Should Babies And Kids Be Banned From Long-Distance Flights?

Flying with a baby or a young child can be stressful for both parents and little ones but does this mean we shouldn’t travel with our kids?

July 1, 2019

Flying with a baby or a young child can be stressful for both parents and little ones but does this mean we shouldn’t travel with our kids?

A 2017 survey from the air travel site Airfwarewatchdog found that a little over half of respondents believe families with children aged 10 and under should have to sit in a designated section apart from other passengers, and the idea of separating children and adults has gained traction on Reddit, where threads with titles like “Would you pay extra for a child-free flight? YESSSS!!!” and “It’s time airlines introduced child-free zones” indicate the demand for child-free seating.

Some international airlines, including Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Scoot Airlines, and IndiGo have introduced “kid-free” zones where customers can purchase seats without the risk of sitting next to a noisy child.

The results have us shook. By these stats, are we really expected to not fly with our young ones?

A spokesperson at InsureandGo, Jonathan Etkind says young children can still travel, they just need to be comfortable and kept entertained during a flight. Here are some tips to have a happy and stress-fly flight with kids and babies:

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https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/family/should-babies-and-kids-be-banned-from-long-distance-flights/

Should Babies And Kids Be Banned From Long-Distance Flights?

Encourage natural sleep

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Getting a natural night’s sleep on flights can be a challenge, but bringing your child’s favourite bedtime toy or reading them a story can help. Try to discourage screen time during normal sleeping hours and limit your child’s screen time overall. For example, one movie for an international flight will keep them entertained and suggest activities such as colouring books once the movie is over.

Photo: 123RF

Consider booking overnight flights

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Depending on your holiday destination, consider booking a flight that coincides with your child’s sleep routine. Most flights dim the lights during a night flight to reinforce sleeping patterns, so it’s likely your child will be asleep for a large part of the journey.

Photo: Pixabay

Prevent travel sickness

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Restlessness can result in travel sickness in children. Reduce the likelihood of this by encouraging a relaxing game and avoiding unnecessary head movements, by using pillows or a headrest. It also helps to avoid heavy meals during travel and fit in a light snack before the flight.

Photo: 123RF

Counteract cabin pressure

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The effects of cabin pressure can be uncomfortable for many adults, and this pressure causes even more pain and discomfort for babies and kids, due to their narrower ear tubes. Counteract this by the usual remedies – encourage them to yawn, swallow or chew gum and sweets. Babies can be particularly affected, feeding them often does the trick.

Photo: 123RF

Reserve bassinets where possible

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Allow your baby to lie down comfortably in-flight by requesting a bassinet, which attaches to the front wall of each section in the aircraft. However, travelling with an infant doesn’t guarantee a bassinet on a flight, so make sure to request it during booking.

Photo: Unsplash

Request the right meals

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Some kids can be picky with their meals. If that’s the case, specify and food requirements or allergies when booking your flight to ensure they will be able to eat their meal.

Text: bauersyndication.com.au / Additional reporting: Natalya Molok

Photo: 123RF

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