So, chances are, you’ll be flying somewhere soon with children, possibly solo. I wrote this post straight after a flight with my two on my own, on the back of it, I have a few tongue in cheek top tips.
1. Don’t.😂
2. Visit the doctors in plenty of time to procure some Valium for your fear of flying, only a white lie, it is genuinely a fear, just a fear of flying with children.
3. Pack plentiful snacks. The boxes of raisins will be tipped between the seats upon opening and the one thing they have always liked will be deemed disgusting after two bites. If you are really unlucky, they will be completely unable to swallow the warm and super sticky contents of their mouths and you will not have any tissues.
4. Pack suitable entertainment. Surprisingly, the felt pens in the specific travel wallet were not suitable. We all wish you well in your new life as a high flyer, oh wonderful pen lid. You were appropriately, (and dramatically!), mourned for an inappropriately long time.
5. When the trolley comes round, do not be lulled into a false sense of security by the peace and order a hot drink. This will be the precise moment that pen lid-gate will occur. You will choke it down whilst attempting to hold your tray flat as small people batter it from underneath in their search for the tiny and round roll-y item. There will be a lot of exaggerated crying and standing on each other, making it extra difficult to drink through the gritted teeth you now have.
6. Instead order two wines on the special offer, you can chug these straight from the bottle with no tray needed and minimal spillage risk. They will also help the Valium that you managed to wangle take maximum effect.
7. When booking seats, ‘accidently’ book the children into a row at the back of the plane and yourself at the front. These online booking systems are so complicated aren’t they?! Especially if you do it when testing out the Valium/wine combination at home, for research purposes of course. 😉
It was almost worth the extra grey hairs I now have to get these amazing in flight shots. Perfect for my instagram, where I post an awful lot more photos of my life, come and say hi! 😊
Thanks so much for reading! I’d absolutely love to know what you think and what your number one tips are for flying with children. Proper ones will be much appreciated as well, we have to go back still!!
NickyB. says
October 23, 2015 at 8:12 pmHilarious!
The Anxious Dragon says
October 23, 2015 at 9:09 pmEeekkkk………your pictures……….. (all will be explained next week)
Maybe you should have shared the valium with the little ones…..ohh look mummy has sweeties!! (calm down people, im joking!!)
Great post, thanks for linking up, Tracey xx #anythinggoes
pinkpearbear says
October 23, 2015 at 9:18 pmOh no, don’t tell me, a massive cloud phobia?! ☺️ I will wait & see next week! I hear there is an antihistamine that parents are using on flights to knock their kids out…..anyone know what it’s called? 😉 Thank you for hosting lovely x
The Anxious Dragon says
October 23, 2015 at 9:21 pmA phobia yes, not clouds though xx
thesearegrandmasthoughts says
October 24, 2015 at 8:27 amI was terrified of flying… Flying with children cured me!!! Now my daughter is going through the same!!
thesearegrandmasthoughts says
October 24, 2015 at 10:03 amYes, that’s how I cured myself. My youngest was terrified until he was 21! We went to Rome, and he went from ‘I’m going to be sick’ at start of flight to taking photos out the window by the end!! x
nickykentisbeer says
October 24, 2015 at 12:03 pmBrilliant. I love this. My daughter is older now but in the same way we used to avoid people with kids pre parent days, I expected people to do the same to us. They would be foolish not to. Have never flown solo with the kid but I did fly completely solo and almost got lumbered with someone else’s. I had to be very assertive! Lovely to meet you at #abitof everything. Nicky
pinkpearbear says
October 24, 2015 at 12:16 pmOh no!! Just when you thought you were completely free & enjoying the peace!! Glad you liked the post, thanks for visiting. ☺️
Sarah Howe (@RunJumpScrap) says
October 24, 2015 at 1:58 pmPhotos are AMAZING! I always have a wine with my Mum on the flight with my daughter and usually pass her over after a while. They can be so dull and raisins never last long enough!! Thanks for sharing with #bestandworst and see you soon xx
Claire Ridewood says
October 28, 2015 at 10:13 pmMy gosh you are brave! I don’t think I’d have the strength to even attempt taking the children on a plane solo! Having said that our eldest little ladies are becoming so self sufficient, I think they’d be a great help with the little ones… Your pictures are amazing! Thank you so much for linking up with #busydoinglife!
pinkpearbear says
November 11, 2015 at 12:12 pmThanks for your comment Claire! It was filtered for some reason so I’ve only just seen it. I definitely think that when your kids are old enough to be self sufficient, especially when they can entertain the younger ones without too much squabbling! 🙂 thanks for hosting.
Ellen says
March 25, 2016 at 5:29 pmHaha love this! Pictures are fab too. My friend did a 24 hour flight alone with her one year old. She wrote little notes for people sitting near her asking them to be patient and considerate! #StayClassy
Single Mum Speaks says
March 25, 2016 at 10:35 pmYou are brave. I regularly take Piglet on long train journeys solo (don’t ask), but haven’t braved flying yet, probably because I have my own aerophobia (is that what it’s called?) to deal with, so don’t want to pass it on to him #StayClassy
The Mum Project - Meagan says
March 26, 2016 at 1:22 pmHahah! I think Number 1 is the best. ; ) But the wine/valium combo and ‘accidentally’ booking the children at the back is plan B. I think the photos were definitely worth it, BEAUT! Thanks for linking up with #StayClassy!
Candace says
March 31, 2016 at 12:46 pmYou’re too funny! We flew with my daughter when she had just turned two and thought a night flight would be perfect. The guy sitting next to her was working on his computer the whole flight and turned on the overhead light. It was pretty miserable.
Nursery Whines says
August 1, 2016 at 7:07 amI agree with tip number one! Also they should mak the online booking system a bit more detailed so you can choose not to sit behind someone with lots of curly hair so that you don’t have to spend the entire flight trying to stop the infant on your lap trying to pull it. #bigpinklink
Nige says
August 1, 2016 at 8:10 amSuper post I’m not keen on flying maybe need the Valium fab photos thanks for hosting #bigpinklink
yvette morgan says
August 1, 2016 at 8:15 amhaha tip one was the best x
Mummy Muckups (Anna) says
August 1, 2016 at 8:23 amIncredible photos!!! Thought it was actually going to be #1…don’t…the end. I hate flying; it sucks even worse with kids when you can’t just fade in to a happy place with a few wines. #bigpinklink
Emma Jones says
August 1, 2016 at 8:50 amI love abroad holidays but with 2 kids its far from relaxing. We did 4 hours this year which was my upmost limit!!! On the way home which was 25 mins longer I couldn’t wait to get off #bigpinklink Lifeinthemumslane
Upside Mum says
August 1, 2016 at 9:10 amSo brave flying on your own with two. Valium wouldn’t even do the trick when flying with mine! So funny, loved reading this. #bigpinklink
Mess and Merlot says
August 1, 2016 at 9:30 amOh this brings back many (hideous) memories!! We fly to Belfast a couple of times a year, usually just me and the kids to visit Grandparents. Pretty much since they were both born and I swear it is the most stressful thing I’ve ever done as a parent! I knew even if I did order a hot drink one of them was sure to spill it over them/me/everything. Thankfully now they’re 5 and 7 they are really good little flyers and we have the whole airport/flying thing down to a fine art. Dare I say I can actually ‘enjoy’ a relatively stress-free G&T now too!! OK, while helping with the Charlie & Lola ‘make a mini-puppet theatre ‘ gift at the same time). Gorgeous in-flight pics – are we going to hear more about your holiday soon?? #bigpinklink
Michelle says
August 1, 2016 at 10:22 amI haven’t flown anywhere with my kids since they were babies but those were some exasperating times. My love of road trips takes us on car trips rather than flying in a plane. Though my youngest wants to visit Ireland but when I told him we would have to take a plane, he changed his mind, LOL!! Thanks for hosting #bigpinklink
Squirmy Popple says
August 1, 2016 at 11:10 amLove tip #1! We flew to NY with our 11-month-old a few months back, and I#m not eager to do it again anytime soon. Snacks helped tremendously, though. #bigpinklink
Emma Plus Three says
August 1, 2016 at 11:12 amWhen we flew I was sat with the kids and my husband was sat separately with an old couple, chatting away… so yeah I basically did it on my own! It was fine on the way there but on the way back Max was a bloody nightmare! It’s put me off doing it again x #bigpinklink
The Tale of Mummyhood says
August 1, 2016 at 12:39 pmHaha I love this, very funny post! Great pictures too!
#bigpinklink
FromDayDot says
August 1, 2016 at 1:04 pmHaha number 1 and 6 are brilliant! Sounds traumatising but now you’ve done it once you’ll be a pro next time! And your photos are fab #BigPinkLink
Nadia - ScandiMummy says
August 1, 2016 at 1:24 pmI feel like a pro at this, though I’ve ever only done it with one child… can’t imagine what it’s like juggling two! Yep, hot drinks are definitely a no-go even if the child is fast asleep. They’ll sense it and wake and cause chaos. Great post! #bigpinklink
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
Jenn says
August 1, 2016 at 2:41 pmWe travelled with the kids when they were 3 and 1, still not ready to attempt that again now, and they are almost 6 and 4. Great read #bigpinklink
This Mum's Life says
August 1, 2016 at 3:04 pmHehe!! Brilliant!! Exactly why I have not yet flown with my children!! Just reading this was making me anxious and cross with my children-and we haven’t even been in a flight together yet…!!!!! It’s definitely worth wangling the Valium I reckon, and it never would’ve even crossed my mind to get tea, I would’ve been straight in for the good stuff, no matter what time of day or night!! But you did get some beautiful pictures out of it!! I think I won’t ever be flying with mine actually, I’m going to wait until they’ve moved out, then resume flying peacefully, like we did before we had them!
Xx
Happy Wawa says
August 1, 2016 at 6:19 pmHaven’t yet dared to board a flight with my toddler. Excellent survival tips I shall bear in mind! #bigpinklink
the frenchie mummy says
August 1, 2016 at 6:27 pmThe tip number 1 is the one! I can see myself do number 7 easily! Even so busy with the kiddies, you manage to get some great shots here! #bigpinklink
Alison (MadHouseMum) says
August 1, 2016 at 6:27 pmI was going to go for valium, but chose hypnosis instead! Love this post. I read another blogger’s post on this subject and she said that play dough has all the in flight answers…that and wine of course (swigged out of the bottle – great tip!) Alison x #BigPinkLink
One Messy Mama says
August 1, 2016 at 7:12 pmI had such a giggle. We mastered a 27 hr flight last year. with a 5,4,2 and 9 month old.. We had play dough EVERYWHERE! Not sure if the plane survived.. But we sure did! :0 #bigpinklink
MMT says
August 1, 2016 at 8:19 pmHa ha, got to love an anti-smug advice post. Love the instagram work too btw! I’ll try and remember your tag now I’m officially a #pinkliner again! x
Thanks for hosting #bigpinklink
Utterly Feral says
August 1, 2016 at 8:53 pmGod…I fly solo with two feral boys soon! Wish me luck x
Rhyming with Wine says
August 2, 2016 at 7:17 amOh my word! Those photos are stunning! Personally I’m going to follow your point number 1. Staycations all the way for this Mummy, until they are at least old enough to possibly order their own wine and give me a cheers! 😉
#bigpinklink x
Mackenzie Glanville says
August 2, 2016 at 12:36 pmhaha number 7 is brilliant! #bigpinklink
mummy here and there says
August 2, 2016 at 2:47 pmNumber one is the best and then vallium comes winning in second!
Gorgeous photos mind X #bigpinklink
ShoeboxofM says
August 2, 2016 at 4:52 pmThat’s a level of bravery I’m not at yet! Love tip number 1.
I blame Peppa Pig for “disgusting!”. Dropping half eaten food into my hand mysteriously does not qualify as disgusting.
#bigpinklink
MouseMooMeToo says
August 2, 2016 at 6:28 pmBeautiful photos! I hate flying so can never look out of the window, haha. Been there – made the same hot drink mistake. Unfortunately I was 7 months pregnant and I don’t think knocking back all the wine would go down so well, lol. #bigpinklink
Pat - White Camellias says
August 2, 2016 at 6:46 pmIf only valium was the answer… this really made me chuckle and you are right my kids always spill all their fav snacks and then keep demanding more as if I could just magic some up! Fab photos. I never get the chance to take any… #bigpinklink
Tammymum says
August 3, 2016 at 1:21 pmWow I take my hat off to you, flying solo with two kids. We have flown with two under two but it took us both to survive the flight, not sure I’ll be braving a so,o flight for a few years, say 14? Excellent list though, especially number 1 hehe #bigpinklink
Bridie By The Sea says
August 4, 2016 at 8:08 amHaha this is brilliant lovely – we’re travelling with the terrible toddler soon and I’m dreading it lol!! Thanks for hosting #bigpinklink xx
Yvonne says
August 4, 2016 at 6:39 pmThis is perfect timing for me. I have just booked a flight back from my mums, just me with the twins (nearly four!). I am not exactly looking forward to it but work commitments have forced me. I plan to pack iPads and sweets. I am more than a little scared lol! xx #bigpinklink
Agent Spitback says
August 5, 2016 at 10:50 amThat photograph is amazing! I always love looking out of the plane window and be just awed by Mother Nature. Yeah, I have to admit that I was scared to fly with my kids when they were younger. I usually pack everything – snacks, books, favourite stuffed animals and the most important thing I have learnt – is spare clothes!
Lizzie firstooth says
August 7, 2016 at 6:53 pmI really thought I’d be getting tips here as we’re taking our first flight with kids next year! But it did make me laugh, I can only imagine pen lid gate, lol #bigpinklink
Mudpie Fridays says
August 8, 2016 at 6:07 amHaha never!! I am super impressed you did it though, I would no way contemplate it but with all the baby stuff I have to carry around at the moment j would need to hire a little man to help carry the luggage! That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! Great shot of the sunset. Thanks for hosting #BigPinkLink
Lisa Pomerantz says
August 10, 2016 at 12:05 amHilarious! I love this! How did you manage to fly without having to go to the loo? My Little and bigdrag me into that tiny holder of germ warfare and god knows what else…yeeeeeek. I rather see a mouse! #bigpinklink