How to Survive a Long Haul Flight with Young Children

Are you going on a family trip soon? Worried about how your children can take a long haul flight? Long haul flights are daunting experiences for parents of young children. Families can experience delayed flights, lost luggage, and unexpected circumstances that can leave a family stranded in another place.

Although it's normal for children not to be able to stay put for long periods of time because of their short attention span, it's still possible to survive what can be a stressful time. All you need to do is prepare! Here are tips on how to prepare for and survive long haul flights with kids:

1. Avoid boredom by bringing a "Busy Bag" with you. This bag should contain toys, puzzles, coloring books and the like that your child can use during down time. Remember to pack a variety of activities and add in some snacks as well.
2. Before boarding, take time to let your kid use up his energy. Let him run around as much as he can! You'll be glad you did.
3. Prevent dehydration by constantly offering water to your child. You can bring a small tumbler for him so water is readily available when needed. Note that nursing moms and young children are most at risk of dehydration so remember to take a sip!
4. On a related note, bring extra diapers. You might need more than you think!

Don't stress yourself too much, though. No matter how much you prepare for long haul flights, kids will be kids. Your child will not behave perfectly the whole time, so just enjoy the in-flight drama.