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Flying Cross Country with 2 y/o

EDWHIPEDWHIP member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

Hi Everyone,

 We will be flying cross country at the end of March just before DD's 2nd birthday.  We have purchased her a seat and plan to bring the carseat on the airplane.  This is our first time flying with DD and I am looking for any tips you may have to make the trip go smoothly.  Luckily the flight is direct, but I am a little nervous about the return red eye.  So please send me your tips!  We've got a squirmy one on our hands.  I'm thinking snacks, games, etc.  

 

Thank you in advance! 

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Re: Flying Cross Country with 2 y/o

  • Stephanie2167Stephanie2167 member
    We did it last April. We flew from Seattle to Boston. We flew Red Eye out to Boston and it was the best. DD slept the whole way. The flight back wasn't red eye, but she didn't do too bad. Brought my Nook with movies, lots of snacks, etc. The red eye isn't what I'd worry about, it the keeping your toddler occupied on a plane for 5 hours during daylight hours.


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  • EDWHIPEDWHIP member

    imageStephanie2167:
    We did it last April. We flew from Seattle to Boston. We flew Red Eye out to Boston and it was the best. DD slept the whole way. The flight back wasn't red eye, but she didn't do too bad. Brought my Nook with movies, lots of snacks, etc. The red eye isn't what I'd worry about, it the keeping your toddler occupied on a plane for 5 hours during daylight hours.

     

    Good point RE: daytime vs. night time.  We're flying Jetblue so they have the TVs, but maybe we'll bring a laptop for movies. 

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  • steverstever member
    We flew to Europe when DS1 was 20 months old and relied on books, in-flight cartoons, his lovie, a magna-doodle type thing, lots of snacks and lots of walks up and down the aisle. We now have a LeapPad and toddler headphones to hhelp out for net time too Big Smile 

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  • olechkaolechka member
    Cartoons did the trick for us, it was only 3.5 hrs flight but she didn't like the in-flight entertainment but her own cartoons occupied her for most of the flight.  Lot's of snacks too and juice for takeoff and landing, we put it in her water bottle so she sucks it out of the straw and helps with ears.
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  • AmericanInOzAmericanInOz member

    I bring lots of snacks she isn't usually allowed - to keep her busy

    I bring some of my own drinks for her too - and her own water bottle - as our biggest problem when flying has been dehyrdration!!!

    coloring books, small crayons or wipeable markers, stickers, ipad/pod games, small travel games like etch a sketch, etc

    only bring out 1 thing at a time and stretch it out - you'll be ok :)

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  • 1026pumpkin1026pumpkin member

    We got DS a little Elmo bag and wrapped up a bunch of new, small toys and tried to really stretch out giving them to him- we had a coloring book with a few crayons, magna doodle, some small trucks and cars, and some books.

    we also packed his sippy cup, lots of treat snacks, and loaded up the iPad with Elmo videos.

    lastly, we really played up airplanes and read books about them beforehand, so he was really excited to see everything at the airport.  We also put him in the window seat so he could look at all the other planes, trucks, etc. on the Tarmac, and it really kept him occupied during boarding.

    good luck! 

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  • EDWHIPEDWHIP member
    Thank you!  You guys have been so helpful.  I am getting kind of excited to tackle this fear of mine.  Like I said, DD is a squirmy wormy!  I like the idea of reading airplane books a month or so before to get her ready.  I also like the idea of buying new things to keep her occupied.  My next post on here is going to be about carseats on airplanes.  Get ready!
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  • DeMom510DeMom510 member

    I didn't read thru the other comments but I just wanted to mention that you should double check with your airline to be sure you can bring the carseat on the plane. We were told we couldn't. (we flew delta) We were told that it would need to be checked with our baggage. We didn't plan to anyway because there was a carseat at our final destination..

    But anyway, DS did great and I'm so glad we didn't have to lug the carseat around.. We had lots of snacks, a DVD player, crayons, and a few of his favorite toys. Also, we bought a monkey backpack thing so he could get all of his running out in the airport! Our trips were about 10 -12 hours total including travel to/from the airport, waiting, and layovers.. 

    oh and our DS is a very busy 2 year old also!

     

    good luck :) 

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