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Flying
long haul and solo with kids: I did it and you can too!
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By Teresa
Day
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February
2010 |
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I
recently flew long-haul solo with my two kids. Several
friends have since asked how I did it and what I took —
so here are some tips to share...
So
many people fret about packing when traveling with
children. And rightly so, they need so much, but |
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you
don’t want to carry huge amounts. So what do you take
and what do you leave behind? If you’re traveling to a
developed country, don’t even stress about the checked
in luggage. If you forget stuff, you can always buy it
there. What you do need to spend time on is hand luggage
— there are no shops on planes! Having just done a
long–haul flight by myself with two young children, I
thought I’d share a few thoughts.
What
hand luggage to take
There
is no wrong and right hand luggage per say. What hand
luggage is right for you depends on how young your
children are and how you plan to move around with them in
airports. Here are a few considerations:
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If you're
traveling alone and have a young baby / child
and are carrying it in a sling, then clearly a backpack is
not your best cabin-bag option — a trolley bag will
serve you better. |
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If you have a toddler who has their own seat, a trolley
bag can also be used to extend the seat if you're in the
bulk head. |
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If your child is under 3 do not expect airline staff to
carry your bag, no matter how pretty and exciting it is.
You will end up carrying it yourself, so make sure you
have the ability to do so. (This is an insurance thing and
nothing to do with airline staff not being helpful!) |
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If you plan to push your baby / walk with your child
around airports, then a backpack is the way to go or use a
Ride-on Carry-on style chair attached to your trolley bag
for maximum comfort for you and your child. |
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Minimize
the amount of bags you take on board as much as
you can, weight restrictions allowing. |
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If you have a toddler, use a reign. I know its not seen as
politically correct, but airports are busy places and it
just takes a second to lose your child. Its not worth the
risk, especially if you're traveling alone and don’t
have two sets of eyes on one agitated energetic young
person. |
What
to wear
Stupid.
But a very serious consideration, especially if you're
flying into different climates. A few considerations I
find helpful:
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You
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If you’re traveling from a cold climate, pack your coats
into your check-in luggage. As soon as you start lugging
hand-luggage and children about in an air-conditioned
environment you wont need them and they will be
unnecessary luggage to carry. |
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Wear two thin layers that are interchangeable, so if the
top gets dirty you can swap over. If you get hot, take one
layer off. |
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Wear dark
colored but light fabric trousers and flat
shoes. |
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Your
kids
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Under 18 months can get away with staying in all in one
suits. Take disposable bibs with you to keep the front
part clean! |
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Over 18 months, cotton tracksuit trousers, comfy shoes (ugg
boots / slipper style), t-shirt and long sleeve top. |
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If (when?) kids get dirty on the plane, leave them dirty
(unless its bodily fluids obviously). Change them as youre
coming in to land / are off the plane. If you’re in
transit, make a deal of getting freshened up at the
transit airport — some fun water
play is always welcomed by little children! |
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What
to pack
The
biggest challenge of all. You’re aiming not to get
caught short and to be totally self sufficient whilst in
the air. Do not relly on the airline for anything, other
than foods for adults / food for children old enough to
eat adult food. So suggested items are:
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For
you
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One change of top and underwear.
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Toothbrush and small tube of paste.
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That’s
it.
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For
your kids
Bums: |
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Enough nappies for the flight plus another day’s worth
or enough Pull-ups for the flight plus another days worth.
(If your child is newly potty trained, use pull-up pants
on them when they would normally wear pants and put
nappies on them when they sleep)
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A new huge pack of wipes
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Small pot or tube of nappy-rash cream (like Sudacrem) –
nappy rash creeps in when traveling.
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Plastic bags – loads of them for dirty duds, dirty
clothes / using as rubbish bins and vomit bags.
Food:
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One large sub-sectioned
Tupperware container with a mix of
snacks in (pasta/cereal such as honeyOs, chips, dried
fruit, grapes). Anything to keep little fingers and little
brains active, especially during boarding /take off
/ taxi. Food isn't always served when little ones are
hungry.
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One non
leaky sippy cup for each child.
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One plastic bowl with lid for each child. Suitable spoon
and fork for each child. Leave the knives at home.
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Enough baby food for the flight and another day’s worth.
Preferably the squeezable packet sort. Saves space and are
lighter
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Bibs – lots. Feeding children on planes is not easy.
Disposable bibs can be tossed out so that you don’t have
to carry soiled stuff.
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Bribe-food to keep your child quiet at those important
times (lollies / fruit sticks). Lollipops are good for
landing (keeps them licking and swallowing, helps the
ears)
Milk:
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Put formula into sectioned containers so that
it's
pre-measured or do as I did and use portion sticks. Have several emergency formula portions. Take
enough formula for 36 hours.
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Bottles. Three max. Wash and use. Pack one ready-to-go
with cooled boiled water (160ml), take the other two
empty onto the plane.
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Empty flask. Get it filled up with hot water as soon as
you can on the plane, decant off 160ml into the other two
bottles. When you need to feed milk, top up the bottles
with water from flask to 240ml, add milk powder and it
should be right temp. BUT CHECK.
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Two burp cloths.
Clothes
and toys:
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2 changes of clothes for each child and a hoodie /
sweatshirt.
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Small / flat toys (some new) to entertain. Suggest some
books, pad of paper and crayons, doodlepro machine, view
finder, puppet, wheeled toys.
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Toothbrush.
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Favorite
Medicines:
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Panadol (paracetemol
elixir)
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Bandaids
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Antiseptic cream
/ rash cream
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A child thermometer.
And
finally:
Baby
sleeping in bassinet? Take a thin but dark piece of
material (wrap), blue tack with two pegs. You can then
tack the pegs to the wall and put the fabric over the
bassinet, making it dark for baby when its light in the
cabin.
Happy
flying!
Comment on this story
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About the author
Teresa
Day migrated to Melbourne Australia 7 years ago. With family and
friends back in the UK, she often flies back to see them. Now with
two young children, aged 2 1/2 and 6 months, the trip is less
relaxing. Having done the trip solo with the kids twice, she's
used her planning and organising abilities and her natural
creative flair to ensure that she's totally self sufficient when
travelling by air.
Teresa
has worked as a project manager, an executive officer and is
currently setting up her own kids-oriented business. For someone
who used to sleep 12 hours of the 20 hour trip, she believes that
being well travelled has helped her cope with the challenge of
flying with kids, but having a sense of humor has helped more.
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