Flying the Not-So-Friendly Skies…with a Toddler

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I’ve always been afraid of flying.  It’s just not natural for your body to be hurled through the air at 600 mph. Willingly.  I’m pretty sure elementary sketches of air travel depicted giant catapults with wings.  What could possibly go wrong?  Ok, well, now that I’ve brought you into my slightly dramatic take on mainstream transportation, let’s kick it up a notch.  While you’re trying to refresh yourself on how to pull the emergency door latch, survey the exits, attempt the nearly impossible task of putting your backpack under the seat in front of you and figure out which way to turn the knob for more air (or is it less air, is anything coming out, oh for Pete’s sake!), you’re being yelled at, by a very demanding toddler.  It’s your toddler.  Refusing to put their seat belt on, asking for snacks after they’ve packed away enough food during lunchtime to last two winters in Antarctica, pushing on the tray table, messing with the window cover and pleading the fifth when you ask if they just pooped.  Unless a skunk is seated in the row behind you, your child definitely pooped.

We recently took a plane trip from California to Oregon, to visit my parents, with our three-year-old daughter and our almost two-year-old son, in tow.  I was so anxious about the flight.  It was either going to go really well or solidify itself as the single worst decision I’ve ever made.  I might be watching too much Animal Planet, but in an effort to mitigate full-blown tantrums, by either me or my kids, I went with the theory of showing no fear.  It’s just another trip to the fridge, another cup of coffee, another Saturday morning at the grocery store, another non-adventurous endeavor that feels like second nature. In addition to masking myself as calmer than the pilot (okay, a seasoned baggage handler, at best), I took into consideration the following travel tips.  A child’s emotions can be unpredictable, but there are some things that shouldn’t be left to chance:

1. Park-n-Fly – Airports are big.  Save yourself the stress of figuring out where your airline check-in is, in relation to the long-term parking options.  Off airport parking usually costs less per day and they have shuttles that will drop you off AND pick you up at your gate/baggage claim area.
2. Pre-board – Don’t let pride get in the way.  If given an option to have some extra time to set-up your toddler command center in the skies, do it.
3. Diaper Backpack – I’m in LOVE with my diaper backpack.  It keeps my arms free, is something my husband and I can both feel comfortable wearing, has lots of compartments, and for the early years, it has a detachable bottle cooler.  If I’d embraced the diaper backpack earlier I could have saved money on all of the cute, but less functional, over-the-shoulder bags.
4. Pack some cars – The airport floor can make a great race track for small wind-up cars.
5. Bag of crayons, paper and stickers – If your child is more of an artist, keep them busy with creating another original masterpiece.  All of these items should be available at your local dollar store.  You don’t need to be stressing about accidentally leaving a $20 crayon on the plane.
6. Layers – Sweatshirts can be used as pillows and you’re also prepared for delays or unpredictable airport temperatures
7. Electronics – Child friendly phone apps, a LeapPad, an iPad, Amazon Fire for Kids.  These are all considered safe, while flying, as long as you can turn on airplane mode.  Some flights are now offering free WiFi with access to even more media options!
8. Downloaded movies and tv shows – Netflix and Amazon Prime apps offer free downloads to your device.  Once downloaded, they can be played without WiFi access.  I usually try to set-up the kid’s devices two days before departure, so I don’t forget, or can troubleshoot any tech issues ahead of time.
9. Snacks – These should be ready at a moment’s notice (cereal bars, granola bars, squeeze pouches, snack packs of animal crackers, small sleeves of Ritz crackers, mini boxes of raisins). If packages are sealed, you can bring them through security (saving you time and money at airport mini markets, airport restaurants, or a hangry meltdown between take-off and snack/beverage service).
10. Disposable Bibs – Sometimes the closest or quickest meal is a bowl of oatmeal and you don’t want to sacrifice your only spare shirt too early in the trip.
11. Sippy cups – Once inside the airport you can fill-up with water, juice, etc. so you’re not at the mercy of flight attendants and the beverage cart
12. Plenty of wipes – Your children will find the moist wad of gum under the chair, or the one sticky inch of the escalator railing.  It’s already a breeding ground for germs.  Do what you can to mitigate exposures.
13. Let them run – You can’t expect them to be great the whole time.  Adults aren’t the best travelers either.  If you’re going to be setting the most expectations while you’re in the air, give them some wiggle room at the airport.  Let them run in circles, race down a long corridor in the airport or get on and off the moving walkway (multiple times).

There will be uncomfortable moments with other travelers.  You should probably just start practicing “I’m sorry” now.  Some passengers will be forgiving and some won’t.  Keep your eye on the prize.  Remind yourself of why you’re making the trip.  And since you’re saving money on snacks, you can afford to take a look at the adult beverage cart when you’ve reached cruising altitude.  I have a sneaking suspicion it might make slightly unfriendly skies a little bit friendlier.