Tips for Stress-Free Travel

5 strategies for a stress free, long haul flight with kids.

words by Kristen Dias of Travel Karma

The best outcome on a long haul flight is that your child sleeps as long as possible. The first two tips are all about helping them sleep (and letting you chill and maybe even watch a movie or dare I say, have a beverage).

1. Consider the time of the flight when booking – try to fly overnight.

Your child is more likely sleep longer if you fly at night. If it’s possible, book the flight for the evening, so it will be close to their bedtime. The sleep hormone melatonin is released when it’s been dark for an extended period of time. The plane is likely to be darkened at night, making it easier for your child to sleep when melatonin is released making them sleepy.

2. Recreate your normal bedtime routine as much as possible.

Bring your child’s pyjamas, sleeping sack (if they have one), bottle or other drink, book, teddy etc. Change your child into their pyjamas, give them their bottle of milk if they have it. Read them their favourite bedtime book, give them their teddy to feel cuddly and get into sleep mode. Lastly give them their teddy or other comfort item and zip them up into their sleeping bag/swaddle/blanket.

3. Bring a Travel Activity Pack

The one from Travel Karma has been educationally designed by an international science teacher for you and your child to enjoy the flight together. It comes with how to’s for kids and parents to create dozens of arts and crafts. You can play board games, colour, make collages and write in the travel journal recording the special moments of your day. Check it out at www.travelkarma.com

4. Bring a variety of snacks

Snacks will keep kids occupied when they are not sleeping or doing some activities. Snack boxes of sultanas are good, kids tend to take quite a while getting them out of the box. Other nutritious, tasty snacks are crackers, dried fruit, cereal, mini muffins, celery and carrot sticks etc. Keep in mind that snacks need to be ok not being refrigerated and ideally not “smooshable” (mushy banana in the bottom of the nappy bag is no fun).

5. Ask the Cabin Crew for help

The cabin crew can bring a cup full of ice cubes which will entertain a wide range of kids. You can also ask them for a few plastic cups to play with, stacking them or making a pyramid. You can play lots of games with the items in the Travel Activity Pack and the cups, for example ask small children to place the pom poms one by one in to the cup. Ask an older child to sort items in to the cups by colour or size.

Travel Karma was created by Kristen, a mum, teacher, returned expat and international traveller. She first travelled internationally with her daughter at 7 weeks; her son at 14 weeks. Travel Karma activity packs were designed for mums who want to spend time with their children creating, learning, playing and making memories.