Traveling by plane with a toddler?

Kate

Okay parents, what are your best tips for traveling by plane with a toddler? I mean airport tips, on the plane tips, everything. Give me some serious do's and don'ts! What has worked best for you?

Answer
Age?

For the airport:
1) Dress comfortably and wear slip-on/slip-off shoes if you have a comfortable pair and can wear them.

2) Bring a stroller, but make it a cheap one. Every stroller I've flown with got broken by the time we got there.

3) Bring a leash so that they can run off energy but no one will step between the two of you, or she won't get a bit further from you than you expect and take off on a speed-way or escalator or something.

For the plane:
1) Make sure they have their own seat and car seat. Safety is important here, and trying to hold them on your lap is uncomfortable for both of you, even if it's just 20 minutes. If there's turbulence a lap-baby can easily fly into overhead compartments, trying to hold onto them is extremely difficult and impossible at times. They need their seat and a comfortable car seat helps so much. If you're lucky, the familiarity of the seat and comfort of it will put them to sleep. :)

2) Pay the extra to have a TV they can watch, or bring a compact DVD player with movies/shows that will fascinate them. This isn't the time to argue about whether kids can watch TV. If some inane cartoon helps them to relax, use it.

3) Buy salt water taffy, you can usually find it at whole-foods type stores. Lollipops are another good choice, but my go-to travel candy is salt-water taffy (my 5 year old calls it the airplane candy since we rarely have it any other time.) It causes them to chew for a long period and then swallowing, just like gum, but they can swallow it so it's appropriate for littler kids. This helps with the cabin pressure changes so their ears pop, and if it's painful when their ears pop then the sweetness helps them deal with it.

4) If they're old enough for crayons and coloring books, then do it. If they like cars, then get something like that. Whatever your child seems to enjoy. You can never have too many distractions, so pulling out new toys they've never seen can definitely buy you time. And note, if you both buy a seat then you both get carry-ons... making it much easier to bring that sort of stuff.

5) Invest in quality diapers. You know the ones you buy when they get sick that never leak and never have blow-outs? Get them. They'll always have diarrhea on the plane, and leak. Bring bags to take dirty diapers with you, you can't throw them away in the lavatory usually and no one wants to smell that.

6) Bring a change of clothes for them and you if possible. I've never had one of my kids throw up on me on the plane, but you know the moment you don't bring a change of outfits for them and you they will.

7) Bring food in your travel bags. Enough for a few hours at least if not a full 12 hours, as well as money to buy food. I've gotten stuck at an airport for 5 hours before during bad weather. And then once we arrived every restaurant was closed, my FIL left us stranded with no way to get any food for us and not taking us to eat somewhere first, and the only food I had was what I had packed for my daughter. We went hungry, she did not.

What are some good toddler travel toys?

KL

I am going on an airplane with my 18 mo. old dd. and she'll be sitting on my lap through the flights. They are not too long, about 1 1/2 hours each (of course, if she screams the whole time, it could feel like an eternity :). I'm kinda nervous about her not being able to have a lot of room to roam. Any good suggestions on portables toys or activities that would keep her occupied?

Answer
I also have an 18 month old and we travel frequently.

We bring reusable stickers, Playmobil 1.2.3. figures (for imaginitive play), books and some snacks (preferably small items like dried apples that take a while to eat).

I have more tips in this article about keeping your toddler occupied on a plane:

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2007/nov/16/ten-tips-keeping-toddler-occupied-plane/

and general advice about traveling with young children on my webstie
http://www.deliciousbaby.com

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What toys are a must for a toddler on a plane?

toddler toys for plane travel image

March

If you flew with a toddler ( 18 months ), what kept your little one occupied for a while? We have a long overseas flight ahead of us.I expect he won't sit for 8 hours, but I would like to find out what are some best little toys to pack. Thank you so much for the tips!

Answer
Portable DVD player.
Stickers.
Play-dough.
Colouring books but be prepared to have to keep crouching down on to the floor to pick up the crayons.
Etch-a-sketch is handy.
Little story books and her favourite teddy.
A good idea is to wrap up little toys in gift-wrap and put them in a bag and every half hour or so let her choose one.
Bring plenty of drinks and snacks.
His little ears might hurt so make sure you have a bottle or soother or something similar for him to suck on when taking off and landing.
It can be a nightmare travelling with babies so just ignore anyone who tut tuts about his making noise. It seems like a long flight but you'll get there in the end! Good luck.

What are the ways to entertain a 1 yr old on a 24 hr flight journey?

Mom 007

It will be a three 8 hr trips with breaks at the airport, how can I keep my one year old son entertained? He will sleep for only 10 hrs, the rest is play time,

Any other advise on travel planning and inflight food is also welcome...

Answer
take a portabal dvd player so he can watch cartoons or a movie, pack a few of his small toys like cars, blocks stuff he can play with, colouring in will keep him entertained and also a couple of books to read to him if he gets restless dont try to keep him quiet walk up and down the aisle with him show him out the window. At take off and landing give him a drink as this will equalize his ears and stop them from getting sore. Make up bags of finger foods for him like sandwiches, rice cakes, biscuits etc this is the easiest thing for a toddler on a plane. Also remember to pack spare clothes and nappies. I would invest in one of the trunkies, the suitcases for children, for all of ur sons things u can take it on the flight with u and it saves u cramming it all into a bag i have one for my daughter and its great and perfect for trips for her toys.

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Anyone ever take their toddler on a plane?

toddler toys for plane travel image

Lanna'sMam

I myself have only been on a plane one time. My daughter is 3 and we pretty much have to fly cross country. Any tips?

Answer
I fly with my son all the time. He is 21 months right now. The key is to keep them entertained and to fly with them on their routine as much as possible. For me that meant flying early in the morning or right after lunch. This way he'll take a nap on the plane, or be less cranky. I just took him to Hawaii three months ago - by myself. We traveled for 15 total hours between connecting flights and layovers. He got a bit cranky at times, but nothing too severe.

Bring candies for all of the flight attendants. Usually some chocolates. I did this because I told them that I would be hanging around the galley probably when he starts to lose his patience. Not only did they not mind me hanging out with them, but they were very helpful for me and constantly checked on me.

Bring tons of snacks that your toddler will like. I didn't bring electronic toys such as noise makers and video for him to watch. I read him books, let him play with a seat belt extender and he looked out of the window. When he starts getting out of control, simply take them for a walk up and down the aisle. If you must, go into the restroom and let them scream.

It is not easy flying with a toddler by yourself, but you'll be fine. Oh, one more tip to break the ice for your fellow passengers. I brought a huge bag of earplugs and offered them to everyone within three rows in front and behind me. Everyone laughed and said they didn't mind. But it took care of them looking at me the entire flight wondering when I was going to shut my kid up.

Any advices for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler?

Mod W

I am wondering if anyone could give me an advice for traveling on an international flight with a baby and a preschooler? I am planning a trip to visit my family in Thailand at the beginning of next year. My children will be 3 years old, and 4 months old. It is scaring to think about being alone with 2 little ones on a 20 hours flight from US to Thailand. Please let me know. I need an advance suggestions to prepare. Which airline is the best for traveling with the children?

Answer
bring some toys (noiseless ones would be very much appreciated by fellow flyers). Try to time your babies feeding so that it is happening during take off. Helps stop ears from popping and therefore no crying.

Bring books to read for them, snacks are good too. you may want to bring a comfy pillow for your toddler as the ones on the plane aren't comfy.

20 hour is an insanely long flight for them. wow! good luck. But just try to bring as many comforts of home and as many things to keep them amused as possible.

Good luck!

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