11 Jul 2014
Cheapflights.co.uk reveals top tips and tricks to make flying with tots happy too
As jet-setting Prince George celebrates his first birthday this month, Cheapflights.co.uk's resident family travel expert, Oonagh Shiel has pulled together twelve handy hints and tips for parents flying with their own little prince or princess for the first time.
Despite what you may have heard, toddlers can make excellent holiday companions. They're highly portable and usually travel free of charge. These tips will ensure that flying with a one-year-old needn't be a daunting prospect.
1. Baggsy a bassinet
Avoid dead legs from perching your tot on your lap for the whole flight by reserving a bassinet. Phone your airline to make sure it's marked on your reservation and get to the airport early as numbers are limited and they're often allocated on a first-come first-served basis.
2. Breeze through security with a cloth sling
Cloth slings will definitely make navigating the security scanners a lot easier, plus the sling will also free up hands for carrying luggage – and doubles up as a good ear defender during the noisy plane journey.
3. Make a beeline for the family lane
When navigating the security scanners, keep a look out for the family lane which often offers more breathing room along with the company of other understanding holidaymakers.
4. Don't ruin your holiday with dehydration
Low air humidity in the cabin can cause mild dehydration as well as dry and irritated nostrils, so offer drinks regularly. Streaming noses can be dealt with by dipping your finger in water and wetting the insides of their nostrils. Worth packing a small handheld fan to help keep them cool (the ones with foam “blades” are best).
5. Pacify fellow passengers with bribes
People tend to be much more sympathetic about disturbances if you have a conversation up front – or, and this is a bit cheeky, if they're bribed into submission with treats, snacks and potentially handy items such as ear plugs.
6. Noisy toys are a no-no
You'll undo all your good work with understanding conversations/bribes if your little one is armed with something that will drown out the sound of the engine.
7. Ease ear pressure with a breast, bottle or dummy
Clearing their ears to reduce the pressure during take-off and landing will be a foreign concept to your one-year-old, so unless they're asleep you'll need to help by nursing or using a dummy. Encouraging them to swallow will help ease the pain of changes in pressure; and hopefully ease the noise on your ears!
8. Bring on the Zzz's – and help ease the pain
If you can, time your flight around your child's sleeping patterns so they spend most of the journey in a peaceful (if dribbly) slumber. Use your time in the departure lounge to let the baby crawl, play and generally tire them out so they're more likely to sleep in-flight. Milk might act as a mild sedative, so feeding them during take-off could help. Worth arming yourself with small pack-away sachets of pre-measured Calpol (rather than big syrupy bottles) in case of little emergencies.
9. Wet wipes work wonders
There will be mess, but you'll be prepared for it. Prepare by getting a large pack and dividing them into sandwich bags, so you'll always have one in easy reach.
10. Stay fresh with a change of clothes
Wearing soiled clothes in the event of a messy disaster is no one's idea of fun. Stay fresh and clean with back-up gear for all.
11. Hidden treats are the secret to in-flight success
If you've not managed to get them off to sleep, a selection of their favourite toys and surprise treats should hopefully keep them occupied, starting with the least exciting and ramping up the entertainment as the journey goes on.
12. Split up the tasks when travelling in twos
While it may seem easier to co-parent, you'll actually have far more time to nap, read or watch a film if one parent is put in charge at a time and your baby will find it refreshing to be looked after on rotation.
For flight deals, special offers and more handy hints and tips head to www.cheapflights.co.uk.
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For further information please contact:
Rooster PR
Nick Wheywell / Laura Jackson / Sakhita Sharma / Kevan Barber
T: 0203 440 8930
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Momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 17.5 million visitors a month – plus 7 million travel newsletter subscribers – via its Cheapflights (http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.
Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, whilst Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries from 2006.
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