Flight attendants have seen it all when it comes to plane travel, so who better to turn to for advice on flying with kids? Here are a dozen stress-reducing strategies, all from flight attendants (all preferred to be anonymous for our story), several of whom are mothers as well.
Fly as early in the day as possible.
It's your best chance to avoid delays at takeoff and landing, a flight attendant named Patrick explains. "These flights are usually less crowded, too," he says, "and everyone is basically tired and just wants to nap -- kids especially."
Do layers, skip laces.
Be ready for drastically changing temperatures when flying. Wendy, a flight attendant and mom, suggests you dress your kids in comfortable layers -- preferably without buttons, zippers, or anything that could prevent them from getting to the bathroom in time. The same principle applies to shoes: Avoid laces and opt for slip-ons. "There's the added benefit of getting through airport screening that much faster," she says.