What is your best advice when air traveling with small children?

My husband and I are going to the east coast of canada from Ontario (where we live) on friday night. This is the first time we've travelled as a family. And i'm scared to death!! My kids are 5 (girl) 3 (girl) 9 months (boy) Any advice whatsoever to help me survive this adventure would be more than appreciated!What is your best advice when air traveling with small children?
Movies!! Find out if they have access to play DVD's on the plane that kept my little sister quiet the whole ride. If not see if a friend has a portable DVD player you can borrow and mail back to them once you arrive home. If not try to get some food in your carry on they like, something to snack on will keep them happy, don't forget drinks. Toys, but not too small because if they drop it then you're on a search trying to find out where the little car rolled to. Not too big either because there won't be a ton of room. Coloring books. Give them inside windows they'll love looking outside even at night it's cool on the plane to look out. If you give your kids gum, give them gum to chew it'll help a lot with popping their ears as you change altitudes.





The baby you're going to want to keep up as much as possible during the day so he'll want to sleep on the plane. He'll probably be awake as your rushing to find you're gate and emptying your pockets and going through metal detectors but try to get him to sleep on the plane and play with the girls. Keep them busy, maybe even a nap if they get tired, most airplanes have pillows and blankets.What is your best advice when air traveling with small children?
My son is three, and the only real problem I have with him is take off and landing. His ears hurt him so bad. Give the 5 year old gum to chew, you might be able to tell the 3 year old to ';blow her nose real hard'; (thats what i do with my son) and the 9mon old, theres no much relief..





I read to my son during the flight. I'm quiet, but colorful, and passangers don't seem to mind. One time, a woman with a child asked to be moved next to me because I was reading to my son, and she was having a hard time keeping her daughet calm. It worked. I would also play the color game with him to. I would point to something and say ';what color is that??'; and he would answer. And you know airports have colors, and crazy carpet designs...Don't worry if other people think your silly for playing hopscotch on the carpet..they should be thankful they aren't screaming! lol





Bring soft toys, and little snacks...think cerals, crackers, ect...bring drink mixes and buy water (or fill up in a water fountain)





Just keep them entertained and all should be good!
Get the complimentary kiddie set from the air crew and play with the 5 and 3yr old. Keep the 9mth old awake as long as possible beforehand as otherwise you're just going to incur the wrath of every fellow passenger. No sugar beforehand and you should be OK.





Wasn't it great in bygone days when you could bring a kid to see the cockpit!!?!?