Travel: Are You Flying with kids? Should you attempt it?

Are you flying with kids? Traveling with a child is daunting.  As a parent, you go through several stages: should you plan a trip, planning the trip, re-thinking taking the trip, worrying over deciding to go, and finally actually taking the trip.  Honestly, the worst part is the worry and stress that occurs before the trip happens.  The easy part is actually the action of taking the trip.

Flying solo with kids

Let me provide you with just a bit of background about my own experience traveling with a child.  First, I am not an expert.  I am just a mom that has traveled overseas and throughout the United States numerous times with her now 18 month old son.  My traveling began with my son as early as four months old.  My husband, son, and I lived in Italy (where my son was born), and we flew back to the US for the Christmas holiday.  On the return trip, totaling anywhere from 13-15 hours, I flew back to Italy with my son by myself.  At seven months old, we traveled to Spain to meet up with a friend and his family; we rented a car and drove from city to city taking in the sights and culture.  At nine months old, my son and I flew back by ourselves to the States because our time in Italy was at an end.  At ten months old, my son and I drove from Missouri to Alabama, a fourteen-hour road trip, to meet up with my husband.  Finally, at 12 months old, 15 months old, and 17 months old, my son and I made multiple trips by ourselves, to and from South Korea where my husband is currently stationed.  Whew!  Just writing all this out gave me a bit of anxiety and also made me wonder if we travel a bit too much.  However, it also gave me a bit of satisfaction.  This is not bragging; this is to say that if I can do it, you can do it.

If you’re asking yourself whether you should attempt traveling with your child, the answer is definitely yes.  There may be some stipulations to traveling with your child, including: If your child is high needs, if they do not travel well, or if you have health issues that might be a struggle during travel.  There are many factors that play into this decision.  You know your limits and your child’s limits.  But should the thought of traveling with your child be too daunting for you to even attempt it?  No.  Will it be a worrisome time?  Possibly.  Yet it could be an invigorating, learning, and bonding experience for all of you.  Though removing a child from his normal routine is a lot of work, that doesn’t mean we as parents shouldn’t attempt it.  Getting our children out of their comfort zones encourages them to seek out the world that they aren’t exposed to.  This leads to better understanding of others, our environment, and our history.

How to survive traveling with kids?

How do you survive it?  Patience, resources, and help are the keys to traveling with a child.  

Patience is a given.  What you have to remember is that in all likelihood, you’re more stressed than your child.  After all, they’re with their momma/daddy/both parents, so they know they’re safe.  Remember to breathe, but most of all, remember that everyone will survive the time it takes to get to your destination.  If you’re in the car, it’s a bit easier because you’re the only one hearing your child cry.  If you’re flying, you’re worried about everyone else getting upset at you and your child that doesn’t want to stop screaming.  Let me tell you, in all my time flying long, long hours to my destinations, I have only met one person that was not accommodating to my child.  Many of the people traveling with you either have a child, know a child, or have noise-cancelling headphones.  Hopefully the flight will be smooth and tear-free.  Otherwise, keep in mind that eventually you will land and everyone will just remember it as a slightly more eventful trip than what they’re used to.  Or maybe not.  After all, EVERY child cries.  Even the most well-behaved and healthy ones can cry at any given moment.

Make sure you have plenty of resources like snacks and activities when traveling.  Snacks keep your little one’s hands busy and their belly full.  These don’t have to be unhealthy; fruits and veggies are easy enough to prep into a little baggie and take with you.  As for activities, this doesn’t mean YOU have to entertain them all the time. Bring crayons and a coloring book, or even better, the markers that will only show up on specific paper.  Genius!  Bring a car that they can “vroom” across the seat or Legos they can put together while sitting.  Also, let them walk as much as possible.  My child loves to go down the aisle and give everyone, and I mean everyone, a fist bump.  He even stops at the ones that are sleeping; granted, he doesn’t understand that quite yet.  Travelers love it, and I like to think it breaks up some of the monotony of the trip for them as well.  

Finally, be open to help.  Let others help you.  Those that don’t want to, won’t ask.  So if someone is asking if you need help, they understand! Don’t be afraid to accept.

Traveling with little ones: Flying with Kids

Traveling is more work, but I think once you do it the first time, you’ll realize you’re able to handle it a second, third, and fourth time.  You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t work for you and your child.  Traveling can present such an opportunity for your family that I would hate for everyone to miss out because of the fear of undertaking the planning, prep, and stress that is associated with it.

There are many travel stories out there.  Many parents have taken up the challenge of traveling with their kids.  One such parent and author of https://www.mamasmiles.com/, parenting blog full of advice and resources, gives us her own personal story (link can be found below).  Read what she learned from flying with her kids, and seek out other parents that have done so as well. 

Traveling with little ones: Flying with Kids

The best thing about information is that you get to decide what works best for you. If flying with your child is too much, then maybe consider taking a road trip. If you feel good about flying cross country with your child, then perhaps it’s time to consider taking your family travels to Europe.  

The reality of today’s pandemic is that no one is traveling unless it is essential, but as soon as we gain a level of control with COVID, I hope to see many parents flying with kids again. If you have any travel questions, remember that we are all here for you. Whenever you are ready, all you have to do is take the leap.As always, we would love to hear about your traveling adventures or travel fear. Is your passport full of stamps, have you made your first or fifteenth flight with your kid(s)? Don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram @MapsCookingKids or on Twitter @MapsCookingKids. Until next time, agape, be kind, and happy parenting.