Travel tips for 8 hour flight with my 1-year-old?

Question

He's 13 months old, very hands-on and clingy. Any tips for how to get through the flight, or what kind of light toys I can carry or games we could play?

We've already had one disastrous flight and that was only 2.5 hours!

Answer 1

chances are his ears hurt because of the cabin pressure...this can be very uncomfortable for the little guy. he'll be miserable for the whole flight...i wouldn't take the trip

Answer 2

I've just come off a flight from the US to the UK with my one year old. You've already gotten some great tips but I'll try to add a few as well.

First off, try to get a row of three seats if you can. That's what my husband and I did and it was a life saver! Our plane was just over half full so it was easy to get the three seats. Some airlines are more accomodating than others. We flew with Continental and they were fantastic. My husband sat in the aisle seat and I sat by the window..our daughter sat in the middle surrounded by pillows and blankets to make her more comfortable. This was invaluable on our overnight flight back home. After her bottle she conked out and slept the whole flight back to the UK.

Buy a few little inexspensive toys that can fit into your diaper bag. Don't let your son see or play with them until the flight starts. Then just pull them out one by one as the flight goes on. This should entertain and distract him. Also buy some treats that he normally wouldn't be allowed at home (toddler cookies, etc). These will also prove to be a distraction. I also brought a couple of my daughter's favourite paperback books for her to look at during the flight. Distraction is the name of the game!

My biggest tip is to remain relaxed and calm. Easier said than done but if you can remain cheerful and relaxed. If you are stressing out your son will pick up on that and become edgy himself. Ignore all of the grumbles you may hear and the stares you will get when you board the plane with a baby (parents you know what I'm talking about!). Just remain calm and enjoy your flight.

Take care and good luck!

Answer 3

Bring lots of drinks for him to help with his ears from popping. If he uses a pacifier, make sure you keep a few handy. I suggest getting some small new toys and books that you don't introduce to him until the flight (and for the flight back). Try and find some colorful ones that will keep his interest. You can find cheap ones at a dollar store, Target, or Toys R Us. If he has a toy at home that keeps his interest, take that along too. Introduce one toy at a time. When he get bored with one give him another. Keep some baby wipes on hand in case a toy drops you can clean it quickly. Make sure you keep him on a regular feeding schedule. Try you're best not to feel anxious. If you are feeling anxious, he may pick up on it and begin feeling anxious as well. Hopefully he'll take a long nap for you! Good luck to you!

Answer 4

I realize a lot of kids are weaned off the bottle by this age, but even if he is, pack one for your flight. Sucking on the bottle, or a pacifier, will help relieve the pressure problems with his ears.
I did an 18 hour flight with a kid so I know how you feel. Get to the airport early and allow him to run like crazy ina clear area. Chase him if you have to. Some of the larger airports have play areas. That way you are sure that at some point during the flight, he will go to sleep and you will get a break. Pack lots of books to read to him, lift the flap and other interactive books are the best. My kid got a kick out of the markers that only write on the paper that match them. She went back and forth between scribbling on the paper where she can see it work and scribbling on the tray where it didn't work. Beg, borrow or buy a portable DVD player and bring along a couple videos he likes. Play finger games like patty-cake, peek-a-boo and where's thumbkin.
Good luck!

Answer 5

From adventure (Flying an entire of 18 hours from Flint, MI- To Okinawa, Japan) with a 2 365 days old and a 9 month old. even in the experience that your son is potty experienced-having him in a pull up would be a clever element to do-by way of fact to have a mishap could frustrate the the two one among you. p.c.. him some popular snack crackers/cookies. The Flight Attendant will furnish a lot of liquds so no prefer for juice bins and sippy cups. Have some books obtainable and a few sort of drawing toy (my daughter has a mild Sketcher) or a leap Pad. verify that he's wisely dressed. Have a jacket on him and his legs coated even in the experience that your flying into heat climate. The planes tend to get freezing chilly and the air is consistently circulating around you. If he gets heat-do away with the jacket. Thats approximately it-8 hours is extremely short in a feeling-the time will "fly by using" he will genuinely bypass to sleep for the period of the flight additionally.

Answer 6

1 thing you can do is schedule your flight around a nap or bed time. Also buy your child a seat and bring an airline approved carseat, sometimes being in the carseat will calm them down and think they are just going on a drive. Also bring safe, non messy snacks and sippy cup, bottle or what have you. bring some soft, quiet toys. I have traveled all over the world with our 6 kiddos and it can always be tricky, no matter what age, LOL.. Good luck.. Also make sure you have a lollipop, binky, bottle, breast whatever for your baby to use during take offs and landings to ease the air pressure in their ears. Try and book your seat(s) behind the bulkhead and when allowed get up and walk your baby around the plane.

Answer 7

Wow I feel for you the first thing I will do is the day before the fight I make sure he has lots of activities to make him very tired and I will have him going to bed late not his usual time ; on the plane bring cayones and a note book bring a book is he likes for you to read him food is always good like cheerios and Gerber have other types of like dry fruits as well bring a play phone kids love does
and is not big and a stuff animal as well you can pretend that the animal talking but best of all make him get very tired Oh also make sure you talk to your airline to see what items you can bring on the plane since this days you never know now ..well good luck and have a safe flight.

Answer 8

NIGHT FLIGHTS I have been on 8 flights with my one year old daughter. For the long haul flights we flew at night time. She slept through most of the flights for us. I always give her Infant Tylenol when we got on the plane. She has never had any trouble with her hears or anything. Plus it helps her to sleep during the flight. Try to bring some of his favorite toys and finger foods to entertain. My daughter is an angel when flying. Maybe it's because of my advise or maybe because she is a pro by now, who knows. Good Luck!

Answer 9

Take along dramamine, 2 styrophone cups, picture books, a favorite blanket, pacifyer/bottle, buy a few new toys that he will only get for the first time in flight... try to book your flight so he will be exhausted and ready to sleep during it... Get to the airport early so you are not rushed...

When the plane is taking off hold the cups firmly over his ears it will help his inner ear adjust to the altitude and changing pressure within the plane at a slower more managable rate for him and willl help alleviate the dizzy upset feeling the quick change can cause... Have him suck the pacifye/bottle to help with equalizing the pressure as well..

Once the plane has leveled off to it's designated altitude remove the cups from his ears... (practice with the cups at home so he is used to having you place them over his ears... Make a game of it, sing a song and put the cups over his ears midway through so the sound changes then giggle he willl associate the giggling with fun and the change in sound... Keep practicing a couple times a day until he will allow you to hold the cups in place for up to 10 minutes or so...

Once you have removed the cups introduce the picture books and other toys he has already played with, hold the new and more exciting toys in reserve for when he begins losing interest in the old...

If he shows signs of motion sickness give him some dramamine (there are baby varieties ask your pediatrician) A side effect of dramamine is sleepyness so he may go to sleep after taking it... But do not give it to him unless he needs it for motion sickness.. Dramamine should not be used to induce sleep but for it's intended purpose motion sickness...

Have your cups ready to use during landing as well... The change in pressure then can cause uneasyness just like during take-off...

Bring along snacks for your son, cherrios or other finger foods, a few jars of his favorite baby food... Make sure to have desserts or fruit... Ask the flight attendant to heat item if that's appropriate for the item, they don't mind... Obviously right at the start of the flight when they are serving drinks and such is not a good time to ask but after 45 mins or so when they are done with the immediate needs of the entire plane they will gladly offer assistance...

If you are traveling alone with your son and he goes to sleep take the oppurtunity to ask a flight attendant to mind him a moment and go to the restroom and pee, with an 8 hour flight you will have the urge to go at some point and going while he sleeps will give you a moment to decompress and will insure you don't get the urge at a time he may be fussing and wiggling in your lap (not fun if you have to pee)....

Talk to your son in the days and weeks leading up to the flight talk about how its going to be an adventure point out planes in the sky and tell him the two of you are going to fly in a plane... Get him a toy plane...

While 8 hours is a long flight with a 13 month old it can be done with a minimal of fussing and such if you keep him entertained and asleep... And remember if you absolutely get to your wits end ask a flight attendant for help they have flown with infants many times and may have a trick or two up thier sleeve that can help out in a pinch...

Answer 10

bring a portable dvd player and his favorite shows or book with an airline that has TVs at each seat (Jet Blue and Delta affiliate Song) Also buy a few quiet toys and books to bring along. Don't let him see them until you are on your flight. The newness of these items will occupy him. If he's eating finger foods,bring the basics..cheerios,goldfish,etc.

Answer 11

Take some activities that are easy to take along. A zippy bag of window clings (usually about $1 at walmart or kmart) would be fun for him to stick on the window if you have a window seat. Small plastic toys such as plastic animals would be great because they are small and don't make noise. Toys that have sounds might bother other passengers so take things that are noise-free. Books are great and he will have fun looking at the pictures and being read to.