Traveling by plane with a small child: how to survive the flight seamlessly

Today we are glad to introduce you to guest post on a topic relevant to many - a journey by plane with the baby. Author - Elena German.

If you can not imagine my life without traveling, the birth of a child you probably will not stop on a new adventure. Many parents are trying to delay the first flight with a baby, but in practice to fly with three-month baby is easier than one year old and a one year old is easier than with the two-year.

As soon as a child was the most important vaccinations and learned to keep my head, it is possible for the road: on vacation, to stay with relatives or at a conference. And this article will help you survive the flight as much as possible without problems.

Documentation

Do not forget to pre-make young travelers a separate passport or fit it in their parent's passport (depending on the legislation of your country), as well as take care of visas. If a child is traveling with only one parent or other relative, check what documents are needed and the power of attorney for the border in the country where you are traveling and where you are going.

In many countries it is considered an alarm signal, if the child and the mother are not the same surname - can ask for additional supporting documents. It may require the original and the translation of a birth certificate, a marriage certificate. Do not allow bureaucracy to ruin your trip.

Buy tickets

A separate place for a baby up to two years to buy is not necessary, but when booking you need to specify it as a passenger. It may be free or may cost up to 10% of the adult. If you still take a separate seat will have to pay for a child ticket. Then it is better to settle with the maximum comfort and take a seat in the flight. Just make sure that your chair is suitable for use in aircraft: on it should be a special icon.

Find out what you put in flight. On long-haul flights you can sometimes get a special avialyulku by ordering it in advance by telephone. And in any case it is necessary to call the airline and to agree on a convenient location in the first row, where a lot of legroom. That call: sometimes the place can be booked online, but the best trump seats are not usually available for on-line reservations or available for a surcharge. In a pinch you can poulybatsya girl at the reception and ask for a comfortable place in the boarding pass.

Play at Captain Obvious: it is necessary to overpay and take a direct flight, but not with the transfer. Have pity on yourself.

An airport

Do not hesitate to ask you to skip the queue, or some VIP reception. Sometimes it offers airport staff sometimes have to ask myself, but the probability of failure is minimal. Politeness, smiling and having a baby will do wonders.

Stroller can be used up before boarding the plane, its folded and hand over at the ramp or at the entrance to the "sleeve". And then you give it to the exit.

If there is a room mother and child at the airport - it's great. There you can find fashionable breastfeeding comfortable chairs, changing tables, a microwave and a playpen; you can relax after a queue and inspections. For older children there are playgrounds, where the child will be able to stretch their legs and tired before long seat on the plane.

Things

It is necessary to specify rules specific airline, but generally relies additional piece of baggage on the child (10 or 20 kg). Can be put into the baggage car seat if you plan autotravel, it is a good idea to grab a familiar child seat with you, rather than relying on the rental company.

A useful principle - to free his hands. I often take as carry a small backpack with him then as I walk around the city. Plus a large comfortable suitcase on wheels. Any bag in hand decreases your agility in times!

Flight

On takeoff and landing of the child in any case have to take the pen. Sometimes the child give a special children's belt, but to be honest, he was terribly uncomfortable and needed only to comply with safety regulations. The cabin can be cold, and the blankets are not available on any flight - it is better to take something warm with you, hide you both.

My corporate life hacking - Sling-scarf. The kid in it can lie or sit on the handles designated sling, freeing your hands.

During takeoff and landing the baby may be uncomfortable - even in adult ears hurt! Give him the breast or bottle.

Of course, you should be with a baby food and drink, bib, spare clothes for the child in case he vymazhetsya, and even a spare T-shirt for you does not hurt if you can not prevent smearing your lunch on all available surfaces. Hot water for dilution of the mixture can ask the flight attendants.

Stock up entertainment for the baby. Three-month enough chest and rattle, but if the child is more than six months, you should grab a few favorite toys. And even if you're not a supporter of the show cartoon baby, upload them to the plate on the safe side can be life-saving idea.

And most importantly - calm, not panic. Have a nice flight!