Who has flown with a toddler?

nicnac817 · March 2014

I am going to visit my sister in a few weeks. It just me and DD taking 2 flight that are 1.5 hours each. She will be a lap baby for both the flights. I am a ball of nerves. She is so active and loud!

Who has experience flying with toddlers? What do i need to do to make this trip as easy as possible? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

shakinros · March 2014

Yep, for a 1.5hrs flight you'll be fine. The flight will practically be over before LO gets too bored.

Let me add to the list:
- as much time running around the terminal as possible before boarding. Unless you HAVE to take a roll-aboard suitcase and need overhead space, board last.
- sippy cup or paci for the ears. Buy water or milk in the terminal before boarding.

sdlaura · March 2014

We fly frequently but there's no way I'd do it with DD as a lap child. I can't imagine trying to contain her and myself in one seat without her squirming into the people next to us. I go to Target before we fly and buy little goodies from the dollar bins that might occupy her.

Msbean22 · March 2014

Oh lord, we're doing this in a month, two two hour flights. She's a lap child for purely cost reasons. I'm thinking I need to relax over it, because she will pick up my vibe.

We flew in September, from Ohio to Philly, and Philly to Halifax, then Halifax to Philly, and Philly to Ohio. The trip from Halifax to Philly? She screamed, literally, the whole time. The three other jaunts she was a doll.

Toni79 · March 2014

We've flown twice with DD.

Once when she was only 3 months old. Nursed the whole time 2 hour flight each way, easy-peesy!

Then we flew last Thanksgiving, so DD was about 15/16 months. Again on my lap. That wasn't quite as easy!

I agree with all the other posters - lots of differant snacks and new toys that she hasn't gotten bored of yet!

I will say I agree with @shakinros, bord the plane as late as you can. The less time you spend on the plane the better. Both times we flew SouthWest, so we actually wanted to bord early so garentee we all sat together. But then we had to sit there while everyone else borded the plane! So by the time we took off, she had already been on the plane for a while!

For our trip I got DD a travel sized magna doodle. $10 on Amazon. She loved that! It's still a big hit in the car! https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Travel-Doodler-Pro-Green/dp/B0060JVU72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395936660&sr=8-1&keywords=magna+doodle

I also got her a couple of these cheap sticker activity books. $1.28 on Amazon. They are small, but the stickers are re-stickable. It was one of DD's first experiences with stickers, so they were fun. They have a bunch of differant scenes. https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Travel-Doodler-Pro-Green/dp/B0060JVU72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395936660&sr=8-1&keywords=magna+doodle

But honestly her favorite things were playing with the window (up and down and up and down) and playing with an empty cup and straw (in and out and in and out).

Good Luck!

tumblefluff · March 2014

Someone mentioned a while back double sided sticky tape. That kept my LO entertained for a bit. I'd also bring an empty sippy cup that you could fill up in the terminal. That way when you're taking off or landing LO has something to drink that may help with pressure on the ears. The worst part is just keeping your LO busy. Good luck!

Who has flown with a toddler?

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