Preparing children for air travel in age-appropriate ways may substantially reduce the stress of flying for both kids and parents. Reading books about flying, explaining what to expect beforehand, and communicating your expectations of them for the flight can often help a child feel more in control of the experience.
The Federal Aviation Administration recommends that parents bring some snacks and toys on board for children (See Reference 1). This can help to keep a child comfortable and safely occupied. Handheld games, books, and crayons and paper or coloring books are especially good choices.
Airplane travel can be quite taxing, especially on long flights. Coping with cramped conditions and being restrained for an extended time is very difficult for babies and children. Take-off and landing often causes significant discomfort in a child's ears. The American Academy of pediatrics recommends that infants nurse or drink from a bottle and that older kids drink through a straw or chew gum to alleviate symptoms (See Reference 2).
