As a parent, flying with kids can be one of the most stressful experiences. This is especially true if you’re in for a long-haul flight, and the hours of being cooped up in the aircraft can be a challenge not just for adults but also for children. For many parents, this is one of the main reasons they tend to travel with children only when they’re much older. Unfortunately, doing so can mean sacrificing all those fun family holiday memories.
So, what if we told you there were better ways to travel with children without breaking a sweat? Well, fasten your seatbelts, because we’re about to share some of our favourite tips to make your 2025 family vacation better when flying with kids.
Keep your little ones involved in the holiday planning
If you’re someone who has travelled before, then you’ll understand how exciting it can be to plan your vacation ahead of time. This feeling extends to children, as we’ve found that having your little ones involved in the holiday planning gets them excited for the flight. By offering easy-to-digest information up front, your kids can understand the concept of flight times and how long it will take to arrive at your family holiday destination.
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Families who are flying with kids have also noticed that assigning little responsibilities often helps keep their little ones on their toes. Simple tasks such as holding their own backpacks or helping push a trolley will allow the travelling child to feel involved and enjoy the vacation more.
To make your family vacation even more special, be sure to take plenty of pictures and videos to commemorate these unique moments. Providing your little one with a child-friendly camera is a fun way to keep them engaged throughout the flight, and you can even see the travel journey through their eyes. If you’re flying with Emirates, don’t forget to ask the friendly cabin crew for a complimentary instant photograph as a unique in-flight souvenir.
What you pack when you travel with children matters
Very often when we travel, we’d take just the essentials to ensure we have what we need. After all, travelling light has been a trend for many holidaymakers today who may opt to have as little luggage with them as possible. However, flying with kids would mean rethinking what you pack for your children, especially in your cabin luggage. For instance, we’d recommend packing thicker clothes in case your little ones feel cold at the airport or on the aircraft. In anticipation of accidents or spills, having an extra change of clothes is also helpful when you travel with children.
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Separately, your little ones may insist on packing what they assume is important to them. This usually varies between toys and books, which can help keep tantrums at bay when flying. However, we recommend spending some time packing with your kids to ensure they don’t bring things that can cause you trouble at security. Oftentimes, toys with liquid or even toy pistols can raise alarms within security and cause unnecessary stress when flying with kids.
If you’re flying with an infant, bringing a changing pad can be helpful for diaper changes at the airport or when you’re in-flight. Packing along your child’s comfort items such as a safety blanket, favourite pillow, or even a trusty stuffed animal is always a good idea to help them regulate their emotions while travelling.
Plan your airport travel to keep flying with kids a breeze
While the general rule for many travellers is to be at the airport as early as you can, flying with kids may be a little different. With the airport being a new destination that’s always bustling in the eyes of your children, the last thing you’ll want is to have them feel overstimulated and confused prior to flying.
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As such, it’s best to plan your airport travel well by keeping just enough time to clear security and customs without feeling too stressed. However, do note to not leave so much time on hand that your kids may feel bored while waiting for their flight. It’s always good to keep yourself updated in case of flight delays or disruptions, so you can properly gauge how much time you’ll need at the airport with your kids.
Separately, it’s worth remembering that the trip may be your child’s first time at the airport, and situations such as walking through security checks can feel scary. Preparing them ahead of time by explaining the requirements of these checks is a great way to ease their worries. Many airlines also offer pre-boarding for families with younger children, so be sure to ask the gate agents if you’d like to settle in earlier with your kids before the other passengers.
For travels that require layovers, we always recommend picking out flights that give you extra time to manoeuvre through the airport when you travel with kids. This is especially if it’s also your first time at a new airport, as you may require extra time to find your way from gate to gate. With that in mind, the last thing you’ll want to experience is the stress of rushing with little children.
Furthermore, having extra layover time also means you and your children get to stretch out after your first leg of travel. Additionally, airports now offer play areas to keep the little ones entertained, making it a great way to help wean out their energy before boarding your next flight.
Tweak their sleep schedules to match your flight time
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When booking flights to travel with children, it’s always good to consider their bedtime routine. Many holidaymakers often opt for night flights with the assumption that they can sleep off most of their travel times in-flight and hit the ground running when they land, but this may not be the case for little flyers. Most of this is attributed to their excitement to travel or occasionally the discomfort of air pressure changes in their ears.
Should you still prefer an evening trip, it’s advisable to consider what your kids would wear to get on board a flight. Changing into pyjamas is a good idea to help them feel comfortable and more inclined to unwind through the flight, allowing your little ones to get the rest they need to welcome the exciting vacation ahead and combat the jet lag at your holiday destination.
However, you’ll want to consider the waiting times at the airport before you board. As your little ones may already feel tired while at the terminal, you may encounter some unexpected tantrums while travelling. To help navigate this, do consider tweaking their sleep schedules ahead of your travel date. For many parents, getting their little ones used to a new routine can be extremely helpful to make flying with kids a more rewarding experience overall.
A little entertainment goes a long way
Whether for a short trip or a long flight ahead, you’ll never go wrong with preparing ample entertainment when flying with kids. This is because their little minds may feel curious about everything that is going on around them, which can feel overstimulating at times.
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As such, many seasoned travellers often pack books and colouring packs to help keep their kids busy on a flight. Forgot to pack them along? Selected airlines would also offer kids’ activity packs to ensure a fun-filled journey – all you have to do is check in with the friendly cabin crew. If you’re bringing along toys, a good idea is to stagger how quickly you pull out a new toy for your little ones. This keeps playtime longer and fresher in the minds of your kids, making your flying time a breeze.
Of course, if your little one seems to be more curious about the aircraft and isn’t bothering you or other passengers, it’s always best to let them be. While the temptation to immediately engage and entertain is always at the top of a parent’s mind, sometimes the best way to travel with children is to allow them to discover the new surroundings they’re in.
To further ease your travel with children, Emirates‘ award-winning in-flight entertainment system also offers up to 150 child-friendly channels. From entertaining shows to educational programs and even simple games to play together, travel times often fly right by with Emirates’ I.C.E system – no pun intended. Additionally, it’s always a good idea to download some offline video games on a tablet if you have one, as they’re great at keeping your kids safely in their seats while flying.
Don’t go hungry when flying with kids
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Nobody likes travelling hungry, so it’s always better to come prepared when you travel with kids. While most airlines usually provide snacks like peanuts and trail mixes for their passengers, it’s always advisable to pack your little one a snack box so they can go through it while at the airport or if they have strict dietary needs. Mess-free snacks such as cookies and sandwiches are usual picks for most parents, and you’ll find that avoiding sugary treats can help keep them less energetic, especially when you’re mid-air.
If you’re flying with kids on a long-haul flight, we recommend booking your child’s in-flight meals ahead of time. This ensures there will be sufficient children’s meals onboard, and your little one will often be served ahead of the other passengers. For parents with children who may need supervision and assistance during meal times, the additional time is great because you can feed your little ones before your meals arrive.
Having said that, if you have a picky eater or have a little one with a specific dietary requirement, we still suggest bringing some of your child’s safe foods just in case they’re not keen on what’s being served on the in-flight menu. Be sure to keep the airline alerted in case of any allergies, so they can be aware of what may be served to your child.
Subsequently, keeping your child hydrated on board is also important to help them feel comfortable throughout the flight. While juices from the trolley may seem tempting, they’re usually high in sugar and may give your kids a jolt of energy with nowhere to run. As such, your best bet is always to request water from the cabin crew or bring a refillable bottle. Due to security regulations at the airport, however, it’s always recommended that you keep the bottle empty before security and refill it from the water fountains after.
Prepare their ears for take-off and landing
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For many travellers, the change in air pressure is an uncomfortable feeling when you’re flying. While adults may know the tricks for relieving a pop in our ears, your little ones may struggle with this more. This often leads to tears and tantrums, though it is not your children’s fault, as they are feeling uncomfortable.
To help alleviate this discomfort, we recommend different tips and tricks that can help stimulate the swallowing or suckling action in your children. These are especially helpful during take-off and landing, as the air pressure changes are most drastic at these points. If you’re travelling with an infant, giving them the bottle or pacifier at these moments is a great trick that will provide their ears the relief they need.
Should you be travelling with older children, however, providing them with snacks such as peanuts or a chewy treat can help them feel more comfortable throughout the flight. Other tricks, such as stimulating yawns, can also be taught to your children if they take to instructions well, and this can save you plenty of headaches when you’re flying with kids.
Keep calm WHEN travelLING with children
Finally, many parents tend to feel flustered and stressed out when flying with kids. Unfortunately, this hardly goes well with the excitement of your little ones who may be travelling for the first time in their lives, as you may insist that they sit quietly throughout. Understanding that your kids are simply being kids is often key to keeping the mood of your family vacation light and cheerful, leading to better results and fewer tantrums when you travel with children.
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After all, you may not realise it at the cusp of the moment, but kids often pick up on stressful signals from their guardians. This can affect their mood when you’re flying with kids, as it creates a hostile environment for them in an already foreign space. As such, we often encourage parents who are flying with kids to keep calm when dealing with their children at the airport or while in mid-air.