Air Travel wiht 2 yr old, also any know of the following airports, what is there to do there for kids?

Question

I am travelling with my 2 yr old end of jan back east. First time I am traveling with my son on a plane. I have a few questions:
a) best activities?
b) Car seat vs. the flight vest he can wear instead of the car seat?
c) flying in Pittsburgh and Charlotte..any tips on kids activites to do there ( i.e, in ohare, there is a play place especially for kids)
any help, tips, etc would be most appreciate :-)

Answer 1

Last year, my husband and I flew from Little Rock, AR to
Concord, NH. We flew with our two toddlers, in December.
That was the most stress filled disaster we have ever encountered with our children.
Here are several things we learned about flying with children,
So, hopefully, you won't make the same mistakes we did and your trip will go very smoothly.

1. Pack 2 carry on bags only if you are traveling with your spouse. If it is just you and your son pack 1.
If just you and your son put these items in the carry on bag.
1. Extra outfit for you. (Toddlers often get sick and throw up
often from excitement alone. They usually will throw up on you.)
2. 2 extra full outfits for the toddler.
3. A full resealable ziplock baggie with 80 diaper wipes.
(DO NOT PACK IN PLASTIC CONTAINER THEY COME IN.
It takes too much space.)
4. Diapers. (Even if child is potty trained. Chances are there won't be bathrroms available quick enough.) Pack at least 3 days supply. (Airline flights often get canceled. Most airport gift shops do not carry diapers. If they do, they only carry very small infant sizes.)
5. Sippy cup.
6. Bottled water for you and child.
7. Snacks for you and child.
8. You child's favorite toy.
9. Small blanket for child.
10. Plastic Bag for dirty clothing.
11. Travel size tolietries for you.
If you are traveling with your spouse, put the child's items in on bag and you and your spouse's item in one bag. Be sure and pack an extra outfit for your spouse, travel sized tolitries, and water and snacks, too.

2. Arrive at the airport 3 hours before your plane leaves.
Going through security with a toddler is a nighmare.
You have to remove almost all of the child's clothing and redress
them, plus put your own coat and shoes back on and collect
everything you had in your pockets, then pick up your purse and carry on bags.

3. DO NOT BRING CAR SEAT. Let him wear flight vest. Rent a
car seat when you get there. Carrying a car seat throughout the airport is a huge pain in the you know where.

4. IN YOUR CARRY ON OR PURSE PACK A FULL BOTTLE OF CHILDREN'S TYLENOL & PACK A FULL BOTTLE OF ADVIL OR
TYLENOL FOR YOURSELF (you'll need it.)

5. Be prepared for temper tantrums. Best idea if child throws one
anywhere but actually on the plane, pick him up and hold him
until he screams himself to sleep.

6. Take turns holding/ carrying child with your spouse if you can.

7. Even if you 2 year old can walk, they will tire easily and you'll end up carrying them a lot. BEST IDEA BRING A FOLDING UMBRELLA STROLLER.

8. If child is hungry at airport and you have time, vist one of the fast food places there. Get him a kids meal. They usually are enough to keep the child happy and occupied for awhile.

Answer 2

Hi there, not sure about those 2 airports as i've never flown there, but I just came back from Dallas/Fort Worth International, and there were several kids under 2 years on my flight to Atlanta, and most parents kept their children in their car seats or in their laps, and kept them entertained with books or other games that they brought with them in the plane. The flight crew doesn't really have anything available to keep the kids occupied, you are on your own. Most airports also don't really have any kind of kids area besides little playground areas which I really wouldn't put my kids on if I had any kids because of all the germs and stuff that may be on there...unless I had a huge bottle of purell with me. Best bet is to have a stuffed animal and lots of games, books, etc. for them to look at, or don't let them take a nap before they get on the plane if it is an afternoon flight, let them take their nap on the plane. Good luck!! PS-with the new 9/11 rules the kiddos don't get to go into the cockpits anymore so don't get upset if they don't get the wings like we used to get. =(

Answer 3

Ok, first, don't expect anything for your child. Pack cheap toys for him, new stuff he's never seen before. Kids love presents. It will keep him amused for at least a few minutes. Bring crayons in a ziploc and a few color books. Bring him snacks for the trip, and some disposible wet wipes. I'd skip the car seat. Have it checked with your luggage. It will be very annoying to keep up with him and lug that thing down the aisle. I did it with my 1 year old, but only because of her age and to keep her restrained in the seat. My kids also love playdoh for plane rides. If you bring a decent assortment of things and gradually give them to him (new toy once every 1-2 hours?) he won't get bored. Just keep it all cheap so it won't matter if anything is lost. Pack all these things in a backpack for him to carry. Little kids LOVE the responsibility of having their very own pack to carry. I've seen a few airports with a kid's play area, but not many. Better to not expect any. Let him move and stretch when he can, don't forget the camera, and have fun. My kids love plane trips.

Answer 4

When I travelled with my son, I used his car seat on the plane. I didn't want to check it for fear of it getting lost. And a car seat is an essential when travelling. I made sure that I had 2 things with me: a portable DVD player, and a CD of his favorite songs. For the plane, he watched his baby videos. In the airport, I used the DVD player to play his favorite songs, and let him dance around as much as he like (other kids joined in) before getting on the plane to help him get more settled.

He flew like a trouper. No crying, no tantrums, and he slept 90% of the time we were in the air. He had the window seat, so he could see everything, and to keep him from getting anxious during takeoff, I told him that he looked out he could see us going up into the clouds. When he did wake mid flight, he was facinated that we were over the clouds instead of the clouds being over us.

Answer 5

First off, I highly recommend a carseat. At 2 years old, your toddler will want to move around the plane so you will have to be constantly stopping him from getting off his seat and kicking the seat in front of you. The carseat will make your travel safer for you child, plus it'll hold your child very well! No wiggling out of a carseat! Plus, if your child becomes apprehensive, the carseat will give him something familiar to cling to.

As far as toys, an aqua doodle is great. The pen uses water and your child can draw away at his hearts content. As far as toys, you know which kind of toys hold your child's attention better - just try and have new ones. Older toys will not hold much interest.

As a last resort, pack yourself a couple of bags of mini lollipops (the sugarless kind) to diffuse a very bad tantrum. Just make sure you pack a bib and extra shirt for him as it'll get very messy and sticky.

Answer 6

I would start right around 2. 2 is the best learning stage. If she trys to hop of try giving her rewards for using the potty. Lik ever time she uses it correctly she gets a dime and then at the end of the month u can take her shopping and she can pick out her own little special toy.Good Luck!

Answer 7

No sugar for hours prior to flight. Try to keep him awake till in flight. Sit in the back close to the bathroom. Take coloring books and a new Book you have not read to him. Take pictures of him you have taken doing fun things then look at them one at a time and discuss them. Charlotte has a great interactive museum.Have fun, Merry Christmas.