Or, go ahead, have that glass of wine!
Life as an expat always has its challenges (wait, the pound to dollar exchange rate is WHAT??) but one thing that is unavoidable, especially when you have grandmas waiting to spoil your kids, is long haul travel.
The first time I did the 10 hour trip to San Francisco from London, our daughter was 4 months old, and I was travelling solo. The flight was nearly empty, I had a row to myself in the back of the plane, and my very own in-flight grandpa across the aisle (a lovely gentleman from Berkeley who let me know “don’t worry, I’m a grandpa”, as soon as we were seated). He made sure I had all the water and snacks I needed. I got up only to change the baby, had a ton of space to feed her, and watched all of season 3 of Unreal. Mind over matter people!! I laughed when people said I was “so brave” for doing it solo… it was a walk in the park.
Flash forward to today, we fly frequently, and take at least one trip back to the US each year. Now, with a 2 year old, it is much trickier; we’ve had rolling on the floor meltdowns before passport control in Greece, screaming on the plane because they didn’t want to be buckled in for take off, and 45 mins of pure hell on an overcrowded train coming back to London from Edinburgh on a bank holiday weekend. (That was probably the toughest).
But, if you set your expectations before you travel, it will end up being a great flight, you will have survived, and you will find DON”T need to pass out goody bags to your fellow travellers.
Below are some of my tips and tricks for everyone to be happy:
Hit Up the Play Space
First rule of thumb, you have a toddler. In an enclosed space. Where they are expected to wear a seatbelt and sit still. This is not normal toddler behavior. Even the most docile child will struggle with the waiting, so the key is to get them moving before you board the plane.
When it comes to kids play spaces, Europe does a much better job of this than the US in my opinion. Even City Airport in London, where the majority of travelers are there for business has a kids place space. Amsterdam has an amazing airplane play space if you fly KLM or BA, there are plenty spread throughout Heathrow, and Gatwick has an arena that can seem a bit like Hunger Games, but I’ve seen babies in there (with their parents) and the older kids tend to play around them.
Distractions Early
One of the biggest struggles for us is getting our daughter seated and with the seatbelt on. Usually I let her explore the area, but when it’s time to get locked in, out comes a sticker book. Stickers don’t have to go in the book… they can go on mom, dad, the armrest, the in-flight safety guide… (just make sure you peel them off once you’re finished)
Change of clothes
On our most recent flight from London to Boston our daughter managed to dump water all over herself within the first 45 minutes of the flight. No problem… I had an extra tee. She also managed to get more of her pasta on her shirt and leggings than in her mouth… I should have packed two separate outfits. When we have an overnight flight I also like to pack pyjamas so that I’m able to simulate the evening routine as much as I can. This includes milk, stories, and changing into PJs. I also recommend to bring a small flannel blanket – this can be set down on the airline seats (therefore avoiding getting food and drinks on the seats other people will have to sit on) and also used as a changing pad, picnic blanket, or impromptu towel as needed.
Bring ALL the diapers
In the same vein as a change of clothes, pack ALL the diapers. I’ve read you want one diaper for every hour in the air, but I would actually change that to every hour you are away from your house in transit. Having had paid €18 for a package of diapers in Faro Portugal because our flight was delayed for 6 hours… I learned my lesson once, and never again.
And ALL the snacks
Sometimes long haul flights can feel like an eat-a-thon, but inevitably, our kid picks at their food and asked for “Snacks? Snacks?” throughout the flight. Having different snacks in different containers is a great way to keep them entertained. I also keep all the pre-packaged food we don’t eat on the flight. That bag of chips or cheese stick could make a great snack later on in your trip, or can be eaten once you get home.
Have that glass of wine, plan for one movie
British Airways flight attendants get this best… they ALWAYS make sure to ask you (remind you?) if you’d like some wine. If you feel like it, do it. It is stressful traveling with kids, and if you want a glass of wine to chill out and relax (as much as that is possible) go ahead. If you are lucky enough to have a child who sleeps on the plane, take advantage. Watch the movie (I like to check online before my flight to see what is available so I don’t waste time reading movie descriptions) but know that with a toddler, you probably won’t get to catch up on this year’s Oscar nominees.
It’s ok to give into Peppa, but do it later in the flight if possible
I will never forget being on a trans-Atlantic flight where a little girl had been brilliant the first 8 hours, helping her parents with her fussy baby brother. Once the crying baby had fallen asleep, the girl requested to watch a show on her iPad. Her mom said no, which spun into an epic meltdown. The whole plane collectively, was like, give her the iPad! Traveling is a special occasion, and while I don’t like the thought of my kid zoning out for 9 hours in front of a screen, an hour of Peppa at the end of the flight after they have been well behaved is a win-win for everyone. Hell, if it’s 45 mins into the flight and it’s the only thing that will calm them down, no one will judge you. I like to do it at the end of the flight, because for us, turning off Peppa can be dramatic, and if we have to because the flight attendant says so, it makes it a lot easier.
Travel Backpack that never is unpacked
If you travel even a handful of times a year, I think it can make sense to keep a special travel backpack that you never unpack (just maybe restock). In it I would include crayons (in a ziplock baggie) new sticker books and stickers, magnetic toys, special books, pacifiers (if your kid uses them) wipes, and non-perishable snacks. Keep a water bottle in this backpack so your not rushing around looking for one. Also – if you have a Skip-Hop changing pad, the plastic container is the perfect size for keeping your boarding passes and passports in one easy to find place.
The hardest part is getting home
The journey isn’t over when the plane lands. From here there might be rental cars to pick up, traffic to deal with or trains to catch. Think of the bigger picture, not JUST the flight. Make sure you have snacks, water and entertainment for this leg as well.
I know different tricks work for different folks, and I’m always up for learning what works best! Right now our daughter is 2 so I’m sure things will be different in a few months, but please please please do not let the thought of long haul travel deter you from your holiday time with your kids.
