Airline travel with 1 year old

[katnbug]

Hi- I'm an old WC girl (kat1124) and I just found this site! Good to be able to pick your brains again...

We'll be travelling with our 1 year old to Texas from Chicago in September for my Grandmother's 80th birthday. :) Can't wait to see her... but.... I'm kinda freaking out about the plane trip. Oh, I mean plane tripS, as we will have connecting flights there and back. UGH.

Our DS is VERY active/wiggly/hyper ;) and would never sit still on my or DH's lap so we purchased him his own seat. We also purchased a Sit N Stroll which someone recommended to us- it's a carseat we can use on the plane and it converts into a stroller so we don't need to pack one.

All of this preparation and I'm still worried.

Does anyone have any other suggestions to make our trip as stress-free as possible?

Also, has anyone used the Sit N Stroll and if so what do you think of it?

Thanks! And it's good to "see" you all again!

[Ohana]

We have a sit n stroll. Very convenient for travel, but a PITA for every day use.

Other than giving yourself plenty of time to get through security, packing lots of fun snacks, and trying to keep your carryon as light as possible, I don't have much advice.

The things I found particularly useful to carry in the carryon were

* A new toy that DD had never seen
* A book that was an old favorite
* A couple of empty ziploc baggies (so you can bag up a snack or meal for later)
* A Dawn dishcloth to wash out sippies and such while en route

DD also found the barf bag and airline magazine to be particularly fun at that age. Oh, and the Dixie cups some genius engineer had right above the changing table in the lavatory were extra fun to pull out by the handful.

Enjoy your trip!

[mom2amelia]

The Sit N' Stroll is great. I just used it this weekend to fly with my DD (first time flying alone with her) and it was a life saver. We've flown many many times in her life (she's 25 months) and lugging the stroller and the car seat is such a royal pain in the you-know-what. I wish we'd bought the sit n stroll as soon as she was out of her bucket.

For a one year old, I'd say to bring a few new books (lift the flap books are fun). I usually take one or two new books on the flight out and keep a couple in my suitcase for the return flight. DVDs are also great if you have a portable DVD player or computer with a DVD player.

I also try to schedule our flights around nap time so that she sleeps at least part of the trip. If we have connecting flights I try to feed her on the first flight - lunch usually takes up a good 20 - 30 minutes of our flight - and then have her sleep on the second leg. It depends, of course, on how long your layover is.

[twinnyme]

Hi. I am going to be traveling by plane alone with my 13-month-old in February. I could have sworn that I saw somewhere on a thread here about a harness that helps you keep a child on your lap on a plane.... but despite exhaustive searching (including in the Master Travel thread in this forum) I cannot find mention of this. Maybe I just hallucinated it. :D

If anyone knows what I'm talking about, can you let me know what it's called, please? TIA!

[RyeRye]

Is this it? http://www.onestepahead.com/product/86218/323/117.html

[twinnyme]

Is this it? http://www.onestepahead.com/product/86218/323/117.html

Yes, thank you!! You know, it's funny, but I actually came across Baby B'Air on another site, but it didn't have a picture on it and from the description I couldn't tell if it was what I was thinking.... Not a good way to sell something on the Internet - pictures are needed! Anyway, thanks very much!

[cocopops]

GREAT SITE Thanks ladies I was actually going to post and ask about this glad to see someone has beat me to it :)

I am traveling to Korea with 16 month old and planning to purchase that exact Sit & Stroll for the 12 hr plane ride because I will have a lay over in Vancouver. I’m sort of scared of it just because my DD is so high strung but I’m praying for a pleasant trip :(

[Franni]

cocopops I could have posted the same thing. I am taking DD to the Philippines in Feb (20 hour flight) OUCH!!! DD would be about 15 mos and she is a hyper kid who does not want to held down. I am so afraid. I purchased a sit 'n stroll via ebay and just got it today. Looks ok, kind of heavy though.

How are you planning to deal with the long flight and the change in time zone? Toys? Books? What food are you planning to purchase/bring on the plane? How about milk? DD is no longer breastfeeding and drinks regular milk. I don't think regular milk can last on a plane for that long. I was thinking toddler formula. How do you plan to put your DC to sleep? bjorn? sling? Or did you purchase a seat for him?

sorry for the hijack, ladies. I am just really nervous.

[cocopops]

cocopops I could have posted the same thing. I am taking DD to the Philippines in Feb (20 hour flight) OUCH!!! DD would be about 15 mos and she is a hyper kid who does not want to held down. I am so afraid. I purchased a sit 'n stroll via ebay and just got it today. Looks ok, kind of heavy though.

How are you planning to deal with the long flight and the change in time zone? Toys? Books? What food are you planning to purchase/bring on the plane? How about milk? DD is no longer breastfeeding and drinks regular milk. I don't think regular milk can last on a plane for that long. I was thinking toddler formula. How do you plan to put your DC to sleep? bjorn? sling? Or did you purchase a seat for him?

sorry for the hijack, ladies. I am just really nervous.

LOL I am in the same boat. I think I will start a thread on 10 + hr plane rides with infant/toddlers. To see if we can get some answers. Because I think about it every day how I am going to cope.