How do you manage kids on planes?

[Flying Fox]

After reading various threads about kids on planes being annoying and parents doing nothing (Parents Managing Their Kids On Planes etc.), I am going to find myself with the shoe the other foot.

In August I will be flying with the Mrs and our twin boys (they will be 18mths by then) to Hawaii and back. Flying Starclass to give us more room and better amenities for the flight.

Having never flown with a child let alone my twins I would love some tips on what to pack to keep them amused etc.

I am aiming to be one of those parents who gets the positive comments about having wonderful children and not one of those parents who gets the 'lazer-beam eyes' from fellow travellers.

Any advice from experienced parents would be fabo!

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Batesy]

First point, DONT give twins any kind of musical instument!!
Seriously good luck with it, simple thing to plan for is how do you normally keep them entertained or occupied at home? Try and have as many of these things with you.

 

[bokflyer]

As the saying goes, "Brave decision, minister!" Flying with two 18-month-olds will be a big challenge. At that age they are too little to be distracted by any form of entertainment, ie books, TV, colouring for too long. Nonetheless, a couple of suggestions. Firstly, remember the dummies and spares for takeoff/landing as their ears can't handle the pressure changes. A new toy each is also a good idea. A personal DVD player with their favorite Wiggles/Bob the Builder DVDs also works well. Their favourite comfort items, ie teddies/blankets. Change of clothes x2. The more controversial stuff is medicating them with an anti-histamine such as phenergan. Aussie pharmacists are generally reluctant to give this out, so say the kids are over 2 and have used it before. Also, try dosing them with it before flying, as it doesn't send all kids to sleep, it makes some hyper. I don't recommend drugs for kids, but it may be good to have as a back up. I haven't flown StarClass, but I believe it's the same layout as the QF domestic business, which means 2-3-2. This may not suit a fmaily of four. Might be a better idea to save you cash and sit in the middle of 2-4-2 in economy. Also, little kids can sleep easier by lifting the armrests, which may not be possible in StarClass. Have fun, don't panic and if you do your best, most people will be tolerant.

 

[tscharke]

check-in luggage jk...


at that age you are still lucky that they enjoy a day time rest (assuming you are flying through the day) - make sure you tire them out before the flight (take them for big walks around the terminal etc) as this will extend their sleep time in the air (i.e. more time for you and your wife the relax and have a drink before it all starts!)

As little ones have an attention span of a goldfish your challenge will be to have a never ending stash of tricks up your sleeve! Sure bring their fav toys however don't bring too much with you as it only becomes a burden in transit! Make use of things on the plane - for example my son found the baby restraint buckle quite amusing for some time....click in...click out...click in...click out (you get the picture ), headphones can be quite amusing too apparently, Im sure your boys fascination with buttons is still in full swing - the IFE control is fantastic! and so on!

We have found that if all else fails pick them up and take a stroll through the cabin - you are sure to find a friendly Grandma that will ogle over them!

Dont be afraid to ask the cabin crew for anything - we have always found them excellent when it comes to little ones!

Good luck, be prepared for a different flight experience (no movies, no drinking, no sleeping, hardly anytime to enjoy the food (!!!) OH and make sure you take some happy snaps of the boys on the plane!

Have a great flight

p.s. I strongly disagree with drugging your kids at an age where they dont understand what is going on!

 

[simongr]

p.s. I strongly disagree with drugging your kids at an age where they dont understand what is going on!

But you do agree with drugging kids when they are at an age where they do understand?

 

[tscharke]

But you do agree with drugging kids when they are at an age where they do understand?

well not mine! however I would have considered drugging those annoying little brats on QF1 a while back

 

[munitalP]

But you do agree with drugging kids when they are at an age where they do understand?

Drug em all and put them in the hold!


LOL

 

[Zulaiha]

tscharke had the best advise so far, I think.

I do almost what tscharke did, i.e I do not take too much toys with me, my kids will have few pieces of papers, while colouring pencils are provided on the plane (not sure Jetstar tho).

Admittingly we never fly with 2 same age kids, but nonetheless our 2 are only 22 months different.

If there is a chance of choosing flights, I normally choose flights that either start at night time (for the longest leg), or break the flights which give us more transits time to wear them out outside the plane, that has always works wonder for us, as our kids will be extremely tired and will sleep on most of their flight.

If your twins are not on dummies, make sure you bring their bottles instead, the crew will be more than happy to provide juice or water on the plane. Otherwise lolly will help too (unless your kids will be effected by the sugar as mine can sleep with lolly in their mouth in other words both kids of mine are not those type that easily effected by little sugar, they are effected by pink colouring, but not sugar).

I always bring a little bottle of Panadol, as some kids are prone to ear infection more than others regardless the dummies, bottles or any lollies given. We have neighbour that their kid will have ear infection everytime he fly.

We do however have been introducing them with inside voice and jungle voices since they were little, so by the time we fly, they both had been familiar with tuning down their volumes.

Having said all that, I personally think that flying or at home are not that great different, if they normally behave at home, you can almost sure that they will behave at other places too.

Good luck Flying Fox, do not be too tense, as your kids will feel that too.

 

[dot]

I am not sure what JetStar supply in the way of kids meals, but even when having ordered kid's meals, my experience has been that the meals are not suitable for younger kids - bring something with you that they are familiar with - a cheese/vegimite sandwich (or something like that) some fruit that they like, maybe some biscuits.

At 18 months, I would expect the kids play sets that Jetstar provide will be above their heads, so bring one or two things that they like to play with and something like their favourite teddy, blanket etc as a security anchor.

I assume they won't have their own seats and will be on your laps, so try and get a bulkhead row (even if the twins are too heavy for the bassinets), it will give them a bit more room to stand up and play with things on the floor and give you and your other half's laps some welcome relief for what I presume will be 13 plus hours (via SYD).

Also, WRT Dummies, kids can often have problems with equalising the pressure on descent, so having them suck on a dummy is a good way for their ears to equalise. Alternatively, give them something to eat/suck/drink on descent.

Good luck with the flights.

 

[alect]

Again I agree with almost everything bokflyer says. mini-alect has been flying since 3 months, been RTW twice and many other trips - all in J/F.

We have never given her any medications for flights - thankfully she doesn't need them. Before her first flight we did try Benadryl, but she's one of those kids that become hyper from it rather than the other way around. If you are contemplating giving them any meds, make sure you test them before the flight and not during the flight.

DVD player. Some favourite toys, colouring books, books. My wife tries to get a bunch of cheap new toys - sort of a new one every 1-2 hrs in case she gets bored.

Ofcourse it depends on what your kids are like (they're all different) but with ours we explained beforehand what we were doing, where we were going, that it's a plane, and there are rules (ie no kicking seat, no load yelling, no running around, etc..). They love learning about new stuff, and ours likes the structure of rules. Once they get used to it subsequent trips are easier - she now askas when are we going to the airport or on the plane? (a budding FTer obviously). It's hard to give this sort of advice though as it depends on your normal parenting style - if you try and all of a sudden change it for the flight the kids won't react well. Luckily for us we're pretty consistent on and off the plane.

In terms of equalisation, when younger we always made sure she had a bottle when ascending and descending. Now she either drinks or sucks her thumb (she's a thumb sucker not a dummie sucker).

 

[Flying Fox]

Great advice from everyone. Thanks heaps!

Decided that we were due a holiday and it was worth the risk flying with the twins.

Definately no musical instruments for them on-board!!!

I think that the check-in luggage idea is funny. Will suggest that one to the Mrs and see what she thinks

I'm open to all suggestions so keep them coming if you have them.

 

[Maca44]

Having said all that, I personally think that flying or at home are not that great different, if they normally behave at home, you can almost sure that they will behave at other places too.

I think this just about says it all.

 

[Expon]

I suggest giving them scotch. If your opposed to that try giving everyone else around you scotch.

 

[munitalP]

I suggest giving them scotch. If your opposed to that try giving everyone else around you scotch.

Or drugs as mentioned eairler..... hehehehe

 

[NM]

I suggest giving them scotch. If your opposed to that try giving everyone else around you scotch.

Nahh, just make sure you have enough scotch yourself, and then it becomes some else's problem

 

[QF WP]

Don't forget to find a couple of friendy FA's who can take the kids away for a half-hour - that break will be a god send. As mini LW is only 1 year old (yesterday), I'm been an avid reader of all these threads (and contributor to one).

 

[sammy]

As a long term expat and mother of four I've done countless flights with babies and toddlers (and been on the receiving end of the evil-eye stares with a screaming infant).
I wish you the best of luck, but I think 18 months is possibly the most difficult age - too old to sleep most of the time, and too young to be engaged by videos and books (at that age, mine liked tv at home but they were too small for the headphones on planes, and so not interested in the videos).

Here are some suggestions-

-finger puppets x 4: one for each of you, but stagger their introduction to prolong the game

- lacing cards - an old fashioned toy that involves threading laces through holes on pictures - try educational toy stures

- cheap stickers - if they are too young to colour, they're not too young to sticker. Mine would do this for ages. With some prep it can be vary engaging. Cut out cardboard crowns beforehand, decorate with stickers, staple and wear. Or circles with a hole punched and a piece of ribbon can be decoreated and assembled to make medalions. If its working, make extra sets for mum or teddy or to give to grandma when you get home

- bubble wrap - if they like popping it, keep squares in your pocket to whip out in a boring immigration queue

- small new toys - cars with a play road, plastic farm animals, dolls, tea sets, whatever they're into as long as they haven't seen it before.

Stage the introduction of these things throughout the flight. If you travel a bit, try to keep them only for travel. Mine came to look forward to the special toys and activities they couldn't normally have.
Also consider emergency backup supplies. Things to produce only when you or the kids are in meltdown mode, such as usually forbidden foods (smarties?).
Try to wear them out before you board the plane, bring familiar food, explain well beforehand about the rules and what to expect and try to befriend an older child (they always impress little ones).
Consider having their ears checked 3 days out (minimum time for antibiotics to kick in), and bring a cold-type medicine (such as dimetap) as it can help with ears.
Don't anticipate watching the movie...

AND relax, things will probably be fine. Enjoy yor trip.

 

[bfmi]

On the topic of headphones....

Inflight headsets provided don't work for kids under 7. Get a set of "ear clip" headphones - they just hang on top of the childs ear without anything over the top of their little heads.

Here's a pic of the ones we got for Miss 18months. She's now 5 and has used them on many flights of all durations. We loaned them to friends for their flight SYD/SIN and they were so happy we did. Their Miss 4 enjoyed the IFE most of the duration.

If flying in Y then grab many pillows or items to put under youngster to lift them up higher otherwise they can't see their IFE screen. Otherwise, take your laptop and DVDs or a portable DVD player.

Don't forget to grab a dual prong audio adaptor from **** Smith or somewhere and you'll be sweet.

Happy travels!!