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Ask a Flight Attendant Mom

Posted by on March 28, 2017

Questions about Flying With Kids? Ask a Flight Attendant Mom!

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I put this question up on my personal Facebook page, and I want to expand it to the rest of you! I’m a 17 year flight attendant for a major airline, a mom of two kids, ages 9 and 4, who have been on over 150 flights combined. My oldest has sensory issues and my youngest is a little wild! What questions about family travel or flying with kids do you have for me? Here are some questions that have been asked so far. I’ll answer them in more detail in future blog posts.

Questions:

(This list will be added to as questions come in and I’ll share links to the blog posts that address the questions. Some will be future blog posts, so this post will be updated regularly.)

  1. I want to know what mistakes you see other parents making on a regular basis when you are working – especially what they do that drives you crazy as a flight attendant so I can make sure we aren’t making them as passengers! 😉
  2. What is your absolute favorite way to handle ear pressure for little kids? You know, the kind that makes them scream in pain…
  3. Picky eaters on a long flight.
  4. What advice do you have (not including iPad or computer) for a 16 hour flight to Dubai with kids?!?!

I’ll answer these in more depth soon, but here are my initial replies:

  1. I can definitely write a full post on that! And I will–but the first two things that pop into my head are not using headsets with audio entertainment and not picking up after yourself (or at least attempting to).
  2. I’ll write more on it, but distraction is what works best for my kids. Lollipops, fruit chews, chocolates, and a mini bubble wand. Plus explaining to them what’s happening and that it will get better. Here is a post on some things to pack to help prevent ear pain for kids: Things to Pack for Flying With a Cold.
  3. For liquid food it’s usually best to buy in the airport. Sizes have to be 3.4 oz or less and fit in a quart-sized Ziploc bag to take through security. But you can bring anything on the plane which you purchase once past the security checkpoint. Here’s a post I wrote on what food you can bring on the plane: Food on the Plane: What Can I Bring? 
  4. I haven’t taken my kids on a long-haul flight yet, but I’ve had a 5 hour scheduled flight turn into 11 hours on the plane! I would still pack the same way for the 16 hour flight. I pack lots of travel toys but keep them fitting in a gallon-size Ziploc bag. Definitely bring a blanket (the kids -sized micro-plush blankets roll up small enough to shove in a grocery tote bag–I use the Trader Joe’s freezer bag tote for this). Here are some ideas for creative activities that would suit the age of your children (7 and 8 in this case) : Best Travel Activities For the Creative Child.

What questions do you have for me? I’ll do my best to answer or direct you to an answer from another family travel blogger if it’s outside of my experience. Leave a comment below, or on our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter page.

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