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Flying with Children

Flying for adults can be a daunting task and sometimes quite stressful, but for children it's an adventure.

60 years ago our children were lucky to even experience a holiday at all and post Second World War children took their annual holiday at the growing number of holiday camps like Butlins and Pontins in sea side resorts around the UK coast, until the birth of European travel to our most popular European neighbour, Spain. The era of holiday families flocking to the sun kissed beaches of Spain and Italy soon outstripped the aged holiday camps with its old style games and lack lustre English weather.

40 years ago our children were very lucky indeed to board a plane and it was a talking point at school. But, with the low cost airlines, it's cheaper than ever before to fly and it is perhaps one of the only costs that have actually reduced in price.

We are now seasoned fliers and our children accept getting on a plane as an every day event, but they do still get bored and, despite all the gadgets and distractions available, children can find the journey a tiresome event.

Children are able to fly from only a few days old and the only restriction is the time it takes to obtain a passport. Children's passports only last for 5 years due to the fast changing growth and picture.

Taking young babies on a plane can daunting and it's particularly daunting for the parents of toddlers, who cannot understand the reasons why they can't run around and why they have to sit still for such a long time and apparently do nothing.

Here are some sensible tips when you're taking your children on a flight:

Try to get a window seat for your child and agree to switch them round if you have more than 1 child, as at least they will have something to look at for some of the time;

Ask the check-in clerks if it might be a good idea to be seated in close proximity to other similar aged children if they can, as it might be that the children could communicate with each other and make some flight friends. This will be at the discretion of the check-in clerks, so let them decide what they think would be the most harmonious seating suggestions;

Looking out of the window watching the activity of the other aircraft and baggage handler's pre flight checks, etc. can help to take their interest at least for a short while;

Take lots of books and toys they really like to play and read;

Try to book flights that fit in with your children's sleeping times, bearing in mind they will be over-excited and may have fallen asleep in the car on the way to the airport;

It can be a good idea for first time fliers to practice a little game at home pretending to be on a plane with some chairs to simulate the cabin layout. Use this as a good reason to explain that other people will be sitting in front and behind and try to make out that this game requires keeping still, rewarding your children for those that can stay still the longest.

Don't forget to bring in your hand luggage nappies and wipes and change of clothes for your babies and sealable plastic bags

Ask the stewardesses for help, as usually they are more than happy to lend a hand and pay a little attention to your children. Also some airlines give free children's packs and some airline staff will offer a short baby sitting service if you need a break.

Remember to state the exact age of your child when you're booking. Children aged 2 and under are expected not to occupy a seat, as they should sit on your lap, and they are not charged for.

With babies 10kg or less on long haul flights, you should be seated facing the video wall so you can use a bassinette. This is a crib that attaches to the wall in front of you, which makes sleeping for you and your baby that much happier.

Meal times are most welcome and children love to open all the packets. However, more often than not, they refuse to eat the food, which makes it somewhat difficult. They want to eat food like that which you can prepare at home, and this is probably true of all adults too, as we don't always eat the food.

If your child or children have never flown before then you really need to have a home dummy run to explain what's going to happen. They will love to play the game, arranging chairs in your lounge to simulate the seating in the plane, and you can even explain how trays of food will come up and make the whole thing a fun game.

Try to expel as much of their energy as you can prior to the flight and don't feed them food or drinks which will increase their sugar levels which can wake them up. You want them to be nice and quiet on the plane, not giving you and other passengers lots of headaches and causing you too much embarrassment. Remember there is no real escape from the cabin environment other than the toilet or to walk around.

Make your children walk as much as possible from the car and around the terminal do not let them sit around in prams as you want them to exercise and to keep active, especially if you all have a long flight.

Whilst you're waiting to go to the gate, try and show your children planes taxiing and taking off. Even for some young teenagers this is still fun to watch.

Take your children to the bathroom before you board as they will invariably ask to go to the toilet whilst you are seated but still waiting for clearance.

This is also a time for children to actually sit next to their parents for extended periods. Make sure you agree to swap around so that all children get an equal chance to sit next to both mother and father, as this may be a rare occurrence, especially for the father to spend some quality time with his children without having to rush off somewhere.

Make the best of the time together and let your children really enjoy the unique experience of flying. I am sure you would have appreciated the opportunity to fly when you were 7 and take in the wonder of flight.

Most airlines now have movies and radio stations and plenty to watch and listen to with personal head sets.

Written on: 20th July 2007