Addressing Your Fears

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Here are some tips for addressing your fears:

  • Try a trial run. If you’ve only ever stayed with family and you’re worried about staying in a hotel for a week, try staying in a hotel for one night close to home
  • Every parent's worst case scenario is a sick child on a trip. Read our helpful tips for dealing with medical issues on a vacation.
  • Worried about logistics? That’s what we’re here to help with! Send us your questions & we’ll try to answer them in our blog. Address your email to debbie at deliciousbaby dot com. Also, check out tips from other travelers who have done something similar to your trip.
  • Worried about adjusting to a different culture or not speaking the local language? The Culture Shock! series of books does a great job of addressing these types of issues.

Most of all, remember that all around the world people have babies and children. Somehow the local people manage to keep their children happy, well fed and entertained. So can you.

Related Links in Our Traveling With Kids Blog
Dealing With Medical Issues when Traveling

Comments

  1. Faith on December 9, 2007 at 2:27 p.m.

    Hi,

    I am travelling with my 19 month old to the States from London on a 9 hour flight. I am not worried about anything else except getting her to sit still during take-off and landing. Any advice?

    Thanks,
    Faith

  2. Debbie on December 9, 2007 at 4:39 p.m.

    Faith, first of all, have a great trip!

    Here are my best bets for getting him to sit still:

    Try to tire him out before you get on the plane. Let him run around in the airport and think of games that get him moving while you're waiting in the gate.

    At 19 months, he can understand a lot (even if he's not saying a lot yet, so once you're on the plane tell him that once seatbelts are on you'll expect him to sit still, and that you will help him do it. Let him know that when the seatbelt light goes off, he'll be able to move around again.

    Once the plane has left the ground, you can give him a sippy cup filled with milk to help clear his ears (or nurse him). I always sing quietly to my kids during this time too. The engine noise is so loud that I don't think it disturbs the other passengers (and it certainly disturbs them less than crying would). Often, if they're tired and well feed they'll drift off to sleep as the plane takes off.

    If he's not sleepy, small crackers (e.g. goldfish) handed out one-by-one will often keep a child interested in staying on your lap. Book also work well, as does music coming from earbuds (they have to sit still to keep the earbuds from falling out)

    I hope this helps!
    Good luck

  3. sylvie on September 18, 2008 at 1 p.m.

    Hi, what about for an 11 month old baby? Also, is it ok to let him crawl and move around during the flight? I doubt he will sit in place for 8 hours (going to France from NYC).

    thanks,

    sylvie

  4. Debbie on September 18, 2008 at 1:55 p.m.

    Sylvie,

    Thanks for your comment. I traveled internationally with my son beginning at 6 months old and with my daughter beginning at one year. Usually if you get a bulkhead seat that will give your child a little space to move around. You can also "walk" him up and down the aisle.

    You can also try to time his nap so that he sleeps for at least part of the flight. Here are some tips for helping your child sleep on a plane: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    Have a wonderful trip!

  5. Hillary on June 28, 2009 at 11:27 p.m.

    Hi Debbie,

    My husband and I are considering traveling from LA to New Hampshire and New Jersey. I'm worried that too many flights (6 total due to layovers) will be hard on our 8 mo. old twin daughters' ears (due to all the pressure changes). Have you ever had an experience like that?

    Thanks!

    Hillary

  6. Debbie on June 29, 2009 at 1:37 p.m.

    @Hillary
    I don't feel like I have the medical background to answer your question - you could try contacting Anya Clowers at
    http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/

    or asking your Pediatrician what he or she thinks.

    Also, I'm not sure whether you meant 6 flights in one day, or three in each direction - but 6 does seem like a lot to manage, and if possible I would try to reduce that number. With each flight comes the risk of a delay, a meltdown about getting on another plane, or misdirected luggage...

    Good luck! I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.