A long flight with a child is a test not so much for parents as for others because babies do not always tolerate takeoff and landing well and can be quite noisy during the flight. A trip by plane for a child is uncomfortable due to pressure drops. Some simple rules will make the flight more comfortable for both kids and others.

Flight Time

During the night flight, there is a high possibility that a baby is likely to sleep. However, it does not mean landing at 2 a.m. because a kid will only wake up and is even more likely to be capricious. Try to choose the time of departure so that it coincides with the usual time for going to bed.

Pressure Drops

Many airlines provide cradles for babies under one year. But keep in mind that it must be booked in advance. To avoid problems with pressure changes during takeoff and landing, a baby should be given a breast, baby formula, or a bottle of water. If a kid swallows often, the ears won’t be plugged.

Toys

Many stressful and unpleasant situations can be avoided if a baby is not bored during the flight so you need to take care of entertainment that will occupy the child’s attention for a while. Grab kids’ attention by buying new toys. Remember that there should be no sound elements, otherwise, it will irritate the passengers. A good option is to prepare a small set for a child with coloring pages, figurines, stickers, and magnets. Items should be small in size and better if there are many – so by the end of the flight, a baby will remain interested in new toys.

What to Remember?

Be sure to grab a light snack (not all airlines provide passengers with food), and spare clothes in case of all sorts of troubles. It is also a good idea to take a blanket because it might be cool on planes. Gadgets or a player with audio tales will help older children to spend time.  Be sure to buy headphones in order not to produce too much noise. For safety reasons, never allow a child to run around the cabin. A kid might be harmed if a plane gets into air holes or if turbulence starts.

Traveling with kids disciplines parents and teaches them to plan carefully. For the flight to be successful, you need to remember several things:

• The vast majority of airlines do not take on board infants under two weeks. If you need to fly, take care in advance of the doctor’s certificate, which will record the permit to fly for a baby.
• It is not recommended to fly children with otitis. Moreover, if a kid has recovered recently (less than two weeks before the flight), you should visit an ENT doctor and clarify the possibility of air travel.
• If your little one was born prematurely or has lung problems, it is advisable to start flying only after a year. During the flight, the air pressure in the aircraft is lower than on land and a healthy baby won’t notice this but it can be a problem for premature kids.
• Note that rhinitis is not usually an obstacle to air travel. In such a case, you should use vasoconstrictor drops in the nose.

What to Take With for a Trip?

First aid kit. It is probably the most important thing on any trip. The first aid kit must include a set of pills for all extreme cases such as diarrhea, constipation, etc. Antibiotics, antipyretics, analgesics, and anti-inflammatory pills for ears, eyes, and nasal drops are must-haves for a first aid kit.

Food. When traveling with children under 3 years, do not take perishable foods. Take cookies, bagels, juices in packs, instant baby porridge, fruit, and meat puree in glass jars. Do not bring a full can of organic formula. You can spill a bit of it into a package zip instead and by the needed formula after arrival.

Hygiene products. No matter what means of transport you’ve selected (plane, train, bus) you will need wet wipes, soap, and toilet paper. If a baby is accustomed to the potty, you will have to bring a compact potty or a pack of pampers.

And last but not least, on a plane, a baby usually behaves much better than parents expect, so feel free to set off.