Anyone flown with their 'older' kids?

MeleahMae · October 2013

It'll be my children's first time flying this Christmas. They will be 3 & 5. We are flying very early in the morning (when they are the happiest). I am taking a carseat and a booster seat. I need help. I have a bit of anxiety about this. It'll just be me and my two boys.

I plan on taking a DVD player and 2 sets of headphones, some snacks and drinks. What else should I take? It's only a 3 hour flight... thankfully!

Also, any tips? Please shed some light, if you have any...

[Deleted User] · October 2013

I would buy some new toys, books/activity books, etc, if you haven't already. Stuff they haven't seen before so they are interested in it. We also have a travel magna doodle that we take. DS draws on it and we also use it to play tic tac toe.

carlab44 · October 2013

Are you bringing the car seats on the plane? I wouldn't bother with the booster for the 5 year old, and probably wouldn't bring the car seat for the 3 year old. We stopped using a car seat on the plane once they hit 2.5. When they were in the car seat they could kick the seat in front of them WAY too easily and it made it difficult to put down the tray for any snacks, for the iPad, etc. With them both just in the seat we put the arm rest up between them so they can play, cuddle, etc.

Make sure you have a splitter to plug into the DVD player (that then splits to accommodate two headphones). I'd also bring a coloring/activity book and some crayons or colored pencils. Our kids (7 and 4) also LOVE their Boogie Board tablet.

preggersin2011 · October 2013

In addition to what was already said...I fly all the time alone with LO- she just turned two. Since it is hard and tiresome for her to walk long distances I know she is going to have to get rolled to the gate somehow. I find it easiest to check the stroller with the bags at the gate, and put her carseat on a $20 luggage cart using the LATCH to attach it and roll LO through the airport on that. I've checked a car seat when it was the cheap $40 kind, but i wouldn't want to check an expensive with that has ESP foam on it. The reason why I prefer the luggage cart to the stroller is i can put my carry on bag on the luggage cart handle where I can't really do that with an umbrella stroller. You'll need a place for the 3yr old to rest but you probably dont want to take up tons of room with a larger stroller. My friend's kids are 5&7 and she said when they are younger & get tired easily they will throw a tantrum and the last thing you want to do is cary a screaming kid in an airport. Since they are older than 2, you will have to bring empty cups and get drinks past security. You should be able to get juice/water on the plane, but not all airlines carry milk. i find it is easy to bring apple sauce in the pouches, peanut butter, yogurt, banana, apple. things that are basics and will fill them up w/o tons of extra sugar. I would expect the 5yr old to pull a rolling back pack filled with their own things. Read and re-read all the TSA rules and your airline rules. Oh and their favorite stuffed animal.

My best advice is to figure out what you need to bring with you on the plane, what you are packing it in, how you are getting a 3 & 5 year old to the gate, and visualize it all. Then take a practice trip around the block a few times.

Oh and I swear by packing cubes off of the ebag website. LO has a color, I have a color, i can cut my packing space in half.

erbear · October 2013

I've flown with mine (2 and 4) a bunch of times. They have been fine - planes are loud, they like to look out the window. I bring snacks and books and they have been happy.

laurakaz13 · October 2013

I've flown about a dozen times with DD, many times alone since she was born. Don't bring the booster. Don't bring the carseat either. I take DD (age 2 1/2) on the plane w/o a carseat now.

My best advice is to bring snacks, baby wipes, changes of clothes and a DVD player with headphones. Have them watch their favorite shows and eat their favorite snacks the entire flight. Just spoil them during the flight! Anything to make it easier on you and the other passengers on the plane.

I believe in spoiling kids on plane flights!

kristennd · October 2013

We fly regularly with LO and a trip two weeks ago was the first where he could reach the seat in front of him with his feet and it was terrible. He wasn't kicking, really. Just resting his feet on the seat back. But even that is annoying to people. And trying to explain that he can do that in the car but not here... Next time we're skipping the car seat.

The crucial thing for us in general is something super exciting to distract him from when the electronic device has to be taken away and turned off.

kgs0505 · October 2013

I wouldn't bring the carseat/booster on the plane. I'd check them. I might even ask whoever is pickng us up if they can borrow a booster or just purchase a cheap one and only lug the carseat. (Doesn't work if you have to rent a vehicle, and most car rental places will rent you carseats, but they aren't always available). Your major hurdle will be getting through security. I travel frequently enough that I have a system for that. All real liquids are placed in the quart sized baggie per TSA regulations and placed where I can easily retrieve it to put in the bin for the scanner. All other things that are not liquids, but mushy, like baby food, apple sauce pouches, etc, I place in a gallon baggie and also put in an easily retrieval location. Basically anything I need to remove from bags to get scanned, I place in an easy to get to location and make sure I can quickly put it all back. I would plan on 2 hours to arrive at the airport before your flight just to deal with the extra time it'll take you to get through security, especially during a busy time like Christmas.

LSU628 · October 2013

I guess I'm in the minority, but we always bring the car seat on the plane. We use the go go kidz travelmate, so the carseat doubles as a stroller. DD is quite content to ride in her carseat through the airport. If the carseat won't fit through the x ray machine, they can wand check it. DD sits in her carseat and most of the time falls asleep. not sure if it's the white noise of the plane, or the fact that we get up earlier than usual for most flights, but she passes out almost every time. I do bring lolliops for take off and landing (she has sensitive ears), a few easy to pack snacks, let her play with the safety brochures for the plane and we're good to go! The travel magna doodle was also a good suggestion. Also, not sure which airports you will be traveling through, but some airports have family lanes at the security points- use them!!

TriciaandSean · October 2013

I'm also pro car seat on the plane. I like the being in a car seat is like being in the car. My son knows he has to sit still when he's strapped in and he'll usually fall asleep as well. We've always rear faced on the plane because it's more comfortable (belt buckled is right at his back ff) and he's more apt to sleep looking at the back of the seat and he can't kick the seat.

alake · October 2013

We fly all the time. We leave in 8 days for a month of traveling, Miami to Canada. Canada to Ireland and then back to Miami. All five kids are in seats. The oldest two don't use harnessed car seats when we travel. When we did this trip last year I brought DD2 car seat and she used it on the plane. The younger three (2 and a half, fourteen months and 8 months (adopted) will be riding in their car seats during these flights. Everyone should know, that if you check a car seat, it should be considered crashed and replaced as soon as possible. They are dangerous to be used. I would get a rolling toddler, or a luggage cart, wheel the seat through the air port and use it on the plane.

BeanNut · October 2013

I'd also check the carseats and probably bring an umbrella stroller to gate-check in case one gets tired. Drinking from a sippy cup can help their ears adjust during take-off and landing.

lana22 · October 2013

stroller to get them around the airport. lots and lots of snacks, including a few special treats they may not normally get. new games, books, toys, etc. i traveled with my almost 2-yo and 6 month old, so slightly different, but we had four flights (two three hour, two six hour) last month and they almost couldn't have gone better.

janinekrause · October 2013

We traveled in March. My 1 1/2 year old was tough. My 4 year old was a breeze. She watched TV, read books, ate snacks. Just bring snacks, books, coloring, and DVD (and maybe a new toy). They are old enough to be fine. Don't be stressed.

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Anyone flown with their 'older' kids?

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