Cheap travel options, including cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages often make family trips possible. However, they do not make the travel time enjoyable, much less endurable.
The following are suggestions from Conde Nast Traveler as to best manage long haul flights with children in tow:
Do not try to avoid jet lag upon arrival by trying to keep sleep deprived children awake on a flight. This only tends to make them very cranky. The smarter strategy is to do everything possible to make your children calm while flying and well rested for a morning flight or sleepy for a nighttime flight.
Carry-on a busy bag to help keep your kids occupied. Pack any new toys that you bring separately in your own carry-on so that you can control when they are opened. Bring a variety of activities vs. only bringing what your children are currently infatuated with. Different activities are often needed to occupy childrens interest.
Pack your own meals since kids often reject airplane food. Kid friendly meals offered by some airlines are often loaded with many sugary treats. Instead pack your own filling, protein rich (which helps induce sleep) foods such as sunbutter sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, roasted chicken, and string cheese. Dried fruit is a desirable snack because it is non perishable and takes time to eat.
Do not try to carry-on too much on the plane. Childrens busy bags should be able to attach or fit inside parents carry-ons.
Prior to boarding your plane, encourage your kids to exercise whenever and wherever possible. Getting pre-flight wiggles out of the way makes for a much more enjoyable trip.
Be aware that nursing mothers and young children are at much greater risk of dehydration than healthy adults. Buy water after you go through security and offer water to your children often. Carry-on more diapers than you anticipate needing.
Be prepared to deal with jet lag. A few sleepless nights at your destination is common on long flights. Remember that hunger often causes people to wake up. By feeding your children milk or protein rich snacks as soon as they wake you may be able to get them back to sleep.
Do not get rattled when things do not go as you planned. No matter what you do your children may not behave ideally at every moment. Do not let flight mishaps dictate the tone of your entire trip.
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