Airline Travel Tips for Flying With Kids

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:06:00 GMT

I just got done reading an article called 7 Must-Know Airplane Travel Tips for Parents. Written by Debra Holtzman, it focuses on traveling with babies or toddlers. Let me quickly tell you the tips that I agree with; Tip 1 - Fly Non-Stop and Tip 2 - Plan Ahead for the Appropriate Car Seat. Clearly, flying non-stop is easier even without small children, but switching planes with little ones can be a huge challenge, especially if you end up running through an airport to catch your connection. The car seat thing is important. I almost found out the hard way that some of the rental car companies at the Little Rock airport don't even have car seats to rent. (You probably don't have to worry about that flying into a large family destination like Orlando).

I also don't have much of a problem with Holtzman's advice to keep your seatbelt on (tip 5). And although I think that her tip to play attention to the safety announcements (4) is a touch alarmist, it probably isn't a bad idea.

If you are looking for even more alarming tips - I mean she only numbers seven of them, tip six is about remembering to put on your oxygen mask first. I've flown hundreds of times and I have never needed my oxygen mask (knocking wood like crazy). Tip seven is not to panic. That applies to everything in parenting. I guess that these are safety tips, but still the whole article makes me kind of paranoid. I really don't think I'd be giving this lady a hard time if it weren't for the first paragraph.

In the introductory paragraph Holtzman quotes someone that suggest packing plenty of things to keep your children busy in your carry-on. I couldn't agree more with that, but this same paragraph leads me to the most upsetting thing is the article. The quote suggests that besides diapers and medicine your carry-on necessities include formula and breast milk. La leche would go ballistic. I don't mean to get all of the breast feedinfg moms all riled up again, but what the hell is wrong with just carrying the milk in your body?

This whole thing is making me crazy. I'm flying to Florida in two weeks. I think I'll just leave my kids at home.

Strollerderby : travel tips for parents

Airline Travel Tips for Flying With Kids