Tips for traveling with children

                                                                                         

Air travel with children, particularly infants and toddlers, demands extra care and planning. It can be quite a challenge to make the trip run smoothly, and you don’t want to be the parent who elicits stares and grumblings from all the other passengers. Since you have the potential to run into problems anywhere along the way, from Heathrow airport parking to losing a toddler in a crowd to trying to stop a baby from crying or a toddler from fidgeting during flight delays, it’s best to be prepared with plenty of contingencies.

Step one: Plan ahead. Make sure you have the following items in your carryon: snacks, baby wipes, tissues, Children’s Tylenol and possibly Benadryl, more bottles and nappies than you think you’ll need, a change of clothes for both you and the children, and plenty of things to keep them entertained. Now is a great time to tantalize with new toys—quiet ones without small parts. Art supplies, like crayons or Play-Doh, can use up nice chunks of time. If the new toys are wrapped, that will enhance their appeal as well as use up extra time.

Step two: Time it right. If your children nap, take advantage of their natural schedules. For example, you might try to schedule a flight that coincides with nap time. Let them enjoy the car ride to Heathrow (or not, but at least if they’re fussing, it won’t be bothering strangers), stay awake through the unloading and check-in, and hopefully be well tuckered out by the time you board the flight.

Step three: Make it as easy on yourself as possible. It’s always preferable to have two adults along: one can handle the luggage and travel details while the other handles the young ones. Even with two of you, rather than dealing with lugging both children and suitcases from the Heathrow airport parking garage to the terminal, arrange for a “Meet and greet.” You can drive directly to the terminal, unload, and have a valet take your vehicle to inexpensive offsite parking. When boarding the flight, you might not want to take advantage of airlines that let families with young children board first, particularly if you have active toddlers in tow. Instead, let one adult board first with the carry-on luggage, while the children expend as much energy as possible in the boarding area. You’ll have a difficult enough time keeping them entertained while confined to their seats without extending that time.

Final tip: expect the unexpected. All the planning in the world cannot help you foresee every possible problem; it can simply make you more ready to deal with it. Be prepared to go with the flow and adjust as necessary, so that you all arrive at your destination ready to enjoy it.

About the author:
Heathrow Airport Parking can be maneuvered with or without children using the Meet and Greet option found at MFAirportParking.com

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