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Taking the stress out of air travel WITH BABIES, TODDLERS AND CHILDREN
from FlyNamibia May 2024
Travelling with children can bring an extra layer of stress to the journey, especially when underprepared. Children will find a way to lose shoes or get hungry at the most inconvenient times. However, it is possible to avoid many of the stress inducers when it comes to travelling with children. We have rounded up a list of things to know about air travel with children that will hopefully make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Remember too that if you are travelling alone with little ones, you can get special assistance from the ground staff to help you through customs and get your bags. Just be sure to let the airline know before you travel by sending an email to info@flynamibia.com.na
STUFF WORTH KNOWING ABOUT AIR TRAVEL WITH CHILDREN
At what age do you pay for children’s plane tickets?
• Once your child turns 12, you pay full adult airfare prices.
• If your child is 2-11 years old, they qualify for child rates.
• If your child is under 2 years old, they qualify for infant rates and can sit on an adult’s lap. If you need a separate seat for your infant, it is a different rate and you need to provide your own infant seat for travel.
What are the rules regarding bottles for babies or snacks for toddlers when travelling on a plane?
You can take snacks for toddlers along with you on a flight, and as far as many parents are concerned it is an absolute must-do to keep the little ones occupied. Already mixed baby formula and breastmilk not exceeding 2 litres and stored in bottles are allowed on board your flight.
Can you take a stroller with you on the plane?
You can take a stroller or car seat with you, but these items may not exceed 32 kg or a total dimension of 155 cm. Your stroller should be foldable and compact when fully folded and these items must have at least one flat surface. Also worth noting is that your stroller can be sky checked at the plane when you board while your car seat is checked in with your luggage.
What documents do you need to take with you when travelling with children or babies?
• For all international or regional travel, you need a valid passport for your child.
• For all international, regional and domestic travel, your child needs to travel with an unabridged birth certificate if they are under 18 years of age.
• If your child is travelling with only one parent, you will need written legal consent from the other biological parent.
• If the child is travelling with someone who is not a biological parent, they will also need an affidavit from the biological parents giving consent that they can travel with the accompanying adult.
• Also worth noting is that newborn babies may not travel under the age of 7 days old, and that the parents of newborn infants must present sufficient proof of parenthood at the check-in.
• Children under 5 years of age are not permitted to travel alone.
• It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to complete all necessary travel and immigration documents.
TRAVEL HACKS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS (THE MOMS)
Here is a list of hacks which moms found most useful when travelling with their children. Perhaps what worked for them will work for you.
Wear your baby – Stephanie Hopkins
A baby carrier is a great choice for air travel. It gives your child an instant sense of closeness and frees your hands. As Stephanie explains, “We prefer babywearing to get our children through the airport so that our hands are free to manage everything else.”
Ear pressure control and earphones – Marie-Jeanne Ndimbira-Rosner
“I have found that it helped my child’s ear pressure to be drinking something as we took off. To ensure that my child would take a bottle when she was very young, I would not give her a bottle until take-off. Then when she got to toddler age, I found that bringing her earphones along was critical as standard plane earphones don’t fit little ears and a little screen time on a flight gives you as the mom a necessary break.”
Snacks and something to sleep on – Trixi Malan
“Snacks are the first thing you need to take along when travelling with a toddler. Other things that have helped me are taking along toddler headphones and, depending on the length of the flight, a blow-up travel mattress. It also helps to choose a night flight for longer distances.”
Layer up and avoid laces – Maria Haskin
With many temperature changes on longer flights, it’s always good to dress your kids in layers for the journey. Shoes with laces are a hassle especially at the security checkpoint. As Maria explains, “Pick shoes that come on and off easily and pack socks. Planes can get chilly sometimes, and socks can help keep those baby toes warm.”
No aisle seat for the little ones – Nangula Paulus
“An aisle seat is an escape route for little ones, meaning you’ll be off your seat more than you’re on it as you chase after them. Window seats are far more advisable as it gives them something to look at and keeps them away from things like hot coffee as it passes on the beverage carts.”
Pack entertainment or become the entertainment – Elzanne McCulloch
“Pack entertainment like books and stickers. A dummy for take-off is helpful because if they suck on it their ears don’t pop and hurt. Ziplock bags have many uses on flights, for example a place to put dirty nappies or wet clothing.”
CONDITIONS OF CARRAIGE
