Barf bags make GREAT hand puppets!
Jul 08 '00
I have flown at least twice every year from Oregon to Florida and back with my daughter. Now I have a son. This will definitely add to the trip preparations!! The trip to Florida takes approximately 8 hours altogether including a change of planes. Here is how I have survived the plane trips without too much hassle:
1. Packing a diaper bag- This is what I included in my large diaper bag to keep my daughter happy (when she was a baby):
~ Diapers and wipes (wipes are great to clean face and hands and come in handy to wipe off those nasty tray tables no one ever seems to clean).
~ Bottles and plenty of formula (they sell formula in individual packets with enough powder to make one bottle, these are very convenient). PLUS feeding baby on takeoff and landing helps relieve pressure on their ears.
~ Change of clothes (spills inevitably happen!)
~ Snacks such as goldfish crackers, small cereal boxes, drink boxes, nutri-grain bars for mom, fruit snacks, etc. Bring baggies along so you can seal anything opened so it won't spill all over your bag, and so if an item is unfinished it will stay fresh.
~ Toys. Bring toys that don't have a lot of pieces since most kids seem to enjoy knocking things on the floor. Getting items off of the floor of a plane is not always so easy! For older kids, travel games are nice. Pads of paper and markers and crayons in a snap-shut container are great too. Of course my daughter must have Barbie dolls and clothes to dress her in. For younger kids, bring small toys that aren't too noisy. Ones that squeak are going to bother your neighbor since most kids like to squeeze them 1,000 times in a row. Another helpful hint is to buy a few toys your child has never seen and hide them until the trip. Then they'll be fascinated by the new toys and they will most likely hold their interest longer.
~Bring child's favorite blankie, etc. as a comfort item, but be SURE not to leave it on the plane! I know from experience...check all around your seat as you leave the plane so you won't end up desperate for a replacement blanket when you get to your destination. Believe me, it isn't fun!
Some helpful flying hints to make you more comfortable:
~ If you have a baby, requesting bulkhead seats can be nice. They give you more legroom, and even enough room to set baby down on the floor in front of you to play or for a nap. Also, if your kids like to kick, there's no one in front of you to get upset. The only disadvantage to bulkhead seats is that the armrests don't lift up.
~ When you book your tickets you can request special meals for kids so they won't have to eat "adult" food. Mom and dad can order special meals as well. An advantage to these meals is that you get your meals before the other meals are served, so you eat first!
~ If you are flying with two people, sometimes booking seat A and seat C (so there's a middle seat inbetween) can help to insure that you will get an empty seat in your row. No one likes to sit in the middle, so most likely no one will request that seat unless the flight is completely full.
~ Get on the plane last. Give your child the extra time to get some energy out before having to sit still.
~ Purchase a seat for baby and use a car seat on the plane. It is safer and that way you'll have more freedom rather than having to hold baby on your lap. Also, the car seat can be comforting since it is familiar.
~ Don't worry about the other passengers and the nasty looks you may get if baby cries. Those people obviously don't have children!
~ Bring an umbrella stroller that fits in the overhead bins to make it easier to change planes. I've had to make a mad dash to connecting flights and being able to move baby quickly can be very helpful!
~ An older child can wheel their own small carry-on sized suitcase. My daughter has a Barbie one and she fills it with things to keep her occupied during her trip, and with things to do when we get to our destination. She loves having her own suitcase!
~ When I go to Florida and plan to stay a while, I send a box with baby supplies and toys a few weeks ahead of time (usually by UPS) so it will be that much less I have to pack. You need so much for a baby and lugging it ALL across country is a hassle! Then when we leave, I just have the box sent back.
~ As far as the barf bags in the seat pockets on planes go, drawing faces on them and using them as hand puppets entertains my daughter!! It's amazing what you'll come up with when you need something to do!!
I hope these hints and suggestions are helpful! Have a safe (and hopefully smooth) flight!!
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Epinions.com ID:
JKportland
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Location: Portland, Oregon
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