Transatlantic Travel with Children | Travel Tuesday

By the time you read this we’ll be about to wake up for our first day of adventures at Universal Orlando and fingers crossed my tips for transatlantic travel with children will have worked and not had me counting down the minutes until I could escape a confined space! Boo is an extremely well travelled young lady and loves hopping on a plane across Europe, however this will have been her first transatlantic flight and I wanted to make sure that she still loved travel even after a nine hour flight – so here’s my tips to help make it that bit easier, and you never even a bit of fun!

Prepare Prepare Prepare!
This goes without saying and fellow mamas have got this down to a tee – but I’m a organisational freak when it comes to travel and rely on lists and list and more lists (you get the jist!) and with this trip I’ve involved Boo in the prep and this helps little ones to feel like their choices matter, even if you do have to wait until they’re asleep to unpack the sixteen Barbies she smuggled into the case!

Treats Galore
Now I know not everyone will agree with this but for me the holiday starts the minute you arrive at the airport, and whilst for mama that means a glass of bubbly in departures children love the idea of being allowed treats that otherwise would be saved for special occasions… For Boo this means picking her own sweets for the plane and having a cheeky glass of fizzy drink and maybe a mini treat from duty free – it’s all about getting them to enjoy every aspect of the travel.

Surprises
Once we’re on the plane, I’ve got a bag full of Smiggle goodies to surprise Boo with – she’ll be over the moon to open the bag and it will give her plenty to do if she fancies a break from the inflight entertainment; which she’ll be able to enjoy as I’ve included a pair of new kids headphones.

Cabin Catwalk
We all know it’s about stylish comfort with me when I travel so it’s no surprise that I’ve got a change of clothes for Boo in our hand luggage, that way she’s more inclined to snuggle up with me for a nap if she’s looking and feeling the part for a spot of dreaming amongst the clouds. Oh and I’m prepared the destination weather with a summery dress and sandals so she’s ready to go the minute we land.

Countless Air Miles of Patience
It doesn’t matter how much you prepare and what you bring along with you, Boo is only five, and if she gets bored or cranky it’s important to remember that excitement and being confined for 9+ hours can make them a little less reasonable than usual and that’s completely normal – that’s the time to crack out the crazy monster voices (please tell me that’s not only me) and start a good old game of I spy… what a classic!

So there you have my tips for successful transatlantic travel with children. Let me know yours!