Summer Travels: Airplane Travel

I am about to leave to visit friends in Oklahoma... three kids, sans husband. We are flying... thank goodness for a direct flight! It is a three hour flight and we will be flying during two of the kids' naptimes... What to do about naps? Skip the nap, nap when we get there, try for a nap on the plane???

My four year-old doesn't take a nap, just a rest, so we are good there. My two year-old takes a two to three hour nap daily. I am going to have him skip the nap and go to bed a bit earlier, as long as he isn't completely wound up from being in a new place. And my three month-old... I am going to wear a sling (holds her tight like swaddling and provides some darkness) and give her a paci or nurse her to sleep on the plane. Thankfully, she is still at a pretty easy stage for naps on the go, although they have become lessAnd I think we will be well-slept, at least as good as it gets for traveling.

When I arrive in Oklahoma, we will have a two-hour time difference to deal with. I will switch them all immediately to Oklahoma time for sleep schedules. This is when it is good that they are worn out from traveling; they are usually always ready to sleep.

I think it is good to go into traveling with a plan that will optimize and make sleep possible, but also with the realistic expectation that things will not always go as intended. So, do your best when traveling. But, be ready to be flexible and adjust for circumstances: flights being delayed, the flight attendant waking everyone up on the plane as she asks "what beverage would you like? peanuts anyone?", one of the kids needing to go potty and you having to truck the whole group to the miniscule bathroom, or whatever it may be. Smile. You can always have a margarita when you get there. And remember do your best to allow for sleep: well-slept children will make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.