Family Trip Deals

This is Post number 2 in a Series of 4. For Post I: Packing, please click here.

TRAVELING BY AIR

Ideas for making airborne travel less of a bumpy ride, from the FamilyFun message boards.

1. AIRPORT CARSEAT/STROLLER Traveling with a toddler and all the necessities can be overwhelming. It is hard to take both a carseat and a stroller, yet what do you do with the toddler, who is way too heavy to carry through a busy airport, along with the carseat? SOLUTION: I purchased a small metal luggage/package carrier, the kind that folds up with two wheels, and a package of bungee cords. I place the carseat on the metal fold-out piece of the carrier and SECURELY attach the carseat to the carrier with the bungee cords. I then place my toddler in the carseat and secure him in, as if he were going to ride in the car. I can pull the luggage carrier through the airport with carseat and toddler securely attached. After boarding the plane, I just fold up the carrier and place it in the overhead bin and place my little carseated guy in the plane seat. Sure beats dragging all the stuff around the airport and, most of all, carrying my heavy toddler. — flyingmom

2. PIPE CLEANERS We get lots of mileage out of a big bag of colorful pipe cleaners. Both my kids make different things out of them; the little one practices his colors and counting with them. Add some large beads and you’re set. We use them on planes mostly. The kids make things for the passengers and everyone seems happy. — becksh

3. EAR SAVERS For take-off and landing try to give a toddler a sippy cup or bottle or even pacifier. The sucking action works like chewing gum for older kids and adults. — Stay-at-Home Mom

4. SNACKS & QUIET TOYS Take along some of your child’s favorite snacks … Cheerios, graham crackers, small juice boxes … and lots of baby wipes. Keep small toys that are not very noisy available for the child to play with during the flight. If the flight time is during nap, try to keep that schedule. The doctor who delivered my son actually suggested a dose of Benadryl 2 hours before flight. (Realize that we were taking a 4 1/2-month-old from Illinois to Puerto Rico for our new duty station; my son flew 8 times before he was a year old!) — terpntime

5. TOYS BY THE HOUR I go to the dollar store for little things for them to play with, then wrap them up and give the kids their own backpacks with the presents inside. They can open one every hour. If you have a longish layover, find out if the airport has a playground (many do now). I also get toys for the airport (those little remote-control cars for $10, a ball that attaches to your wrist and comes back after you throw it, little $5 electronic games from WalMart, etc.) — Rebekah

6. STRETCHING ROOM If the flight isn’t crowded, be sure to ask for a seat assignment with an empty seat next to you so the child can sit there after take-off and have a little more room than just on your lap. If you purchased a ticket for the child, take the carseat along to use — he can see out the window better while on it. If not, be sure to send the seat through with the luggage so you will have it when you arrive. If you have a layover, let the child run, either in the airport or on the plane. Last trip several moms and tots stayed to run up and down the aisles as we waited the few minutes, and the stretch did them good. — Laura

7. SURPRISES & JUICE BOXES New toys that appear out of your bag do wonders. I went to the dollar store before my flight and stocked up for my 2-year-old. Don’t forget juice boxes — beverage service can be lacking! — Bazj30

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