In less than two weeks AndyZ and I will be taking a flight alone. It’s just an overnight trip, but we will be ALONE. As in…no other people to help me keep him entertained. No big brother (“Yaya!”) and no Daddy. Not even a big sister who has actually turned into quite a good little helper when it comes to her little brother. Just me. And him. On a total of four flights. And I’m scared.
I’ve flown with smaller kids that aren’t mobile. I’ve flown with bigger kids that can be entertained with projects, movies, and stickers. I’ve never flown with this terrible age. The age than wants to be EVERYWHERE at EVERY MOMENT. The age that does not really understand why they can’t do certain things, like punch the people sitting next to them. The age that SCREAMS when they do not get what they want.
HELP ME.
Have you traveled with a kid between the age of 12 and 18 months on a plane before? Did you just bring a lot of food? That’s the only idea I’ve come up with so far because AndyZ is nothing if not an eater. Are there activities you can bring on board a plane that will actually entertain a kid that age? Do movies work? He doesn’t really get into TV at home…so I’m not sure if I want to drag some sort of DVD playing device with us. Should I sneak him a sedative when no one is looking?
That last one is a joke. Sorta.
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A little bummed she’s not going with us. But also not caring because that means she gets YaYa all to herself.
my sister has…I think my niece ended up sleeping most of the time….they just recently flew with a two year old and a six month old. She had more issues with the baby. I will direct her this way……
I have flown by myself with a baby that age more than once, and I’ve lived to tell! You’ll do fine.
First, some questions: Are you holding him in your lap, or does he have his own seat? If he’s in his cars eat, I’d treat it like a long car trip. If you’re holding him, he can still play with stuff on the tray while you’re holding him. Lots of snacks, maybe a DVD player if you think he might be enticed. I would suggest playdough, but I’m not sure you could get that through security. Color wonder (Crayola) markers? They won’t write on anything but that special paper. My boys did sleep a lot, and they also liked to walk up and down the aisles.
In my experience, schlepping all my stuff around the airport, and actually getting on the plane were the trickiest parts. Once I was on the plane, things got a bit easier. Bring a sling/ergo/mei tai so you can keep your hands free. Sometimes they’ll even let you go through security with your baby in the carrier if there are no metal parts to it. Check everything you can so that you don’t have to keep track of too much, and bring the smallest diaper bag you can comfortably fit everything you need for the plane ride. I’ve carried huge bags, and small ones, and I have to say I much prefer the small ones, even when I travel with both my kids together.
my 15 month old really loves the aquadoodle. no mess and she really loves to draw. and suck the water out of the pens. it is good for at least a half hour of entertainment. buy and bring extra water filled pens, because they tend to drop them a lot…
I took a 15 month old from Chicago to Munich. It was great. Tiring, but totally fine.
*Travel Aquadoodle (fashion a connector for the pen out of duct tape, it rolls back more rows than you think when dropped at takeoff) instead of color wonder (they take a while to show up on the special paper and that age has too short of an attention span)
*new lift-the-flap books (DK and Little People)
*random new and interesting stuff from the dollar store (so if it gets lost you don’t have to care)
*tiny snacks like the teeny boxes of raisins
*get up and walk back by the bathrooms for a change of scenery now and then
*People are kind – take what they offer! Whether it is carrying a bag or playing peekaboo or whatever.
You guys will have a great time!
what? you cant just tell us you are going on a flight and not tell us where and why! We are nosy!
you will do great! i packed lots of snacks and *NEW* toys for mine to explore. also do’nt be afraid to let him get up and walk or crawl down the aisle. it will keep him entertained and he may even get tired and sleep for you. also a great thing for us was my ipod. i loaded it up with Handy Manny and Barny and Caillou and that kept her attention for little 5 minute bursts at the exact moment I was ready to pull my hairs out!
luck!!
Delurking for the first time ever, because boy I flew a lot with my son at this age (last summer). It was tough. He was a new walker and we did not buy a seat for him, even though we took 4 international (12 hours!) and 2 domestic flights. However, if we’d had the money? I absolutely would have. So, here are my very few tips:
-dollar store toys, like Leah said. Especially a plastic cell phone and an old wallet stuffed with random cards (like grocery, or used gift certificates).Those were big fun.
-lots of finger food
-things that he’s normally not allowed to do. We let our son rip magazines, which were easy to pick up afterwards.
-new books
We also did not pre-board, but let our son run around until the last second. We carried him in an Ergo and used the stroller for our stuff. I expected the worst, and we only really had that on the very last flight, after 18 hours of travel and no real naps. So everything else seemed great compared to my very low expectations.
Good luck! Wishing you empty adjacent seats and friendly fellow travelers!
It’s been a long time, but yes, lots of finger food. Whatever he can safely eat, of course. Books? I remember reading lots of books. I will warn you that his ears will probably hurt, and babies can’t pop their ears all that well, but if he’s still nursing or drinking from a bottle that should help. If he starts crying for no particular reason that’s probably why – give him a bottle.
Don’t discount the sedative angle…a little benadryl never hurt anyone.
Well, as you know I have flown a little bit with my kids (understatement, I know)
My #1 advice is to let them explore and run around the airport (in a safe, confined area near the gate, obviously not in the main thoroughfares.) Let the little guy explore and get it out of his system. I am still seething at the gal when I was last in Vegas who left her child restrained in his stroller the entire time while we waited for our flight. The kid was STRAiNING to get out of his stroller. Poor guy.
What are AndyZ’s favorite toys? Buy cheap versions of those. Does he like cars/trains? Buy some cheap ones that you don’t care about when they roll away forever clear up to aisle 3C. I have had great luck with a regular old pack of playing cards. And gift cards!! Grab a stack from Target (just don’t put $$$ on them, right?) and an old wallet. That saved my sanity during one memorable flight with delays.
I did this recently, and was completly terrified. But it went fine. Lots of snacks to keep him from screaming about being trapped in his seat, and nighttime triaminic for children to (hey, once in a while won’t hurt). We travelled at night/evening, so after an hour of constant feeding he was asleep for the next 5 hours. And definitely bottles or juice – keeps them happy AND quiet. Good luck!
I have never flown with either of my darlings but I have gone on plenty of LOOOOOONG rides in a vehicle with them. Snacks, DVD’s, and toys have been my saviors. The DVD’s especially.
I did it with my husband and then my husband did it alone. My tips:
Don’t bother with toys. I stuffed a selection of favorites in my carry-on but the only thing she played with was the airplane info card. With all that new stuff to explore, why would she want her old toys? The idea of new toys, especially if staged as a bag o’ tricks that you can pull one by one when needed, is a good one.
Food is good. Food that takes a long time to eat is better (Cheerios or goldfish one by one, anyone?).
Let him wander when you can.
If he has a meltdown (mine did–full body thrashing tantrum–next to a totally snotty 20-something chick), just keep reminding yourself that you’ll never see these people again. Being That Woman for a little bit won’t kill you.
As a word of encouragement, mine actually slept most of the flights once she got over the newness. I wish that upon you!
Dramamine!! My ped. told me that a dose of kids dramamine was fine for a long trip. It is the most awesome drug ever. He slept and when he was awake he was very calm and mellow (the total opposite of his personality).
Good luck!
We’ve been on quite a few plane trips with our oldest, especially when he was a baby. During the age range you mentioned we went from VT to CO, and from VT to the UK (that was one long, ass flight!).
My first question is, does he have his own seat? If he does, bring his carseat with you. I’ve found that if my little ones don’t really have the option of moving, they don’t fuss too much and actually end up taking a short nap.
If he doesn’t have his own seat, ask at the check-in counter if there is anyone in the seat next to you. If not, don’t check the carseat, take it to the plane with you with the hopes that no one fills that seat. If no one fills it, it’s all yours (we’ve done this on quite a few trips, and sometimes works, sometimes doesn’t). If it turns out that someone took the seat, just check the carseat with your stroller at the gate and it will be waiting for you at the gate when you land. If he’s getting fussy at this point you can use your body like a carseat and he might fall asleep (this has worked a few times with our oldest too).
Other than that, I honestly do recommend using a little benadryl. The other commenters can scream all they want, but it has helped us immensely in the past – the doctor even recommended it for the trip to the UK. Just be sure to check with your doctor first to find out the dose. Also, try it before you go to make sure it doesn’t have the opposite effect on your little one than intended. Also also, try and give it at about the same time he would normally go down for a nap.
Hope these things help, where are you going?
Forgot one more thing.
Make sure you pack a full change of clothes for him and a spare t-shirt for you in your diaper bag and/or carry-on. That way, if he starts spitting up or full-on vomits then at least you and he will have something fresh to put on.
Definitely get him his own seat. AndyZ will be happier and the people around you will thank you as well. Then if you decide to go with Dramamine or Benadryl (yes yes) he will sleep and you can relax.
We crammed my nephew’s face with goldfish until his overflow valve nearly kicked in. It was the only thing that would satisfy him on our trip to Vegas from Nashville.
Coming back, he was a little more entertained by the finger puppets and one of those quiet, activity books (made out of cloth) but it was too early for the DVD player.
You’ll do fine.
Stickers?
I agree with those who said get him his own seat and put him in his car seat. I did a 2 hour trip to Chicago with a toddler once (by myself) and some other trips with support. The car seat makes thing non-negotiable for the child. They know they have to sit in it and are not allowed to wander around. It does make the seat in front of them closer, so kicking that is easier and more fun.
Gate check your stroller and put the car seat on it or get a luggage cart as soon as you walk in. At times, I had people who helped me and other times, the gate lady was a total witch. I even had my toddler have a major meltdown in the middle of the airport just after we got through security. Keep a positive attitude. You could either meltdown with the baby or get through it with some diginity. Every major hurdle you face will end in a short amount of time.
Good luck! Love your website!
http://www.amalah.com/amalah/2009/07/quick-and-hurry.html
Read the comments on that post – same type question! š
Oh, I did it. I went to Florida with 18 month old triplets. On a plane. I freaked out a lot before hand but the kids were actually pretty good and slept much of the time. As others suggested, I brought new, small, not too noisy toys just for the plane. They were really too little for DVD’s at that point. We flew Southwest who granted us the front seats where there was a bit more room and gave them each a kid’s kit and extra snacks (which made me a loyal Southwest fan). We had one adult per kiddo so we did spend some time walking the aisles and checking out the bathroom mirror but not horrible. The worst part for us was airport security in Orlando who forced my kids to go through the security gate ahead of me (so of course, they took off and I couldn’t run to get them. Grr and seriously?). I also used those monkey leash backpacks sold at Walmart in the airport but outside of security, they loved the airport and were good. I did not use Benadryl on them because half the time it makes them hyper or over-emotional. Good luck- you’ll be fine.
Oh, also sippy cup (bottle?) of what he likes best given at take off or landing to encourage swallowing in case of ear pressure/pain.
If you’re gonna use Benadryl, do a test run before the flight. It makes some kids – including mine – insanely crazy.
Take plenty of extra clothes for him, and if you can swing it, an extra outfit for you. I don’t know what it is about flying that encourage explosive bodily functions from toddlers, but I have learned my lesson more than once.
I traveled with my son when he was 14 months old. I traveled on Southwest, because they don’t have assigned seats. That way I knew that if someone sat next to me they either liked kids, OR they were the last ones on the plane. š
A couple that LOVED kids sat next to me. One of them held my son for an hour! I finally had to ask the guy to give him back to me!
As far as keeping him occupied on the flight, stickers worked surprisingly well. Also, I ran around with him in the terminal before boarding, which tired him out.
Have a fun trip!
Ummm I say good luck. We just came back from a long ass trip to Seattle. There were two adults, a four year old and a 13 month old. I want to die. I did not read the other comments but I say get him his own seat FOR SURE. Buy lots of treats and snacks both things he will like and things he has never had or seen before. Talk with him a lot about what the flights will be like and how he has to listen to you (repeat this a lot and often). Indeed take something like tylenol or motrin just in case. Bring a stroller even if he is not into the stroller even just to dump all your shit on it. Most people are pretty lovely with kids and know what it is like to travel. The stewards and stewardesses are generally awesome and will offer lots of snacks and drinks. GL!