After speaking in our Special Travel with children About traveling with children by car and train, we will now focus on the recommendations to take into account to travel with children by plane and cruise.
Although the preferred means of travel by families for not too long journeys is usually the car and although less popular, on the train children have greater freedom of movement, the plane is chosen for its speed and the cruise because it allows us to know several destinations on the same trip.
As we mentioned before, traveling is a hobby that parents do not have to give up when a baby is born. Traveling with children is not easy, but it is an enriching and positive experience for all family members.
Travel by plane with children
One of the first issues to keep in mind is from what age a baby can travel by plane.
Although if necessary you can fly with a baby from its second week of life, the airlines advise the travel of babies from two months of age. At that point, the walks you have made with him will have served so that the little one is gradually adapting to the exits.
It is necessary to respect their needs at all times, not forgetting that they are babies who need very special care, however it is also true that children are very flexible and how much younger they get used to eating, sleeping and moving in diverse situations better adapt to changes that occur in travel.
As for the place on the plane, the best seats for traveling with children, in fact those that are usually assigned to families with children, are those of the first row, which have more space for children to be more comfortable. The disadvantage: that in most of the airlines in this row the armrests are not raised, because the tray instead of being in the front seat (as there is not) is inside the armrest.
Entertain children on the plane
Traveling by plane involves waiting at airports and, above all, one of the things that most worries parents, the entertainment of children on the plane.
If it is a long trip (say more than 6 hours), the most convenient is travel at night. Although it is not always feasible, that the trip takes place at night ensures the child's rest, at least for a few hours.
In the hours that remain awake we will have to resort to all kinds of entertainment such as books, notebooks to paint, stickers, puzzles, games such as the hanged man, three in a row, portable DVD, etc ...
You can also use elements that we can find on the plane such as playing to find the city in the magazine they give on the plane (if the child reads), playing to find the signs in the plane's safety brochure (if the child does not read ) or play to find, for example, shapes to the clouds.
The idea that children bother on airplanes is quite widespread, but children are children and do what any adult would like to do when they force us to sit virtually still in a seat for several hours.
Even so, there are parents who consider giving them some kind of relaxing to avoid inconvenience during the trip, but it is certainly not a good option. There are ways to entertain children no need to resort to sedatives and the other passengers have to understand that these are children.
Anyway, before the trip you should talk to the child to explain how the trip will be and motivate them to behave properly.
What to take on the plane
When we travel with babies or young children, hand luggage is practically destined for everything they will need during the trip.
We need to bring your food (pots, purees, bottles of milk) water to avoid dehydration, toys, a change of clothes, diapers, wipes and a blanket just in case.
Children under 2 years do not pay a ticket and therefore they have no right to a seat. They have to go over the parents, with a double seat belt for parents and children.
The airlines provide cribs that are attached to the wall of the plane (must be ordered in advance of the trip) for babies under one year. If you go in your own seat, you can carry the cuckoo or an adapter that is placed with the seat belt.
Safety measures when traveling with children by plane
As you know, as of 2006 the new security regulations in European airports that affect hand luggage, which establishes new measures to travel by plane with baby food, entered into force.
The regulations do not allow carrying liquids in containers of more than 100 ml, but baby food, along with the medicines and dietary foods to be consumed on the trip are the exception.
Of course, we must carry the pots, bottles and other separately, out of the transparent bag to teach them in the security control.
As for the bottle that is prepared with water and milk formula. Milk can be passed without problems, but we must buy the water once we have passed through the security checkpoint.
Thus, once on the plane we will have everything we need to prepare the baby's food, which we can ask the on-board staff to heat if necessary.
Travel on a cruise with children
Cruises an option increasingly chosen by families with children for their vacations. They are authentic floating resorts with leisure offers for all family members. Shipping companies usually have a boat with all the necessary services so that families with young children have many offers at their disposal.
Therefore, we must know how to choose the company and the services it offers to make sure that the trip will be suitable for the kids.
There are companies that offer very convenient discounts for children, it is even announced that in many children travel free, but you have to pay special attention to what does not include the "free".
Many companies offer theme cruises such as Disney, Allure of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) to travel with the animation of Shrek and Madagascar, and Norwegian Epic with Nickelodeon in the Mediterranean.
I have never done a cruise trip, with either boys or alone, but Eva has just done the first one with two girls, so I invite you to take a look at the small inconveniences that nobody told you about a cruise before deciding.
Accommodate on a cruise
The first thing is to ask from what age babies can travel on a cruise. Each company has its own age restrictions, so it is convenient to find out first. The majority accept children from 6 months.
It is also important to know the ages from which they can use certain services such as the Children's Club, the disco or any other type of activities for children provided on the boat.
We must pay special attention to cabin types. In some boats there are cabins for up to five people, while others have cabins that communicate through a door, a very interesting option for families traveling with children.
As in any hotel, a baby's crib can be requested, a request that must be made at the time of booking.
Food and drink
On some cruises, not everything is included in the rate we have paid. In some sodas, milk and baby food is not included, and it is not usually cheap, therefore it is important that we find out in advance if we do not want to exhaust the pocket.
What most companies do usually have are children's menus that have a variety of special food for the little ones.
Safety on board
The cruises are prepared so that the safety of the smallest on board is guaranteed, however, on cruise it is a great hotel, and like anywhere else you have to always have children under control.
All have medical service on board. The boats are well provided with health coverage, in some cases even with highly complex medical facilities. However, and especially if we travel with children with diseases or under treatment, for your peace of mind it is preferable to consult it.
Finally, we recommend that on a cruise, especially if we travel in summer, there are many outdoor areas, and the surface of the sea multiplies the mirror effect, therefore it is essential to use adequate sun protection, both in creams such as hats and sunglasses. Sun.
Photos | Ewilman, Hoyasmeg and Pmarkham on Flickr
In Babies and more | Traveling with babies: by plane, My tips for traveling by plane with young children, Traveling with babies: on a cruise, Holidays with children: cruises for the whole family
