Plane Trip Tips

How To Survive Plane Rides With Small Kids

• When booking your flight: select the seats you want, at time of booking. (Remember that kids can't sit in the exit rows.) Find out if your flight offers pre-boarding for families with babies.
• Babies under two can sit in your lap, but are safer in their own seat, strapped into a carseat; many airlines will discount a seat for a baby by 50%.
  Combined car-seat stroller units are the most convenient way to get that cumbersome gear on board. Make sure the car-seat is FAA approved for use on planes!
• Keep your stroller until the last possible moment: the stroller gives you mobility in the airport; it can carry a lot of your stuff; and if your flight is delayed, your baby has a comfy place to nap. Typically you can keep your stroller until boarding, and then check it just before you step on the plane.
• Bring three more diapers than you think you'll need. Also bring zip-loc bags for any soiled clothes.
• For babies, bring several changes of clothes, and extra clothes for yourself if possible (- the worst can happen). An extra t-shirt for older kids can come in handy, too: it seems to be easy to spill drinks on planes!
• For bottle-feeding babies, bring ready-made formula (small size), or powdered formula and bottled water.
• Bring water or juiceboxes: it may be a long time before the flight attendants can bring drinks. Also, very few domestic flights these days serve any meals, so be sure to feed the kids before your flight and/or bring food along.
• Bring along a plastic food container for storing a half-eaten or an untouched meal, for later. For example, on long flights meals are still provided but kids are sometimes fast asleep when the food is served. A food container is also useful if you grab a meal in the airport and your child only eats a bite or two: take the rest on the plane.
• Bring baby-wipes even with older kids, to clean up dribbles down shirt-fronts, spills, etc.
• Take plenty of amusements: inexpensive novelties - in three layers of wrapping - work wonders. Smarties or other treats can be priceless, too.
• Don't give out your loot (treats, toys, etc.) too soon! Make sure to hold back enough surprises to last the whole trip.
• IMPORTANT:
  • To avoid ear pressure problems, have babies either nurse, or suck their bottles during takeoffs and landings; small kids can suck on a candy or chew gum.
  • With tiny kids, expect to spend pretty much every minute taking care of them. Forget that in-flight movie; you can watch it when they're nine, and think it's a huge luxury.

How to Unblock Ears in Airplanes

As airplanes descend prior to landing, air pressure in the cabin increases. This can cause your ear drums to "pop" as they automatically adjust to the airplane's pressure changes.

ADJUSTING YOUR EARS

• If your ear drums don't automatically pop, there are serveral ways to help them to adjust to the pressure changes on board.
• Yawning is the easiest way to adjust your ears on board. You can also simply harden the back of your tongue.
• Another way to adjust your ears is to hold your nostrils and very gently blow out while keeping your mouth shut. Careful! If you blow too hard you can damage your ears.
• For infants, offer them something to suck and swallow. This works well for adults, too, as does chewing gum.
• Avoid decongestants. Side-effects (dry mouth and drowsiness) exacerbate jetlag.

EASE EAR PAIN

Aerotitis, aka "blocked ear," is very painful and takes place when an ear does not adjust to the airplanes pressure changes. It is often experienced by passengers with colds and ear infections.

The following steam/heat remedy usually clears the blocked ear in seconds.

• Place an airline paper cocktail napkin in the bottom of a small wax-coated drinking cup (found at galley and lavatory drinking water dispensers).
• Add boiling water from a galley hot-water spigot covering the paper napkin. If you quickly pour off the water, the napkin will steam.
• After you are sure you have drained off every drop of hot water, tip your head and place the little cup with hot steaming paper over your ear. Pain eases in moments as the steam reaches your eustachian tube.
  

FLYING WITH A COLD

It's common knowledge that viruses recirculate in the cabin air.

• If you plan to fly and have a head cold, please consider canceling, out of compassion for the health of everyone else on board.
• If you do have to fly, wear a surgical mask to keep your germs to yourself!
• A note from your doctor used to ensure that you did not have to pay a "no-show" penalty when cancelling for medical reasons. Though this is no longer guaranteed, it may still be possible with some effort on your part.