best toddler toys airplane travel image
zelkraps
I have a family emergency to tend to and I am going to be flying solo with my 1 year old for the first time on Sunday. I am reading up on flying with a toddler right now, but I was hoping to find someone who has done this and can share some tips with me.
Answer
Sorry to hear you're traveling under stress.
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly alone with my three children about twice a year between Europe and California, plus other flights...
First of all, it's more comfortable and safer if she has her own seat and you bring her car seat on board. If it's a long flight, she's more likely to sleep and less likely to disturb others. If you need the car seat at your destination This is the only way to transport it safely. Never check a car seat in as luggage! They are too often lost and/or broken in transit and sounds like you don't need another worry!
If you don't want to buy her a seat, find out if the flight is full and ask nicely at check-in if you can have an empty seat next to yours'. Bring the car seat to the gate even if they aren't positive you'll succeed because if you don't manage it, the car seat will be "gate-checked". This is no guarantee but better than luggage-checking it.
If she still fits in her infant seat and it's part of a "travel system" you're set. I didn't have a travel system so I snapped the infant seat into a stroller frame. Later on, with a convertible seat, I checked or borrowed a stroller at my destination and then strapped my car seat to a metal luggage cart. Secured with an extra bungee, I could roll this through the airport. I either wore my youngest in ring sling or she rode on this contraption. Some parents attach the car seat to the stroller, sometimes with bungee cords. See what works for you.
Instead of a fiddly purse and diaper bag, opt for a largesh backpack. Make sure you have enough diapers (you go through more than normally when traveling), a change of clothes and some never-been-seen toys. Pull these out as needed. A good time is on the tarmac, when she has to be seated (or in your lap). The TSA allows those flying with children to bring a "reasonable" quantity of liquids expressly for the child so don't fret over any drinks or milk you need. I've never heard of the "reasonable" level being challenged so just bring the snacks and drinks you need (please note, even if the TSA officer does object, they only take it away from you).
Please note that it's a myth the babies have to drink or suck on something for take-off and landing. If you have the car seat on board, make sure she's safely strapped in during those times. Just feed her when she wants. I rarely saw children having "ear problems" on flights and quite frankly, if they cried, it was for another reason. I would take mine to the ped to have their ears checked before flying. You probably don't have time to do the same but if she hasn't had a recent cold or other symptoms of an ear infection, she should be fine. The AAP simply recommends that the child be awake not on landing (which is too late) but at the TOP of descent, when you'll feel your own ears changing pressurization.
Practice changing her standing up before you leave. This was a great tip my cousin gave me. She's at the age where she probably wont want to lie down in a strange place and too big for most airplane changing tables. I would opt for the handicapped lav, which is bigger and do the deed there. This also solves the problem of separating from her. If she's asleep in her car seat, and strapped in, you can leave her but tell someone nearby or a Flight Attendant where you are. Once, my son woke up and the nice gentleman next to him pointed to the lav up front and told her where I was. Sure enough, I emerged...
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. I go more into detail on all of the above. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip and hope there is a positive outcome!
Sorry to hear you're traveling under stress.
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly alone with my three children about twice a year between Europe and California, plus other flights...
First of all, it's more comfortable and safer if she has her own seat and you bring her car seat on board. If it's a long flight, she's more likely to sleep and less likely to disturb others. If you need the car seat at your destination This is the only way to transport it safely. Never check a car seat in as luggage! They are too often lost and/or broken in transit and sounds like you don't need another worry!
If you don't want to buy her a seat, find out if the flight is full and ask nicely at check-in if you can have an empty seat next to yours'. Bring the car seat to the gate even if they aren't positive you'll succeed because if you don't manage it, the car seat will be "gate-checked". This is no guarantee but better than luggage-checking it.
If she still fits in her infant seat and it's part of a "travel system" you're set. I didn't have a travel system so I snapped the infant seat into a stroller frame. Later on, with a convertible seat, I checked or borrowed a stroller at my destination and then strapped my car seat to a metal luggage cart. Secured with an extra bungee, I could roll this through the airport. I either wore my youngest in ring sling or she rode on this contraption. Some parents attach the car seat to the stroller, sometimes with bungee cords. See what works for you.
Instead of a fiddly purse and diaper bag, opt for a largesh backpack. Make sure you have enough diapers (you go through more than normally when traveling), a change of clothes and some never-been-seen toys. Pull these out as needed. A good time is on the tarmac, when she has to be seated (or in your lap). The TSA allows those flying with children to bring a "reasonable" quantity of liquids expressly for the child so don't fret over any drinks or milk you need. I've never heard of the "reasonable" level being challenged so just bring the snacks and drinks you need (please note, even if the TSA officer does object, they only take it away from you).
Please note that it's a myth the babies have to drink or suck on something for take-off and landing. If you have the car seat on board, make sure she's safely strapped in during those times. Just feed her when she wants. I rarely saw children having "ear problems" on flights and quite frankly, if they cried, it was for another reason. I would take mine to the ped to have their ears checked before flying. You probably don't have time to do the same but if she hasn't had a recent cold or other symptoms of an ear infection, she should be fine. The AAP simply recommends that the child be awake not on landing (which is too late) but at the TOP of descent, when you'll feel your own ears changing pressurization.
Practice changing her standing up before you leave. This was a great tip my cousin gave me. She's at the age where she probably wont want to lie down in a strange place and too big for most airplane changing tables. I would opt for the handicapped lav, which is bigger and do the deed there. This also solves the problem of separating from her. If she's asleep in her car seat, and strapped in, you can leave her but tell someone nearby or a Flight Attendant where you are. Once, my son woke up and the nice gentleman next to him pointed to the lav up front and told her where I was. Sure enough, I emerged...
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. I go more into detail on all of the above. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip and hope there is a positive outcome!
Any tips on travelling with a toddler on long flights?
Socrates
I have a long journey planned on my next vacation with my 1.5 year old. A fourteen hour flight followed by layover and then a 6-7 hour. We did not opt for an exclusive seat for him either. Any tips?
Answer
Here are a couple of tips from our own experience:
1. most importantly: call the airline and try to get a bassinette, and at least one seat next to it(that's the crib that attaches to the wall in front of the bulk head seats). the bassinette itself will probably be too small for your child to actually sleep in, but will hold all the extra stuff that comes along with a toddler. moreover, the extra leg room will give your toddler more space to play that is NOT your lap or the aisle...
note: bulk head seats are usually booked first because there's more leg room there, but parents with infants on-lap (younger than 2 years) have priority to these seats on most airlines. if you can't book the seat in advance, don't dispair - you can still get it upon check in: come in early and insist on it!
2. try to keep the child's routine as close to normal as possible. keep meal times and nap times as close as you can to your "home time". bring small packs of favorite foods and snacks with you, as plane food is not likely to top your kids list... you can heat up baby food by putting the container in a small cup filled with a half-inch to an inch of boiling water and stirring the contents. "Gerber" containers fit perfectly, or you could use the small, round, 4-oz disposable plastic containers (like "Glad" or such) which also fit in the coffee cups provided on airplanes.
3. of course, if your child has a favorite toy, stuffed animal, blankie etc., have it with you on board.
4. get a bunch of new, real-cheap little toys that you wouldn't mind losing / throwing away by the end of the trip. introduce a new one every hour or so -- it'll buy you precious time! i'd put under this category also some little arts & crafts items, like stickers and crayons.
5. have at least two full changes of baby clothes and lots of extra diapers with you, as well as a small "baby-bath travel kit", just in case your layover gets extended, your suitecases go astray, and so on... i'd also take an extra shirt for mom and dad, for any unfortunate accidents.
6. on the plane, don't be shy - let baby run up and down the isles. fighting it won't help anyway, and the excersize is good for you both ;-) plus, the more energy they spend, the more likely they are to fall asleep at some point...
7. talk to your pediatritian about baby-safe antihistamines - a small dosage may be all the help baby needs to get drowsy and sleep better when they're already over-tired, but the strange environment won't let them fall asleep...
8. take a deep breath, and remind yourself that, as hard as this one day may be, it's only one day of travel, and it, too, shall pass!
good luck! :)
Here are a couple of tips from our own experience:
1. most importantly: call the airline and try to get a bassinette, and at least one seat next to it(that's the crib that attaches to the wall in front of the bulk head seats). the bassinette itself will probably be too small for your child to actually sleep in, but will hold all the extra stuff that comes along with a toddler. moreover, the extra leg room will give your toddler more space to play that is NOT your lap or the aisle...
note: bulk head seats are usually booked first because there's more leg room there, but parents with infants on-lap (younger than 2 years) have priority to these seats on most airlines. if you can't book the seat in advance, don't dispair - you can still get it upon check in: come in early and insist on it!
2. try to keep the child's routine as close to normal as possible. keep meal times and nap times as close as you can to your "home time". bring small packs of favorite foods and snacks with you, as plane food is not likely to top your kids list... you can heat up baby food by putting the container in a small cup filled with a half-inch to an inch of boiling water and stirring the contents. "Gerber" containers fit perfectly, or you could use the small, round, 4-oz disposable plastic containers (like "Glad" or such) which also fit in the coffee cups provided on airplanes.
3. of course, if your child has a favorite toy, stuffed animal, blankie etc., have it with you on board.
4. get a bunch of new, real-cheap little toys that you wouldn't mind losing / throwing away by the end of the trip. introduce a new one every hour or so -- it'll buy you precious time! i'd put under this category also some little arts & crafts items, like stickers and crayons.
5. have at least two full changes of baby clothes and lots of extra diapers with you, as well as a small "baby-bath travel kit", just in case your layover gets extended, your suitecases go astray, and so on... i'd also take an extra shirt for mom and dad, for any unfortunate accidents.
6. on the plane, don't be shy - let baby run up and down the isles. fighting it won't help anyway, and the excersize is good for you both ;-) plus, the more energy they spend, the more likely they are to fall asleep at some point...
7. talk to your pediatritian about baby-safe antihistamines - a small dosage may be all the help baby needs to get drowsy and sleep better when they're already over-tired, but the strange environment won't let them fall asleep...
8. take a deep breath, and remind yourself that, as hard as this one day may be, it's only one day of travel, and it, too, shall pass!
good luck! :)
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