Tips for travelling with young children

Here are some tips which might help to make the long flight to, or from, Orlando pass in a less stressful way if you are travelling with young children and toddlers.

Hand luggage

Let them have their own piece of hand luggage. There are some really attractive small bags and cases available now which will appeal to small children. Some are back packs, but there are some great little cases on wheels which make it easy for them to be just like mum and dad, and there are even some cases which they can sit on while mum or dad pull them along.

Favourite soft toy and/or blanket

Make sure you pack their favourite teddy bear and/or blanket which will help them to settle down and, hopefully, sleep for part (if not all) of the journey.

Plan flights around sleep patterns

If you have a choice of flight times, try and choose one which covers their normal nap and sleeping times, this way they are more likely to fall asleep on board.

Wear them out before departure

You will probably have at least an hour or two to spend in the departure lounge before your flight, so don' t just spend that time sitting around and waiting. Go for a walk round the terminal, play active games and get your child to run around so that they are tired before they get on the plane. Running in and out between fellow passengers might not be a good idea though!

Pack healthy snacks

Pack healthy snacks and fruit in plastic bags so that you can feed your child when he/she is hungry. Airline food is not always served just when you need it. Remember that you cannot take fruit into the US, so you will have to throw any left-overs away on the plane.

Take a change of clothes

Accidents can happen, so be prepared and have some spare clothes in your hand luggage, just in case. If you are flying over night, your toddler might sleep more easily if they are wearing their pyjamas.

Keep them entertained

If you have an older toddler you might find that the in flight entertainment is suitable, but you can’t count on that, so pack some books, colouring pencils and small games to keep them amused. It is a good idea to pack some things which they have never seen before and bring them out at appropriate moments to keep boredom at bay.

Take off and landing

The changes in air pressure at take off and landing can be uncomfortable for everyone, so to help your child cope give them a drink, or a lollipop to suck, which will help to relieve it.

Happy flying!