A travel influencer has revealed her genius hack for getting toddlers to sleep on flights – and the solution is easier than you think.
Brittany Warfaring, from Vancouver, Canada, regularly travels with husband Philippe Fernandez and two-year-old son Dori – with the trio completing more than 50 flights.
The content creator, who regularly shares her top tips to YouTube, most recently dished on how parents can get their kids to sleep on the plane.
She explained that it all comes down to making just a few simple preparations in advance.
Brittany Warfaring, from Vancouver, Canada , regularly travels with husband Philippe Fernandez and two-year-old son Dori – with the trio completing more than 50 flights
The content creator, who regularly shares her top tips to YouTube, most recently dished on how parents can get their kids to sleep on the plane
In the clip, which was shared earlier this week, Brittany began by candidly explaining that getting her young son to sleep on the plane was one of her ‘greatest sources of anxiety.’
The mom-of-three reeled off a whole host of techniques she had tried in the past – including packing a portable sound machine, books and blankies – back when Dori could be considered as a ‘lap infant.’
‘As he got older, he got his own seat on the plane. What became clear to me on flights where I needed him to fall asleep was yes I do need to pack all of those items that I just mentioned…
‘But what is also crucially important these days is that toddlers need their own bed or some kind of place for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
‘My lap or just the seat itself doesn’t cut it anymore.’
Brittany explained that this meant she now always packs something to help ‘create a comfortable space.’
She then dished on the options for potential airplane beds – starting with taking the tot’s car seat on board.
‘If your toddler sleeps really well in the car (mine does not), you can bring your car seat on board the plane.
She squeezes it down into the footwell before draping jackets and sweaters across the makeshift bed to make it more comfortable
‘There are a few big cons for me with this option – it’s annoying to lug around and there’s potential for kicking the seat in front of you which is not fun to deal with.’
Brittany explained that this also doesn’t work well for her son who ‘doesn’t like to be contained and stuck in a seat for long periods of time.’
The mom then turned her attention to the second option which was opting to sit in the bulkhead row – meaning rows that have no seats in front of them and therefore offer ‘significantly more leg space.’
‘If you’re okay with your toddler being on the floor, you could chose to sit in this row. Bring some blankets and pillows with you on the plane and make your toddler a little floor bed.
‘The cons here being that if there is any turbulence, you’ll have to wake them up and buckle them back into their seat.
‘It’s not the safest. It can be pretty bright and noisy in my experience because it tends to be closer to where the flight attendants are preparing food and people are going to the bathroom – there’s just a little bit more traffic in the bulkhead row.
‘You can’t keep your carry on bags in front of you during takeoff and landing. You have to keep them in the overhead bin.
‘And worst of all, on a lot of planes, the bulkhead armrests do not go up. They’re kind of stuck in place, which means that your toddler can’t lay on you, which is a big con for me.’
The mom continued: ‘We create a little canopy on the airplane so that the lights are not bothering him so much and are less likely to wake him’
Brittany’s final solution, which she has been using for the past six months, is to bring your own toddler bed onto the airplane.
The keen traveler dished that there are a wide range of beds available on the market – which can be bought and then improved upon to suit your own kids’ needs.
Brittany’s construction is built around an inflatable foot rest from Amazon which takes just moments to blow up.
She squeezes it down into the footwell before draping jackets and sweaters across the makeshift bed to make it more comfortable.
The mom continued: ‘But then this is the super secret way we improve on this whole bed design.
‘We also bring one of these thin baby muslin blankets with us on the plane and a couple of clips… to create a little canopy on the airplane so that the lights are not bothering him so much and are less likely to wake him.
‘So he’s in his own little cozy cocoon on the plane and hopefully stats asleep.’
Brittany did briefly issue a word of warning that such DIY designs may not be allowed on some airlines or in the aisle seats – due to being a safety hazard during an emergency.
Having shared her top three bed solutions, she also advised that parents not let kids nap at the airport and to wear them out before the flight.
Once on board, Brittany then relies on carrying out Dori’s normal bedtime routine – like teeth brushing and putting on pajamas – before letting him read or watch ‘sleepy videos’ on YouTube
Brittany’s clip was watched hundreds of times and was flooded with comments from followers who were thankful for her advice
Once on board, Brittany then relies on carrying out Dori’s normal bedtime routine – like teeth brushing and putting on pajamas – before letting him read or watch ‘sleepy videos’ on YouTube.
She concluded: ‘We do a lot of comforting him and reassuring him. Remember they are in an uncomfortable, possibly very unfamiliar environment, and you are their safe space.’
Brittany’s clip was watched hundreds of times and was flooded with comments from followers who were thankful for her advice.
One person wrote: ‘You are so funny and real! I love that you just keep going even when things aren’t going the way you planned.’
Brittany replied: ‘Thank you so much for saying that. He’s at a point where he’s skipping naps more and more lately, so we just gotta roll with it!’
Another person wrote: ‘Another very helpful video – thank you.’
A third person commented: ‘I am struggling to pack [and] adjust myself to make sure everything’s ok.’
Brittany transparently replied: ‘I always feel anxious and overwhelmed before a big trip with my son but it’s going to be okay!’
