When flying with babies and young toddlers, the most difficult part of the flight is likely to be take off and landing.
As the plane gains altitude the cabin pressure changes, making the air pressure around the inner ear off balance. This causes pressure on the inner ear drum, uncomfortable enough for an adult, but usually very painful for a baby or small child who can’t pop their ears.
Experienced traveling parents know there are a few tricks you can use to help minimize the pressure and keep your child comfortable. While making take off more pleasant for your child doesn’t guarantee a peaceful, relaxing flight, it will to a long way to making baby’s flight less stressful.
Let’s face it, if children were to pick their favorite ways to travel, trains would likely come in dead last. They ride along, staring at the same sibling across the car for the length of the trip. Kids can only stare out the windows at passing telephone poles for so long before they get bored. Forethought and planning are a necessity, in order to help mom and dad keep their sanity to the end of the line.
Infants are fascinated with new things and places, so they often handle traveling surprisingly well. Toddlers and preschoolers require a bit more thought.
When planning the trip, keep the kids in mind. While adults and older children might be able to handle a twelve hour layover without flinching, younger children will get tired of sitting in the same place for so long. If a layover is absolutely necessary, try to plan some kind of distraction, like a trip to a local park. Keep in mind that after being cooped up in a train car all day, they will likely have a lot of energy to burn off, so parks and playgrounds will probably work better than museums or theaters.
Going on a road trip with toddlers can be stressful, but if you think ahead and anticipate what you will need you and your child can have more fun and arrive at your destination calm and relaxed. If you don’t have what you need, it will make the trip a lot harder on both of you.Keep things you will need while driving in a centralized location. Usually, bringing your diaper bag and placing it in the passenger’s seat or on the floor between the front seats is a good idea. Pack the diaper bag with all the necessities: diapers for the trip, wipes, your child’s favorite blanket, toddler safe snacks, water, non-spill cup and toys. In the trunk, be sure to pack several full changes of clothes for your child and a change of shirt for yourself.
When you are on a long road trip with preschoolers, things can get a little noisy. After hearing “are we there yet?” thirteen times in two miles, you might begin to wish you and your kids had just stayed home.
But, weary traveling parent, relax. There is hope.
Planning is key when introducing your preschoolers to the joys of the road trip.
Provide entertainment – The night before the trip, ask each child to choose three to five toys or activities to bring along. Helping choose the activities make the child feel a part of the trip, and they are likely to pick activities they will enjoy.