Flight attendant tips for flying with young kids that all parents should know
A FLIGHT attendant has revealed their game-changing tips for flying with kids that everyone parent should know about.
Everything from plane maps to pre-boarding tactics can make the world of difference to a lengthy flight when you have little ones in tow.
Jay Robert, cabin crew and founder of A Fly Guy’s Cabin Crew Lounge shared his best tips for travelling with little ones in the Huffington Post.
The flight attendant encouraged passengers to choose their seats wisely, preferably reserving seats in advance online.
He said: “Take the time before you travel to check the airline’s website to see what they offer those travelling with infants and children.
“For example, try to sit close to the toilets with baby-changing facilities.”
If you’re unsure of which seat is the best, websites like SeatGuru provide reviews of airline seats.
He also explained why pre-boarding isn’t the best option for families with young children, even if it’s on offer.
He said: “Pre-boarding with infants and small children seems like a good idea until you consider you are adding at least a half hour of sitting time to their energetic, short attention spans.”
If you’re travelling with two adults, Robert suggests sending one ahead with the bags for pre-boarding.
This way one adult can get the seats ready for the young children, while they burn energy at the boarding gate.
Robert isn’t the only person who’s been sharing his tips for travelling with small children.
Travel Expert Mark Wolters and his wife Jocelyn have been travelling around the world with their sons Caleb and Liam for the last 16 years.
In those years, they mastered the do’s and don’ts of travelling with children, and Mark told the Sun Online Travel of one of ht biggest mistakes he sees parents make.
He said: “Flight attendants are not babysitters. They have to focus on keeping the whole plane safe, and that means they cannot focus their time on one toddler.”
Mark explained that when parents think a flight attendant will look after a child is when air travel can get dangerous.
He said: “The galley, where the flight attendants work, is not a play area, it is a workspace that has very heavy trollies that can roll out and hurt a small toddler.
“There can also be heating elements to prepare meals, so don’t let your little one hang out in the galley.”
The dad-of-two encourages families to let their kids walk up and down the plane, but only when it’s safe to do so.
Mark also explained why parents shouldn’t give their children orange juice on a flight.