kids on a plane

A parody of snakes on a plane, although I've never seen it, because both snakes (generally) and children on a plane strike horror and terror into my heart.

Here is what I've learned to ease the stress and tension of such an experience. (Which, you think would decrease after dozens of flights of all varieties with very few incidents of drama, but I still get incredibly anxious every time.)

I hope any of it can also ease your troubles.

1. The pre-plane prep
2. Security
3. Meals
4. Toys/games
5. Kindles/tablets
6. The bag
7. Seats
8. Boarding
9. Car seats
10. Strollers
11. Drama in flight.

#1 The pre-plane prep

I've become a real believer that the simple planting of positive idea seeds can dramatically help.
After a few unfortunate experiences,
I now pregame chat with our kids prior to every flight.
I use phrases like:
"Aren't you guys so excited to fly on a plane?"
"Won't it be fun when we go on the plane?"
I generally act outrageously excited to take them on a plane and dramatize it in every way.
It seems silly and simple, but we honestly haven't had any major meltdowns since I started doing this.
I do it for myself too...... because I honestly have to psych myself out prior to every flight even though my kids are incredible travelers.

#2 Security 

First thing I learned taking kids to an airport-
Yes you do have to fold up your stroller,
and yes, you will hate that this must be done every time.
They have this new rule that snacks must be out of your backpack- we have gotten pulled aside a few times because we have forgotten.
If you're pumping and have breastmilk or you have a kid with special dietary needs they have a special machine to screen these items.
Just let the screener know you have these items so they won't discard them and direct you to the correct area.

#3 Meals

Prior to boarding a flight,
we will buy some kind of meal,
and wait to eat it until after we're seated and in the air.
Just the anticipation of a meal works to calm our kids.
It also buys some time in flight where you don't have to worry about constantly wrangling them.

There's also true power in bribery treats.
The longer it takes them to eat, the better.
Suckers or tiny wrapper candies that they have to work to get.
The clean up is worth it 10 fold.

#4 Toys/games

Before we fly we let our kids pick a tiny toy for every long leg of our trip.
We then hang this over their heads as good behavior payment.
I'll unwrap these surprises prior to departure and wrap each piece in tinfoil (I found this trick via social media).
Sometimes I'll just buy a variety pack of really small toys and wrap them all up and then give them to them once we're in the air. (I've done squinkies,. Each individual lego of a lego pack? perhaps?)
It takes a lot longer for them to open them = entertain for ages = parental sanity.

#5 Kindles/tablets/phone

Kindles will run you $30-$50 depending on the time of year and deal you get.
I wouldn't say they are the highest of quality and we've had a few crappy moments of them just quitting on us, so I recommend a tablet or even your phone instead.
These have literally saved us every trip.
Sometimes we've forgotten to charge them or check that movies are downloaded.....
Please learn from our mistakes- put them on airplane mode and watch what you've downloaded, charge them, bring chargers, and don't forget to bring headphones.
(If you don't remember headphones I would just say "you wanna listen to my kid scream or listen to a movie...." that will shut up all naysayers.)

#6 The bag

My cousin Kaycee taught me this trick (thank you Kaycee, oh so much.)
In your personal item bag (the one you keep under the seat in front of you) pack an extra pair of clothes for your kid and an extra shirt for you too.
Being pooped, barfed or peed on will evidently happen.
Ain't nobody got time to search through some heavy, stowed away, hidden carry on bag in a situation like this.

This is what I put in my underneath the seat bag: 

Extra clothes for kid and me
Treats/bottles/baby food
Kindle/headphones/charging cords
Toys
Tiny coloring book with crayons
Wipes/diapers
A once empty water bottle filled after passing through security
Itinerary information
Anything else I don't want to get lost in baggage (passports, ID's, medication, glasses, etc....).

#7 Seats

When seats are assigned:

My father-in-law taught me another genius trick (a big thanks to him).
If seats are assigned choose the window and the isle seat and leave the middle seat open.
Chances are nobody will choose a middle seat unless they're desperate so you could possible have a whole row to yourselves.
If they do choose your middle seat I literally don't know of a single human that wouldn't swap a row or a window seat for their middle seat.
So swap them.
Either way you sit together but with the possibility of more space.
This trick is especially helpful to couples with a lap kid.
Or even if there are four of you- just test your luck.

When I've flown solo with a baby I personally find window seats preferable.
Both of my daughters liked looking out the window, but if you need to get out it's sort of a pain, on the other hand if someone else needs to get out and your kid is asleep.... you'll wanna go to war with them.
There's really no winning here.
Also, if you're breastfeeding there's no winning either, but the window seat allows a human buffer.

When seats are assigned for a fee:  

Cheap airlines like frontier, sprint, allegiant, ryanair, easyjet, wow and whomever else charges for seats will make you believe you must pay for a seat. (You do have to to choose your seat.)
Little secret is, if you have kids, there's no way they're not going to sit you by each other.
At least one adult will be by the kids and if the other one isn't you just bring that to their attention or ask another passenger to switch you.
We've flown on a lot of cheap airline flights.
I have never voluntarily paid to choose my seats,
and I have never not sat by my entire family.

When seats aren't assigned:

See below in boarding for suggestions for this scenario.


#8 Boarding

After they complete first class boarding and a few other areas they do a family boarding time.
If you have a kid under 5 you're up.
If you don't have assigned seats take advantage of this perk to make sure you get seats together.
I know Southwest boards like this- it's about the only thing I don't like about Southwest is there unassigned seating.
If there are assigned seats, and it doesn't look like a busy flight, I usually wait until almost the very last to board.
If it's a busy flight you'll want to board with the family group so you can put your luggage by you.
We've made the mistake of waiting on busy flights and have had to fight for luggage space.
If you do this and your luggage isn't right by you and it's behind you you're gonna have to wait to exit or push folks aside to let you get your luggage.
Folks don't like being pushed aside- nor do they understand flying with children.

#9 Car seats

Care seats are the bane of my traveling existence.
I would suggest just paying for them if you're renting a car.
Train travel is literally my favorite with kids.
If you're going foreign I'd avoid renting a car and just travel by train, or fly, or do anything possible not to rent a car.
If you do need to take your car seats I'd consider purchasing car seat bags- they'll run you like $9.
They make it way easier to pack your car seat, they make them easier to spot, and they sort of protect them (sort of).
I don't know of a single airline that won't allow you to check a car seat and a stroller for free.
We always check ours as baggage prior to security, but I know of some people that check them at the gate.
If you  have a newborn checking it at the gate may be a better route.
I've never flown with a car seat on a plane so I'm worthless there. I apologize.

#10 Strollers 

We always check ours at the gate. (You'll need a little gate check tag on it somewhere. You can get this at any of your specific airlines service counters.)
This is helpful if you have a layover because you can use it in between flights to tote your stuff and child(ren) around.
In my opinion, it's sort of a nightmare to not have it immediately after exiting the plane.
Most airports require some walking.
We have this stroller- which I wouldn't say I love for walking for miles, but I do love that it's a double stroller that folds down real small and is incredibly easy to fold and pack around.
If you'll be walking a lot I'd just bring your nice stroller, if you won't be, something like this may be nice.
Those inexpensive fold up strollers do the trick just great too.

#11 Drama in flight 

No one seems to remember flying with children.... ever....
Ok- there are a few kind people on flights, but there are some mean ones.
These folks have never heard a child cry and they just know you're purposefully making yours cry because you love to have your children screaming just for fun.
To hell with them.
I repeatedly tell myself this- the dirty looks and sighing can really cut the quick when you're already feeling next level stress.
I apologize for all of them in advance.
There is one thing I want to tell some folks when their babies are screaming just because I've been there and learned the hard way.
Kids can't usually clear their ears.
The pressure changes can cause them some real trouble.
Giving a baby a binky, bottle, or breastfeeding can help them clear their ears.
With kids a sucker or some gum may help.
This won't always solve the blood murder screaming on descent, but it may.

I will never profess to be an expert on kid travel. Every time we go anywhere a number of wild card factors can immediately teach me a new lesson. These are just a few things I've learned the hard way. I usually learn things this way. I would love to hear any tips or hints you all have learned while traveling with kids on planes. If there are any specific questions I haven't addressed I would also love to answer those if I can.

P.S. Flying with kids can be an incredibly great and fun experience. It can be awful, but most of my experiences have been really great. Hope your experience is exceptional.