as rewards). If you or your child is worried about getting lost, tell them that you will write your name and phone number on a tag and pin it on them. Once at the airport, show them the security staff and explain to your child that s/he can always approach them if they can’t find you.
Pack it right
Backpacks are great for young parents as they need their hands free to take care of the child, hold tickets, push the trolley, etc. But a heavy backpack plus a toddler in your arms will wear you down. So instead of overstuffing the bag with toys, pack more of essential items and foods. Just carry one of their favorite comfort toys, and wrap a new toy in a surprise box with a lot of paper. Give it to them once you board the plane as an advance reward for behaving well. They love unwrapping surprises and will keep busy for at least a few minutes till you settle in your seat.
Of course, you can’t miss packing any essential item into your hand baggage! Buying anything at the last minute implies more running around and shelling out more money. Here are a few suggestions for your toddler’s backpack; please customize it to your situation as required.
| Backpack Essentials |
Notes |
| Small coloring books, a box of crayons, and stickers. |
To keep them busy |
| Sanitizer, and plenty of wet wipes. |
A must to keep germs and infections at bay |
| Plastic bags for trash and diapers. |
If your child is not potty-trained |
| Lots of healthy snacks that won’t spoil easily. |
Such as granola bars, nuts, homemade snacks |
| A few suckable sweets, cotton balls, ear drops. |
To prevent ear pressure discomfort during take-off and landing |
| A spare pair of clothes. |
In case they get their clothes wet or dirty |
| A small pillow/blanket. |
Or whatever they don’t sleep without |
Check in online and reach out early
Kids live in a warped reality where words such as ‘late,’ ‘hurry up,’ and ‘punctuality’ are completely alien, and all they want to do is explore and have fun. They can throw a fit to peep inside a fish tank and count the fish even as the last announcement is being made and if you’re already late, it’ll drive you crazy! So check in online, get there early, and let them have fun. That’s the only way to avoid all the stress of catching a flight on time.
Dress them comfortably
Your kids should stay comfortably warm in whatever they wear, without their clothes being too tight, or cumbersome when they urgently want to visit the washroom. T-shirt, jacket and slip-on bottoms are the best bet for both boys and girls. Choose jackets that they can remove on their own if they’re feeling hot. And choose slip-on shoes that can be easily put on if they want to use the washroom.
Avoid washroom rush
Once you’re inside the plane, carrying a child who ‘needs to go right now’ and rushing down the aisle, and then having to wait until its vacant is simply a hassle that you will want to avoid. So no matter how distracted and ‘busy’ the young ones are at the airport, talk them into using the washroom before boarding the plane, at the airport. Also, avoid giving too many fluids before and during the flight. Emergencies can’t be avoided, but at least you can stave off the washroom time until the seat belts can be taken off.
Don’t wait for health issues to manifest
It’s much less stressful and easy to take precautions than treat a full-blown illness, more so when you are travelling. But be wary of frequently giving chemically loaded allopathy medicines that can further depress children’s immunity. Many travellers vouch for Biogetica’s Equilife – an Ayurvedic tonic, which contributes to the nutritional and energy levels of the body and helps in energy regulation. 2-3 drops of Equilife mixed in your child’s milk, juice or water will work wonders by calming his nerves and preventing irritability. Also, be prepared for clogged sinuses and upset tummies. Homeopathy pills are easy to administer even to the crankiest kid. Biogetica has an excellent range of homeopathy products, such as OM23 Sinus for sinus relief and BR 9 Digestion Balance for digestion. You may use Reginmune for immunity and Radi to protect their system from electromagnetic radiation. These products are completely natural and safe to use for kids. Apart from this, take basic medicine for fever, such as Biogetica’s Soluvin and a mild painkiller as advised by your doctor.
| Equilife: 3-4 drops twice a day, once before boarding a flight, and once at bedtime |
| Digestion balance and OM23 Sinus: 1-2 pills twice a day from each bottle with a gap of 15 minutes, once before boarding a flight, and once at bedtime |
With a few precautions and planning, you’ll find travelling with your younger one to be a wondrous, eventful experience and you’ll look forward to your next family trip again!
