Travel with a one year old repost from 12 to 24 month board

AndieM

Hi Ladies!

We are thinking of going to an all inclusive with our daughter when she will be just a year old. It would be a four hour flight plus a four hour drive to the airport, and we'd be away for a week. My mom, aunt and cousin would be going in addition to my husband and I. I'm a little concerned about a 1 year old on this type of trip. A long plane ride, eating at the resort, etc.

I'm your experience, would this be a wise idea? TIA!!

mexicolombiana

Hey I just wanted to give you some words of encouragement.  We go everywhere with our kids.  We traveled when DD1 was 15 months old on a plane to Puerto Rico.  It was a 4 hr plane ride.  A little tough, but not bad.  Just take A LOT of toys/books/coloring books/etc.  A tablet or dvd player helps too.

Make sure you take a car seat (obviously) and a good stroller.

If it's an all inclusive you should be fine with food being prepared safely.  Also it sounds like you'll have some help if your mom, aunt and cousin are going.

Personally sounds like a great idea, but again we go everywhere with our kids! 

NineTwentyOhEight

My BFF and I joke that now that we have kids, it's not a vacation, it's a trip.

That said, I say take her while she is still free to travel with! Chances are she'll be a bit fussy on the plane (or she'll sleep the whole time!), she might have some sleep issues the first night or two. But honestly, it sounds like you have a few extra sets of hands and I say why not! 

We have taken two trips with our now 11 month old - a week in Toronto when she was 8 months and four days in Atlanta when she was 10 months old. Once we figured out that the crib had to be out of sight from us for her to sleep we got into a good routine while away. And she does pretty well on the plane considering - usually nurses during takeoff, falls asleep for a while, then plays, snacks, and tends to get fussy right as we start the descent for landing. 

laurakaz13

We've flown about 8 times with DD since she was 5 weeks old.  These flights have ranged from 3-12 hours.  She does just fine.  Four hours is actually not that bad, but you will be very tired after flying! 

My advice is always to get the LO their own seat.  Having a lap child is just miserable and we have only done it once.  Bring toys and things to amuse LO on the flight.  Bring snacks and a sippy so LO can have milk/water.  Let LO walk/crawl before the flight or immediately after and a bit during to stretch her legs. 

At the resort, eating shouldn't be a problem.  They will have high chairs.  They generally have pack n' plays and we always try to get a suite so LO can sleep in one room and whoever is watching her can relax in the other. 

It's really not bad to travel with a child.  DD just got her first passport at 17 months old and we plan to start international travel next year as well. 

JenD1018

We flew to Italy with our son when he was 9 months, just this past September.  It was 8.5 hours over and 9.5 hours back.  We were terrified that we would be 'those' people, but he was awesome.

If you can swing it, buy them their own seat, especially at that age because they are going to be very fidgety.  It was too expensive for us so we dealt with him on our lap.  Luckily the flight over was at night so he slept on our laps.  We had bulkhead seats on the way back which was great because he played on the floor most of the time.  You can put a request in with the airlines for bulkhead seats if you are traveling with a small child but they are first come, first serve.

We didn't have any trouble with his ears but I did nurse on takeoff and had a bottle handy and also a pouch of food so that he could swallow it and pop his ears if they were bothering him.  Speaking of pouch food, they are good to have a few handy in case you are delayed or can't find anything for them to eat at the moment.

Buy a couple new toys/books before the trip but don't give them to them until on the plane so they are new and something to occupy them for a bit.  And take them out one at a time.  DS also liked watching the TV on the back of the seat and pressing all the buttons.

I googled 'traveling with a baby/child' and there are a lot of good blogs out there that have great advice as to what to bring.  In your carry-on, pack extra diapers in case of delays and a change of clothes for both the baby and yourself (just a shirt) in case there is a blowout, leaking or food spills.