Air Travel with a 3.5yo

The Nugget is a really great traveler.  We don't particularly enjoy the process of traveling cross-country, but he's got the temperment and enthusiasm that makes it as easy as it can be.  I've posted air travel tips before, but here are some new-ish developments.

1.  The Nugget has outgrown the CARES harness, and now can sit with just the lap belt.  FYI, children are not allowed to use boosters on airplanes.

2.  We bought this protective bag to check the Nugget's booster seat, and we loved it!  Our local airport doesn't have the plastic bags, and we wanted a little something to protect the booster.  It has a handle, which makes carrying the booster a little less awkward.  We snapped a luggage tag onto the handle and hid a raincoat in there with the booster.  As you might have heard, you have to pay per checked bag now, but carseats/boosters are free, so a little sneaky extra storage is great.  I was concerned that the drawstring would catch on other luggage and rip the bag, so I made sure to pull it tight, then tucked it into the opening.  It folds up tiny and zips into itself for storage.  It's not padded, so unless you carry it out from your body, the booster will smack awkwardly/painfully against your legs.  I predict it will not last forever - probably 1-3 years, depending on how often you fly.

3.  We no longer travel with a stroller for the Nugget.  We have to allow a little more walking time through the airport - he's really too heavy to carry for long distances.  I highly recommend that once your kid is stroller-less, that you spend the $4 and get a Smarte Carte for your luggage.  If your hands are full of luggage and your social preschooler is free, there's a good risk of losing him in the crowd.  He loves to help push the cart, so that keeps him close.  Plus, the cart frees up our hands to snatch him out of the way should a golf cart zip by or should he spot something enticing like a pretzel stand.  How to keep him walking?  I talk to him the whole time, dangling carrots like, "We'll get to ride an escalator at the end of this path!" or "Let's look for our gate number, N16!"

4.  This was the first trip where we asked the Nugget to carry his own backpack.  In hindsight, I should have broken out his new one with padded straps, and it might have been more successful.  As it was, he carried it about 50% of the time, which was still helpful.  We packed it with his toys and snacks for the plane.  I am contemplating this one for future trips.  It can be rolled or ridden through the airport.

5.  The Nugget is finally at the age where technology is helpful on trips.  He can be trusted to watch a video on the laptop without pounding on the keyboard, and he can carefully hold and operate Daddy's iPod Touch.  He is old enough to understand that we have to turn technology off for landing, so stopping in the middle of his video isn't cause for a meltdown.  I recommend Fish School if you're looking for a educational preschool app.

6.  Although the Nugget can drink out of open containers, we don't test his skills on vacation.  Limited clothing/laundry and all that jazz.  You can't bring drinks through security, so we bring his water bottle and thermos empty, then buy beverages and fill them when we get to the gate.  I try to have at least one bottle full before we board, because our first flight is usually too short for a beverage service.  And if you're at the back of a big plane, it could be well over an hour before you'll see that cart.  Same with snacks - have some, because they can actually sell out of every snack option before they get to your row, and your preschooler is not going to handle that particular challenge with poise.

7.  The Nugget's flight wardrobe - preferably cute enough to inspire goodwill from strangers.  Security means velcro or slip-on shoes, dark socks with nonslip bottoms, and no hoodie (less to remove).  Pull-on pants, because you don't have much time/space in an airplane bathroom to deal with zippers and buttons.  You can't walk through security holding hands with a little one.  If your kiddo is on the cautious side, peel them off you, walk through first, and have them come to you (easier than prodding them towards the stranger with the giant wand).  If your kid is like mine and runs towards the stranger with the wand and proceeds to tell the FSA agent all about his morning, then tell your social butterfly that his important job is holding onto the table at the end of the x-ray machine and using his sharp eyes to watch for your backpack.  That'll buy you enough time to get through yourself before he makes a mad dash for the escalator.  Ahem.

8.  While we're on the topic of bathrooms, if you have a potty learner or recent graduate, it really helps to have familiar supplies at your destination.  Grandma and Papa bought a potty chair for the Nugget last summer and had it at their house; we carted it to our hosts' home each night.  I shipped a new potty chair and a stool to my brother ahead of time, and they can keep them for Cabbage.  (If you're in the very early stages of potty learning, your kid might be content to just take a break and use his pull-up or diaper.)  We also showed the Nugget the bathroom right away when we entered a new home and played up how cool it was (Look at the soft towel!  Ooh, the soap smells so good!), so he'd be eager to try it out when nature called.