Understanding and meeting infants’ needs during long flights can become perplexing unless parents bring the right travel items with them. Aleksandra Nikolic, flight attendant and ‘flying nanny’ at Etihad Airways, highly recommends parents write down a packing list ahead of their journey. Make sure to include the following items:
- Spare pacifiers
- Toddler and teething toys
- Personal sheet or blanket
- Preferred on-the-go snacks
- All-purpose hygienic wipes and nasal aspirator/decongestant
- Goody bag of games, arts and crafts
Long-haul flights can be particularly difficult and tiring for children. To pass the time, I personally enjoy entertaining children by telling them fairytales stories and doing drawings together. These are fun, while also encouraging creativity, skills, and fine motor development.
Travel tip:
Try to book a night flight. You may find they sleep through the whole flight.
Aleksandra Saska Nikolic is a flight attendant and ‘flying nanny’ at Etihad Airways. Part of her job role entails ensuring parents experience a pleasant flight travelling with children.