Here are some tips on what to do on the airplane with kids to ensure there are few meltdowns by you or your little one. You have done well so far; it is time to finish off proud and strong.
Usually parents with children are allowed to board the aircraft first to give them enough time to settle. Once you get on the plane strap your toddler into their seats and sort out your bags in the overhead compartment. Keep your “emergency” bag handy with you.
If you booked a cot or bassinet, an air attendant should bring this to you. There is also no harm in reminding them. They should help you set this up. Note that your baby will not be able to use the cot during landing and take off. You will be shown how to strap your baby’s seat belt to yours. It is advisable not to put your toddler by the aisle as the food cart and passengers carrying luggage could cause injury to them.
A very solid tip is to give your toddler something to chew on during take off and especially landing, to help their ears adjust to the cabin pressure which could cause their ears to hurt.
For babies, breastfeed during take off and landing or offer a dummy or bottle of milk.
If your baby is bottle-fed, ask an air attendant to help you warm your baby’s milk or provide you with hot water in a cup that you can place the bottle in. They are usually more than willing to help.
Occupying Kids On The Airplane
Assuming your little one doesn’t knock out from all the running around earlier before boarding, these tips would help keep your child occupied on the plane.
Before travelling it is a good idea to hide some toys that your little one owns for weeks, or some parents buy a few new ones for the trip. Let them play with these on the plane. Don’t bring them out all at once so they don’t get bored with the toys quickly.
Crayons and drawing books are also a good idea. You will need to supervise the use of crayons so that your little one does not write on the walls of the plane if sitting near one. I don’t think the airhostesses like this very much!
If your child is an ipad genius, like Bionic, I recommend downloading some educational and engaging ipad apps just for the trip. This will kept your little one busy and quiet for a long period of times.
Walk around the aircraft with your toddler in order to stretch your legs, use this time for toilet runs if needed.
Babies usually tend to sleep most of the flight anyway. If not, bring out their soft toys for entertainment.
Discipline On the Airplane
I want to believe that you already have discipline techniques that enforce good behavior at home. Expecting a child who isn’t disciplined to be well behaved on the plane is like expecting the impossible.
It may be harder to enforce discipline on the plane as you are constrained to your seat more or less. You can’t exactly send you toddler to time out on one side of the airplane! However on or off the plane, your toddler should know who is in charge. You!
The key thing here is to anticipate what might trigger bad behavior and squash it before it happens e.g. feed a hungry toddler, occupy a bored child etc
Before your journey, remind your child what the rules are. However if bad behavior occurs here a few discipline tactics you could use:
- Address bad behaviour as it happens
- Issue a warning letting them know what happens if bad behavior continues such as withholding a snack, toy or inflight entertainment for a period of time
- Expect that your child might protest when you enforce discipline, don’t let this sideline you. Stand your ground, and let them know another consequence is coming their way.
- Keep enforcing discipline when bad behaviour persists. You are in charge!
Like I said before, this would only work if you are already consistent with discipline at home.
Of course every parent knows what discpline methods work best with their little ones, so stick to your methods and improvise where necessary. The above are just some methods that work for me.
Remember to also reward good behavior e.g. getting a new toy, taking a trip round the aircraft, or anything that would motivate your toddler.
For babies (younger than one year) there isn’t much discipline you can enforce. If your baby is cranky on the plane, stay calm and concentrate on settling your baby. Mentally tune out stares of other people on the airplane. You have every right to be on that plane just as they do. Your best defense, if anyone is in your face, is to smile and say you are doing the best you can .
On The Airplane With Kids: Arrival
Just before landing you can decide to change your toddler’s nappy if it is soiled or do this as soon as you get off the airplane. They might need a change of clothing as well.
If there is no need to rush off the airplane, I suggest you wait till everyone or most people disembark. This gives you enough time to get your things together and your little one.
If you are stuck at the back of the immigration queue, don’t be shy to ask an attendant if you can move to the front of the queue. Most times families with children are usually ushered right to the front anyway, so take advantage of this.
So what things do you do when on the airplane with kids? What has been your experience with flying with a child? Please share in the comment below.
