Share your tips for traveling by plane with a child

**MrsTazlvr** · 07-12-2005, 09:25 PM

We are taking our 19 month DD on a 3 hour plane trip in a few weeks and I am looking for any tips to make the trip easier. She has her own seat and we will be taking her carseat and a DVD player for on the plane. I plan on getting her a few new toys for the flight. Any other ideas? TIA

~Cori

**miel** · 07-12-2005, 11:47 PM

I don't have any suggestions but yikes...our 15 mo. old has to make 2 cross country trips...should we buy a DVD player? That is a mighty tempting idea.

I'm scared...this girl is ACTIVE.

I have no tips now...just hoping someone gives you some tips.

**Mrs. M.** · 07-13-2005, 04:33 AM

We have done so much plane travel with DD, it's really too bad she can't get miles!

It really is not as bad as one imagines it to be.
Get to the airport way early. Let DC run around a bit before you board so they get their extra energy spent.
Bring enough snacks and drinks.
An extra outfit is good for diaper blowouts or drink spillage.
New books to look at are great, or flashcards.
Don't bring toys with lots of little parts as they will end up all over the place.
Don't bring noisy toys as the other people will hate you.
A Magna-Doodle type toy is great where they can draw without a mess.
When DD fights the seatbelt I show her that other people are buckled in and that usually helps.
Most newer planes have changing stations in the lavatory.
We don't have a portable DVD player, but the planes we have been on had in-seat screens which she liked. A DVD player might be a really good idea though.
Don't fly if your DC has a cold, or bring nose drops to help with the pressure change. This is always worse during descent. Drinking fluids helps too.

2 PSAs:
*When the crew tell you to buckle DC in, do it. Even if this wakes DC up/makes them scream. Safety is far more important. Don't unbuckle DC before the plane has come to a complete stop at the gate. Planes have powerful brakes.
*Never hand a dirty diaper to your cabin crew. Put it in a baggy and into the trash can in the lav.

I am cabin crew, feel free to ask any specific questions!

**mom_to_zoe** · 07-13-2005, 07:55 AM

We've traveled quite a bit with DD, mostly 2-3 hour flights. We have always gotten her a seat. IT is just so much easier and more comfortable for everyone. If you plan to travel a lot, I recommend buying the Sit N Stroll, a combination carseat/plane seat/stroller. It is awesome! It costs like $200, but if you travel a lot, it is worth it.

My DH and I worship our portable DVD player. Another worthwhile $200 investment. As soon as we can use portable electronic devices, we pull it out, put on some Elmo DVDs and DD is content. DH and I are even able to relax ourselves. DD is really too young to wear headphones, so we just play it out loud at a low volume and it is fine. I figure our neighbors would rather hear Elmo than a screaming toddler. When we can't use the DVD player, I usually read books with DD or we sing songs. Snacks also help pass the time. WE also like to look at those awful in-flight magazines and catalogs for pictures of kids and doggies. DD loves this.

One trick we've learned: take off your DC's shoes. Our DD tends to kick the back of the seat in front of her.

Taking off her shoes really helps minimize the damage.

Another tip: travel early in the day. If you are traveling late in the day, not only is your DC tired, but any delays can really mess up their bedtimes.

**bea_mama** · 07-13-2005, 08:57 AM

Definitely take off your DC's shoes!

We took our DD to the UK at 21 months old (and at 9 months old, but that was easier). She had her own seat and own video screen, which was great. She couldn't wear the headphones but was happy to watch the videos with no sound. We kept her buckled in her seat for the majority of the flight, with short breaks to get a clean diaper, sit on one of our laps, or stretch her legs.

Make sure to bring extra outfits!! We had a major blowout on each flight - weird, b/c we never have to deal with that normally. Luckily, I had extra clothes and tons of wipes so it wasn't a big deal.

Small toys, books, crayons. My DD had the best time playing with stickers - I got multiple sheets of stickers, a small tablet of construction paper, and some sticker books and she had a blast.

Snacks - my DD was not interested in the food they served on the plane.

Pacifier or sippy cup for your DC to suck on during takeoff so their ears adjust to the pressure change.

3 hours is definitely doable - have a great trip!

**monique** · 07-13-2005, 10:32 AM

here is a good site to maybe help
http://www.flyingwithkids.com/

**MrsTazlvr** · 07-13-2005, 11:31 AM

Thank you all for the ideas. I bought DD a few new "toys" today such as a magnadoodle, color wonders markers, some flashcards, etc. to keep her busy on the flight.

**Ohana** · 07-13-2005, 11:55 AM

If you can swing it, definitely get a portable DVD player and a few DVD's of characters you know DD likes, but hasn't yet seen.

Color wonder is also good (which I see you already got).

Make sure you have enough wipes for the blowouts (we experienced this too!), and an outfit that's appropriate for where you're going.

I usually have one sippy and carry the Dawn dishcloths with me so I can wash the sippy and not have as much junk to carry. Just put the Dawn cloth in a zip top baggie and you're good to go.

Also, I carry a few spare zip top baggies, one big one for clothes and a few small ones for snacks. Very handy if you have a blowout or if you have to cut a meal or snack short and want to carry the leftovers to finish your meal/snack.

Small packages of Teddy Grahams and Goldfish are a lifesaver, and I usually carry a snack pack or two of fruit for emergencies. All of these snacks are portable and kid friendly.

I've also quit trying to carry bibs and just got a Kipiis lanyard. That way, I can just use a paper towel or whatever is handy as a bib.

Have fun on your trip!

**AmyE** · 07-14-2005, 02:41 PM

One of my friends goes to the nearest Dollar store and buys one cheap (small) toy for each hour of the flight. Not as bribes for "good" behavior, but becuase her son was quiet and interested in each new toy for about that long.

**dzmattie** · 07-14-2005, 07:27 PM

We always bring "diaper packs" - we put enough wipes for one change, a diaper, a disposable changing pad (Huggies), a book or small toy, and an extra baggie. We usually travel with three or four of these "packs" so when one of us needs to change the baby we can just grab one of the packs and not the whole diaper bag. Sounds more complicated than it needs to be but G is always so crazy on the changing table it helps to have everything at our finger tips and not have to carry the whole diaper bag into the restroom.