nanasmama1
and desperately want tips and advicee to make this 2 and half hour trip bareable for everyone! (including flight attendents!)
you dont understand because theres an extra o and s? i am traveling with two children a one year old and child who is ALMOST 3 years old. i will be making this trip in TWO weeks. more clear?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lot with my own three children. We usually travel between Europe and California about twice a year.
First of all, try to fly in the morning if you haven't already booked. Many "tips" say to fly when they nap. I've seen this go wrong sooooo many times! One small delay and you have one (maybe two) big meltdowns. Children are in better humor in the morning and flights are less likely to be canceled or delayed.
Try to sit at the bulkhead. These are the seats with a wall in front. With no row in front of you, there is no one in front to disturb. You can also get in and out of these seats more easily.
Try to get an extra seat for the baby, if he doesn't already have one. Bring the car seat. This is a Big Subject so I wont go into details but if the baby has his own place, he'll be both safer and you all will be more comfortable. Ask at check-in if this is possible. Never check a car seat as luggage! Gate-check if if you are unsuccessful getting an extra place.
Is the baby off bottles (yet? if ever). Try to get him on a sippy cup before leaving. These are much easier. If not, use the kind of bottles with disposable liners. Measure the powder in each liner ahead of time. Much easier than those fiddly containers. Needless to say, make sure the bottle is always at room temperature.
Learn to change him standing up. Do this at home first. He's too big for airplane baby changers. Use the handicapped lav for more room. Better yet, change him in the waiting area so that if you're lucky, you wont have to do it again until you're on the ground at your destination. Then change him again before you get your luggage (there's a wait for that anyway).
Have the older one bring a backpack with some toys of his choice. Mom, check that bag first! Security doesn't allow "looks like" or "can be used as a weapon" toys. Especially boys do have a few things usually that wont fly (pun intended).
Buy a new toy for each child and surprise them with their treat as you get into your seats. On the tarmac, headed to the runway, everyone MUST be seated and this can be tough on little ones. Hopefully, these new items will keep them busy until they're in the air. (Doesn't have to be expensive, you can even hide perhaps a toy or two for the little one so he "forgets").
Don't worry about their ears. This is a highly overrated problem and I rarely saw it in all my years of flying. If they don't have an ear infection, they'll be fine. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. The AAP recommends that at the TOP of descent (landing is too late) that the child simply be *awake*. Any head movement, coughing, laughing, drinking, yawning, helps adjust their ears. Please don't force them to drink. Also, so many children fall asleep on take-off. Do NOT wake your child up unnecessarily to force them to drink either.
It's too short of a flight to buy any fancy electronical gadgets or worry about their sleeping. The secret to flying with toddlers is to make sure they're fed, watered and rested so make sure they get a good nights' sleep the night before. Don't mess with their schedules and don't worry if a nap is delayed or even skipped. Don't force them to stay up on the way to the airport.
For more information, ten years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck and have a safe and zen flight!
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lot with my own three children. We usually travel between Europe and California about twice a year.
First of all, try to fly in the morning if you haven't already booked. Many "tips" say to fly when they nap. I've seen this go wrong sooooo many times! One small delay and you have one (maybe two) big meltdowns. Children are in better humor in the morning and flights are less likely to be canceled or delayed.
Try to sit at the bulkhead. These are the seats with a wall in front. With no row in front of you, there is no one in front to disturb. You can also get in and out of these seats more easily.
Try to get an extra seat for the baby, if he doesn't already have one. Bring the car seat. This is a Big Subject so I wont go into details but if the baby has his own place, he'll be both safer and you all will be more comfortable. Ask at check-in if this is possible. Never check a car seat as luggage! Gate-check if if you are unsuccessful getting an extra place.
Is the baby off bottles (yet? if ever). Try to get him on a sippy cup before leaving. These are much easier. If not, use the kind of bottles with disposable liners. Measure the powder in each liner ahead of time. Much easier than those fiddly containers. Needless to say, make sure the bottle is always at room temperature.
Learn to change him standing up. Do this at home first. He's too big for airplane baby changers. Use the handicapped lav for more room. Better yet, change him in the waiting area so that if you're lucky, you wont have to do it again until you're on the ground at your destination. Then change him again before you get your luggage (there's a wait for that anyway).
Have the older one bring a backpack with some toys of his choice. Mom, check that bag first! Security doesn't allow "looks like" or "can be used as a weapon" toys. Especially boys do have a few things usually that wont fly (pun intended).
Buy a new toy for each child and surprise them with their treat as you get into your seats. On the tarmac, headed to the runway, everyone MUST be seated and this can be tough on little ones. Hopefully, these new items will keep them busy until they're in the air. (Doesn't have to be expensive, you can even hide perhaps a toy or two for the little one so he "forgets").
Don't worry about their ears. This is a highly overrated problem and I rarely saw it in all my years of flying. If they don't have an ear infection, they'll be fine. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. The AAP recommends that at the TOP of descent (landing is too late) that the child simply be *awake*. Any head movement, coughing, laughing, drinking, yawning, helps adjust their ears. Please don't force them to drink. Also, so many children fall asleep on take-off. Do NOT wake your child up unnecessarily to force them to drink either.
It's too short of a flight to buy any fancy electronical gadgets or worry about their sleeping. The secret to flying with toddlers is to make sure they're fed, watered and rested so make sure they get a good nights' sleep the night before. Don't mess with their schedules and don't worry if a nap is delayed or even skipped. Don't force them to stay up on the way to the airport.
For more information, ten years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck and have a safe and zen flight!
When I travel this October my son will be 15 months does he need a plane ticket?
Raquel C
In October I wll be going my country and am taking my soon who will be 15 months in October so I wanted to know does he need a plane ticket?
Answer
You are flying internationally so you will have to pay something for your child to fly, even if he is on your lap. He will also need a passport so I hope that's already taken care of.
Children under age 2 are allowed, by most airlines, to fly on their parents' laps for free or for a small fee. Commercial air travel is safe so there is little chance of anything going wrong but if it does, a child on a lap is not protected. The only way to fly safely is to make sure your child has his own seat and to bring an approved car seat on board.
If you fly a U.S. company, here is the information you need;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
If not, consult the airlines' website to find out what car seats are accepted.
If you don't booked a seat for him, find out if the flight is full. Then, if it's not, at check in, ask nicely if you can have an empty seat next to you to place your carseat in. They often do this for families.
I will say that my toddlers were much more settled and much easier when they were in their familar seat. Not to scare you but some parents haven't been able to keep a hold of their little ones and have been "off loaded" as a result.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-01-23-airtran_x.htm
I will admit that I've strapped down an unhappy little one more than once. Toddlers hate to be confined and simply don't understand that they have to be seated sometimes. Firmly anchored in, I could then consol them while we landed.
To get through the airport, they sell all sorts of gizmos like these (I'm not promoting these sites, just showing you the products);
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
I simply use a small metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it works great. I skip on the stroller and she can even ride in it at age 3. She usually prefers to walk and then I load the carry-ons abord.
Besides, taking your car seat onboard virtually guarentees that it'll be there at your destination. Checking them risks damage and loss. On my last flight, three of our four bags didn't make it but our seat did since it was used on board. Wont you need it when you get there?
Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on those tiny babychangers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don't fret security. I've never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that's the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you
-Bring slippers, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!
It's actually a myth that children need to suck on something for take-off and landing. I rarely saw it in my 13 years as a Flight Attendant and I fly about twice a year between Europe and California since each of my three were 4 months old. I have never, ever done anything special with them for take-offs and landings.
ENT specialists simply recommend that the child is awake for landing;
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
The delicate time is not during take-off or landing/touchdown but at the *top of descent*. This is usually 40 minutes to an hour before landing and everyone's ears have to reverse the pressurization. I can confirm that when I worked, if any passengers had ear problems, this was the time. Not just children either! They actualy felt *better* as we got closer to landing.
The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.
About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed, both on line and in Real Life. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web.
Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
You are flying internationally so you will have to pay something for your child to fly, even if he is on your lap. He will also need a passport so I hope that's already taken care of.
Children under age 2 are allowed, by most airlines, to fly on their parents' laps for free or for a small fee. Commercial air travel is safe so there is little chance of anything going wrong but if it does, a child on a lap is not protected. The only way to fly safely is to make sure your child has his own seat and to bring an approved car seat on board.
If you fly a U.S. company, here is the information you need;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
If not, consult the airlines' website to find out what car seats are accepted.
If you don't booked a seat for him, find out if the flight is full. Then, if it's not, at check in, ask nicely if you can have an empty seat next to you to place your carseat in. They often do this for families.
I will say that my toddlers were much more settled and much easier when they were in their familar seat. Not to scare you but some parents haven't been able to keep a hold of their little ones and have been "off loaded" as a result.
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2007-01-23-airtran_x.htm
I will admit that I've strapped down an unhappy little one more than once. Toddlers hate to be confined and simply don't understand that they have to be seated sometimes. Firmly anchored in, I could then consol them while we landed.
To get through the airport, they sell all sorts of gizmos like these (I'm not promoting these sites, just showing you the products);
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
I simply use a small metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it works great. I skip on the stroller and she can even ride in it at age 3. She usually prefers to walk and then I load the carry-ons abord.
Besides, taking your car seat onboard virtually guarentees that it'll be there at your destination. Checking them risks damage and loss. On my last flight, three of our four bags didn't make it but our seat did since it was used on board. Wont you need it when you get there?
Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on those tiny babychangers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don't fret security. I've never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that's the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you
-Bring slippers, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!
It's actually a myth that children need to suck on something for take-off and landing. I rarely saw it in my 13 years as a Flight Attendant and I fly about twice a year between Europe and California since each of my three were 4 months old. I have never, ever done anything special with them for take-offs and landings.
ENT specialists simply recommend that the child is awake for landing;
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
The delicate time is not during take-off or landing/touchdown but at the *top of descent*. This is usually 40 minutes to an hour before landing and everyone's ears have to reverse the pressurization. I can confirm that when I worked, if any passengers had ear problems, this was the time. Not just children either! They actualy felt *better* as we got closer to landing.
The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.
About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed, both on line and in Real Life. I later put it on a blog so that parents had access to non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web.
Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
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