Whether it’s your first time at an airport with a baby, or you’re a seasoned flyer, there’s no doubt that travelling with young children can add an extra element of stress to your holiday. This can begin long before you’ve even left the house. Even trying to find uninterrupted time to book your airport parking online in between feeding, changing and a crying baby can be tough, let alone finding your essentials and actually packing! Knowing a few small tips beforehand can make your airport experience a lot smoother.
Keep them busy
It’s a good idea to pack a small bag of toys to take along in your hand luggage. This doesn’t need to be anything expensive – a couple of cheap treats from a pound shop will be enough. Many parents also simply hide away a few of their child’s own toys in the weeks leading up to a trip so that when they are ‘rediscovered’ they can seem new and fun again. Stickers have also been known to distract many a squirmy toddler on a long flight.
Timing is everything
Travelling through an airport with children means that even the most straightforward of tasks seems to take longer than normal. Allow yourself more time than you think you need to check in, get through security and find the gate. It’s also worth planning for any extra time you might need to get from your airport parking to the terminal. Check how often the transfer shuttle runs, and plan your arrival time accordingly. You can compare airport parking prices and travel details to find what will work best for you.
Plan ahead
Most airports now have somewhere safe enough to let toddlers roam free. Check out the airport’s website before you travel, so you know exactly where to head for in the terminal. Planning ahead also extends to your packing – make sure the essentials for your child are easily accessible in your hand luggage, and keep plenty of snacks readily available. Small children can experience ear pain during take off and landing, so offer them plenty of drinks to sip or a bottle to suck on. The swallowing will help balance their ears, and hopefully avoid tears.
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