Adoption
lafayettegirl
member
Help - a friend just got the call to pick up her toddler
lafayettegirl
member
in Adoption
So a friend is adopting a toddler from another country and they got the call that they can schedule their flights to pick him up. Any advice on how to keep a toddler occupied for 16 hours on a plane?? Especially when he is with his new parents, whom he does not really know??
Cervical Cancer Survivor since 2007
TTC Since 2008
IUI#1 = BFN
IUI#2 = BFN
IUI#3 = BFN
IUI#4 = BFN
IVF #1 = BFN
FET #1 = BFN
FET #2 = BFN
FET #3 = BFN
IVF #2 = BFN
IVF #3 = BFN
FET #4 = BFN
FET #5 = BFP!!! 06/10/2011
Miscarriage 06/21/2011
Adoption Application Submitted 09/2011, Personal Documents Submitted 11/18/2011, Home Visit 12/16/2011, Officially Waiting!!! 01/21/2013 MATCHED!!!! 01/24/2013 Baby Boy Born!
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Re: Help - a friend just got the call to pick up her toddler
i'm interested in these responses!!! we're adopting a little boy from Korea, and he should be around 2 when we can go to get him. i'm am SCARED TO DEATH of the flight home!! LOL
I have experience with toddler/kids ( tons of babysitting, I'm an elementary teacher)...its hard enough to entertain a toddler you know for that long, let alone one you just met a few days before!! I'm just scared of how he'll react. He'll be with strangers (us) who are taking him away from everything he's ever known.
we won't be traveling until summer probably, but i'm already building my "supplies" LOL I have my old iphone stocked with kids apps/videos for him. i bought some toddler crayons that i'm hoping will be good for a few minutes, I also bought this cute thing by crayola for toddlers where they can do picture rubbings- so that should be fun. I also bought some cute cars, too for him. international flights have video screens, too so i'm thinking the cartoons on there might help keep him occupied.
My agency told us that it also helps to book night flights/red eye flights- during a time when they child would usually be sleeping. they might be more likely to sleep for some of the time. we also plan to try to take "shifts" with him, so each of us gets a break at some point. i'm also not above giving him some tylenol or something to maybe help him relax a little bit haha
honestly, i'm prepared for it to be hell... and just hoping for the best!! good luck and CONGRATS to your friend!!!
Coloring books/crayons, regular kids' books, mini photo albums of you/your family to show the child (my daughter loves looking at pictures), a dvd player and a few cartoon videos, activity books, snacks...
I'll see if I can think of anything else!
J is 5, so a bit older, but the flight home was...LONG! Honestly, we had a million things with us to keep him busy, and he really needed to sleep, but he was just so hopped up and anxious/excited, that he didn't shut his eyes once. He just played with his tray (open, close, open, close, open, close, open, close, etc.), his headset (on, off, change the channel, change the channel, change the channel, on, off, change the channel, change the channel, change the channel, on, off, change the channel, change the channel, change the channel, etc), and colored (colored, stopped, put away, colored, stopped, put away, colored, stopped, put away, ) the whole way home.
It was exhausting to watch, but as long as he wasn't bothering anyone (the tray came out of the armrest and not the back of the seat in front of us), I just let him do his thing.
In the end, she just needs to keep reminding herself that the flight will come to an end, and as long as the kid's not crying/annoying others, it's all good.
We had a 10 hour plane ride with our 2 year old DS. I was dreading it but it really wasn't at bad as it could have been. On the other hand, there were other toddlers who cried non stop. I highly recommend getting a seat for the child, I think at 18 months it's a requirement.
I brought many little toys that he had not seen before the flight and brought them out at regular intervals. Like cheap dollar type toys-hit Target/dollar store that didn't matter if they got lost-and won't make it home-and they won't. Little blocks and nesting dolls were a huge hit. Also stickers kept him occupied for a long time.
Finally, we did a lot of walking around the plane and people were very tolerant of us walking up and down the aisles. DS was very into just looking around his environment.
And we brought plenty of food that we did at regular intervals.
He had a big crying spell and fell asleep on the floor for 2 hours.
Application approved Dec '11
Mar '12: Homestudy interrupted by change in Uganda requirements - where do we go from here?
After searching and searching, back with Uganda but with our homestudy agency's program.
Homestudy complete July 19
USCIS I-600A submitted July 20. Biometrics appointments arrived Aug 17; fingerprinted Aug 21; 171H received Sept 25th. On the wait list Oct 1st: #18. By Jan 25th, we're #13!
Come home, baby A!
I travel with my DDs frequently and the number one lifesaver is playdoh. Target has mini playdoh in the dollar bins and they're awesome. I buy two packs of five and just toss them when our flight is over. I've had several people stop and comment on how its such a great idea.
Congratulations to your friend.
This made me LOL.
My only good suggestion is to book an overnight flight if possible. And a lot of snacks. Good luck to them!
Mother of two wonderful boys! Blessed through adoption.