5 tips for navigating the airport with kids
I seriously think the airport can be the most stressful part of any vacation. Even sitting on a plane for a couple hours with a toddler doesn't compare. We have made our fair share of mistakes and I want to make sure you don't repeat them! We have flown with kids over 30 times within the last 3 years of starting this parenthood journey and this is what I have learned! Side note - I have 3 kids, 3, and 1 year old twins. So if something seems overkill.. that is why ha!
- The drop off/pick up
This is my BIGGEST tip if you have multiple kids and luggage. If you park at the airport lot, you will have to wait outside with all your kids and luggage. Then when the shuttle arrives you will need to fold up your stroller, lug your kids and luggage onto the shuttle and then ride to the terminal with multiple stops. This is what works best for us!
My husband drops me off with the kids at the terminal. I have the stroller, diaper bag and any bags we are checking with me and he goes and parks the car. By the time he gets back, I have the bags checked in, diapers changed and then we have the "high five" we aren't stressed yet moment.
At the end of our trip we do the same. He takes the carryons and usually my 3 year old. I wait for the checked bags and meet him down at passenger pickup. Saves us time and so much stress! They CRAM people into those shuttles.
2. SECURITY
I am certain my husband has had a nightmare about going through security. We have TSA Precheck, which if you travel more than once a year with kids is 100% worth it. Under 12 will get to go through the line with you and not have to remove shoes and all that.
If you don't have precheck. Don't stress, you will feel like a hot mess and wonder if your kid packed a squirt gun or something the whole time but just breathe. You will be fine. Make sure you are prepared before hand and follow the current TSA guidelines. Also wear socks and don't have your kids in shoes that are hard to get on and off.
3. Bag of fun
Make sure you have a diaper bag easily accessible the entire journey. Do not overpack this. Airport changing tables are usually in the worst locations and on the plane you will be squished in the bathroom once the changing table comes down. You need to be able to pull items that you need out, without dumping or unloading the whole bag. I usually keep diapers, wipes, medications, hand sanitizer, AirPods, a pen and that is it in that bag. Then you will want a separate carry on full of things you can entertain your kids. I LOVE our amazon tablet for my daughter. Smartie Suckers are also my go to. I also love these activity books, just remember to fill the pen before boarding. These headphones are genius for kids, I turn it to white noise once they fall asleep. Fingers crossed for you they sleep the whole flight! Oh and snacks. DO NOT forget snacks and full sippy cups. Make sure they are chewing or drinking during take off and landing so their ears don't hurt.
4. Seats
I have also fought the internal battle of saving money and not buying infants a seat. Anything over 3 hours, once in the air, you would pay pretty much anything to get the kid off your lap. They are busy and want to sleep or explore. It also is a lot safer for them to be in a car seat, planes can get pretty bumpy out of the blue. That being said, if you do buy a seat for your kids bring a car seat! Especially the car seat they are used to. When we took my daughter to Europe at 18 months she was a dream because she was in "her space" there was a mom a few rows up from us with a baby and she cried the entire flight. I felt so bad for that mama! There is not a worse feeling, but you know what sometimes they will cry the whole flight and most people are understanding. Lugging a car seat through the airport is not fun, we use this backpack carrier for it.
5. Just breathe
Things won't go smoothly the entire time. Someone will lose a shoe or a bottle. Security will decide you are the winner of the random screening of your entire family. Or even better THREE times in one trip which happened to us when I took just my oldest to Jamaica. Just breathe, handle the situation and move on. I guarantee you aren't the craziest crew going through the airport, or if you are - good job for not letting the fear of an airport get in your way from making memories and seeing the world.