Samantha Brown Has a Genius Tip for Boarding a Plane With Kids

""Think about this. If you use the preboard, your child is sitting in the plane for a good 45 minutes more than the flight time," Brown added. "And this is a really stressful time for kids. Bags are going over their heads; people are really stressed. They can feel it. And what happens is, once they get to a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet, that's when the child releases the stress they've just felt.""

"should take advantage of the preboarding process by bringing all the luggage and any other must-haves on the plane first. They can get settled and prepare the seats for their kids' arrival. "Partner number two waits in the gate area with the kids, keeps them worn out, walks them around, and does not board until the very last zone is called," Brown added. "Then, you walk your children on board, you get them settled, and the plane leaves-hopefully, in 10 to 15 minutes.""

Preboarding infants often results in children sitting on the plane for up to 45 minutes before takeoff, increasing stress from boarding activity. Overhead bag stowing and anxious passengers create a tense environment that children absorb and may release at cruising altitude. Use preboarding strategically by having one partner board early to stow luggage and prepare seats while the other stays in the gate area with the children to keep them active. The second partner then boards in the final zone with the children, minimizing onboard time and reducing stress for children and fellow passengers.

Read at Travel + Leisure