Hiiiiii Friends! It’s been a minute. I’ve been so busy lately with life and all my kids being sick on and off the past couple of weeks. It’s been hard to get some real quiet writing time. For now, fingers crossed – we are all healthy. December is upon us, and so is travel season for a lot of us. I have been asked in the past by friends what tips I have for traveling with kids. I kind of consider myself an experienced flyer when flying with kids. As many of you know, we are very close to our family in Mexico, so we visit often. We fly there once yearly and have started all the kids off at 8 months old. My oldest, who is now 14, has flown about 12 times (We took a pandemic break). My 2-year-old has flown twice, and my 7-year-old has flown 5 times. It really does get easier the more you do it. Here are some of my go-to tips that have helped make our flights easy, like Sunday mornings.
Comfortable outfits are Key
Comfort is very important to us when flying with kids. I specifically plan our airport outfits ahead of time and the kids back up outfits to make sure they are simple and comfortable and can be taken on and off easily for many reasons. For international flights, adults have to remove jackets, belts, and shoes through your airlines security checkpoint, so I keep that in mind when choosing something to wear. Your little one might also be asked to remove shoes and jackets/ sweaters as well. The more you wear, the more time you will have to take for yourself and your little ones to take off and back on. Also, remember the temperature changes often in the airport and on the airplane. You want your baby/toddler to be comfortable, and you want to be able to easily take clothing on and off as desired. This is important to think about from the times I’ve had to breastfeed in tight spaces and for changing diapers as well. Convenience is key. I usually go for a pullover sweatshirt for them with some soft pants for the flight there. Coming back soft shorts and sweatshirt are perfect since the weather is much more humid out there.
Fly direct if you can and pre pay your parking
On one occasion, we flew out of Tijuana/ CBX airport with all kids because of a great deal on airline tickets. We drove out further than our normal airport, had to cross CBX border (which is a whole deal of its own), and wait way longer due to the time difference. Was it worth it? For someone who didn’t have little ones – definitely. For traveling with kids, the savings wasn’t worth the longer trip schedule. I would have gladly paid regular price tickets at our nearest airport for the convenience and the sake of the shorter trip. This was a learning experience for us. I would highly recommend spending the extra money on that direct shorter flight if you can. Pre Plan parking ahead of time as well as pre book so that you can easily park when you arrive and you save that time (and your kids’ time) so you can just arrive, park and head to airport hassle and worry free.
Tire out the little ones when waiting for your flight to board
When we fly with the family, we like to be at airport hours in advance. There are too many of us, and I am a control freak when it comes to getting our bigger group checked in. You can say we love to follow the international 3-hour arrival rule, lol. This also means that we spend more time at the airport waiting. My advice for the waiting period is to not be scared to play with your little ones. Walk around with them, let them sit and read books, or bring along some easy and simple activities for them to work on. Make sure to show them the airplanes from inside the airport. Use this time to get all their energy out. This will keep them entertained, and best of all, they will be tired by the time it’s time to board and be asleep by the time the plane takes off. This is also a great time for you to charge ipads, phones, music devices, and any other electronics the older ones might use.
Book red-eye flights or early mornings
We always book our flights on the red-eye schedule. Mainly, because our flights to Guanajuato are limited and they only have a couple of departing flights so we always choose the midnight one. Secondly, we love them because it’s bedtime. Everyone from babies to toddlers, teenagers, and adults sleep during the flight. It is AMAZING. Nightime on an airplane is so calming and best of all, you get to start your morning at your destination or near it. Even morning flights work great for us because the kids are tired from the earlier hustle of getting to the airport, checking in, security, and boarding.
Keep Carryon bags and diaper bags simple
Take all the essentials that your babiea and kids need for the flight, but also keep it simple and organized so that you can easily grab anything you need without struggling to pull things out when you’re already in such a small seat. My middle child got sick one year right after getting off a flight and it was nice to be able to reach in my carry on and grab her extra shirt and sweater change her within a matter of seconds. Pack as much as you can in your checked in bags and see what a difference it makes in your travel with just the main necessities like water, snacks, and a couple of changes of clothes, a blanket, some toys or activities and other needed items. For my oldest, I do let her pack whatever she needs in her carry-on, but I know she doesn’t need to pull much out during the trips.
Stay calm and be ok with things not being ok-you will get there
This might sound silly, but your baby and your kids can smell your fear, so stay calm. You got this. Whether you are an experienced flyer or it’s your first time flying with your kids, act like you’ve done it 100 times before. Babies will get hungry, and toddlers will get tired. It’s NORMAL. It’s up to you to decide how to handle the situation. Just because I have had really easy flights over the past years does not mean I always will. Don’t worry about the people around you, and don’t worry too much in advance whether your baby will be fussy or won’t be sleeping. You know best how to calm your little ones or your bigger babies and make them feel comfortable and enjoy the flight.
One last thing before I end my blog. I love to cuddle my babies on the plane. Remember, just as you might be nervous about this experience, they might be too, so hug them tight or hold their hand tightly and let them know they are safe in your arms ❤️
-Csy
Csy-Lux 
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