Flying with Kids This Holiday Season? Here are a Nanny's Top Tips
While going to see family and friends is fulfilling and maybe something you’ve longed for all year, traveling with kids during the holiday season can be challenging. As a nanny agency and community full of experienced nannies and caregivers, we understand the nuances of child care and how tricky it can be to get it right under pressure.
Navigating airports and flights is one of the highest levels of this game, and sometimes it takes a parent’s whole arsenal of skill, smarts – and deep breaths – to get to one’s destination in one piece. We’ve gotten our super nannies to put together their top tips to make your holiday travel as smooth and enjoyable as possible for you and your little ones.
Making the Trip Easier for Kiddos
Flying with Babies
Flying with a baby might be easier than you expected, either if they’re so little that they’ll sleep for most of the flight or if they’re on a reliable sleep schedule. Just make sure you have what you need and check what you don’t, and you’ll be cruising through the terminal.
Maintain Routine: Try to keep feeding and nap times consistent with your baby's usual schedule. If possible, book a trip so it aligns with the baby’s nap times if you’re already on a sleep schedule.
Comfort Items: Pack a familiar blanket or toy to help soothe your baby during the flight. Vegetable puffs make great, mess-free snacks for older babies. Don’t forget extra pacifiers if your baby uses them, in case a couple fall on the floor!
Travel-Friendly Gear: Opt for collapsible strollers and portable baby seats to ease your travel. Most strollers can be checked either at the ticket counter or at the gate, so consider whether you need it in the terminal or not. For long-haul flights, an inflatable seat extender or toddler bed can be a lifesaver — just check what your airline allows before purchasing.
Book an aisle seat: An aisle seat (combined with a wrap or baby carrier) lets you get up easily during the flight if your baby needs a little bounce to get back to sleep. Book a bulkhead seat with an attachable bassinet for easy breezy nap times.
Flying with Toddlers
Toddlers can be some of the trickiest people on planes – they’re ready to run around and not so ready to be told to sit still or buckle up. Still, they can also be the ones to charm seat neighbors, appreciate the view and excitement of travel, and truly relish the quality time with you.
Engaging Activities: Bring along new books, coloring books, or quiet/soft toys to keep them entertained. Avoid toys with small pieces which may fly everywhere.
Window or Aisle? A window seat can occupy a kiddo for ages with fun cloud shapes and views, but an aisle makes it easier for you both to get up and run around when possible. Booking a bulkhead gives you a little more space to move around – but might make it harder for the kiddo to accept being strapped in.
Tantrum Management: Toddlers are known for strong wills and a fearlessness in expressing them. Prepare for potential mood swings with calming techniques: calming songs or music through over-ear headphones, favorite snacks, or rewards charts for older toddlers may be just the trick.
Flying with Older Kids
Older kids are often easier in the cabin, but they might still need a little coaxing to not get bored before you’ve even left the TSA line. Encourage them to take a bit of responsibility, use the trip as a learning experience, and take the chance for some extra bonding, and they’ll remember the trip not as boring but as a fun time for your family.
Educational Games: Encourage them to play games that are fun and educational. Maybe this is when you teach them card games, or invest in travel versions of fun board games, especially made not to fling game pieces through the cabin. If you’re engaged in the games as well, it will make time fly.
Fostering Independence: Assign them small tasks like carrying their backpack, choosing snacks, or handing the gate agent their ticket. They’ll learn the ropes for future trips and beam with pride at the chance.
Bonus Screen Time: Normally, we’d rather recommend activities other than screen time, but sometimes you might want to make exceptions – and this time may be it. Remember to bring headphones, preferably over-ear ones that make it easier to hear on the plane.
Etiquette for Fellow Passengers
A large part of why we get stressed traveling with kids is how it affects our fellow passengers. You may have heard stories of families handing out snacks and earplugs along with a sweet note to their seat neighbors. This is so cute, but just being mindful and making a few adjustments can really go a long way.
Pre-Flight Preparation: Discuss the importance of good behavior in public places with your kiddos. Older kids will likely already get it – and it’s hard to ask your newborn to avoid a diaper blowout – but your toddlers and preschoolers may really benefit from a little prep. Maybe even set up a rewards system with little gifts, stickers, or games to be doled out along the way if all goes well. Try not to put too much stern pressure on this point though, as toddlers may see this as a perfect opportunity to assert independence.
Small Courtesies: Simple acts like using headphones for electronic devices can make a big difference. If your kid has their own seat in a row of three, seat yourself between them and the third passenger if it’s a stranger
Pre-boarding Is For You: By boarding early during pre-boarding, you can give yourself and your kiddos more time and less stress to get onto the plane and into your seats without disrupting your neighbors or holding up the line – greatly appreciated by those who come after you.
Navigating the Airport with Ease
Security Check Prep: Prepare bags so that anything that needs to come out, like electronics, is easily accessible in your bag. Empty water bottles. Dress kiddos in lighter clothes that they won’t have to take off during screening and pack any large winter coats. Explain to your kid how it works and why you do it.
Managing Wait Times: Snacks may save you during long TSA waits. Some airports will show you online how long the wait times are and if another terminal or security check has a shorter wait time, which may be worth it for you even if it adds some walking. If it’s available to you, there are a few services which let you skip the security line and breeze through.
Essential Items to Pack
For All Ages: Snacks, wipes, extra clothes, and a first-aid kit are essentials. For smaller kiddo hands, dry snacks in no-spill containers are essential. A reusable water bottle (don’t forget to empty before security and refill!) is useful – the air on airplanes tend to be really drying. A pillow and blanket for naptime, or just for cuddles.
For Entertainment: Travel board games, a tablet loaded with movies, and storybooks are must-haves. For smaller kids, any toy you can attach to something will make it easier not to lose it along the way.
Embrace the Season
The key to a smooth travel experience lies in preparation but perhaps just as much in patience. It’s a little wild to travel during the holidays, and if you can all embrace the journey as part of your holiday adventure, it may make it less stressful for you as well. Remember, you are creating memorable moments with your kiddos along the way. We hope your flight will be as delightful as your destination!
Need an Experienced Nanny on Your Team?
Handling it all is a lot. A part-time or full-time nanny on your team may be the ticket to peaceful, productive, and fun days for your family, during the holidays and beyond. And if you’re looking for a dedicated, experienced caregiver, you need look no further than Smart Sitting. We’ve been connecting families with fantastic nannies for well over a decade, and we can help you, too. Just let us know what you want your days to look like, and we’ll take it from there.