long flight advice?

ilanat

We're about to take a long flight with our one-year-old.  Any advice about what we should bring for the flight and also a three-hour layover? 

Tirk97

I'm doing the same with my 13mth old. Also, my hubby isn't coming due to work. I'm lucky to be on a night flight so hopefully he'll sleep. I've been told to take a few small toys that they like to play with, but also to buy a few new ones and for your child NOT to see them. If they get fussy/cranky, take out a new toy and they'll be entertained for a while. Hope this helps.

ladybugpjb

It depends on whether LO has their own seat or not. If we hold DS, he's really fidgety. When we did a long flight and we had his car seat, he was a lot more relaxed.

I'd definitely bring a stroller (we usually just bring our cheap umbrella one) for the layover. DS always does better if he sits in his stroller, rather than one of us try to hold him or have him sit in a chair. It also helps when we're checking in, picking up bags, etc. because we know he can't run off.

DS also generally ignores all toys on the plane. He prefers to play with the empty beverage cups and the magazines in the seat back.

DS also likes to play on the floor at my feet - I have little toys on the zipper pulls of my backpack that usually entertain him for awhile. One time he also entertained himself by digging through his diaper bag, so I try to make that an OK thing (ie, have stuff in their to entertain him). If you don't like the idea of LO sitting on the floor, maybe take a blanket to put down there? That was generally where LO was happiest when he was older. And when it's a 5+ hour flight, I'm not going to fight him on that.

Walks around the plane are good, too - go "talk" to the other babies on board. If it's a long flight, I'm assuming it will be a bigger plane, and sometimes those have some open spaces. On one of our long flights, there was an open space near the back, and two or three of us with babies hung out there for a bit, just standing and trying to keep the babies happy.

Keep anything you'll need for diaper changes or entertaining LO in a bag at your feet so you don't have to get the bag down from the overhead bin. Or if you need to keep it overhead, make sure it's easily accessible.

Mostly, just try to relax and just take whatever happens in stride. It's going to be stressful, and you are all going to be tired. Just accept that from the beginning, and it might help your patience hold up longer

Bonnesetter27

I second the stroller idea, you can check it at the gate too. Also bring stickers. Taking them off and on will entertain for awhile. We are also bringing our kindle with a few seseame street episodes.

ChaiMomma

We fly with our daughter about once a month because we are so far from both of our families.  My husband has a few interesting apps on his IPad and that keeps the baby intertained.  We keep a pacifier handy for take off and landing because that tends to help with her ears popping, and we bring a few books and toys.  She's good on flights, but it's basically just about keeping her occupied.  Gate checking the stroller is also awesome, because then you can have it for airport layovers. 

happytotmom

We have taken a couple of 11 hour flights (once when our little man was 1 and again at 2 1/2) and the following things helped a lot:

1 year old:
- a few new books and a few favorites
- reusable stickers to put on windows and in the sticker books such as:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735329613/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_7?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER
- magnetic boards (a lot of different themes) such as:
https://www.amazon.com/Create-A-Scene-Magnetic-Schoolroom/dp/B003Y2BA32/ref=pd_sim_t_14
- small wooden toys from Plan Toys (we have a boy so we had their mini construction truck set for the tray table)

2 year old:
- same as above + Chicken Socks activity books
- ipad apps (used sparingly - only when all else failed!)

I second the use of a paci during take off and landing or drinking from a sippy cup to help with pressure.