10 strategies to help avoid airport boarding battles with children 

Make your life easier

A top priority: It means saying ‘yes’ to online check-in, ‘no’ to the craziness of security queues, and ‘yes’ to the family lane. It also means getting the timing of your flight right.

In 20 years as a travel agent, The Travel Expert Sarah Slattery (thetravelexpert.ie) has seen many different parent-and-kids scenarios. “From parents bringing baby away for the first time, to families where the five-year-old dictates the holiday agenda, to families with teens.”

The mum-of-two says lots of families don’t look at the big picture when planning flight times. “They look at the lead-in price and book a 6am flight because it’s cheaper. They end up paying for breakfast at the airport. The children are cranky.

“They’re on a seven-day holiday and they arrive exhausted — they’ve wasted a whole day trying to save €100,” she says, adding that it might make more sense to book a 10am flight, have breakfast at home, an easier flight, and arrive refreshed.

Slattery advises choosing times when children are likely to sleep — or alternatively are wide awake to comfortably enjoy the flight.

Be bag-savvy

Get rid of “silly suitcases that hold very little” and invest in a lightweight 10kg cabin bag for your child, recommends Slattery. “It gives you maximum space and you don’t have to pay for it.”

Mum of three children aged 12, 11, and eight Sheena Mitchell says in her experience young children often want to bring their own backpacks. “Which is fine if they’ll carry them — but it’s more the notion of bringing their own bag that appeals, rather than the carrying.”

She advises letting them bring a small backpack with their favourite teddy and a book — and making sure their backpack fits in yours.

Lighten the load

Slattery recommends contacting your hotel before travelling so as to avoid bringing items you won’t need.

“Find out what equipment they have — maybe buggies, strollers, sterilisers, bottle warmers. A lot of good family hotels have these on-site. Pre-book equipment if possible.”

And while you’re at it, Slattery also suggests asking for an early check-in or late check-out — and a ground floor room, if that is your preference.

Buggies and extras

“Many airlines allow you to bring a buggy or stroller free of charge — as well as one other piece of equipment, such as a car seat, booster seat or travel cot,” says Slattery, who sees this second free item as a great gift for families travelling with a baby.

“Parents understandably get worked up about car seats. They worry that a local taxi driver won’t have car seats. Bringing your own as a second piece of equipment solves this.”

Sheena Mitchell, a Dublin-based pharmacist, has personally experienced the car seat dilemma. “On one holiday, there was only a booster seat available for my then three-year-old, who needed a high-back booster with a five-point harness. The standards we have in Ireland for rear-facing, robust car seats don’t seem to exist in some other countries.”

While the facility isn’t always available, she advises looking in the airport for companies renting decent child car seats — these are often separate from car rental companies.

Mitchell, whose eldest was three-and-a-half when her youngest was born, recalls when they checked in the buggy — and made life more difficult for themselves. “It’s very frustrating because you then have no buggy to get them to the plane, which is a long way.”

In situations like this, she recommends investing in a secondhand, collapsible double-buggy. “You can fit two children, and if it gets broken, it’s not the end of the world.”

Take seat control

Pay a bit extra to make sure you have seats together, urges Mitchell, who recalls one trip when all the children’s clothes were in one bag, her husband was seated on one end of the plane with one child and the bag, and she was at the other end with two children and no bag.

“Have a clear plan of who is sitting where. Don’t be relying on the goodwill of other passengers — remember there might be other families in the same situation. Ensure you take control of the situation and if necessary pay for seats together.”

’I’m hungry’

Slattery’s children are in their teens but she recalls Tuc crackers being a popular go-to snack. “You can never have too many snacks — double what you think you’ll need in case of delays.”

She urges not relying on airplane food. “It can be hit and miss and, depending on where you’re sitting, your choice may not be available.”

Instead, she says, look out for meal deals in airport shops. “You could get a sandwich, crisps and a drink for €6 — much cheaper than airplane food. And give children the freedom to pick their own — they’ll be more likely to eat it then.”

Divert and distract

“A lot of the reason why children act up when travelling is because they’re bored and tired,” says Slattery, who nevertheless believes — with the exception of the crawling age — that travelling with babies and toddlers on airplanes shouldn’t be a big ordeal.

“In most cases, they’ll have a nap, and once you bring plenty of snacks and toys to keep them entertained, it’s usually fairly straightforward.”

She recommends bringing a new toy or colouring/activity/sticker book — maybe even a few — and strategically bringing them out throughout the journey. Also, download movies or the kids’ favourite TV shows onto tablets or phones before you go — don’t forget headphones.

Whatever your usual screen rules, Mitchell says travelling with children is one time she’s willing to concede on these. “There’s a time and a place, we’re lucky to have technology as a tool and there’s no point in being a martyr. It’s a family holiday, your priority is your kids — but certain things can make life easier.”

Mind their ears

With babies, Mitchell advises timing breast- and bottle-feeding for take-off and landing. “It will equalise pressure in their inner ear and they won’t suffer from pain. A soother can be really useful too because they’re working their jaw.”

Get older children to yawn. “Yawning can be contagious — let them copy you,” says Mitchell who is not a fan of sucking sweets, especially if managing multiple children. “There’s a choking risk,” she says.

Little details

Small things can really matter — like Calpol or travel-sized sunscreen — when you reach your destination and have to wait in the hot sun for transport. Mitchell recommends bringing a spare set of clothes and an individual ziplock bag for each child.

“Keep them in your hand luggage. So if there are any spills, nappy leaks or wet clothes, you can bring the child to the bathroom, change them and put the dirty clothes in the ziplock bag.”

If there are tears

Slattery’s advice to parents of a screaming toddler: “Try not to let it bother you too much. Most people expect it. They realise they’re not booking an adult-only flight, especially if going to a family destination. Parents can get more worked up than anyone, but most people have noise-cancelling earphones.”

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