A Flight Attendant Shares the 6 Things She Wishes All Parents Knew Before Traveling with Kids

By now, I’ve taken more than 20 flights with my toddler, and yes, I’ve become a member of the Mile Cry Club. What’s that, you ask? My name for the esteemed group of overtired and overstimulated parents who can’t seem to calm down their baby midflight. (If it makes you feel less alone, even Ms. Rachel has queued up her own show 35,000 miles above sea level to relax her little one.) 

Janet M. is a flight attendant who’s welcomed guests aboard commercial airplanes for the better part of a decade, including quite a few parents taking their first flights with a baby in tow. And whether your little one is still in newborn diapers or begging to hop in the cockpit, there are a few pieces of advice she has for traveling families. 

Get Your Photo Op While Boarding

“If your kids want a picture inside the cockpit, the best time to ask is during boarding!” she says. “Most of the time, the pilots are more than happy to invite them up.” Plus, you can ask anyone on the flight crew for wings and airplane trading cards.

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Bring All the Snacks

“More than you think you might need,” she says. “And keep in mind that most airports have water bottle refill stations where parents can get water once they’re past security. Unfortunately, some flights can be pretty bare bones as far as what they’re provisioned with, and during peak travel seasons like summer and the holidays.” 

…But Refrain From Offering Anything Homemade to the Crew

I’ve always been impressed by parents who come prepared with goodie bags for the flight crew and nearby passengers, thanking them for their patience. While this is a much-appreciated gesture, Janet does warn that she can’t accept any homemade treats. “I personally most enjoy it when people bring non-edible things,” she adds. “I’ve had passengers gift me hand sanitizer, pens, face masks, lotions, and even gift cards.”

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Have Devices Ready to Go

If you’re allowing in-flight entertainment to your little one, the last thing you want is an iPad or headphones with zero juice. Make sure to fully charge your devices prior to takeoff, and pack a portable charger for longer flights. 

Watch Where You Toss Those Diapers

Sure, there are plenty of waste bins aboard, but there’s only one place for dirty diapers: the bathroom. “Diapers can only be disposed of in lavatory trash cans,” she says. “They can’t go in any of the carts for sanitary purposes.”

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Remember This Isn’t the World’s First Fussy Baby

The unspoken fear among all parents boarding a flight with littles? That one of them will be inconsolable the entire time. If it can help quell a pre-flight spiral, Janet reminds us this is not her (or her crew’s) first rodeo. 

“Don’t sweat it,” she says. “I know it can be really stressful, especially in such a confined, public space, but reasonable adults understand this is something out of their control. It’s okay to take the baby on a walk around the cabin to try to calm them down, assuming the seat belt sign is off—just be mindful of what the crew is doing and try not to block their access to the aisle or crowd in the galley.”

*names have been changed