Passengers are urged to always pack lavender oil when taking a flight to make travelling “as smooth as possible.” Schools have finally wrapped up for the summer which will see families of all ages attempting to take a trip abroad.
While 78 percent of Brits believe the idea of going on holiday brings “more joy than anything else,” nearly a third of parents have chosen to completely avoid travelling on a plane.
In its Chatterbox series, Amazon polled 75,000 people across the UK and discovered that over one in 10 people (12 percent) had endured a nightmare flight where their children cried for the entire journey.
However, an expert suggests that to combat unpredictable outbursts, uncomfortable sensations of ears popping, and loud noises, parents should rub “a small amount of lavender oil” on their neck when they’re cuddling their baby to keep them calm.
Child behaviourist Elizabeth O’Shea shared: “For babies, it’s just as simple as having a bottle or something to suck, particularly when the altitude reaches the stage where people’s ears pop. A child needs to swallow or otherwise, it can get very painful.
“Babies can also get very fractious on flights. So sometimes a small amount of lavender oil, even on your neck, can help when you’re cuddling them.”
The expert added: “Simple steps such as bringing sweets or a bottle to ease discomfort during the rising altitude, a bag of small toys and activities, and a comfort blanket all really help.”
Another top tip is to talk to children beforehand about the flight process so they know what to expect. O’Shea said: “For toddlers and young children it’s a great idea to set up a pretend aeroplane at home with signs and belts so they can picture what is going to happen on the day.
“It’s also key to remember that children rely on their parents to help them regulate, so really tune into your child, and focus on their needs and emotions to make the process as smooth as possible.”
The behaviour expert also advised that parents should always take snacks as children get hungry frequently whilst sweets can help with their ears popping.
She also suggests having a bag full of toys and activities – flights can be long and boring for children which makes them extremely irritable, to avoid this bring your child different sources of entertainment.
“Comfort is key,” children should be dressed in comfortable and easy-to-change clothing. Just as adults need a neck pillow when napping, children should also have their own – to get them used to having something around their neck, introduce the pillow at home or in the car.
Lastly, the best tip to use in order to have a good flight experience is to ignore judgmental strangers and rely on flight attendants who are there to help. O’Shea sternly advised: “Flying is stressful at the best of times, and it’s very easy to get more and more stressed when you’re with a young child and are worried about what other people are thinking.
“It can be really hard, but parents should just focus on their child’s needs, and try to ignore everything else that’s going on around them.”