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We fly fairly regularly with our son since he was about 8 months. He is a year and half now ( approx. 3 hour flights mainly). We try to book them for some where near nap time, and we always carry a portable DVD player with his favorite dvd, he rarely sees TV at home it is a real treat. We have backups like small toys he hasn't seen in a while, or some of his favorite books. We also bring his own food so he gets some sense that it is a normal situation. Luckily for us he seems to like flying. I have also found that Westjet will often put young kids grouped in the same section of the plane and generally if the flight is not sold out they will try to hold an extra seat for you.
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Feb 28th, 2008 02:17 PM #1Newbie
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Tips on travelling with kids or infants?
Anybody care to share their useful tips on how to travel for extended periods of time with young kids or infants (suffering the least anguish) and remaining sane?
Could be any travel type: long road trips, long airplane trips, long cruise trips, etc...
Thanks!
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Feb 28th, 2008 07:31 PM #2 Reply With Quote
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Feb 29th, 2008 10:44 AM #3Deal Fanatic
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The answers will depend on the age of the kid(s).
From three years old onward, we brought books (icluding books on CDs), toys and most importantly, a DVD player.
When two, we brought food, drink (buy after security) and made sure to book a plane where we had three seats...I would sit on the edge and block the way and we'd let him move from floor to seat to floor to seat....
Younger than two, we always tried to book seats like above...we'd put him to nap on the floor with some blankets. He could crawl around the floor when awake.
When really little, we had the car seat and strapped him in...
In all instances, we made sure we'd get up and walk down the aisles, go the bathroom frequently. Key is not be be worried or upset if you kids cry...yes a temper tantrum would be bad (and I'd go and sit in the bathroom with him), but otherwise don't worry. Appologize to your neighbours...most will be very accomodating.
Remember to board first during preboarding...and take you stroller down all the way to the plane. We always sit and talk with the gate agent. Nine times out of ten, if it is not a full flight they will attempt to move us to better seats or away from other people.
FWIW, we took our son to:
Australia - 6 months
Switzerland, England - 11 months
Dominican - 2 years
Bahamas - 3 years
Florida - 4 years
England - 4 years
We never had any major issues. Reply With Quote
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Feb 29th, 2008 10:53 AM #4Deal Fanatic
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One thing not to forget when on vacation (cruises or hotels) is that you should allocate time for each adult to have their own time alone...and not to pack too much into a day.
For example, when going for a week down south. We go out and about on 3 days, and 3 days are at the resort. When at the resort, I would take my son out for breakfast (and allow Mum to sleep or read) and some of the morning. In the afternoon, when my wife cannot sit in the sun, she would take my sun swimming in the pool or back to the room for a few hours...That way, we both got some rest and relaxation time... Reply With Quote
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Feb 29th, 2008 11:02 AM #5
I had the same question a while ago.. We are headed to the UK with a 4 yr old and a 7mo old... Someone pointed this site out: http://www.flyingwithkids.com
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Feb 29th, 2008 11:41 AM #6Thanks for that!
Originally Posted by deejayspinz
I'm flying out of Detroit on March 7th with a 7 year old and a 4 year old....and TheWife._______________
Just think, if it wasn't for the internet and free time at work we wouldn't know things like this. Reply With Quote
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Feb 29th, 2008 12:37 PM #7
we flew 15hrs with a 9 month old..and came back on a 11hr flight with a 11 month old. no major problems..but one tip, try to coincide the flight with bedtime or naptime. Try to arrange your flight at night if your baby sleeps most during nighttime so you can get majority of the flying time asleep.
also there was quite a bit of turbulence on our flight so we weren't allowed to walk baby around...we were stuck in the seat with the baby seat belt attached to ours.
bring snacks, books, toys...also once on flight, as the flight attendant for some water so you can be ready to feed baby formula when needed. try not to wait last minute to ask the attendant as they are usually busy when you need them the most
also once you get onboard, as for a baby pack. usually long-haul flights will have this and it contains some diapers, diaper cream, jarred baby food and maybe a toy or 2.
as for road trips, we took a 13hr road trip from van to alberta when our baby was 5 months old. it was so much easier to travel on road with a newborn because you can stop whenever you want and the scenery changes constantly (whereas on a plane its the same old everywhere). also on roadtrips you're not stuck in a tiny bathroom with a super small changing table. Reply With Quote
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Mar 1st, 2008 02:07 PM #8Deal Fanatic
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...just remember to be considerate of others. Often they will understand and go out of their way to help...
We were on a winery bus tour in Australia and ended up not bringing enough Diapers. The driver actually detoured so that we could get a new pack of Diapers. Not one person complained or said a negative word (or look). Reply With Quote
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Mar 6th, 2008 05:16 PM #9Deal Addict
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man! that's amazing!! Originally Posted by nalababe
btw, one tip i'd recommend when travelling with kids ... leave 30 - 1 hr early depending on how long the travel is ..._______________
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Mar 12th, 2008 03:05 PM #10
Kinda OT but here it goes...
I'm flying to Montreal this April with a stroller and a car seat(Graco travel system). Is it advisable to have these 2 as a check-in baggage, or is this only my option? Worried about getting it being destroyed as I see those luggages being thrown when they put it in the plane. Reply With Quote
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Mar 28th, 2008 04:02 PM #11Newbie
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Thanks for all the great advice... Too bad my 1 week cruise plans got debunked due to unavailable flights to the port...
I'll keep all this in mind for my next trip... Reply With Quote
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Mar 31st, 2008 06:28 PM #12Good website Originally Posted by deejayspinz
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