Traveling With Children: How Can I Help My Child Overcome the Jet Lag?

Traveling With Children: How Can I Help My Child Overcome the Jet Lag?

Travel Tips 2021-06-22 ParkingNearAirports.io
Children who travel between time zones often adjust to time changes more quickly than adults - at least up to age 3. If the time difference is less than 3 hours, or if you'll be there for three days or less, you don't have to change your routine. If you are going for more than three days, your child may need help adapting the regimen. It makes sense to think about changing time zones when you buy your tickets: it's always easier to turn back the clocks than go forward. So what exactly should you do to help your child?

Flight to the west

Back by 3 hours

This is one of the most accessible options because it just makes your child's day 3 hours longer. It's best to fly in the middle of the day so that your child's daytime nap falls on the flight. You will arrive around the same time, and they will have a long afternoon, so just get them to bed a little bit earlier.

Back by 5-8 hours

Try to get your child as much sleep as possible during the flight. That's why it is best to take the latest flight so that the flight falls overnight.

Ahead of more than 8 hours

It is natural for such flights to turn day into night and vice versa. That's why it is best to fly out in the middle of the day, but you will arrive almost a day later because of the time change. Try to keep your child awake for more than two consecutive hours during the trip, as if they are having a day. By the time they arrive at the destination, it will be evening, and they will be ready for a night's sleep.

Flight to the east


Ahead by 3 hours

It is best to take an early flight. For example at 9 a.m., and arrive in the afternoon of the new time (after 3 hours of flying). Try to keep your baby awake during the flight - you can distract them with toys, walk around the plane with them in your arms. If they do fall asleep, shorten their nap and wake them up 3 hours before arrival so that when you arrive in the evening, the child goes to bed at a relatively reasonable time.

Ahead by 5-8 hours

It's best to take a morning flight, ideally between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Let your child sleep the first part of the trip, but wake them up 3 hours before arrival.

Back more than 8 hours

This is one of the most challenging options because you lose a lot of time and spend 11-15 hours on the plane. If possible, take an evening flight so that your child sleeps the first part of the way through the night. If you are flying on a daytime flight, wake your child up at 3 or 4 a.m. the day before the flight so that they are ready for a night's sleep by the time they board the plane. However, it will take at least 2-3 days for your child to establish a routine on such a flight.

What should and should not be done when traveling with a baby?


In travel, survival of the fittest. Other passengers are unlikely to be happy for you when you spend half an hour putting out all the baby accessories for inspection or occupying all the shelves in the plane - and do not have to be happy if your child wants to pull their hair or cry the entire flight. Here are a few tips to reduce flight stress.

What should you do?


  1. Get on the plane first. It is always best to board first so that you can place all your belongings comfortably before the shelves are full.
  2. Ask for a seat by the partition. Ask for space by the partition - it never hurts to have extra space.
  3. Give your baby a bottle on takeoff and landing. Because sucking will help avoid ear congestion, we recommend you give your baby a bottle on takeoff and landing.

What should you not do?

1. Go to the airport without checking whether your flight is delayed. We advise you not to go to the airport if you have not checked whether your flight is delayed. It can cause a lot of problems.

As for the road to the airport, we have one good tip for you. If you get to the airport by car, you're probably racking your brains with the following question: where can I leave it? Of course, there is a solution - you can always leave your car in the parking lot, which is located right at the airport. But you can be a little bit disappointed - the prices for such parking are often too high. What can you do?

If you are looking for economy parking, you are in the right place. We advise you to pay attention to those parking lots near the airport you need, not on its territory. The thing is that the prices for these parking spaces are much lower. And if you are worried because you do not know how to get from the parking to the airport, then again, there is a way out - you just need to order a shuttle for the time you want.

All about the best airport parking deals and airport parking rates you can find out more on our website.

2. Take a gangway seat. It is better not to take a gangway seat because it is dangerous for small and curious hands and restless feet to pass the food tray to the passenger at the window.

3. Sit while other passengers are boarding. Children are calmer on takeoff if they have not had to sit for half an hour before. When you have put all your things in the overhead and under-seat shelves, walk your baby to the plane's back while the other passengers are boarding.