London - We reveal the ultimate survival tips for travelling with children.
1 Book seats near the plane’s engine
Who’d have guessed it? One of the best things to rock-a-bye-baby is the roar of an engine. According to The Art of Manliness, who swear by the tip given to them by an experienced air stewardess, although the engine is loud, “the womb was incredibly loud too – and they’ll think they’re back in their happy place”.
As an engine’s location varies from plane to plane, you’ll need to find out what type of plane you are flying in, then use Google to see where that aircraft’s engines are located before choosing your seat.
2 Surprise present
TV presenter and consumer champion Sarah Willingham has a useful trick to stem the bawling if your little one has passed the point of no return.
Before you get into the car/train/plane, secretly wrap up one of their favourite toys without telling them. At the right moment, hand it over for them to unwrap. It can’t fail to make them smile and will calm them down quickly.
3 Sit at the back
If you can’t sit near the engine, sit at the back of the plane. As Sara Esther Crispe, co-director of Interinclusion.org and mother-of-four writes on The Jewish Woman, you’ll be closer to the bathrooms, less likely to bother other passengers and possibly have more help from flight attendants.
You’re going to have to wait for the push chair or stroller when you get off the plane anyway.
4 Get a travel jacket
Imagine Bear Grylls circumnavigating Borneo’s rainforest in Southeast Asia. That’s the jacket you need to buy.
According to The Art of Manliness, you’ll need all sorts of accoutrements – from sweets to pens and paper and tissues – to placate the little ones, and a purpose built travel jacket, with its many pockets, means you can access them easily at any time.
Plus, it doubles as a blanket if they get cold. Just ensure it’s lightweight so you can fold it up and stow it in your luggage when not needed.
5 Book the shortest route
While this isn’t rocket science, if you have a multi-leg trip involving train changes or more than one flight, it’s key to plan with military precision. Sites like kayak.com can sort results into travel time so you can choose the faster route.
Equally, if you do have to have a stopover, leave at least an hour for children to stretch their legs, attack each other and have something to eat.
6 Pack one of everything
It will save countless arguments. Give each child their own version of everything that’s practical too. This is especially important with crayons, according to Crispe. If they have their own pack they won’t fight over the best colours and you’ll have a better journey.
Take one spare change of clothes for everyone and at least one plastic bag per person, which you will use for everything from rubbish and cleaning up disasters to emergency bags and keeping things dry after spillages. – Daily Mail