The thought of flying with a baby or a toddler can be daunting - it may seem as there are so many steps and so much that could go wrong. Scary as it may seem though, it is far from impossible and should not put you off from going on a family holiday!
Having done about 30 odd flights with my daughter, including a couple of solo trips, I would say we have both become rather used to flying together. Although every flight brings something new and the needs of my daughter change as she gets older, there are definitely things I have learnt that will make flying with your child a lot smoother.
From getting to and from the airport, making your time at the airport as smooth as possible and making sure you are prepared for the flight - here are a few things to help you prepare for your next flight!
Decide how to get to and from airport
Getting to and from the airport can be a mission in itself - lugging around lots of baggage, make sure you have enough time at the airport and on top of that, your child might be tired if you're flying early in the morning/getting back late after a long day of travelling. Choosing how to get to the airport will of course depend on where you live and how easy it is to get to the airport you are flying from, but there are a few pointers that can help you decide which mode of transport is best for you.
Bus or train - Nowadays, we tend to mainly get to the airport by bus or train, as our daughter enjoys being able to look out the window, have some food or snacks on the move and not be restrained to a car seat. This option will also save you a lot of money (and kids holidays can be expensive!).
Taxi - If it’s your first time flying, or if you’re flying alone with your child, it might be worth getting a taxi all the way for ease. You can sometimes prebook a taxi with a car seat (for a fee) - just remember not all taxi companies in the UK have this option so you might end up with quite a pricey taxi journey! Alternatively, some taxis will let you use your own car seat and then store it for you if you book them coming back. If you live in the UK, you can also skip the car seat altogether as you can travel without one in a licensed taxi if your child is under the age of 3 (read more at gov.uk).
Driving - Lastly, an option could be to drive yourself and pay for parking at the airport - depending on how long you are going for and what airport you are flying from, this might even work out cheaper than paying for a taxi.
Ask to check in hand luggage
If you have booked hand luggage only, or you are travelling with a few extra cabin bags, I would recommend asking to check in your hand luggage (or they might even offer it to you before you get a chance to ask). You’d be surprised at how accommodating airlines are when it comes to people travelling with children – even budget airlines have offered to check our bags in for free to make it easier for us (plus they often need the extra room onboard the aircraft). Just make sure you don't check in anything you need for the plane - we once accidentally checked the bag that had ALL the nappies and ended up having to ask another family on the plane for a spare nappy. We now keep "emergency nappies" in each bag we bring!
Gate check your pram
Most airports will let you check in your pram at the gate, as long as it folds down into one piece or has the correct pram bag (we use this pram bag - it is also a great way to smuggle in a few extra bits!). Alternatively, if you have a compact travel stroller you can bring it onboard the plane and store it in the overhead lockers. Some airports will also bring the pram directly to the gate when you land on the other side. Airports that don't have the option of gate checking your pram, will usually have strollers that you can borrow - just double check what the options are at the check in counter when you arrive at the airport.
Maximise on the liquid allowance
The normal liquid allowance of max 100ml excludes food and drink for young children and you can usually bring A LOT – for reference, we usually bring 1-2 litres of long life milk for the plane, as well as water and, when she was younger, baby food in both pouches and jars (sometimes 7 or 8 pouches!). It does however mean it will take a bit longer for you to get through security as they need to check every item individually, but it’s worth it. Allowances may vary for different airports, so make sure to check the airport's policy on liquids for babies before flying.
Take advantage of family lanes at security
Personally, going through security is my least favourite part about flying - this is always when my daughter loses her patience, and because you have to put all items through security, there is noting I can give her to try to calm her down. Luckily, it is usually over pretty quickly. A lot of airports have a priority lane for families when going through security. Some airports, like London Luton airport, offer a paid fast track service. We used this when travelling during the August bank holiday weekend, it cost us around £5 each and it was so worth it to skip the long queues and just whizz right through. I would recommend reading up on the airport you're travelling from beforehand, to know what they offer.
Make use of the airport play area
All airports we have flown from have had some sort of play area – if you have a toddler or older baby this is a great way of tiring them out before the flight! We usually allow extra time at the airport so we get at least an hour in the play area before the flight. Some airports also have a play area at the baggage claim which is absolutely great for letting your child have a run around after sitting still on a plane, before jumping into a taxi/bus/train to get to your destination.
Pre-board (or not)
Almost all airlines offer priority boarding for families, which means you can be the first one to get on the plane – it might be worth bearing in mind though that the earlier you board, the longer your child will need to be on the plane, so it's up to you if you want the extra time to settle in on the plane or if you want to let your child have more time to run around.
Bring a baby carrier
If your child is still small enough to fit in a baby carrier, I would definitely recommend bringing one as it will make things a lot easier, both at the airport, when boarding/disembarking the plane and for the duration of the flight. This means you will have your hands free to carry bags, and means your child is safe whilst you're moving around. For longer flights, this was a great way to get our daughter to fall asleep when she was younger.
Equalise ear pressure during takeoff and landing
The pressure on the ears can be painful to your child, and for many parents, this is the hardest part of the flight. If your child is under 2, they will need to travel on your lap, with a separate seat belt that clips in to yours, and for takeoff and landing they need to sit facing forward in your lap.
There are a few things you can do to help equalise the pressure:
Ear defenders - might also be soothing to your child as they will also cancel out any noise (these ones were great for when our daughter was a baby, now we use these ones)
Chewing and swallowing - encourage your child to eat and drink
Yawning - make a game out of yawning as the yawning motion can help equalise the pressure
Nasal spray or saline drops – if your child has a stuffy nose, using a saline spray before takeoff and landing can help clear the nasal passages
Dummies - if your child uses a dummy, this is a good thing to use during takeoff and landing as the suction reflex can help with the pressure
Pack essentials in an easy-to-access bag
Make sure to have a bag with all the essentials handy on the plane - things like nappies, wipes, snacks, toys, and an extra change of clothes for your child. Wearing comfortable clothes for both you and your child will also make things like going through security and nappy changes easier, and dressing your child in layers and bringing a small blanket can help keeping them warm on the plane, as temperatures may vary.
For more tips on what to pack for your flight, check out my blog post for packing tips.
Keep your child entertained on the plane
If your child still naps, and can nap on the move, then it might worth trying to time your flight so coincides with your child’s nap time. Either way, if there is one thing I have learnt it is that bringing entertainment on the plane is key! Things like busy boards, sticker books, compact books to read, fidget toys, colouring books, stacking toys and small sensory toys are good things to bring. We usually buy one new thing for our daughter, such as a new sticker book, as the novelty of it will keep her entertained for longer. If your child has just/is about to start walking, you will surely be doing the classic walk up and down the aisle! Now that my daughter is a bit older (2 years old), I also always have something downloaded on my phone or tablet for her to watch (I try to avoid screen time as much as possible, but when it comes to travelling, anything goes!).
And lastly... keep calm and carry on
You could be doing everything right, and your child might still cry or fuss. Try to be patient and stay as calm as possible - travelling can be stressful for little ones, and most people understand the difficulties of travelling with children. We've been quite lucky with our flights so far, only once did we have a lady complain about our daughter crying on a long-haul flight. It stressed me out at first and I was desperate to get my daughter to stop crying as to not annoy other passengers, until I realised that my stressing out wasn't helping anyone, especially not my daughter. So, as much as you can, try to stay calm and remember the flight will not last forever (and you will likely not meet a single person from that flight ever again!).
Brilliant 😍❤️