Skip to main content

Flying with a toddler - help ! need your advice

A few months ago I was brave enough to take my toddler alone from Washington DC to Austin. me to attend SXSW and my toddler safely deposited with his aunt to play with his cousins. The journey was great, he entertained Ranajune in Baltimore who was - also flying to SWSW - before we boarded and then promptly fell asleep as the flight took off only to wake up in Austin. The return journey was the same.
Now that my skills at taking a toddler cross country have been proven I am now going to fly with him to India next week. We have a 8.5 hour flight to Amsterdam and then 5 hours layover and then another 8.5 hour flight from Amsterdam to Hyderabad.
Now for those of you who have made a similar trip with only one parent , what do you suggest. Any tips and advice is highly appreciated. Please leave a comment here !

CNN has some tips for travel with a toddler at http://www.cnn.com/2008/TRAVEL/traveltips/06/06/flying.with.babies/
other resources I found are
https://upgradedpoints.com/flying-with-children-guide/

http://hubpages.com/hub/Tips-for-Taking-Toddlers-on-Long-Flights
http://infantstoddlers.suite101.com/article.cfm/air_travel_with_toddlers
http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/family-travel-tips/making-travel-days-with-kids-work/air-travel-with-babies-toddlers-kids/
http://glenniacampbell.typepad.com/silenti/2007/05/traveling_with__2.html
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
I do know that the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam has play areas, and one of my Family Travel guest posters had tips on long-haul travel with young ones (to China, in her case.)

Lots of books, puzzles, kiddie movies!

Can you stay in Amsterdam a day or so, to check into a hotel and sleep in an actual bed one night? Why kill yourself?
June 29, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Steve 1/3 Area said…
It's always worth remembering that your child can't really force itself to adjust to a time zone change, so keeping a watch set at Eastern time is useful as it will let you know what time it is for them and plan accordingly. I agree with the 'lots of books, puzzles, movies' comment. Having an iPod or iPhone that can play videos is helpful at those moments when nothing else will work to settle a child. Keep an eye out for recharging opportunities for it.

In general flight attendants are sympathetic to those traveling alone with a child and can be relied on for extra snacks or a brief interlude in a galley (during non-serving times, of course) that could serve as a temp play area.

Hopefully all travel goes as planned, no delays, that'd help.

Good luck!
June 29, 2008 at 8:20 AM
Shashi Bellamkonda said…
Sheila and Steve,

Thank you very much for the comments. Sheila that article on your blog http://blogs.bootsnall.com/Seafarer/oh-china-part-one.html was awesome. I have already started preparing him and now I should show him a map.

Shashi
June 29, 2008 at 8:52 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How the World Measures Happiness (It’s Not Just About Smiling)

I recently read a fascinating piece by Maham Javaid in the Washington Post analyzing the World Happiness Report . The report, produced by the Wellbeing Research Center at Oxford and the UN, looks beyond GDP to find what actually drives life satisfaction. I've always held the philosophy that happiness should be a state of mind—something that shouldn't depend on others. But I admit, that is difficult to adhere to. It's hard to stay internally happy when you don't receive kudos for extra effort, or when you find yourself analyzing praise to see if it was just an afterthought. While my own philosophy has always been that happiness shouldn't depend on others, the data suggests that for most of the world, happiness is inherently social. Here is what the top-ranking countries teach us: 🇫🇮 Finland: Material Security Finland takes the top spot, but not because they are outwardly the "happiest" people. It's about anxiety reduction. "Researc...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways

The Philosophy of the Push: A Small Observation on Indian Doorways There is a specific moment of low-stakes confusion that happens when you travel. You approach a shop door, your muscle memory engages, you grab the handle to pull—and your arm jerks to a halt. The door doesn't budge. You look up, and there it is, often taped right next to a digital payment sticker: a sign that says PUSH. ❖ The Muscle Memory of Safety If you live in the West, your muscle memory is trained to "pull to enter" almost any commercial building. This isn't just a design quirk; it's usually a legal requirement born out of historical tragedy. Fire codes in the US and Europe dictate that exterior doors must swing outward—in the direction of egress. The logic is grim but sound: if a crowd inside panics and rushes the exit, their collective body weight should push the door open, not seal it shut. So, when I travel back to India, and I see doors like the one below, my Weste...
Post a Comment
Read more

You start picking clothes of a certain color, and suddenly, it becomes your uniform. Try to change it, and everyone hates it.

Who Decided Your Favorite Color? (And Why You Can't Escape It) What role does color play in your life? It is a strange negotiation. Somehow, either you decide, or someone else decides for you, what your “favorite color” is. It starts innocently. You pick a blue shirt. It looks good. You buy another. A few years pass, and suddenly, you are “The Blue Shirt Guy.” Then, the trap snaps shut: The moment you try to change—maybe you experiment with a bold new shade—your spouse or friends hate it. You have been branded. The Illusion of Choice I have observed that we have less agency here than we think. Clothing companies seem to act as a cartel, releasing the exact same “new” colors every year. One year, I was inexplicably fascinated by fluorescent green. It was everywhere, so it was in my closet. But my safe zone remains firm: Blue, Pink, and Red for shirts. But pants? I tried...
Post a Comment
Read more
ReadyThoughts.com

Connect with Shashi Bellamkonda

Quick thoughts, experiments, and digital musings from a marketer who likes to test in public and share what actually works.

Shashi Bellamkonda

Shashi Bellamkonda

Digital Marketing Strategist & Thought Leader

Advisor · Educator · Early adopter of social & AI marketing

Follow & Say Hello

On ReadyThoughts I share fast takes on marketing, AI, and experiments in public. If a post sparks a question or idea, I'd love to hear from you.

Shashi's Blog Network
Start here, then explore

ReadyThoughts.com is where quick ideas start. From here you can dive deeper into strategy, misunderstood marketing, and even food stories across the rest of the network.

💭 ReadyThoughts.com
Short posts, experiments, and reflections at the intersection of marketing, AI, and everyday observations.
🎯 Misunderstood Marketing
Frameworks and real‑world examples that turn confusing marketing into clear strategy and results.
🌐 Shashi.co
Independent analysis on AI, SaaS, and revenue growth strategy for builders, operators, and teams.
🍽️ CarryOnCurry.com
DC metro eats & beyond: stories, reviews, and recipes from a marketer who loves curry.