Tots Travel Tips Before I had children, I loved to travel, and knowing the impact it has had on me as a person, I always dreamed of taking my offspring to the far flung corners of the planet. At just two and a half, my son and his seven month old sister already have a good few stamps on their passports between them. I’m not going to lie – it’s certainly a different experience flying with children: I can’t say that I watch many in-flight films, or partake in much of the free onboard booze these days, but, it hasn’t been too difficult at all. Yes, it’s been unpredictable, but that’s one of the many reasons I love both being a parent, and adventuring round the world. Combine the two, and you’ve got a fantastic recipe for not only shaping young minds, but making incredible memories for the entire family. Here are ten tried and tested tips that I’ve found make the journey a little smoother… Snacks, snacks, and more snacks – Full tummies are definitely the way forward for all members of your party: don’t forget to make sure you eat and drink as much as you can too. One side of my carryon is always dedicated to favourite snacks – imperative if your child, like mine, is a fussy eater. A container with compartments is handy for presenting different options, and keeping things organised. Don’t forget, you may have to deposit fresh veg/ fruit before making your way through customs. Don’t let the boredom creep in – Flying is extremely exciting, but can also be very boring. Perhaps you’ve got the airport ridiculously early, or maybe the aircraft has been delayed, or your luggage is last to come out at baggage claim, let alone, sitting down for
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from Zoë Kornfeld
eight hours at a time! At the airport, take it in turns to go on mini-missions: counting airplanes, spotting pilots… buying mummy a coffee! Some airports do have free play areas, but I avoid them as they can be so manic. I know we’re not ‘supposed’ to indulge in too much screen time, but it is such a great way to keep a child occupied – what better way to escape the mayhem of unfamiliar surroundings than donning some comfy headphones, and watching an animated film? Download plenty of new games and shows in case of dodgy wifi. Something I enjoy doing is hunting for little toy treasures at the local car boots/ charity shops, and wrapping them in shiny paper or mini gift boxes. These go down a storm for before take-off, when electronic devices are stowed away. Don’t forget fantastic no frills entertainment, like I-spy, making up stories, naming an animal ABC or having a good old chin wag.
Timing is everything – Choose carefully whether you travel on a day-time or a night-time flight, take into consideration how much actual sleep you might get, and what the onward journey will be like if you or your little ones don’t get much rest. Will you have to drive the other end? Will you be able to manage any jet lag? You know your child, so try to predict problem times – is nap time due at a crucial moment? For me, I don’t mind which I take a baby on, because mine would just doze on and off during the day, or sleep fairly well during the night flight, but the impact of a toddler only getting a few hours might be tricky once on the ground, whereas during the day, if they nap, it’s a bonus. Do think about how the time change at your destination might affect them, and
perhaps factor in a few days for their circadian rhythm to even itself out. Everyone loves a freebie – Check out whether your chosen airline has a kids’ club – we have been presented with colouring books, extra snacks and toy airplanes. Babies are usually given a free nappy/wipe kit for long-haul flights (only one, but it’s better than nothing), and we acquired a great teether toy which we still use today! At the airport, the best freebies we have made use of are the water dispensers, to fill up empty bottles after security, and one famous coffee shop chain kindly filled up a couple of bottles of warm milk for free too. Dress for success – A fairly obvious one, but comfortable clothes are a must: stretchy bottoms with continued >
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