First-Time Flying With Young Ones
Today’s post highlights what to expect from air travel and how young first-time flyers and new parents can get set. Heeding some of the essential advice in this longer read might just make your trip feel shorter.
Whilst aviation rules have changed over the decades, airports have expanded and some airlines have come and gone, several constants remain when flying alongside children. The ones we invariably need to prepare for are the following:
- Nervousness
- Over-excitement
- Tiredness
- Appetite
- Ear Pressure (Airplane Ear)
- Restlessness
I could have listed all the positives flying brings but I shall not spoil the surprise; besides, this post is about enhancing the enjoyment, by gearing up for anything that challenges it.
Nerves
Apart from the delight from gaining one’s passenger wings, a range of other emotions can co-pilot the flight experience. Needless to say, nervousness is one of the most common and most distressing. Fortunately, we can ward off the fear with a little advance action topped up by regular in-flight reassurances. What follows are a some handy tips for a smooth-flowing trip.
Where the unknown causes unease, knowledge brings calm. In regards to children, air travel can be easily introduced through fun conversation: depending on their age or character, the basics of a plane’s lift can be explained through either a magical or scientific lens; the differences with familiar modes of transport need to be compared—namely boarding and alighting processes; children will benefit from space to ask questions; excitement can be nurtured with visual aids, or simply a walk outside to spot sky trails. Only once these positive and pragmatic points are understood can future talks involve some of the less-pleasant points arising with flying. This remains at your discretion, however, and should only be used as a means to dispel organically occurring fears. The idea is to either create calm or gently excite at this point.
Excitement
Speaking of excitement, whilst preferable to nervousness, it can become unsettling to all parties when excessive. Boarding the aeroplane for the first time stirs up so many emotions for young ones. Simply watching take-offs from the departure lounge adds fuel to rocketing levels of wonder and joy. If you are travelling with a particularly effervescent little character, be ready for double the bubble in this new environment. Some children’s behaviour becomes erratic in airports and on aeroplanes; it is important to be well-rested prior to the day so that you can be fully present for an all-engaging journey with them.
For guardians who are themselves new flyers, rest assured that airports are family friendly. Look for designated play areas or set up camp in the spacious parts of the lounge to give your children room to let off that built-up steam. Just keep an eye on any signs of over-excitement, which usually ends up in overheating, nausea and eventual burnout.
Tiredness
Tiredness has a huge effect on the young, and can hit them at any point during the journey. Nerves and excitement will burn up energy but usually it is due to a disturbed sleep routine. Families commonly find themselves rising at unsocial hours, since international flights can require check-in three hours before take-off. Little tricks can help ease this often unavoidable side-effect: checking-in online is permitted several days prior; pre-booking your transport to the airport; knowing hand-luggage permissions and packing accordingly; preparing breakfast or deciding to wait until you reach the departure lounge restaurants; taking a travel pillow and blanket. These small things quicken the overall process, giving you all the more sleeping time either side of the security checks!
Unusual Appetite
Due to the early sleep, or perhaps the mix of emotions, you might find your child’s appetite vanishes. This is only temporary: usually nausea subsides soon enough (though, if not, sick-bags are an hallmark aeroplane feature). On the other hand, their enegry is in greater need of repletion. Meals are available on most flights (ensure you pre-order special dietary requirements); even though snacks are included in some airfares, it is wise to pack your own—a handful of first-timers find ‘plane food’ peculiar. This also helps when you have a hungry child who has enjoyed their meal, the passenger’s beside them and is seeking the next to satiate their alien appetite. You never know quite how flying will affect you so prepare for all eventualities.
Temporary Ear Pain
One of the most unpleasant occurrences for the unwitting flyer can be the change in pressure during lift-off and landing. As the aeroplane’s pressurised-cabin compensates for the shift in atmosphere, our inner ears to do the same. The change is seamless for some but for others there is a painful block, which subsides once ‘popped’. It’s not as scary as it sounds—the remedy being simply to yawn or blow into a pinched nose—but it shocks young ones with no idea of what is happening. It may be useful to add this into your pre-flight conversations—though, best left till departure day to avoid undue anxiety. You can even practise the depressurising, or popping, activity. N.B. a head-cold will exacerbate this experience but should not prevent you from flying altogether.
Restlessness
Last, but no means least, is a child’s ever-present challenge of restlessness. This can begin as early as the transfer to the airport so in-flight tips also apply beforehand. Despite boarding soundly, being welcomed warmly by the crew and sitting comfortably, it is not long before someone feels restless. Keeping still in a small space in close-proximity to strangers in a narrow tube can be overwhelming. Therefore, it is encouraged to move around once in the air and seatbelt signs are off. In the meantime you might need to entertain yourselves.
If your child’s favourite toy is a tablet, download media in advance in case the in-flight entertainment is offline! If you prefer to be technology-free, the classics—colouring and sticker books, playing cards, and fuzzy felts—are a good choice. This applies mainly to pre-flight, since the airlines typically provide a combination of such playthings. For a few more ideas, head on over to Travel Mamas and check out their travel-toys for a range of ages.
A last thing to note is to think light; especially, if you will be carrying wriggling toddlers! It is not unheard of to stand in long queues to and from the aircraft; you will be grateful for a less-than cumbersome cabin-bag. The list of things-to-do-on-a-plane is not exhaustive so keep creative and open-minded and you will effortlessly combat pockets of restlessness (or distract from those of turbulence!).
If you consider even one of the above points, you are en route to a more enjoyable first experience. Encompass them all, and you will be high-flying.