Top Seven Ways to Survive an Insanely Long Plane Trip with Small Children

I’m not saying I am any kind of expert, but if you have a long plane ride in your future with small children, here are a few things I’ve learned . . .

1. Three Words: Ben. A. Dryl.

2. Take Walks. Really. Up and down the aisles and trips to the bathroom are good ways to break up the monotony of those little economy airplane seats–which get even smaller when the guy in front of you reclines his seat back all the way, the entire trip.

3. Go New. Invest in a few new movies, books, and card games that the kids have not seen that you can pull out when everyone starts getting antsy.

4. Less is Better. Trust me. Every single time I have ever flown with the little guys, I always wish I had brought less. Hauling a huge, 50-pound backpack around airports and trying to cram it underneath the seat in front of you is not a stress-reliever for you as a parent. Really. They don’t need seven new hardback books and fifteen board games and two dvd players. Go simple. And then when you think you’ve gone simple, pull out a few things more.

This would be an example of what NOT to do.

5. Bring Snacks. Especially if you are traveling to a foreign country, on foreign airlines. The kids may not like the food they serve, and they may need a snack (or a distraction) when the meals aren’t scheduled to come anyway. Bring healthy foods that make them excited (Don’t bust out the carrots and ranch, necessarily, but try to bring fun, lower-sugar foods. Our kids love the South Beach Caramel Meal Bars).

6. Bring Carseats for the Little Ones. Yes, they are a pain to lug around the airports during layovers, but containing a squirming two-year-old is even more un-fun. You can strap them in for a sleep so that you won’t be stuck holding a sweaty toddler for eight hours, which is also helpful. Unless you have a small infant who will go in the airplane bassinet or who will sleep in a child carrier, we’d suggest bringing a light carseat for any child 3-4 or under.

7. Quick Advice: Pray. Give grace (to them and to yourself). Smile (force it if you have to). Be polite (It’s not the stewardesses fault that you have small, probably grumpy kids). Treat yourself to a magazine. Remember that (like childbirth) it will be over eventually (and the memory of the pain will fade). Pray some more. And try really hard not to cuss.

Tagged as: tips, traveling

Kim Starnes

Laura, I just love you! I love your honesty, your self-exposing humor, and even if you don’t see it in yourself your grace gift. This post has made my day.
Love,
Kim
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Laura, I just love you! I love your honesty, your self-exposing humor, and even if you don’t see it in yourself your grace gift. This post has made my day.
Love,
Kim
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Chrisandcaseyallison

Hey! So thankful to have found your blog (We’re in Cambodia, by the way, but lived in Chiang Mai for our training. While your posts on discouragement and depression are more relevant, this one just gets me excited. We have four kids five and under and one on the way! We have done the 4 leg, 26 + hour trips a few times now. One thing that really helped our kids was to keep them on schedule for sleeping except stretch bedtime out two hours or so later than normal. Then we would do the whole bedtime process, enjoy padding our cuties down the aisle in their long pajamas, strapping them in (great advice from you!), giving them their Rest Upright Pillow (best investment for travel we ever made), and letting them sleep a full night’s sleep on the 14 hour leg. Depending on flight time, we might have to change our routines at home a few days beforehand. Of course, we’ll see how this goes when number five comes along… =) We’ve been on the field long enough now to know how little we know and how much everything can change or be not as it first appeared. You seem to understand this concept, too. =)
- http://www.lauraparkerblog.com Laura
  
  So fun to “meet” you! Great advice you give here– esp about that pillow. And, FIVE!, that’s awesome, my friend. Love your humility and humor too, in learning and admitting, that so often what we know, changes dramatically. Ah, good times.
  
  Congrats on your new little one!
Brent

Hey Laura – this could prove very useful to us in the next couple of months!! Hope and pray everything is going as well as possible as you sign off from Thailand! We love you guys!