In Flight With Babies, Toddlers and Children

You're all set to take flight with a precise travel itinerary for family vacation, luggage packed so well it would make even the most critical grandmother proud, but you get to the airport only to find your bags are overweight by 4 lbs and they want to charge you $90 per bag. What do you do? These situations are enough to stress first-time parents to their core. Overweight Luggage Don't panic, there are several easy fixes. First, if your bags are only a few pounds overweight and you're traveling with books, take them out of your bag. Remember, you are allowed one backpack to fit under the seat and one carry-on to fit in the overhead compartment per paid ticket. (If you have a lap baby, they are not allotted any carry-ons). Go to an airport store, buy a magazine and request a handled bag. Put your books in this bag and place under the seat. If your baggage is more than a few pounds overweight, take your books, towels and blankets out of your luggage. If you're checking a pack-n-play, they run around 25 lbs a piece, throw your heaviest items in the pack-n-play bag. If you've really overdone it, and you haven't reached your quota per paid passenger for overhead carry-ons, consider buying a cheap carry-on in the airport and filling it up. It will cost less than $90 and you'll have that much more to spend on your family vacation! Carry-On Essentials: 3-1-1 Rule Each ticketed passenger is allowed to bring a 1 qt clear plastic bag filled with 3.4 oz bottles of liquids: shampoos, conditioners, toothpaste, lotions, etc... Baby medicines and milk are not included in this quotient, but you have to declare them, so it's best to keep them in a clear baggy as well. Remember all electronic products have to be taken out of your carry-ons and placed in separate containers. This includes DVD players, iPads, iPods, iTouches, Nooks and laptops. Layovers, Food & Nutrition Don't rely on your travel itinerary for nutrition. Bring your own non-refrigerated milk, dried fruit, protein bars, etc... Many parents choose to pick flight plans with the shortest layovers so they can get to their destinations sooner. With only one hour between flights, you'll need to check and make sure your plane offers meals. Many do offer nutritional meals like fruit and cheese trays, or basic meat and cheese sandwiches, but they do charge. Some insist on passengers using credit cards, while others require cash. Check with your airlines customer service department or website to find out what they offer and whether you'll need cash. Sleeping on a Plane The days of receiving a complimentary pillow and blanket are long gone, so plan for this. Bring lightweight blankets for babies and toddlers, and consider bringing your child's favorite stuffed animal. The downside is you'll have to keep up with it, while the upside is, your child may feel more comfortable and be able to sleep on the plane. A great way to store beach towels is to bring them on the plane and use them for blankets. Beach towels weigh a few pounds a piece, so you don't want them weighing down your luggage, plus you can use them to clean up spills. Diaper Changing Stations Remember to bring a changing pad or you can use your towel instead for changing baby. Even if you get lucky and your plane has a changing station, you'll want to avoid germs by placing a barrier cloth down. To be respectful to fellow passengers, remember to bring scented baggies to throw stinky diapers in, and then throw them in the sanitary receptacles in the lavatories. Pregnant & Flying Request an aisle seat, so there is no one between you and the bathroom. You'll need to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid premature labor. To avoid swelling and blood clots, do the ABC's with your toes and get up and stretch every few hours. Also get your rest when your other children are sleeping, overdoing it can also bring on the contractions and push you into pre-term labor. Toys that do Double Duty Most moms learn early on a handheld DVD player is their best friend on road trips and it's the same in flight. Bring your own sets of headphones, because like everything else, airlines charge for headphones. An Etch-a-Sketch is also a great activity for toddlers and children along with the classic coloring book and crayon set. Plastic flash cards are great for planes: ABCs, shapes, colors, etc... Mom and Dad can interact without having to read a book out loud. Though traveling to a destination can be stressful, it's worth it to get to the final destination. Keep this in mind when your child is throwing a fit on the plane, you miss your connecting flight or your layover was cut short and you weren't able to eat at that favorite restaurant. Making memories is what family vacation is all about and sometimes the bad times wind up being great stories we can all laugh about later!