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Flight attendants offer advice to parents who fly with children

When asking for advice on flying with young children, we expected to hear from flight attendants. And we did.

Jessica, who lives in Coronado, has been a flight attendant for 30 years and has adult children. Debbie, a 10-plus-year flight attendant from San Diego, added information they asked us to pass on to parents:

• 1. When making reservations, make sure that the agent knows the ages of your children and that your seats are together. Some seats are restricted due to emergency exits, and only one lap child is allowed per row. It is very difficult to rearrange seating on summer-full flights.
  
  
• 2. Invest in a small umbrella-type stroller and leave the deluxe one at home.
  
  
• 3. DVD players on planes must be used with earphones (bring your own), which annoy smaller kids. Also, some kids become very upset when the battery runs out. Some planes have power ports (but not at every seat), and you must bring your own adapter.
  
  
• 4. If you plan to bring a car seat, make sure it is approved for airline use – it should have a label on it. Booster seats are not approved. Car seats must be installed in the window seat and not beside, in front of or behind an emergency exit.
  
  
• 5. Bring necessary supplies. Diapers, Tylenol and comic books are no longer available, and believe it or not – after 10 a.m., there is no milk! If your child needs a straw, bring it with you.
  
  
• 6. This suggestion may be controversial, so check with a pediatrician: Consider using children's nighttime cold medication. It keeps their ears from blocking and has a sedative effect.
  
  
• 7. The last thing you should do before boarding the plane is use the bathroom – all of you. Boarding, taxiing and waiting until the top of climb-out, when it is safe to get up, can last several hours.
  
  
• 8. Don't let your child use the safety briefing card as a distraction. Any of the other seat-pocket magazines can be demolished, but leave the briefing card in place.
  
  
• 9. Clean up your area before deplaning. Flight attendants are there for your safety, not as a housekeeper.
  
  
• 10. Ask the flight attendant for help. Sometimes it gets to be too much for Mom and Dad.
  
  

Here are some tips for those not traveling with children:

• 1. Understand that children are little people. They may be crying or cranky, but it is the same as the frustrated adult who yells at the agent or flight attendant.
  
  
• 2. Inform the flight attendants if there is an issue concerning a child and/or the parent. Let the attendant take care of the situation.
  
  
• 3. Maybe ask if the parent needs help in some way – lifting bags, changing seats, etc. A little kindness can go a long way.
  
  
• 4. Don't forget you were a child once, too.
  
  

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