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| Photo credit: FabulousTerrah via Flickr |
Book an aisle seat!!! This is vital to your travel sanity. This one single thing could make the difference between flight heaven and flight hell! What's the big deal, you ask? You wanted to look out the window and you're certain your children will be endlessly entertained by the clouds floating by? You are wrong, my friend.
The big deal is that you will need to get up out of your seat practically every single time that 'ding' signifies the seat-belt light turning off. Sometimes you'll need to get up because your baby is crying. You will need to get up and do the *rock and shush or change her diaper. If you have one who is newly potty-trained, you will have to get up to help her relieve her bladder several times throughout the flight. If you have an active toddler, you will need to let him pace the aisles now and then.
You do not want to have to climb over a stranger, or worse let your child do so, each time you need to make a trip to the loo. Got it? Good. Happy travels.
*Rock & Shush – You know this move, I only coined the phrase! This is where you hold your screaming baby in the cradle position, rock your body side to side while simultaneously loudly shushing. You can read my full article on settling newborns here.
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ReplyDeleteI'm following back:)
Hi, I'm visiting from the Make My Morning Hop! :)
ReplyDeleteThis post is triggering flashbacks from when my kids were really little. I was just telling someone that you simply shouldn't travel with a child between 18 months and 2 years on a flight longer than 2 hours if you want to retain any semblance of sanity! lol
Thanks for your post and I hope you'll visit and follow me back. Renee
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I totally agree! Yet, sometimes it is necessary. Thanks for following. I'll be visiting soon!
DeleteThe key to flying with young children is to NOT let them past you into the isle. Let them know that they can stand up and stretch their legs, and play quietly, but they cannot go out into the isle to walk. It's honestly, not safe. I have traveled, flown alone, with my son when he was 12 months old, 1 year. I then flew again when he was 2 and my daughter was 6 months old. Then we flew alone this past December, alone, when both kids were 2 1/2 and 4 years old. This is what I do with them. I keep them in their seats, keep them busy, bring a portable dvd player, leapfrog explorer, leappad, books, games, small toys, and their favorite small blankets and one stuffed toy each. They did great! My son only had to get up to use the restroom once, and I didn't have a diaper to change for my daughter until we landed! This was a little bit over a 4 hour flight from TN to CA, and back again a few weeks later. As long as you set boundaries that they need to be quiet, not kick the seat in front of them, and play quietly until they land, they do fine without having to get up and walk the isle. There's no reason, until you are traveling alone with an infant, that you really need to walk the isles.
ReplyDeleteI found it's best to sit towards the back of the airplane, near the bathroom. The kids like to watch the people and stewardesses come back and forth, and they can see the wings and propellers of the airplane. It's also louder towards the back of the plane and keeps the kids quieter! Just an FYI! Oh, don't fly with a car seat either. Good luck carrying them on and off an airplane! Been there, done that, won't ever do that again. Seatbelts on the plane work just fine.
Well done! I agree with the car seat. It just ends up being a huge pain to carry around!! Thanks for your very thoughtful comment and additional tips!
DeleteFunny you would do this post we are flying with Matilda in July....ugh not really looking forward to it as she is already wild on the ground :)
ReplyDeleteHi there! I'm visiting from a blog hop and love your blog. Your description up there... "writer, wife and mother of 3 who strives (sometimes) to be a Domestic Goddess"...I think we're kindred spirits :)
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower and would love it if you'd consider dropping by to visit and following back. Thanks and have a great Easter!!