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Traveling advice for 20 mo. old/First flight

TluceyTlucey member
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

We have our first trip planned w/DD in May to Nashville to visit family. I've timed it out that the flight would depart around her nap time in the hope that she'll actually sleep. Not sure what to expect though. Flight is about 4 hrs.

Flying w/Southwest. Where should we sit? What are the musts to travel with? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Re: Traveling advice for 20 mo. old/First flight

  • PolishWonderPolishWonder member

    I've flown 14 times with LO, so hopefully I can give some decent advice!

    On most planes, you have to sit on the right side of the plane. That's where the extra oxygen mask is for children/infants. Children/infants always sit next to the window if they are in a car seat.

    Bring a TON of food and activities. We bring our tablet with us and we watch sesame street videos and toddler appropriate apps. Buy a new toy(s) and books just for the flight.

    The biggest issue I have is when I'm traveling alone with her. She hates being confined, but with 2 adults it's easier to pass her back and forth. Airlines don't charge for checked car seats, so if you don't want to buy LO a seat, check the car seat.

    Oh, and I offer to buy drinks for anyone within ear shot of her if she starts wailing. Wink

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  • PolishWonderPolishWonder member

    Also, keep a copy of LO's birth certificate with you. Southwest's website you need to have it to confirm ID, but I've never been asked to show it. But, just in case. I also keep a sheet on me with emergency info and numbers.

    You're going to have to declare any liquids, but the TSA tends to be pretty good about that lately.

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  • sillypitsillypit member
    imageLoisLane23:
    imagePolishWonder:

    Also, keep a copy of LO's birth certificate with you. Southwest's website you need to have it to confirm ID, but I've never been asked to show it. But, just in case. I also keep a sheet on me with emergency info and numbers.

    You're going to have to declare any liquids, but the TSA tends to be pretty good about that lately.

    Do you still nurse or do you take other liquids for DD? Tessa drinks rice and soy milk so I'm concerned about being able to take that through security. What if they don't sell it by the gates?

    You can take any liquids through for her.  Just bring it and declare it and they will test it to make sure it's not an explosive.

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  • Kara5109Kara5109
    imageLoisLane23:
    imagePolishWonder:

    Also, keep a copy of LO's birth certificate with you. Southwest's website you need to have it to confirm ID, but I've never been asked to show it. But, just in case. I also keep a sheet on me with emergency info and numbers.

    You're going to have to declare any liquids, but the TSA tends to be pretty good about that lately.

    Do you still nurse or do you take other liquids for DD? Tessa drinks rice and soy milk so I'm concerned about being able to take that through security. What if they don't sell it by the gates?

    You can take all of that through security. They may do a vapor test, but you are allowed to take through any liquids that are for your child.  

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  • shootingstars00shootingstars00

    Can you use volume on your ipad/tablet? Wouldn't that annoy everyone? I am flying in a few weeks with DD so planning too.

    I am getting a notarized letter from DH saying she can fly without him. We are on an international flight though.

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  • PolishWonderPolishWonder member

    I bought headphones on Amazon for her. They're wicked cute!

    But on previous flights I just asked other passengers if it bothered them too much. 99% of people were awesome and commisserated about flying with a toddler.

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  • AmericanInOzAmericanInOz member

    my dd is happy enough to just watch shows without volume - she doesn't have a huge attention span anyway

    I bring tons of stuff to do - stickers, coloring books, new stuff she's never seen before, dvds, etc etc. Also LOTS of snacks for distracting her!

    If you want to buy your child a seat, but don't want to bring a car seat on the plane look into the CARES harness - we used it with our 20 month old last month and it was GREAT! Plus then it doesn't give her the correct leg room to kick the seat in front of her (as a carseat would with the size she is now).

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  • PolishWonderPolishWonder member
    imageAmericanInOz:

    my dd is happy enough to just watch shows without volume - she doesn't have a huge attention span anyway

    I bring tons of stuff to do - stickers, coloring books, new stuff she's never seen before, dvds, etc etc. Also LOTS of snacks for distracting her!

    If you want to buy your child a seat, but don't want to bring a car seat on the plane look into the CARES harness - we used it with our 20 month old last month and it was GREAT! Plus then it doesn't give her the correct leg room to kick the seat in front of her (as a carseat would with the size she is now).

    OMG, I LOVE YOU!! This is awesome!! I'm flying in late April and I didn't want to have to lug my car seat and stroller through the airport.

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  • AmericanInOzAmericanInOz member
    imagePolishWonder:
    imageAmericanInOz:

    my dd is happy enough to just watch shows without volume - she doesn't have a huge attention span anyway

    I bring tons of stuff to do - stickers, coloring books, new stuff she's never seen before, dvds, etc etc. Also LOTS of snacks for distracting her!

    If you want to buy your child a seat, but don't want to bring a car seat on the plane look into the CARES harness - we used it with our 20 month old last month and it was GREAT! Plus then it doesn't give her the correct leg room to kick the seat in front of her (as a carseat would with the size she is now).

    OMG, I LOVE YOU!! This is awesome!! I'm flying in late April and I didn't want to have to lug my car seat and stroller through the airport.

    No worries :) We did a 2 1/2 hour flight with dd in the CARES and it was GREAT! I'm using it for our flight to the US in June (when she'll be 23 months). I have just heard that putting them in a carseat at that age is ALL bad as they can kick the seat in front of them like crazy. And cause I'm travelling by myself - the CARES is SO fab as it folds up tiny in your bag. Only problem I had is that when she slept she was all slumped over in it cause there's no head rest. For our int'l flight I'm going to bring a pillow that I can use to prop her head to the side :)
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  • AmericanInOzAmericanInOz member

    another thing I have is a sit'n'stroll - which is a carseat built for airplanes (that can also be used in cars) that turns into a stroller

    I'm still going to use that in the airport - as I can use it as a carseat on my trip too

    but its just SO heavy to lug on a plane by myself - and I have that kicking seat problem! worked well when we flew when she was 11 months old though :)

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  • MonkeySenderMonkeySender member
    imagePolishWonder:

    Also, keep a copy of LO's birth certificate with you. Southwest's website you need to have it to confirm ID, but I've never been asked to show it. But, just in case. I also keep a sheet on me with emergency info and numbers.

    You're going to have to declare any liquids, but the TSA tends to be pretty good about that lately.

    I have flown SW 4 times and they always ask for the birth certificate, so I would be sure to have it. Also, with SW planes, there is only a changing table in the front of the plane, so sit as close to the front as you can, since you are not allowed to stand at the front of the plane to wait in line for the restroom.

    image
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  • MonkeySenderMonkeySender member
    Also, if your LO likes to color, I recommend Crayola washable crayons. They wipe right off the tray table with a diaper wipe. E Loves to color and it occupied her for a long time, and I didn't have to stress about her missing the page a little. SW also generally offers a variety of different types of snack and they are usually good about letting you take a couple, I pack less for her snack-wise with SW than I do on other airlines.
    image
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  • PolishWonderPolishWonder member
    imageMonkeySender:
    imagePolishWonder:

    Also, keep a copy of LO's birth certificate with you. Southwest's website you need to have it to confirm ID, but I've never been asked to show it. But, just in case. I also keep a sheet on me with emergency info and numbers.

    You're going to have to declare any liquids, but the TSA tends to be pretty good about that lately.

    I have flown SW 4 times and they always ask for the birth certificate, so I would be sure to have it. Also, with SW planes, there is only a changing table in the front of the plane, so sit as close to the front as you can, since you are not allowed to stand at the front of the plane to wait in line for the restroom.

    Thank you for that info! It's our first time flying with SW. We've only used Frontier until they no longer did flights out of Milwaukee. Angry

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  • MrsCAAMrsCAA member

    You also cant sit in the exit row, or the row directly in front or behind it either.

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  • TluceyTlucey member

    Did you girls buy your LO a seat? We didn't since she's under 2 she's free and will be on our laps. My SIL said we should, but I'm not sure on this first trip she'll sit on her own...and that's another $300-400!

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