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The holidays are approaching, which means vacation time. Someone flies to another country to change the situation, someone goes to visit relatives … One way or another, many parents face the question: what to do with a child? Can I take it with me? What can I do to make my flight easier? Let’s figure it out with an expert.
At what age should you start flying?
At what age can you take a child with you on a plane? There is no exact answer to this question. More important than the age of the child’s temperament, as well as the distance that you need to overcome. However, infants are not recommended for the first seven days.
When planning a route, it is important to take into account the difference in time zones so as not to waste long-awaited vacation days on regime changes, tears and screams. While the child is very young, choose directions within two time zones. The older the baby, the further you can go and stay there longer.
A long daytime nap can be used for outdoor walks, excursions and sightseeing. A stroller, an ergonomic backpack or a sling are your true travel friends. But be sure to keep an eye on the balance of sleep – if you exceed the daily norm, you can only dream of a good night.
What to do if you have a restless child?
If the child falls asleep for a long time and sleeps little, wakes up crying and often requires breasts, a couple of hours of driving in a car, train or plane is your option.
To relax comfortably, choose deserted places: secluded houses, country cottages – more nature and less prying eyes. The ability to quickly attach the baby to the breast or give him a bottle will help calm the baby faster, and fresh air will help him sleep well.
However, if the child is extremely sensitive to changes in rhythm and regimen, jet lag travel will have to be postponed for the time being. In this case, the restructuring in a new place can take at least a month.
My advice: on a trip with a strong shift in time zones, it is better to go with a child who has a maximum of two daytime sleeps in the regimen. Then it will be easiest to shift the mode. If your children sleep more, it is better to refrain from such trips.
The circadian rhythm in children is a fragile, unsettled process, a violation of the regimen can add problems to an already immature biological clock.
How to prepare for a flight?
Before flying, the child must be:
- Clean. Check the diaper and make sure the baby is comfortable and does not want to go to the toilet.
- Sat. Breastfeed or have mixture ready. Food must be available.
- Hello. If there are signs of a cold, it is better to reschedule the trip.
If you have to shift the regime forward, you can start preparing your baby for restructuring in about two weeks. For example, if he went to bed at 21:00, gradually shift the time of sleep to 22:30. When you arrive at the place, it will be much easier to finally adjust the mode.
My advice: before boarding the plane, the child needs to be a little overworked. But do not overdo it, otherwise you risk knocking down his sleep and getting hysterical. If your typical waking cycle is two hours, it might be helpful to stretch that time out to two and a half hours. The baby will not be critically tired, but enough to quickly fall asleep.
Already on the plane, you can carry out the usual ritual of going to bed – put it on your chest, create white noise with the help of gadgets, give a bottle. If the child is comfortable, he will sleep through the entire flight.
Pack your baby’s belongings into your carry-on suitcase so everything you need is close at hand. Take a few favorite toys in case of whims. And do not forget to collect a first aid kit with everything necessary for the child.
What to feed your baby while travelling?
If your baby is breastfed, you need to carefully make sure that you have all the “accessories” for breastfeeding with you: a breast pump, freezer bags, a bottle. In this case, life will be simplified by renting apartments with your own kitchen – you may be able to provide a sterilizer, blender, double boiler.
If the baby is not fully breastfed, you need to find ready-made baby food. Be sure to consider your child’s preferences. New surroundings and unfamiliar food can trigger stress. Check if specific mixes of the required brands are freely available – different countries may differ in the range of manufacturers and tastes of artificial nutrition.
For example, in Italy, instead of zucchini puree, you will be offered pasta for the smallest, and in Turkey you will not find cauliflower, but you can easily buy baby tarhana (an oriental dish made from a mixture of grain and sour milk).
My advice: When traveling, choose only your child’s favorite food. It’s good, of course, to feed him healthy broccoli, but on a trip his good mood is much more important. Moreover, the vacation will not last forever and sometimes you can afford to relax.
If the baby is allergic, evaluate the risks of visiting countries with exotic food. You can’t always keep track of what he puts in his mouth. Talk to your doctor in advance – maybe he will advise what drugs you need to take with you.
Do not deny yourself new experiences and pleasures just because of the age of the child. Preparing for the trip will save both you and him from stress. And set you up for a great vacation.
About the Developer
Julia Domanova — Physician, Gestalt Therapist, Certified Complementary, Breastfeeding and Sleep Consultant with over six years of experience, mother of three. Her .