20 hours or more on planes and airports sounds crazy right? Since my husband and I both are from different continents than where we live, this scenario of very long travel is our yearly reality. Sometimes with all of us together and sometimes just he or I with one of the kids.
My most recent journey was me with my 6 year old daughter, Gabriellah. We headed from Sweden to see grandparents in Arizona. I had not followed this flight path before. We went from Frankfurt to Denver which is a 10 hour flight! It was really, really hard on me ( I'm still searching for ways I can survive these trips :)) But, to my surprise, my daughter was so good!
I do have to preface that we made our first long distance trip with her when she was only 6 months old. So she is quite versed at travel But, at the same time, I think I can give myself a little credit on maybe, just maybe having this travel with a child thing figured out.
So how do we do it? On one of our flights I observed a family of 5 with kids in a range of ages. I was checking out how they did it as their kids were also super content. They had some pretty big backpacks for the kids and all of them had really nice headphones and all the right stuff downloaded on their amazing looking I-pads. Right now I'm not in that financial bracket, so I had to just feel happy for them and remind myself that my daughter's simple colouring book and airline loaned headphones were working just fine for us. Ultimately, you have to do what works best for you and your family, and even your budget. As with most things concerning kids, there are so many ways that could work and you just have to figure out your own.
But to get you started, here are 5 things that seem to be working for us.
1) Don't sweat the small stuff- We've all heard this phrase over and over. But, however used this quote is, it really is true. Sometimes you just have to do, or allow, the thing that helps everyone feel happy. In normal life we monitor screens and eat healthy food. But trips like these are not normal. A binge on candy and cartoons still leaves plenty of time for other things. Keep your own sanity and don't sweat the screens and treats. Remember that eventually you will get off the plane.
2) Pack light- You really don't have to have every "for travel" gadget under the sun to keep your child happy. Packing light means you can move through airports easier, have less complication in small bathroom stalls (where you and your child are likely squeezing in together), and you're less likely to forget something.
3) Have a small backpack your child carries- Your child really can carry something! As a matter of fact I think my daughter enjoys feeling like she is part of the travel Of course there are those moments where she is tired and asks me to take her stuff, however, my daughter has carried her own things in this little Frozen backpack since she was 3. I pack it with some surprise treats and toys that she's not allowed to open until the first flight is in the air. Getting to finally open her backpack with surprise goodies like mini Play-Doh and new markers is so exciting and part of what helps kill some time on the plane as well.
4) Eat proper food in the airport- Maybe this isn't necessary for everyone, but my daughter is quite picky about food. She will not eat what's on the airplane. So instead of just snacks in the airport, we hope for time to stop in a restaurant so she can have a good meal before the flight. And yes I have even run out of time and carried a whole pizza into the plane.
5) Move during layovers- If you were a traveller before having kids, you will understand it when I say, gone are the days of sitting in the airport with your laptop or a cocktail. If you're smart you won't sit at all! Walk, play, dance, and move during layovers. Remember you will be doing plenty of sitting on the plane. At least for me, this equals my daughter feeling less antsy during the flight and more likely to sleep!
What are some ways you have survived flights with kids? I would love to hear your ideas!
Whatever it is, very likely, long distance travel will have its glitches. Figuring out what works for you and then going with the flow is all you can do. Each trip will have its own challenges and each trip will make you better. Remember that the most important thing is that you are doing the travel and making memories with your family.
Happy travels!
Love,
Amy