Has anyone ever traveled on an airplane with a toddler?

Question

I am going to visit my friend in VA, I live in Ohio, which is 10 hour drive or 1.5 hour flight. I really want to opt for the flight but what do you do with an ancy 19 month old for that long? And what if he cries and people get mad at me?

Answer 1

19 month old. I would suggest getting him his old chair. You can do alot of things.

1) talk to your Dr. about ears popping on left and landing.
2) snacks and drinks
3) dvd portable player
4) plan around nap time and or bed time

if you can pull that off. have an easy carry on and when its time to fly get there early get the little one to sleep. extra blanket and let him sleep/nap during the take off and most of the flight.

5) special new bag of toys

color books, crayolas, books that have flip opens, and waht ever your child loves!

6) a new baby doll or for boy a new what ever he likes

7) its not a long flight at all. Could be 12 hours or move if you were going to a diff. country. It will be over before you knwo it. Have the child look out the window. When seat belts are off let him stand up and strech his legs.


have fun..its ok if he cries a little. things will be ok. people will understand. just sooth him the best you can. Its a part of traveling.

Answer 2

1.5 hours is not that long to be able to occupy him, and even if he does scream the whole time. People will get over it and you won't ever see them again. The big things you need to worry about are his ears and entertainment. The best thing I've heard for ears is to either feed him with a bottle or nurse him (depending on age) or if older give them something to suck on or gummie bears work well. The gummie bears are hard enough so that the chewing causes their ears to go ahead and pop instead of hurting them. You should also plan a way to entertain him while he has to sit still in a seat. There is also still the benadryl method. Just give him a childrens benadryl just before the plane ride and he should sleep through it. This will be easier on him, you and everyone else in the plane. Its perfectly safe and doctor recomended. But if I were you I'd definatly opt for the flight over a 10 hour drive!

Answer 3

I have traveled many times with my young kids home. My first he started flying when he was 4 months old but as he got older it got a little more challenging but it is much nicer when they sleep.

You want them to drink on the way up and down on the flight so either a nurse/bottle or sippy cup whatever you use, also you can give them a decongestant about an hour or 30 min before you take off to help them "sleep" during the rough take off part...

If you are paying for a seperate seat for you toddler then take their car seat with you on the plane as they are use to sitting in it in the car they will sit still in it on the plane, but if you aren't having to pay for the extra seat and are just having him on your lap request your seat be either in the front of the plane where there is extra foot room or at the very back as well where there is extra room...it will be there that you will be able to put the toddler down to "play or colour" when the seat belt sign if off otherwise you are holding him for the entire flight in the other seats. When it comes to packing entertainment just a few things as it won't matter what you bring it won't be what they want....and hopefully he will just sleep for you.

I always try to book my flights with nap time so that they would naturally be set up for wanting to sleep on the plane.

Good luck and the trip is only short and won't last too long.

Answer 4

he's variety of too previous for a bottle throughout take off and landing, yet while he nevertheless makes use of a pacifier, that would paintings, OR use a "specific cope with" of a lollipop for that. (it is the sucking that helps the ears regulate the rigidity.) while you're traveling throughout a time while he frequently sleeps - attempt to motivate that. (i understand those that do purple-eye flights for that reason - they go away at bedtime, so the youngsters are out chilly a great number of the time.) in any different case, you could hire a style of transportable DVD gamers for roughly $a hundred each and every week - carry a favorite action picture. Have some new small toys or video games obtainable as backup. I say new because of the fact they are going to be extremely exciting. stable success!!!

Answer 5

I have traveled for 3 hours on a flight with a toddler. Make sure you pack all or at least most of his essentials to make the flight easier. In my experience the flight attendants helped me out when he began to get upset by walking him through the plane. Most people will accept the fact that a toddler will get upset so try not to worry to much about it. If nothing else pack some of his favorite snacks in the diaper bag. Good Luck!

Answer 6

1.5 hrs isn't too long of a flight, but it could feel like weeks! If you have a portable CD player(or video ipod), take it with his favorite movies like Baby Einstein. Like others have said you could schedule it during nap time, but if your toddler is anything like mine, he hates naps and gets hyper when he's overtired making hard to get him to sleep somewhere other than his own bed! My son is the same age and we've taken him on many 2.5-3 hr flights...sometimes he sleeps, sometimes he doesn't. You have to be prepared for the latter. Take a lot of snacks and buy 2 or 3 small toys he's never seen before-that should keep him occupied for at least 45 min. If he cries, then take him to the restroom to "change the diaper" which also changes his environment for a little bit. I would also HIGHLY recommend buying him a seat if you can. It gives you more room and he can stand or sit on the floor which they like doing. Good luck!

Answer 7

I have traveled with my daughter since she was six months old. If it were me I would fly, too, 10 hours in the car is not fun for a toddler. These are some things that have worked really well for me and my daughter who is now 4 and loves to fly. First, if he's sitting on your lap for the flight and you have to check his car seat as luggage, bring a clear plastic garbage bag to put the car seat in when you check your luggage. Make sure the TSA agent watches you put it in the bag or they will open it later. It will be NASTY when you get it back if you don't have it in something. Second, bring a stroller, they will check it for you at the plane. Third, only bring one carry on bag, pack your purse in your luggage and put your stuff and you child's stuff in the same carry on, one bag is sooo much easier. Fourth, pack some of his favorite books and toys for the flight, but don't over do it, you don't want to lug that stuff through the airport. Lastly, make sure he has something to drink or chew during take off and landing, a sippy cup, jellybeans, gum, chewy fruit snacks, something to help his ears. And don't worry if he cries, it's only an hour and half, people will get over it. Good luck!

Answer 8

Bring things he can put in his mouth like crackers and fruit snacks. If his mouth is full he is less likely to cry. If you have a portable dvd player take that with his favorite movies. Any of his favorite toys that are small enough for his carry on bag bring with. If all else fails and he just won't stop crying give him a piece of candy. Most people will be slightly annoyed by him crying but almost all of us knows what it's like to hold a screaming inconsolable baby. If anyone gives you any trouble hold him out at arms length and tell them they're welcome to give it a shot at shutting him up. Also with the new airline rules don't put anything in your carryon that has liquid or gel cause they won't let you bring it. Bring an empty bottle or sippy cup on board and ask for some water or juice for it. The sucking action will help him pop his ears when the altitude changes.

Answer 9

OH it's super easy! My son had just turned two when we took a 2 hour long flight. We packed TONS of snacks, coloring books, playdoh, (my son doesn't make a mess with it) books, and we even brought alone a portable DVD player. By the time we got out the movies he watched about 10 minutes of it and fell asleep. Everyone commented on how well behaved he was.

If you are concerned about it upsetting him you can talk to his Dr. about it, some will give you a mild sedative to help him sleep, but it's usually not necessary.

As long as you bring lots to occupy him (maybe even buy something new and surprise him with it on the plane) and bring snacks he should do just fine. If he cries just do the best you can to quiet him. Most people understand the necessity of bringing children on planes and understand that young children cry...those that don't are just jerks and you can simply ignore them :)

Answer 10

one thing you can do is schedule your flight during nap time if possible. Baring that, take a few small toys that aren't annoying and a bottle. Let the 19 month old suck on the bottle during take off and landing to prevent the ears from hurting (it hurts kids like it does us with the pressure from altitude change- we use gum- a 19 month old shouldn't be chewing gum). take some vanilla wafers in a baggie in diaper bag in case of needing a quick distraction or other cookie thats easy to eat for toddler