Kid-Friendly Flying
-June 14, 2010-Comments (0)
Summer vacation is here, which means traveling for many families. Are you flying with your young child anytime soon? If so, be sure to keep the following kid-friendly flying tips in mind.
Ask yourself what supplies you will need to have on hand to take care of any normal or special needs for your child.- Use a child restraint system for children under 40 pounds. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration strongly recommends that children weighing less than 40 pounds be put into a child restraint system appropriate for their weight. Children under the age of 2 may legally be carried on the lap of an adult without a safety seat, but a restraint system is recommended.
- Be aware of emergency equipment or procedures that apply to your child: Pay attention to the standard preflight emergency briefing and ask a flight attendant if that particular aircraft has emergency equipment (such as life preservers) specifically designed for small children. If emergency oxygen masks deploy, put your mask on first so that you will be able to help your child.
- Take all essential items for the children in carry-on luggage. Take enough food, diapers, medicine, and other items to last through possible flight delays and lost luggage.
- Small children enjoy reaching out and exploring, but if your child is on the aisle, she could get hurt if her little arm gets bumped by a person or serving cart passing down the aisle. Ideally, two responsible adults should sit on either side of the child or seat the child on a row with a window on one side and a responsible adult on the other.
- Avoid bringing along toys that are sharp, heavy, or that break easily.
For more great flying tips, be sure to visit www.airsafe.com. Also check out Emily Carter's article "Growth Spurts: Birth to 1 Year — Baby on Board" in the June 2010 issue of ParentLife.
