Travelling with kids can be extremely challenging, especially if you have multiple and they are in their ‘terrible twos’.
Short trips can be easier, but a long-haul flight? Impossible. Or not… the best way to deal with a long-haul flight with kids is to plan beforehand!
Keep reading to find out how you can plan for a long flight for kids.
Packing the Essentials
First and foremost, it would be wise to pack all of the necessities for the flight.
For kids, this will include any toys (yes, a necessity), their passports, baby supplies like diapers and bottles, snacks and a water bottle, even a change of clothes just in case.
If your little ones enjoy the feeling of going on an adventure, it may be a fun idea to pack some of these into a bag of their own that they can carry with them, provided that they are able to wear a backpack.
Of course, be wary of this!
They may end up giving it back to you to carry instead.
Snacks, Snacks, and more Snacks
We mentioned snacks, did we not? Snacks are a must for a long-haul flight with kids. If your kids are constantly hungry, it may be worth packing extra snacks for them to eat during the flight. Pack their favourite snacks so that you will not have to worry about being nagged about them wanting a certain snack that you do not have.
With extra snacks, you will not have to buy anymore during the flight itself as these are often expensive and you came prepared anyway.
Book in Advance
For a long-haul flight, it is recommended to book your seats and even your meal (if possible) in advance.
For seats in particular, you probably want to look for those with extra legroom and away from commonly noisy areas such as by the lavatories.
This is extremely important in not only helping you and your children sane during the flight, but also for other passengers who may be annoyed and continuously disrupted by a child kicking their seat from behind them.
So the best piece of advice is to book everything in advance!
If you are looking for a holiday that is child-friendly, why not search for trips with Refined Travel who can help you find the perfect getaway that your kids will also love?
Kids need to be Comfortable
In order to keep kids happy and relaxed, they need to feel comfortable, which can be difficult when it comes to long flights.
On the one hand, you can assist with this by purchasing additional travel equipment that will surely make their trip more enjoyable.
For example, child travel pillows are a good choice to help them sleep more comfortably, as well as inflatable foot pillows which allow them to lie down (if they are small enough).
Extra blankets, or their favourite if they have one, may also help to ease any restlessness, and you may want to invest in child-friendly ear plugs or headphones that fit snugly on their heads and ears.
Onboard Activities
To keep the kids entertained during a long flight, there needs to be more than just the selection of films and shows on the plane itself.
You may want to bring their favourite stuffed toy (of course), another toy of theirs in case they get bored of the other one, and maybe even a tablet with games or downloaded videos.
Remember to charge any devices as well!
Whilst we do recommend bringing a tablet if you have one, we do not suggest keeping them on it for long periods of time to simply play games – instead, educational videos have proven to be beneficial for toddlers aged two and above, so not all screen time has negative effects!
Relax
Whilst it is important to know how to cope with children during a long flight, it is also crucial that you as a parent or guardian are not overwhelmed.
It can be easy to dismiss our own stresses, but we are better off effectively managing our children if we are in the right mindset!
So, ensure that you are also prepared for the journey ahead – pack your own favourite snacks, books, travel pillows, and other items that will keep you entertained and relaxed during the flight.
Do not forget to also sleep!
Although you may be worried about your kids misbehaving, you should not sacrifice your sleep in order to keep your eyes on them at all times – sleep and you will be better prepared to deal with them if they start being mischievous.
