FLYING TO HILTON HEAD WITH KIDS
5 Helpful Tips from Little Luxe
When it comes to air travel with kids, there’s a lot to prepare for and plan in advance. With luggage weight limits and size restrictions, packing is often less than a breeze, and airports aren’t the most kid-friendly environment in general. However, you can still consider air travel as a good option for your next Hilton Head Island vacation because Little Luxe is ready to lighten your load!
Allow us to handle the big, bulky stuff with our baby gear rentals, which are delivered straight to your vacation rental. We’re also here for the details with our custom stocked diaper caddies and baskets of formula or baby food! We’ll have everything ready when you arrive so you and your kids can get right to the fun stuff! In the meantime, here are a few tips for a smooth, stress-free flying experience with the little ones.
Many people don't realize that there are two airport options when visiting HHI. SAV or HHH. While the location of HHH airport is convenient, it does not offer many direct flight options. I would opt for a direct flight into SAV and arranging pick up through a ride service or local transportation service. The short ride from SAV to HHI will be worth avoiding lugging items between planes, entertaining kids during the layover, and having a long travel day. If you live in one of the few lucky areas that offers direct flights to HHH, then that is the obvious choice! If you choose to fly into HHH, consider our convenient HHH airport delivery option and we will meet you with your baby gear rental items at your scheduled arrival time.
The tips below have been picked up along the way while traveling by plane with our little one and have saved our sanity on travel days!
1.“snackle” box
If you aren’t familiar with this cute (and completely genius) portable snack holder, you’ll definitely want to bring one on your next flight. To create your snackle box, just buy a low cost plastic tackle or craft box and fill each compartment with different snacks! Each snack is separated, which allows for a mix of foods and a whole lot for your kids to choose from! When packing, fill the “snackle” box with what your kids will need for the flight and store extras in your diaper bag–just in case!
2. SUCTION CUP SPINNER TOYS
Toys that are both packable and compact tend to be few and far between. Be sure to pack a suction cup spinner toy to keep your little one entertained at the airport and throughout the flight! These fun toys provide sensory engagement and are a great option when they need a break from screen time. Stick them on the plane window, tray table, or wherever!
3. fORMULA DISPENSER
Formula dispensers allow you to pack pre-portioned amounts of formula for each bottle your child needs while traveling. These are great because there’s no measuring and no mess! If you plan to mix formula with water on the go, know that you can take water bottles through airport security as long as they are unopened. From there, you can fill your baby bottles with the bottled water while waiting at the gate and just add formula at feeding time!
4. sHIFT FEEDING TIME TO TAKE OFF TIME
When flying, consider shifting your baby’s feeding to an earlier time so it aligns with your plane departure. For example, if your baby usually eats every two hours and take off time is at 11 a.m., try giving their bottle close to 9 a.m. so they’ll be hungry at 11. Feeding your child during take off will reduce ear pressure, making the flight more enjoyable for everyone!
If your flight time is around two hours, then you can give another bottle before the plane lands. If your landing time does not align with feeding time, be sure to give your child a pacifier to provide some relief! Additionally, you might have to choose between aligning feeding time with take off or landing. In this case, always choose takeoff. It's better to have an upset baby for the final minutes of the flight than to have them in pain or upset from the start!
5. bOARD LAST
Although the gate attendants call for families with young children at the beginning of the boarding process, we recommend boarding your flight near the end. Boarding first means more time sitting on the plane in close quarters where your kids are unable to move around. Instead, pick a spot close to your gate where they can get their wiggles out and burn some energy before boarding! Who knows, they may even wear themselves out and take a nap on the plane!