With summer in full swing, many of us with babies and young children will be hitting the road for a family vacation. So I thought this would be a great time to revive one of my favorite Ask The Hip Dad sumbissions from our website.
Q: My wife and I have a 14-month-old boy, and we have plans to travel to Barcelona for 10 days. This includes a 7-hour plane ride!
A: Every hip mom and dad should know that for the long flight, most airlines offer special services for babies. Some of the most common features include:
- A bassinet for infants under 8 months
- Baby meals
- Lower fares for babies
- Pre-boarding for families with small children
- Hot water or the ability to heat bottles
Be sure to contact your airline in advance to take advantage of these comfort features. Check the airline's website for a breakdown of what they offer. Some airlines are more baby-friendly than others.
It is also imperative to pack the right things in your diaper bag. Don’t forget:
- Diapers
- Change of clothes
- Books and toys
- Blankets
- Food and bottles
Unfortunately all of the toys, bottles, books and bassinets in the world offer no guarantee that you will walk off of that plane without every non-parent aboard glaring at you for allowing your child to "ruin" their flight. At that point, it's a matter of faith. Think positive. Think to yourself, say to your baby, "He's not going to cry...not even a whimper...just sleep and sleep and sleep...it's going to be a very boring flight."
