About in-flight meals | When traveling with toddler(s)


• Arrange for children's meals for your toddler as that will mean your child will be served first so the wait time will be shortened and thereby sparing you the crankiness of a hungry toddler. Alternatively, you may feed your child a light snack (a fruit or sandwich) in the departure lounge before the airline meal is served when you are on-board. Pack some food for her if she is a fussy eater or you prefer home-packed snack to the flight ones for some reason. Bagels are good as they are long-lasting and basically crumb-less snacks. If your toddler is prone to being air-sick, avoid feeding your child a heavy or hard to digest meal prior to take-off (this may also apply to other modes of travel). Carry anti-nausea chewable tablets Okayed by your doctor, just in case.


• Ask the flight attendant for water or juice for yourself and your kid before takeoff and during flight journeys to stay hydrated, more so during long flights. You and your partner should take turns with eating and handling your small children so that one adult has free hands and lap to manage and entertain the child.


• Ear problems (known as ear-popping) occur because of changing altitudes when the planes are descending and ascending, and younger children are especially susceptible to it. The trick is to equalize the pressure by keeping the jaws working and the saliva flowing. For your toddler you can perhaps allow her to suck a lollipop (an idea all toddlers will gladly welcome) or keep a small cup or his sippy cup of water and encourage your toddler to take small sips as the cabin pressure changes.