travelling with kids

This is the second time i'm travelling with my 3 kids on airplane without hubby...We're going back to my home town Kuala Terengganu. As hubby can't follow us...he'll be going back the next day, so i  have to travel alone taking care of 3 kids.....

The challenges are.....kids of course. Eventhough it is a short distance, 45 minutes on airplane..still a big challenge to me having an 8, a 6 and a 2 years old on board with me and being the only one who will entertain their needs and attention! This is the second time we're travelling with Firefly...becoz the airport is near to my house and it's a small airport, everything is nearby....check-in counter the boarding area...easy to manage the kids.

I try to minimise the load....i need to bring a stroller for Arissa of course...will make my life easier, one cabin size luggage bag...as i don't want to check in the luggage bag..it will take a long time to wait for the bag when we landed. This happens on my first travel alone with them...so i'm not going to do that again! Each bag for the kids....to load their own stuffs like toys, books whatever they want to bring along and of course my oversized handbag to load Arissa's stuff...snacks, water in her fav bottle, baby wipes, books, diapers...etc!

At the waiting area..after boarding...we still need to wait around half an hour..this is the time when all of them need their attentions! especially Amsyar and Arissa....Batrisyia is a big girl now...and i normally can count on her in helping me over a small tasks.....I will make sure my boy go to toilet first before getting into the plane...coz i can't handle that inside the plane as the toilet is small and of course I cannot leave Arissa alone on the seat. Amsyar wil be running here and there...Arissa will ask again and again to get her out from the stroller....and the best place to sit is in front of the big screen so that they can watch whatever advertisment displayed...

Inside the plane...i need to strap all of them...Batrisyia will sit alone with other passenger, buckle up herself. Amsyar will be a bit difficult...kejap nak kejap nak bukak...especially during take off  when u need to buckle up! huhuhu...45 minutes inside the airplane feels like few hours...hahaha but Arissa will be occupied with books, Amsyar with his toys and Batrisyia will have a chit chat with her neighbour...sampai tak larat lah passenger sebelah dia dengar story mory dia....me? smiling away..and pray that everything goes well until we landed :-P

I love this quote
"there are two classes of travel: First class, and with children."

Robert Benchley
Here are ome tips for travelling with children:

Take a travel blanket with you and tuck it into the seat pocket in front of your child. It will help keep their feet from being able to do too much damage to the person sitting in front of them.

If you book early, you may be able to grab the bulkhead row. There is extra leg room which means, if you have a child who is old enough to stand, you can more easily let them stand while you hold onto their hands giving your lap, and your child, a much needed break.

Airplane seat belts aren't made for kid travel, especially small ones.Infants can use airline approved infant or car seats, but small children can be made more comfortable and more safe with the use of an approved restraint system that attaches to the airplane's belts.

 better and safer belt for your kids

Crayons and coloring books are a good way to keep small children occupied, but be prepared to lose a few. These easily roll off of trays, onto the floor and are nearly impossible to retrieve. Even if you can retrieve them, you don't want to spend your flight doing so.

Bring toys that aren't too small, don't roll, and won't hurt if accidentally thrown at the person sitting next to you. It happens.

As planes change altitude, mostly during takeoff and landing, the pressure impacts our ears. Babies and children are more susceptible to this than adults - hence, the crying jags that rattle the nerves of parents and fellow passengers alike.

Have something handy for a child to suck on or chew during the flight, especially during takeoff and landing
- a pacifier, a bottle, a lollipop, a piece of gum - all, of course, dependent on their ages. The sucking and chewing motions help relieve the pressure in the ears and can ease the pain a child feels. Which, by the way, will make you less stressed than if you're having to comfort a screaming child and wishing you could hide in the bathroom for the rest of the flight.

You can't take liquids through airport security and this includes baby milk (even applesauce and yougurt). Bring powdered, pre-packaged formula in single feedings. The airline will heat water for you to make a bottle.

Food on airplanes is rather expensive and the selections are usually unappetizing to small children. Pack dry cereal, cut up fruit, raisins, crackers, and other snacks your toddler will like.

 Try to plan an infant's meal (breast or bottle) to take place during take-off and landing if you can. This,  will help make sure your child is hungry enough to suck on the bottle during those times that cause them the most pain. Often, this will cut down on the crying and screaming that makes a parent feel completely helpless.Little fingers drop food during travel on an airplane and the last thing you want is to be stepping on a bunch of crumbs in your row or sitting on them throughout the flight. These great travel cups keep food safe and have a little gasket like opening so kids only pull out what they need. The rest stays in the cup no matter what.Ever had to chase a sippy cup down an airplane aisle? They're round, kids drop them and then they roll away and end up under the feet of someone 10 rows back. These cups have cool straps so you can attach them to a seat restraint, part of the chair, your wrist...wherever...and they'll stay with you through the flight. 

A bag for me, a bag for each child, suitcases, strollers, and car seats? How on earth - you think to yourself - am I ever going to make it through the airport much less to my final destination? Grab handy wheels and easily zip your stuff along.

 

Cool!

The Food Tray is Not a Toy 

Up, down, up, down...ugh!

Once a child sees how that little tray flips down, they want to try it too, and their fascination will go on throughout the whole flight. Suddenly, they have control of something and kids love to control things (do you blame them?). It makes them feel older and bigger. However, that tray going up and down can be felt by the person in front of them and it's darn annoying. Instruct younger children that the tray is off limits and that if they need the tray, you will take it down and put it up.

Peek a Boo 

Fun for a few minutes

I've bounced a standing child on my knees during a flight to keep them occupied. This quickly becomes a game of peek a boo with all those faces they can suddenly see all around them from such a high position. No doubt, your child - if not too shy - will find a kind soul somewhere on the airplane who starts a game of peek a boo with them. Suddenly, instead of a simple little exercise to pass the time, your fighting to get your child to settle down and they are pulling against you to keep up the game. When that happens, have a toy or snacks ready to pull out and distract them or your thighs are going to be numb before the flight is over.

Airplane Book 

Prepare them for the airport

If this is an older child's first trip on an airplane, you can help them get comfortable with all that they're going to see, hear, and feel by helping them go through this book.

  These are some photos of Amsyar and Arissa on the airplane....ni je yang sempat ambik :-)

both busy with own activities

 

Arissa loves books

  

Amsyar occupied with toys

Choc muffin anyone? :-)