I’m a travel expert – here’s my advice to any parent flying with kids
With long security lines, potential delays and cramped economy seats, flying isn’t always the most pleasant experience.
And having a toddler along for the ride is a surefire way to add some extra chaos to the mix.
Now one mom has shared her travel secrets to help parents with their next flight — and her tips are not to leave the kids at home.
Keeping your little ones entertained while traveling can be a nightmare, thankfully travel expert Colleen Kelly has shared some top tips
Colleen Kelly, host of the PBS travel show Family Travel with Colleen Kelly, has taken to TikTok to share these travel essentials.
The TikToker first recommended planning ahead in case your flight is delayed or diverted.
She explained, “Number one, don’t think the flight will be non-stop, it could be diverted.”
Reassuring young children during these disruptions can be a nightmare, especially if you don’t have enough supplies.
So Colleen advised, “Bring extra diapers, extra formula.”
“They are not easy to find, in fact (they are) almost impossible to find these days,” she claimed.
“And of course breast milk, bring extra of that,” she added.
However, keeping them fed is child’s play compared to making sure they are well behaved in flight.
Colleen’s tip for keeping kids entertained for so long was to put “little surprises” in your bag that you can pull out to entice them at any time.
Making sure your kids get food and water is the easiest thing compared to making sure they’re well behaved, Colleen suggested bringing “little surprises” on the next flight
These can be small gifts, toys, games, or anything else travel-sized that your kids will enjoy.
She said, “They’re getting bored, they want to walk around.”
“I always packed some stuff from the dollar store because it’s always more fun when you have a present.
“You can also bribe them…they can have the gift if they’re good for the next hour.”
Colleen’s last tip was to keep some sweet treats on hand, and Lollipops work well because they last a little longer than most candies.
While, she said, lollipops aren’t the healthiest option, she admitted it would make both yours and the kids’ flight “a lot better.”