Expedia travel tips for families

Flights

• Research the airlines; some airlines are better than others in providing facilities for babies and small children, and this is often related to the time of the flight and the destination itself.
• Services to look for: some airlines provide children with in-flight entertainment such as books and colouring pencils, goodie bags and kids' television channels, as well as offering baby food (some offer organic options), providing pre-allocated seats and flight attendants specializing in caring for families, and including sky-cots and bassinets as standard.
• Opt for scheduled flights; there's less chance of delays, flight times are normally more convenient, and the queues should be shorter.
• Do what you can online and in advance; many flights allow you to book your seats in advance, saving you time and effort once you're at the airport.
• Pack sensibly; if you keep all of the essentials handy (clothes, nappies, toys, snacks, toiletries, any frequently required medicines, etc.), you'll be able to slide them directly under your seat for the flight.
• Getting to the airport; it's always best to plan for the worst. If you allow plenty of time for your journey to the airport, you'll be less stressed, and your children will be more relaxed, too.
• Arriving at the airport; if a valet service is provided, it might be worthwhile. You'll avoid the hassle of parking, your children will have less distance to travel, and it saves lugging your baggage from long-term parking to the terminal.
• Get there early; reserving your seats, or at least getting to the airport with plenty of time, will give you a better chance of sitting at the front of the cabin, where kids' seats and/or bassinets can be secured.
• Ask to board first; allowing families to board first saves the airlines time and effort, so most will be more than happy to allow you onto the plane before other passengers.
• Pushchairs and buggies; most airlines will allow you to take pushchairs/buggies right up to the plane, so don't feel you have to carry your children or make them walk to the plane. If you don't check your pushchairs/buggies, you'll save yourself time and effort both before and after boarding. Some stewards will even fetch your pushchair/buggy as soon as you get off the plane, saving you the hassle of carrying/walking your children to the baggage carousel.
• Ear pain; babies and toddlers can struggle with ear pain during take-off and landing, but this can be relieved by swallowing. Breastfeeding a baby, or providing a bottle/dummy can lessen their discomfort, and older children will appreciate a boiled sweet or water/juice to drink. If you can't find these during the excitement of take-off or landing, encouraging your child to yawn can decrease their ear pain, too.
• Make friends; if someone is sitting next to you, perhaps make some small talk before take-off. If your child is chatty/noisy during the flight, you'll have another ally, and not someone wishing themselves anywhere else!
• Keep your child entertained; babies will probably only need a rattle or a familiar toy/blanket, but toddlers will appreciate the stimulus a toy provides - try to provide a new or different one for each hour of your flight.
• Goodie bags; if your airline doesn't provide one, make your own. Your children will definitely appreciate a bag filled with books, paper and colouring pencils, sticker books and small toys - and you might find it leaves you with a few moments of peace, too!
• On-flight entertainment; more and more airlines are now providing children with entertainment during flights - you might not want your children to watch television for the entire flight, but a short burst of radio or TV can keep them happy.
• Get moving; especially on longer flights, toddlers and older children will love the change of scenery that walking up and down the aisles will provide.
• Look out; toddlers and older children are often fascinated by clouds, so don't be afraid to let them peer out of the window.
• Sleep tight; often leading by example will encourage your child to sleep, which can be invaluable in keeping both you and them feeling rested on longer flights, as well as decreasing the impact of any possible time difference.
• Ask for advice; flight attendants travel for a living - they might even have some tips for you we haven't thought of!