Traveling with a baby on an airplane: what you need to know. How to fly with a baby on an airplane: recommendations and personal experience

I have compiled a list of working and proven tips from parents who already have their own positive experience of flying with children from six months to 4 years old, as well as the experience of pediatricians and airline employees. Now is the height of holidays and vacations, which means it's time to recall these simple, but very necessary recommendations.

1. Psychological preparation of yourself

“The question of a screaming child is a question of the preparation of the accompanying parent.”

Tune in advance that everything will be bad: the child will roar, and the neighbors will come across unloving and scandalous. It is better for especially sensitive parents to drink a sedative in advance (do not confuse it with vodka) so as not to fall into hysterics themselves. Calm parents - calm child. The calmer the parents, the easier it is for the children. Even if you have conflicts in the family, conclude a peace agreement in advance for the duration of all flights with a child. Agree to immediately put up with any quarrel, no matter who is to blame. It can be childish, shaking each other's little fingers. Your swearing will certainly plunge the child into depression, he will also begin to roar, and it will be worse for you, and for him, and for everyone around. Dads who are used to flying without children and drinking alcohol should immediately understand that they will have to give up this habit and completely take care of the child (on their own or with their mother). There should not be situations when the mother cannot calm the child, and the father drinks and watches a movie.

2. Psychological preparation of the child

On the eve of the very first flight (if the child is already able to understand what it is about), it will not hurt to talk about what an airplane is, how it buzzes, how many people are around and how interesting and easy it is to play in it. It is advisable to do everything so that the child already dreamed of flying and was waiting for it as a birthday or New Year. Some parents recommend allowing on board a lot of things that they forbid in ordinary children's life: “For them, this is a kind of holiday, because only on the plane can they drink cola and suck on candy. I don't let them do that at home."

To book such seats, when buying tickets, you need to clarify whether they are free and whether a cradle is provided during the flight. Employees of the offices of the selected airline will provide such information. After buying tickets, you need to immediately book these seats - sometimes this can be done directly on the airline's website, sometimes you can contact its employees. And a few days before departure, call back and confirm. If the airline does not provide the possibility of booking such seats, then you will have to go to the airport in advance in order to be one of the first to be at the check-in counter. And here's another important thing - if you are flying with a stroller and with transfers, then you must indicate when registering where you would like to receive it.

Most non-babies prefer to sit by the window and watch what is down there. In addition, it is more convenient to sleep by the window and the child definitely does not run the risk of getting hit on the leg or arm with a cart. So try to book at least one window seat. As for the choice of flight and time, opinions differed here. Some argue that it is better to take tickets for flights that minimally shift the child's daily routine, and try to support him during the flight. Others advise waking up the baby early or not letting them sleep at all before the flight. "Exhaust the child before the plane so that he falls asleep on the plane." Another option: “We choose early departures, when the rise occurs at one or two in the morning. Most flight the child is sleeping.

However, this is not suitable for all children: “But lack of sleep can affect us differently. IN last time the child roared for half an hour that he didn’t want to sleep on the plane, but wanted to go to bed, although he was already dying like he wanted to sleep. In general, here be guided by your own experience and your own child, but in general the “exhaust” method works for most children. Especially if they are given sleeping pills or sedatives before departure. There was also advice not to fly long distances with a connection in one sitting: “We fly from Moscow to the States and always sleep the night at the Amsterdam airport - this greatly reduces the number of tantrums. A well-rested and well-fed child is already 50% of success.

4. What to bring

For a very small child: diapers, wet wipes, water in a bottle with a sippy, dryers, new books with engines and a couple of old favorites, three new small cars in mom's pocket (get it in critical situations), change of clothes;

1-2 years: a potty, wet wipes (wipe your hands often), water, dryers, books, cars, a couple of toys, a change of clothes, patience for mom and dad to walk around the cabin of the aircraft. Children at this age always want to walk and see everything;

3-4 years: a pot, napkins, water, drying, clothes, favorite books, puzzles, constructors, magazines with stickers, puzzles.;

5-6 years: napkins, magazines with labyrinths, stickers, scanwords, Lego, cards, dominoes, backgammon, checkers, etc.;

“Take a change of clothes for the child and mother. It is not so rare for a child, especially up to 2 years old, who sits in his mother’s arms, throws himself on himself and does not forget his mother.

Also, a few apples, cut into slices, medicines for motion sickness, pain, soothing, will always come in handy. “I also always take a couple of shawls / scarves with me - firstly, the child can be saved from the cold, and secondly, like, she dresses up (I have a classic girl).” And of course, a father's / mother's smartphone is a great toy, if you are sure that the child will not erase anything there.

5. What to do with the child during the flight

“If a child is nervous in a separate seat during takeoff, you need to ask the stewardess for a child's belt, put it on your knees (not the stewardess, but the child) and fasten it to yourself.”

“During takeoff, she distracted attention - she asked me to hold my hand, portrayed a fear of flying, the child took care of her mother and was happy.”

“On long flights, be sure to let the baby walk / run / jump. At this age, it is difficult for children to sit in one place due to the growth of the musculoskeletal system. Yes, it is good for adults to stretch their legs. Somehow we formed a whole kindergarten in the tail of the plane - five children entertained each other.

“Not just to put a new coloring book or psp in your hands, but to fully communicate, tell where we are flying, what we are going to do, play, draw together.”

“Looking out the window and explaining is very entertaining.”

“When the child got tired, they dragged around the neighbors, changing the situation a little. Friendly neighbors on the plane were right away, a couple of minutes of hooting with someone else's aunt gave 10-15 minutes of silence.

“You don’t even have to play with a child, you can just talk. If you get an hour to talk with a child, then it will forever remain in his memory. No need to look for ways to make the flight painless. It seems to me that you need to look for an opportunity to enjoy it.”

“Preparing meals, eating and collecting trays is always mega fun. You can allow to take one of the sets of plastic cutlery with you, promising to arrange a separate dinner for the toy characters later.”

“The main thing is to alternate entertainment (distractions). There is little distraction for more than half an hour.”

“Be sure to ask for permission after landing (already at the exit) to look at the pilot. Usually possible for those who are well-behaved. You can’t buy a two-year-old for this, but in 3.5-4 years it will help you control yourself. ”

6. Flight delays and transfers

"The biggest problems are long transfers and flight delays. This is where you need to keep him on a leash. The terminal building is being converted into playground. I will never forget how in Prague I caught a kid on a travelator on New Year's Eve and how he almost dropped a decorated Christmas tree at the gate. Children need to be distracted or occupied. Otherwise, they distract themselves and find something to do.”

“A good way is to cooperate with other parents. Oddly enough, the more children, the easier it is to cope with them. Plus, they entertain themselves. You just need to make sure that it does not harm other people and the airport building.”

“We once sat in the mountains in France for 10 hours at the airport. The child was 5, and we just went to the store for the next lego as we assembled and reworked the previous one.

7. About laying ears and feeding

“If we talk about very small ones (up to a year), then on takeoff and landing you need to give a breast or a bottle so that your ears do not lay. If you miss this moment, then the ears can get sick and there is nothing to calm the child until the end of the flight. Until a year and a half, while she was feeding, she calculated so that during takeoff and landing she would give breasts. As a result, passengers were surprised at the exit that during the flight the child was not even noticed. Now (4 years) before take-off we try to take a walk and during the climb we give juice from a straw. On landing, if not sleeping, too. As long as it saves."

“An almost one-year-old child was saved from laying his ears with a bottle of water with a nipple for a younger age, so that he had to pull harder. Well, of course, another bottle with a normal nipple was also there to get drunk.”

“Sometimes our ears are blocked, so “cheburashka” helps - put a napkin dipped in hot water, and put two glasses to the ears.

“With laying his ears, he taught to hold his nose and blow into it - everything goes away at once.”

“Medicine dripped into the ears during takeoff and landing”

“We flew for a long time somehow, the child is a year old. During takeoff and landing, the child's ears were blocked. The stewardess used a technique that we still use successfully: boiling water is poured into a plastic cup, splashed out, and applied to the ears. The effect of cans: the child immediately calms down.

“It is advised to drip any vasoconstrictor into the nose before the flight (during pressure drops, the eardrum presses, because of this pain). Give small sips of water (any liquid) during takeoff and landing. Blow out your nose (like divers), but this is still for older kids, and with caution. We also have a pipe from which you can remove the tip and it stops whistling. So, during takeoff and landing, we “play” with it, blow with all our might. It helps a lot with the ears, including me.

I hope these tips help you and your baby. And I also hope that you will share them with other parents, and there will be less children's tears on airplanes.

We fly often, 4-5 times a year, because we live in another country. I also have a list of my life hacks. Since my daughter turned 2 and had to buy her a separate ticket, I always take an inflatable foot pillow with me. She is placed between her and the seat in front and makes the chair longer, so that the child can lie down and sleep. We still sleep like this on airplanes and on buses.

I flew with my husband and young son to Thailand. We took 3 places in a row at the porthole. The kid liked it - everyone looked at the clouds behind the glass. He also played on the phone, and drew on a sliding table. And I slept there - no one interfered. Dad stretched his legs along our chairs and he also managed to get some sleep. In general, these places are not bad if you fly with a baby. We liked.

My 5 year old daughter and I travel frequently. If possible, I choose seats in advance, when booking tickets. I prefer the rows closer to the exit and the cockpit. She is my fidget, so one of the places is in the middle of the row and the second is from the aisle. So she can get up, walk around the cabin. To keep her occupied, I take coloring books and a tablet with cartoons to the salon.

Trying to get tickets at the head of the plane. Most often there is more space, when landing you can get there without crowding. You can also be the first to leave the plane when disembarking, my five-year-old by the end of the flight is simply unbearable to sit for at least one more minute) True, the toilet is exactly at the other end of the plane, but this is even a plus, some kind of movement.
We plant near the porthole, you can always keep the child looking at the clouds (in addition to the stocked coloring books, toys, etc.).

And our family always still try to buy tickets at the head of the plane or close to it. It's just that there are a couple of unsuccessful flights in the tail, where it shakes a lot and my child cried a lot and was afraid. This has never happened before. And it is desirable that there are places next to the porthole at the same time, then the son in it all the time of the flight, as if glued, looks at everything and is calm.

We have two kids. The eldest daughter is twelve, the youngest is seven years old.
During our annual flights to hot countries, we tried, probably, all possible accommodation options in the cabin.
We always try to take three places on one side and the next one across the aisle. Children compete, who will sit at the porthole, and who will be nearby. Adults can take a break by exchanging extreme places.
According to the location in the cabin, the middle is more convenient for me, of course, if not near the toilet) You can send the child to walk along the aisle and follow his movements.
Once sat in the front row. Very uncomfortable. There is nowhere to put bags with things for the flight and nowhere to stretch your legs.

Last summer, my wife and child (a little over a year) and I flew to Turkey. At the reception, we were immediately offered to sit in front of the plane. We had no reason to refuse, so we sat there. And everything would be fine, but a young mother was sitting with us with a very noisy child, who, it seems, was older than our Danka. Half the time of the flight, he did not give rest to anyone who sat more or less nearby. In the end, I asked the flight attendant to transfer us somewhere, where it is quieter. She put us in tail section. And, despite all the possible inconveniences there, we flew safely. This case is rather rare. After all, other families with children were sitting in the same front part, and their children almost did not scream, like ours. In general, I advise you to choose places wisely. Because not always the front of the aircraft is well suited for flights with children.

Flying in an airplane is always exciting. I believe that a child should not convey his excitement, on the contrary, set him up for a positive adventure. It is worth taking some food and water so that the child does not cry from hunger, and the grouchy neighbors do not show discontent. And, if the baby is motion sick, then this should also be taken care of in advance, buy some pills for motion sickness. If the baby is still naughty, you can ask the stewardess, if possible, to transfer to a better seat.

I flew with a child on an airplane more than once, as for me the most comfortable places for the child and parents, this is at the very beginning of the plane, there the child will not interfere with anyone, and the flight attendants, if anything, are always there and can help. But then again, if you are flying far, it will be difficult to keep the child in one place, here it is probably better in the middle of the plane, so that at least somehow he can walk during the flight.

With a child, we flew several times charter flights, tried to ask for tickets at the emergency exit, there is more space in the aisle. The daughter always asked to go to the window, it was interesting for her to look out the window as the plane takes off and the earth moves away. Well, of course, they often ran to the toilet, but fortunately we had all 3 chairs, we didn’t have to ask anyone to let us pass 100 times.

Usually we choose the first places at the emergency exit - there, it seems to me, there are more places than in ordinary places. But order them better in advance it often happens that they are busy. We had such a case, we did not have time to book the right places in As a result, they were sitting in different rows at all, at that time my daughter was only 3 years old. Still good seats by the window, at least my daughter likes to watch the view from the window and does not interfere with other passengers.

When I travel with a child, I always try to take seats closer to the toilet, about 4-5 rows before it, and sit down to the aisle. Sometimes you are even lucky and the places next to you are not occupied. This position allows me to get out of the chair more often if the child needs to use the toilet or if he suddenly feels unwell. You can also walk along the aisle to distract the child a little from the flight, and stretch your legs yourself.

If we are flying with a child, we usually always take seats "by the window". And the kid is interested to see what is happening there, and I am more calm, after all, not in the aisle and no one walks by.
They first flew when my son was 9 years old, now he is 11. They just flew over the ocean during sunset. He was delighted, pressed himself against the glass and asked me to take a picture of him)) He was not at all afraid when the plane took off, and when landing, there were also no negative emotions. Now he is looking forward to each of our trips and is constantly wondering when we will fly again)
I think this species transport is the most acceptable if traveling with a child. It's fast and comfortable.

We often fly as a whole family, and together with our 7-year-old daughter. When the three of us travel, we try to take seats in the side of the cabin. While the plane takes off, the child, of course, looks out the window. When there is nothing left to look at, the daughter moves to a chair between us, puts her legs on the knees of one parent, her head on the other, covers herself with a blanket and sleeps safely all the way. True, it’s not very convenient for us, but the child at the end of the journey is happy and well-rested!

Even at the travel agency, we booked seats for our two-year-old son. Having studied the scheme of the aircraft, we chose two places near the aisle. To be honest, I had no idea how the flight would go for him, although the flight was only 3 hours. But as I was not afraid, everything went well, the baby just fell asleep and woke up at the very end of the flight. The stewardess gave out a special belt for the child, which was very useful during the flight.

The Internet gives people great opportunities, which, unfortunately, no one uses, either due to ignorance, or laziness. I belonged to the same type of people until one case. We all understand very well that best places on the plane at the window. So, I always asked passengers to change places with me so that my child could watch the clouds from the window. I asked until one day they asked me to do so. I realized how annoying it is. Now I always book in advance. Therefore, if you are flying somewhere with a small child, take care of the seats in advance.

When we were going to fly on vacation, the travel agency advised us to choose seats in front of the plane. After listening to the managers, my family and I - this is a husband and two children, settled in front of the aircraft. Really saw the difference right away. More space for legs, where we were able to put a bag that we were allowed to take in hand luggage. In the same place at the beginning of the plane, many were with children.

Once I had to fly with my daughter, she was then 4 years old. I was not particularly worried, because in transport she usually felt good and behaved. Indeed, as described in the article, the seats were provided to us in the first row and this is very convenient. All the time that we flew, the daughter slept. And I was extremely happy about it. Since another mother on board no longer knew what to do with her child. All fellow travelers entertained him.

We have traveled several times with our young daughter. We flew to Egypt for the first time when she was 6 months old. We were lucky with the place, we got it in the front row, we sat quite comfortably. The baby endured the flight back and forth well, she slept in my arms for almost all five hours. The second time we flew, and she was already a year and a half old, we didn’t have enough space in front, we got it in the middle of the plane, near the aisle. The trip was hard, naughty, apparently pawned ears. Yes, and it was difficult to keep the daughter in one place, but you can’t walk in the aisle for a long time.

First of all, I do not choose seats, but an airline that operates new aircraft, they have more space and more comfortable seats. Secondly, the side seats, and not the middle, to sit down with your family and no one to interfere, and there it is already easier to decide where the child will sit. Well, thirdly, I never take the first and last places, they do not recline, and this is very inconvenient.

During the flight, we chose places that were on the edge so that the child could move comfortably. Our flight was when the child was 2.5 years old, naturally he cannot sit in one place for a long time and he needs to move, the most convenient places these are extreme so that he walks around the cabin while the aircraft is moving. Somehow they bought seats with a window, so the child was not at all interested in looking at it.

On this moment my son is already 6 years old. But we flew to rest with him from a very young age, we never had a stop because of this. As for the seats, I can say freely, it's comfortable to sit everywhere. Of course, if you have money for business class, choose only these seats. Although this is not required. You can sit anywhere. The only thing I can advise is not to fly long distances, it's hard!

Hello dear! Due to the fact that many are interested in the issue of traveling with babies, I decided to write about how to fly with baby in airplane.

When a baby appears in the family, many parents prefer not to travel or fly anywhere, because they are afraid of harming their child. In fact (and own experience), these fears are unfounded. But I found out about this already on the way :) And at the stage of preparing for travel, I myself was subject to these phobias.

Life turned out so that forced flights and moving with our daughter began when Hannah was only 2 months old. Here's how to deal with fears of flying with a baby, how to prepare, what places to choose, and how my daughter and I flew, I'll tell you in this article.

You will be surprised, but a passenger can fly calmly (in every sense), starting from the 7th days own life. However, for your own parental peace of mind, it is better to undergo an examination and receive written confirmation from the pediatrician that the baby is healthy and the flight is allowed. Rarely, some airlines may request such a document. So it's better to arm them.

The smaller the baby, the easier it is to travel with him. Especially if the baby is breastfed. Gave breast and basically forgot about little passenger. It is also an excellent prevention of pressure drops: swallowing movements will help the baby to calmly endure the laying of the ears. For older babies who have already given up breast or bottle, try to give more water during takeoff and landing of an aircraft. Or something like a lollipop.

If the child has a stuffy nose, then be sure to drip a vasoconstrictor and take it with you on board. Some moms arm themselves with ear drops, but in most cases, nasal drops are sufficient. If you know that your baby has a tendency to earaches, then bring the right medicine on board. Here you need to proceed from the individual characteristics of the child.

What if the child gets sick?

It is better to reschedule a flight with a sick child. But if this is not possible, then take all the necessary medicines with you in your hand luggage. A first aid kit is available on board the aircraft, but special medical supplies should be on hand.

Sometimes it happens that even if all the precautions are observed, with all the preparation of the mother, the children are still very naughty with a pressure drop, or from stress due to an unusual environment. Mothers are very nervous about possible discomfort to other passengers, and this stress is transferred to your baby. Which makes him even more naughty. Vicious circle of damaged nerves.

Remember: no plane has yet crashed because of crying children or disgruntled passengers. Treat your own child with understanding, he needs a calm mother much more. And let others use earplugs;)

Conditions for the flight of an infant

Until what age do kids fly for free? Children under two years of age, if they do not occupy a separate seat. However boarding pass they get the same as their parents. If you checked in for the flight on your own, do not forget to print out the document for the child as well, it is required. For children over 2 years old, a child fare applies and the ticket price depends on the airline. From the age of 12 there is an adult rate.

Choose a seat at the beginning of the plane, ideally, of course, in business class, if funds allow. Clean air passes through the beginning of the aircraft and passes to the end, having collected all the sneezes and microbes of the other passengers. I also recommend choosing a place near the aisle. So you can simply stretch and stretch your legs.

Changing diapers during a flight is a breeze. There is a special table in the toilet of the aircraft, which, at your request, will be laid out by the flight attendant. The only negative is a small space, but in order to change a diaper, it’s enough, checked;) Grab only a diaper to cover the changing table.

Some airlines provide special cradles for babies. But the number of cradles is limited, so you need to warn in advance that you need it. Better to do it by phone. My friends flew in economy Emirates airlines and they were just provided with such a travel cradle. The whole family was very pleased: the parents' hands were free, and the child (he was three months old) slept peacefully in a comfortable bed. I myself have not used such a device, but I have heard extremely favorable reviews.

For baby's comfort

There are also special hammock cradles from Flyebaby, which are convenient for transporting babies. On the plane, the upper part of the hammock is attached to the table in the seat in front, the bottom is fixed with special belts around the mother's waist. In the hammock itself, the child is fixed with straps. Flyebaby is designed for children weighing up to 11 kg. This device is convenient and Everyday life: with it, any chair can be turned into a children's chair. You can buy

In any case, no matter what you use, during takeoff and landing, as well as during turbulence, you will need to fasten the child to you with a special belt provided by flight attendants. By the way, if you are a confident sling user or your child has already grown up to a special backpack, then it may even be better to use them. Some children fall asleep on their parents, almost without noticing the flight itself.

What to take with you in hand luggage?

5-6 change diapers;
3-4 cotton diapers;
Wet wipes. A lot of;
2-3 sets of changeable clothes for the child and at least one changeable item for yourself, because anything can happen on the way;
A warm thing and socks for the child for the plane, as it can be cold on board;
Food, snacks and water for older children;
Toys and books for entertainment;
First aid kit (vasoconstrictor drops in the nose at least).

Some mothers recommend taking familiar strollers, cradles and car seats with them so that the baby feels comfortable. But with such a weight, you will no longer be comfortable. In my experience, a sling or backpack is sufficient for traveling with one child. When there are more children, you can no longer do without a stroller. Choose one that is easy to fold. At the gangway, you still have to hand it in. By the way, the transportation of the stroller is completely free.

Personal experience

We started using airplanes quite early, at 4-5 months. that I gave up every time.

Experienced mothers confidently said that children fall asleep wonderfully as soon as takeoff begins. Maybe, but not my child. It helped a lot that we were on GV. My baby fell asleep after takeoff, after 20 minutes. As soon as I exhaled and calmed down, after half an hour she woke up and I had to entertain her;) On landing, Hanya behaved very badly, kicked and screamed, even pushed her chest away, which, of course, me very tense. Ears and adults are laying, and then the baby. Naturally, she was scared.

The apogee was a long and very plentiful fart that flowed out of the diaper🙈 So, my dears, everyone has terrible trips. It should be noted that those around me were sympathetic to my situation and helped in every possible way. I didn't hear any negative comments from anyone. The next two-hour flights no longer caused discomfort.

20 hours flight

The most serious flight was already a year and 1 month. We were on our way to Bali. For those who don't know, it's a 20 hour flight🙈

We've been in action Qatar airways and took business class tickets. This helped me a lot. The wide armchairs that unfold in a horizontal position are just a salvation for mothers. Hanya refused to sleep while sitting, and as soon as I unfolded the seat, she immediately passed out.

We took snacks with us, mashed potatoes, an iPad with Smeshariki (I wrote a post that it was not the best solution), new books, a developing table. We were also given a baby kit on board the plane. All this was enough for half the journey. There is a child refused categorically, all the way the daughter sucked her breast.

We have a 20-hour return flight ahead of us, so I’m slowly preparing (mentally too) and collecting life hacks from moms on how to entertain a child on an airplane.

Lots of small toys, preferably new ones, to be given out one at a time. They can still be wrapped in foil, then the lesson will be useful for the development of motor skills.
Stickers. Well, this is our must-have. Hanya pastes them over herself, me, the surrounding objects, re-glues from place to place and she really likes it.
Pencil and leaves. We have begun the period of drawing, so for the return flight we will definitely stock up on a set of a young artist.
Children's magazines or books, where many small details are drawn. With them, you can play the game "find in the picture ..." and the child persistently searches, and then solemnly pokes at the found object. Hanya and I can play like this for a long time.

About the stroller

We took a stroller with us, but already at the gangway it had to be checked in as luggage. In Bali, it was not useful at all, but in international airport Doha, where we had a transfer, a stroller can be rented for free. In addition, my daughter loves to ride on special wheelchairs for luggage. So instead of dragging extra cargo, it’s better to find out what the situation is with the roads and sidewalks at your destination😅

There are no sidewalks in Bali at all, and if there are, then bikes dangle along them. If there is an urgent need for a stroller, then children's stores are everywhere, you can buy the cheapest one on the spot. Our stroller is just quietly and peacefully covered with mold from moisture.

In terms of transportation, a baby kangaroo backpack was more suitable for me. I really waited for Hanya to sit down to buy myself one. All flights, except the very first, we spent with a backpack. I must say, he helps us out in Bali, and even more so on the way. I fastened the child and forgot :) The chest is accessible, it is interesting to look around, so the solution is ideal. We bought our backpack from Aliexpress.

Child as a pass

One of the undeniable advantages of being a parent while traveling is that you skip the line everywhere! Often at Russian airports, you have to take care of this right yourself, but in other countries employees always approached us and invited us to board in the first place. This was the case even when we flew economy to Malaysia for a Visaran.

When we were waiting for boarding, an airline employee approached all the passengers with children and invited them on the plane. Moreover, we approached the business class check-in desk and were calmly registered in our economy class. So do not be shy, save yourself a lot of time and nerves.

The most important thing when traveling with a child is the inner peace of the parents. You can forget or get dirty all the spare diapers, crap all the taken sets of clothes and a lot of things like that, but these are all trifles. Clothes are washed, diapers are bought at the nearest pharmacy or asked from neighbors with children. Be simple and keep calm - you are already a great fellow that you decided to show your child the world.

Travel with children, do not make them shackles with your fears and prejudices.

Let children add new colors to your life!

By the way! If you are interested in seeing our Asian life in bright pictures, subscribe to my instagram account

Air travel with children is becoming more and more popular because air Transport the fastest, even the most remote point in the world can be reached in less than a day. Aircraft are also statistically one of the most safe species transport. Therefore, many parents, going on vacation with a small child, choose an airplane. What you need to know about the rules for transporting children on an airplane and their belongings?

Peculiarities

A few years ago, flights with children were difficult and not very comfortable. Today, Russian and many other airlines provide everything necessary to ensure that a flight with a small child goes unnoticed. Until now, many parents are afraid to fly with small children, worrying about how the kids will endure physical exercise what they can do during the flight, whether they will cause inconvenience to themselves and other passengers.

You can dispel doubts by checking with the airline in advance all the necessary points: starting with the rules for transporting small children and ending with what the child will eat and play with during the flight. It is in the interests of parents to notify the air carrier as early as possible that they will be Small child and discuss all the details.

Transportation rules

Before taking a child on a plane with you, you need to make sure that all Required documents, confirming the age of the child and permission to accompany, if the baby is not flying with their parents, they are taken with them. Children up to two years of age can only fly with their parents or legal guardians.

From the age of five, a child may be accompanied by another adult, if there is a power of attorney. The age at which a child can be sent alone on a flight varies, in different airlines it ranges from 12 to 15 years.

Majority Russian airlines is ready to provide the service of accompanying children from the age of five. It is necessary to write a special application, transfer the child to the carrier’s employee at the airport and stay with them until the very departure, and also make sure that the child is met at the airport of arrival at the exact time.

It is necessary to inform that the child needs an accompanying person when booking a ticket. When ordering such a service, a ticket for a child will have to be bought at an adult fare without discounts, in addition, the escort service itself (usually about 40 euros) and transfer service, if necessary, are paid. This service is provided for children aged 5-16.

It is best to book tickets in advance to select nearby seats. Some airlines limit the number of babies they carry per flight, so it's important to be on time to hit that number.

If the child is flying with one of the parents, it is necessary to obtain permission from the other parent, certified by a notary. At international flights the child must have his own passport or be inscribed in the parent's passport.

You cannot leave a child in flight unattended. Follow the flight attendants' instructions regarding flight safety.

If a baby under 2 years old is in the arms of an adult, it must be fastened with a separate child seat belt, which is attached to the belt of an adult passenger.

Age for free flight and discounts

Each passenger has the right to take with him on a flight passing through the territory of Russia, one child under two years old without buying a separate ticket for him. In this case, the baby will have to be held or placed in the arms during the entire flight. special cradle. At the same time, you should not count on free luggage for a child.

It will not be possible to carry a baby for free on international flights, but the discount on his ticket will be 90%. If such a child needs a separate seat, then the ticket will have to be paid for by the fare for children 2-12 years old.

If a passenger is flying with several children under the age of two, then for one child the flight will be free, in the hands of the parent. Other children will receive a discount of no more than 50% of the cost of an adult ticket, a separate seat in the cabin and free luggage within a limited weight.

Formation of tariffs

When planning to take a child on a plane with you, you need to take into account his age on the day of departure, regardless of when the ticket was purchased.

If a child turns 12 on the day of departure, then he needs to purchase a ticket already at an adult fare. In other cases, airlines provide special fares for children under 12 years of age.

Up to two years, taking a baby with you on a flight is as economical as possible - without a separate seat for a child, the flight will be free or will be 10% of the cost of an adult ticket, but upon reaching the age of two, completely different tariffs apply.

Various airlines provide various discounts from 25% to 75%, in addition, each child is allowed to carry free baggage according to the same standards as for an adult.

When a child is 12 years old, it is necessary to buy an adult ticket for him at full price, but some airlines have special youth discounts, the availability and amount of which you need to find out at the information desk.

Features of flying with a baby

Airlines do not recommend flying children under seven days old. However, if there is an emergency, then you can fly with the baby the very next day after the birth. If the baby is not yet seven days old, then the parents are required to provide the check-in agent at the airport with a receipt stating that the airline does not bear any responsibility for the consequences after transporting the baby.

A flight with a baby can also be quite comfortable, provided that the parents take into account all the necessary points in advance.

Most airlines provide passengers with babies with a special cradle that is attached to the front seat. The cradle is suitable for children under one year old, weighing up to 11 kilograms and growing up to 70 centimeters. It is important that the airline should be notified of its need in advance, at least one day before departure.

The child in it should be placed with their feet towards the aisle. When taking off, landing and when passing through the turbulence zone, the baby must be removed from the cradle.

Some airlines allow you to take a folding stroller with you to the gangway or even into the cabin of the aircraft; you need to find out about this possibility and the permitted dimensions at the information desk of the carrier.

How are the kids handling the trip?

In Russia, there are no rules to limit the age of a child from which he could be taken on a trip by plane. But the age recommended by pediatricians is three months, from that moment the baby is already adapted to the new world for him, can normally tolerate a reduced level of oxygen and stress on the body at high altitude.

Flight staff try to accommodate parents and provide the most comfortable seats. According to safety rules, passengers with children cannot be seated next to emergency exits. Places where it is better to sit with a child are located on the front row or in other rows with increased legroom.

As a rule, more than one child cannot be placed in one row without a separate seat due to the presence oxygen masks. If the aircraft is not completely full, flight attendants are required to provide seats behind empty seats. If you are very lucky, they can even transfer you to a business class, but the food will still remain from the economy class.

What can you take on a plane in hand luggage?

When planning what to take your baby on a flight, you need to take into account his individual characteristics, but there is a universal list of things you need in hand luggage.

Most often for a child, you can choose the type special food in accordance with his taste, physical and even religious preferences. But the order of such meals must be made in advance, at least 36 hours before departure. For the most picky kids, it is better to take baby food with you. You also need to ask the flight attendant in advance if she can warm it up.

It is necessary to stock up on all kinds of entertainment and toys for the child, it is better if it is something completely new that he has not yet seen in order to surprise and interest the baby.

Despite the presence of toilets in the cabin, it will not be superfluous to stock up on special camping pots that absorb the contents. In case of motion sickness, it is also better to take a hygiene bag with you, although such a thing can be found on most planes in a pocket in the front seat. Wet wipes will become an indispensable thing in flight.

It is important to check with the carrier about the possibility of taking a small folding stroller into the cabin, many airlines allow this possibility.

Here is an example of the hand luggage allowance at Aeroflot:

Class "Business" - 1 piece up to 15 kg (total value of three dimensions - up to 115 cm)
"Comfort" class and "Economy" class - 1 piece up to 10 kg (total value of three measurements up to 115 cm).

When registering, it is weighed and marked with a tag. If the weight or size limit is exceeded, hand luggage checked in as checked baggage.

In addition to this allowance, you can additionally carry items that are with the passenger and not included in the luggage:

women's bag / men's briefcase;
folder for papers;
umbrella;
cane;
bouquet of flowers;
outerwear;
laptop;
camera;
video camera;
magazines and newspapers for reading;
baby food for the baby during the flight;
a cradle when transporting a baby;
suit in a suitcase;
cellular telephone;
crutches;
folding walkers;
shopping bag from Duty Free.

Things from this list are not weighed, are not subject to registration and are not marked with tags.

What to send in luggage?

A large stroller must be checked in as luggage, but you can use it all the way to the airstairs and get it back when you get off the plane, although you have to wait to be brought from luggage compartment. Many airlines allow you to take a child seat with you into the cabin with dimensions no larger than 40x40 centimeters. A chair with larger dimensions will have to be sent in luggage.

It is important to know that not every toy can be taken into the cabin with you. For example, various pistols, knives and other plastic weapons must be checked in as baggage.

If these are the baby’s favorite toys, it’s worth stocking up on something new in advance to comfort the child and lure during the flight.

“The lady checked in a sofa, a suitcase, a bag…”

We change the word "lady" in the famous children's poem to the word "mother" and get the classic image of a woman going on vacation with a small child. Only instead of the “dog” (and the especially brave not instead of, but along with it), most likely, there will still be a stroller, a carrier and a million more, of course, very necessary items.

It is clear that each carrier has its own rules. They must be studied before booking tickets. But there are some general trends that we will talk about.

Let's start with the fact that most airlines understand that a child at any age is a full-fledged passenger. With things. Therefore, even crumbs up to two years old, although they are not allocated a place in the cabin, are entitled to a separate piece of luggage. Only not 20-25 kilograms, as adults, but 5-10.

The exception is some low-cost airlines that do not provide children with separate luggage. In this case, either the whole family must fit into the allotted norm, or pay for an additional suitcase. Children from two to twelve years old, as well as babies who fly on child ticket are entitled to carry the same amount of luggage as an adult.

Important point! If you have booked a separate seat for your child, then you may (we emphasize again, it all depends on the carrier’s rules) be allowed to take a car seat on board free of charge to install it on the seat and put the baby in it. This seat must be certified specifically for flying.

Flying with children: how to save on a ticket for a baby

In addition, almost all airlines allow strollers to be carried free of charge, but there is another nuance here. Some ask to check them in as luggage at the airport, others allow you to take the baby in a stroller to the gangway of the plane, others allow you to take baby transport, if it is foldable and compact, into the salon.

If you have a lot of bulky baby things with you - cradles, strollers, seat cushions, car seats - then you may be asked to choose one or two things that you will carry for free, and you will be asked to pay extra for the rest.

What to take on the plane

1. Change of clothes. Not only the baby can get dirty, but also the older child. For example, if the plane hit air pocket just at the moment when he was drinking juice. And it can also rock him.

2. Water. Several small bottles. At the airport they are much more expensive than in conventional stores. Just keep in mind: you will be allowed to carry liquids with a total volume per liter. This will include water, and tonics, and lotions, as well as creams, shampoos and other cosmetics. Liquids carried by passengers flying together are not cumulative. So it turns out quite a lot. But liquids should be in bottles no larger than 100 ml.

3. Snack. Dryers, cookies, croutons.

4. Baby food, homemade food, if you are not sure that the child will eat what is given on board. It is better to use disposable devices.

5. Books, toys, games. Anything to keep your child entertained along the way. Sometimes, but not always, carriers take care of this. So we hope for them, but we do not fail ourselves. Many publishers publish special travel kits: compactly packed felt-tip pens, coloring and activity sheets, stickers, Board games etc. Gadget supporters can pre-download games and cartoons to their phones or tablets.

6. If the child is not yet potty trained, then a few spare diapers. If the journey had to do with the learning process, there are two options: either the child still flies in a diaper, or you take a travel potty with replaceable bags. You know perfectly well what queues for the toilet on an airplane are.

7. Wet wipes, ideally antibacterial.

8. Lollipops for takeoff and landing, so as not to block the ears. Many pediatricians advise to drip into the nose before the flight - so we take drops too.

9. Medicines, if your baby needs them. Pay attention to the composition of the drugs. In some cases, you may need a certificate from your doctor about their appointment. On Emergency if something hurts - nurofen, panadol or other similar drugs.

Airplane stroller: choosing a model for travel

10. Sling, if the child is accustomed to it. It will be easier to put the baby to sleep in it.

11. Light tippet or scarf. They can cover a dozing baby or cover themselves if the baby needs to be breastfed.