It’s true: the idea of taking a plane trip with your children can be a cause of stress for many parents: What to pack? How to get to your destination? Doubts and questions seem to multiply when it comes to travel with children and vacations with young children.
However, there are some tricks for traveling by air with children, useful tips to follow to make the flight pleasant andleave the whole family with a good memory.
Below, we present some essential tips for traveling with children. Enjoy your trip!
Some Tips for Traveling by Air with Children
Documents required for travel with children
For travel within Italian territory it is not obligatory to have a children’s passport, but it is highly advisable to request an identity card. It is possible to do this from birth without age limits; the request must be made in the municipality of residence at the Registry Office. Remember that the validity of the document depends on the age of the holder: from 0 to 3 years it is valid for three years, from 3 to 18 years it is valid for five years.
If you are going to a foreign country, children will need a travel document. If traveling to Schengen countries, or to foreign countries outside the Schengen area, they will need an identity card valid for travel abroad. As of 26 June 2012, minors may travel outside Europe only if in possession of an individual passport. All details can be found on the website of the State Police.
Arrive at the airport on time
Try to keep the wait to a minimum by checking in online, then all that’s left to do is to check your suitcase in and go through security. More and more airports are offering a family area at the security checkpoint so that you can pass through the security checkpoint at your leisure and carry your luggage and things for your children without any problems (powdered milk, baby food, etc.).
In case you couldn’t check in, or if you have to leave your luggage, we suggest you split up: one parent can queue for the luggage and the other can stay with the children. Remember that most airlines will allow you to take your stroller to the gate and return it to you when you exit the plane or when you check your luggage, so remember not to check it in. Make sure your stroller has a tag with your name, address and phone number on it.
Go through airport security
Inform yourself in advance on the airline’s website about the regulations regarding airport security, so that you can quickly pass through the baggage check at the airport. If your child is already an adult, you can explain to him what will happen and how he should behave.
As we have seen, it is possible to transport milk and baby food in containers with a capacity of more than 100 ml. Usually, security officers open cans to check their contents, but this is an operation that takes only a few moments and does not contaminate the food in any way. In order to avoid any inconvenience, it is always better to contact the airports where you will have to transit, in order to verify their requirements.
Once you have passed through the controls, we suggest you give your children a snack and let them play as much as possible: the more tired they are, the more likely they will fall asleep once they are traveling. As we have told you, many airports have a play area where you can entertain yourself.
Take-off
During airplane travel, it can happen to have plugged ears, especially during takeoff and landing. To prevent babies from plugging their ears, it is advisable to give older babies a bottle or pacifier, a candy or a cookie to nibble on. If the earache is caused by a cold, a decongestant spray or drops can be brought on the plane under the advice of a doctor.
First aid kit to take when traveling with children
Safety first, especially if you are traveling with children. Before you leave, find out about the situation in the country or city you will be visiting and take all necessary precautions to ensure that you can travel safely.
You will need to bring all of the necessary medications for traveling children, including: saline solution for nasal washes, nasal aspirator, thermometer, tachypyrine drops, wound healer, bandages and plasters, disinfectant, ointment for bruises, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and post-sting cream.
It is well known that travel with children is more prone to last-minute unexpected events, so one of the most important things not to forget in your suitcase is good travel insurance. Traveling safely and securely, especially when traveling with a young child, is a top priority for traveling families. A small child is usually more exposed to health risks than adults, so it is absolutely necessary to leave prepared for any eventuality. Good travel insurance will come in handy in case of health emergencies or minor mishaps like a simple flu.