'Tis The Season - Tips For Airplane Travel With Kids

Is anyone traveling on an airplane with small children in the next few months? Not only is traveling with kids so physically exhausting, (walking forever with too much stuff in you hands, waiting forever at security, taking all the coats, shoes, and belts off of everyone only to put them all back on again, etc.) it also takes its toll on your nerves! I don't know about you but I hate walking down the airplane aisle with my kids and everyone's eyes narrow and they give you "the look". You know, the one that says, "You brought kids on this flight? They better be quiet and I hope you aren't sitting near me." Its nice to be so welcome :) I always hope to sit by a nice grandma or that rare understanding soul. Most of us have been through this before and have picked up a few tricks and tips, I'm sure. As requested by a good friend, lets try to share what we know so that this travel season can go that much smoother for everyone.

My tips:

• Make sure your kids aren't too hungry or tired. This is the perfect recipe for motion sickness. And you want to do everything you can to avoid a barfing child on a plane. Always listen if they tell you their tummy hurts. Just get the barf bag ready because you will want to make sure you contain it! (I know this from experience!) 

• It does not hurt to travel with a little roll of those bags you put dirty diapers in. They are good for both dirty diapers and barf.

• Pack what you think are more diapers and wipes than you could ever use and then double that amount. You don't want to run out of either! You never know how long you might have to sit on that tarmac. Once we were delayed so long on the tarmac that Tyson pooped in his diaper three times before the plane even took off!  Ooh, that reminds me-also do the same if you have a baby on formula.You do not want to run out of that stuff on a delayed flight.

• I like to be on the aisle if I can. I hate having to climb over people to take my kids to the bathroom all the time. If someone else is on the aisle you can politely ask if they would like to switch with you because you would hate to disturb them when you and your kids will inevitably be crawling over them several times during the flight.
  

OK, those are a few things that I have learned over the last few years. Please leave a comment and share what you have learned and what works for you!