Before I did so, I researched online and found a ton of websites, both professional articles and personal blogs, with tips and ideas about how to make flying with small kids easier. There's a bunch of good ideas out there, so obviously this blog post isn't an entirely new subject! But I hope that you can look through this one and find some good ideas that you can utilize and make your life easier. Hey we're all in this together, Moms, and we need all the help we can get!
My luggage idea was fairly simple...other than the three car seats that I had to check, each person checked one large (at the 50 lb weight limit!) suitcase. I needed my husband to help check all of this in, and I texted my sister who was picking me up later and warned her that I'd need help at the baggage claim. Then each child got their own (very very stuffed) backpack to carry. I know there are rolling suitcases out there but I've heard stories about how they don't work well overall. The backpacks were great because they kept the kids' hands free, have several different pockets to divide things up neatly, and I noticed that since they were pretty full it kept the kids from running off! Ha! Make sure you buy cutsy tags for each of them even though these are carry-ons; put your cell phone number so if a kid leaves their bag somewhere, someone can call you right away. And please, make sure you have EVERYTHING labeled/tagged before you leave the house. You don't want to waste time doing this at the airport and those paper tags come off super easily. Tag your car seats and strollers as well.
In their backpacks; for quick and easy access to everything they're going to bug you for later...in the front pocket I had their earphones, then the pocket full of awesome snacks (some healthy and some were crazy, rare super cool treats that they were astonished to be able to enjoy). Include some great lollipops and gummy bears! These are the 'taking off' and 'landing' treats because it will make them chew and suck and pop their own ears, and no gum messes. Then I had their surprise games, books, and so on in the other pockets.
Oh, and for peace of mind, I highly recommend getting dog tags for the kids ahead of time! You can order cute ones from some online place like these from My Precious Kid. I've had these before and they're great, usually I kept them on my own keychain and clipped them to the kids' belt buckles when we went to air shows, school field trips, festivals, or even crowded malls. If you're pressed for time, look up any local military supply store or even a local pet shop! Pick out a cute tag and have them engrave it with you and your spouses phone number. Attach it to a good chain for a necklace, or to their belt buckles. If a kid gets separated from you, someone can call you right away. My kids are taught to keep these dog tags inside their shirts and NEVER take them off unless Daddy or Mommy does it, and if they get lost they are to pull them out and show an adult. They are also taught, if they're lost, to look for someone in uniform like a police, fire fighter, soldier, etc. OR a mommy with other kids. Discuss this with your kids, over and over, and if you're walking around and you see someone 'safe' like mentioned above, point them out and say "If you're ever lost, someone like THAT would be able to help you."
The front. On the back are our numbers. Elton's awesome Aunt Cindy made these in her trophy shop Awardline on Oahu. The chains were long enough to tuck into their shirts but short enough that they can't pull them over their heads. Mommy has to unlatch them.
So anyway, on to the airplane activities...I am trying to type this post quickly and so pardon the unedited pics.
My top favorite activity; MODELING CLAY! I got a pack of 10 assorted colors from Walmart, very inexpensive. Any brand will do. It's soft but WAY LESS MESSY than Playdoh and it seems a bit firmer yet pliable. All the kids played with this but my 7 year old son adored it. He spent hours working with this and was very happy with it.
He is on the autism spectrum and this textile, quiet, focus-oriented activity ended up being incredible for his high-functioning autism. He created an Angry Birds lineup and enjoyed the admiring comments as people passed by on their way to the toilet.
Ok these pics are really bright. Sorry. It was an early flight, which I also recommend! People aren't expecting to snooze as much on day flights as they would on evening ones so it may reduce the dirty looks you get when the kiddos are slightly loud.
Anyway here is the lacing activity. Incredible lonnnnnnnng moments of quiet concentration! Even the 1-yr old enjoyed it; I would poke the end through a hole and let her pull the string through. She was squealing with delight. These are the Melissa & Doug Farm pets, I got these at Ross.
Side note about the above-mentioned dirty looks: I think most travelers roll their eyes and secretly hope they aren't assigned seats next to the lady with all the kids. I used to be that way. However if they SEE that you are TRYING YOUR BEST to keep the kids entertained and as quiet as possible, I think they appreciate that and the dirty looks aren't manifested! In fact, I had people compliment me on my efforts. Twice I had fellow flyers deliver extra neat snacks to me, the flight attendants brought them their Junior Pilot flyer wings and stop by to chat with the kids, several times the attendants brought us extra snacks and drinks on their way down the aisles, and at the end they took Samuel up to the cockpit to chat with the pilots because he was so quiet and well behaved! Anyway, my point is, do your best and make it obvious that you are! Stay calm, smile at everyone, and show your best efforts. If anyone complains in spite of all of that, well, they're jerks and you should ignore them.
New Sticker Books! New Coloring Books! Yay! I got these about 2 weeks before our trip (letting them all pick out their own), showed them to the kids, then packed them away for the plane. They knew they would get to play with them then and were looking forward to all their new toys and books. I think this eased the sadness of telling everyone bye!
I also bought new crayons, including fancy glitter ones. There's just something wonderful about opening a NEW box of NEW, sharp, beautiful crayons. Is it just me, or is that not awesome and makes you a little more excited about the day and your journey? Ha! Tip: contain these in a pencil box. The regular box gets smashed but a plastic box is hard (and light) and will easily hold all the pencils, pens, crayons, etc.
Small puzzles! Obviously you don't want a regular big puzzle with tons of pieces to lose. This was a great matching puzzle set where they could match up just the head, body, and feet of different characters. Perfect for the seat tray. This is the "Who Am I" set from The Learning Journey, International.
Don't forget to nurse the baby on the take-off/landing, if possible, for the comfort of their ears. Lily never had a problem so I guess it worked. Yes I look tired here. Obviously.
Don't forget the cool snacks! Bring them out periodically. My kids got to try things they normally don't get, which just added to their happiness (and quiet). The gummy bears worked wonders during the takeoff/landing. Just don't get things that are too messy/sticky. Speaking of sticky, have your wipes handy. AND keep a large Ziploc bag with you. Several. It's great for keeping all their trash together and not bugging the flight attendants every time you have an empty cup or whatever. When they go around collecting trash, empty your Ziploc bag and keep it for more trash. THEY WILL LOVE YOU for not bugging them all the time and for keeping your crap trash all together and not on the floor. Also, when you land, since you have to wait while everyone else is getting off, make your kids get down and scour the surrounding floor area. They can retrieve any dropped toys, crayons, and so on...also for pete's sake, have them pick up all your trash. Someone has to do it and it might as well be the ones who made the mess! The flight attendants are probably thinking what a mess it will be in the area where all the kids were sitting...give them a nice surprise instead! It's called being a responsible, caring human being. OK ending soapbox moment...
If baby goes to sleep, this is wonderful! Of course the FAA discourages flyers from placing kids on the floor, unbuckled, to nap or play. So I'm not recommending that. Anyway. Here is a pic of Lily enjoying her nice pillow-padded, quiet, nap area. If we'd have hit turbulence I wouldn't have left her there but miraculously, we didn't.
Accept help from strangers! Even those who don't speak English! Many flyers are probably bored, anyway, and would love the chance to chat with inquisitive 3-year olds who want to lean over the seat and carry on a conversation. They 'talked' for half an hour, one in Chinese and one in English, and the Chinese lady showed Emma all of her neat Chinese things in her carry on purse. It was a funny conversation and based on the laughter, one that they both enjoyed very much.
Electronics and the beauty of being able to load kid-movies onto tablets ahead of time! Having their own familiar headphones is nice and they love seeing new movies or games.
Again with the help from strangers....yay! If your baby wants the Japanese (or any race, who cares) couple to hold her for awhile so she can tell them all of her woes, let her/him. Who can resist a baby and this gives you time to go to the bathroom ALONE! If there is a line, ask if you can quickly go ahead before your baby cries. No one wants the baby to cry so they will likely shoo you to the front.
I'm blessed with a child interested in reading/memorizing the emergency instructions. If necessary, he would've safely guided us out of the plane, likely deploying the emergency chute correctly and directing everyone to the nearest exits. He is awesome like that.
If the toddler sleeps, sit back and relax your back/neck muscles. Ask for a drink. Pull out the Sky Mall magazine and shop. Close your eyes and breath deeply. You've got this, Momma!
Bonus points if baby sleeps to! Take unflattering selfies and congratulate yourself on being sort of awesome, because you are. Even though you're tired.
If your kids are well behaved and the pilots are in a good mood, they might allow your kids to come into the cockpit. My son was in there FOREVER asking A TON of questions and I thought he'd never come out. A flight attendant was standing in the door laughing at all the serious questions.
End of the road baby! My sister brought me flowers because SHE is awesome and she also brought a friend to help with all the luggage and antsy kids. Brilliance.
OH...wait, one more tip I wanted to include...see the purple-tutu wearing ballerina? Yeah she's my child who ALWAYS has to be in a 'costume'. Anyway she had so much fun prancing around getting smiles and compliments from strangers and I think it made her behave better. So, if your kids want to fly in costume...a pirate, super hero, princess, ballerina, monkey, whatever...why not? As long as they don't carry props, aren't too constricted or hot in the outfit, then let them travel in style. Or at least, in their own style. Let them have fun and get compliments from the people dressed in business suits who look at them probably wishing they could wear a superman suit instead.
They're only little for a little while.
Let them have fun snacks, new crayons, and awesome costumes.
Let them have magic as they fly.
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