Baby on an Airplane!!!

Joanie - posted on 05/11/2010

Also I would rather have a restless child next to me than an obnoxious adult!!!!!

Joanie - posted on 05/11/2010

Double wrap some toys etc, and only open one every 30 -60 mins. Keep sugar etc to a minimum. Don't have high expectations, she will get restless, but if you have some stuff to distract her it should be ok. Don't forget a walk up and down the ailse, also when in doubt there is alot for a 19 month old to explore in the toilet, has kept my son occupied for up to 30 mins!!!!

Shruti - posted on 05/10/2010

I travelled with my son on a 11 hr flight when he was 6 months old..but i guess that age is much easier to deal with since the are not mobile.. I'd suggest you take a lot of toys and food...

Shawna - posted on 05/10/2010

my daughter was 1 month old the first time i took her on a plane. she did great... i just made sure she was either eating or had a binky in her mouth. when we got up in the air she slept the whole time

Carol - posted on 05/10/2010

We took our 14 mo (now 16 mo) on a trip recently. Bring or borrow a portable DVD player if possible (this was the most useful--our daughter gets very little tv and absolutely loves backyardagains). Lots of snacks! Stickers, favorite book and a new one too. We didn't buy an extra seat and our flight was full. Fortunately, she did very well. We had her drinking from bottle or sippy cup during take-off landing. We also bought our seat-mate a lunch in preparation for a difficult flight for them :)

GOOD LUCK!!!

Kimberly - posted on 05/09/2010

I've never taken my kids on a plane, but I have been on one with kids of all ages around me. I was lucky enough, one time, to be beside a well behaved kid and we were at the front of the plane and we had a table. His mom had snacks, coloring books and crayons and she sang to him songs that he knew and could sing along.

If your child is old enough to have gummies snacks, I would definately recommend them to chew to pop his ears or make sure that you can get a flight at nap time. If it is nap time, don't feed him until you get settled in your seat. That way, hopefully a bottle will put him to sleep for most of the trip. Above all, try to keep a sense of humor about it and know that they will always do something that will embarass you. Portable DVD players are godsends on any kind of trip.

You won't please everyone on the plane and you will tick someone off simply by boarding a plane with a kid. I boarded one time, just myself, and a business man switched seats simply because he couldn't have all the seats to himself.

Nita - posted on 05/09/2010

Definitely go for walks up and down the plane, let the kiddo stretch a bit - we all get restless on flights, big or small. Absolutely have snacks and drinks. The drinks will be necessary during takeoff and landing to help with the ear popping.

Also - if you can manage, portable DVD player. :)

Berni - posted on 05/08/2010

We flew to Puerto Vallarta when my daughter was 19 months old. I started researching everything a couple months in advance because I had the same questions and concerns. We bought a portable DVD player specifically for the trip with kid/toddler friendly earphones from Amazon.com. The earphones allowed me to set a max volume no matter how loud she pushed the volume on the player. I also went to the dollar store and got some new crayons and coloring book. Also picked up some small, "quiet" toys. Packed these up along with a couple of favorites to keep her busy and settled. Favorite blankie and lovey were a must.

Things definately had to be compact because we did not buy her a seat so she was shuffled back and forth between us. When packing your food DO bring a sippy cup or pacifier for take off and landing. If your child drinks anything like mine don't show it to her before you hear the engines start gearing up for the run.

We overpacked on the snacks and included some instant mac & cheese packets (w/ a plastic bowl). I was really worried about being on one of those planes that for some odd reason would get stuck on the tarmack for hours. I wanted to make sure if hot water was available I would be able to make her something more solid to eat.

For the airport, take an umbrella stroller and leave plenty of time for lines. If you keep it fun for you then she will be more relaxed. Dress yourself and her in very easy shoes or sandles and non binding clothing. Chances are, when you get to security your spouse will be dealing with carry ons and possibly the stroller while you are trying to undress yourself and your daughter... then trying to get dressed again on the other side. If you are travelling by yourself with your daughter KEEP IT SIMPLE! When you get to the gate check in with the desk so they know you have a toddler and a stroller, they will issue a gate check tag and let you know where to put it at boarding time. If possible let her run around until it is time to board. Walk around and look at the planes, pictures, gift shops, low key! Grab a beverage and snack to share and make it special and fun.

For her carry on try to pre package items in ziploc bags. I put her crayons and coloring book in a gallon ziploc, lace up animals with string in another bag, granola bars and portion bags of goldfish in another bag. Bought pre packaged fruities, and other finger snacks in another bag. Mac & cheese in it's own bag... this way I could grab 1 bag and get out what I needed rather than trying to feel around a bag at my feet for a snack or toy for her. Keep the bag organized then you will be able to get to things quickly! I put her DVDs in a CD travel case rather than taking them in the boxes... takes up too much space. If the DVD player is something that you think might help you and you don't have time to find/borrow one most airports now have a "shop" that you can rent them from and return when you come back thru on the way home. If you are worried about keeping it charged and have a layover research the layover airport and locate the charging stations.

If you are traveling during nap time be sure to bring a blankie to throw over her and possibly a junior Bucky or a small pillow from the airplane to rest her head on the window or arm if she curls up in your lap.

My last advice is if you have a layover in an unfamiliar airport go to their website and print out a map. Bring a highlighter or use a pen to mark the indicated arrival and departure gates after you check in. These should be on your boarding passes. At least you will have an idea of how far you might have to dash if you have little time between connections.

If people frown or snear at you at the beginning of the flight, remember how you felt before you had kids. Then remember that you are ready for this watch your daughter for potential crabbiness and cut it off with other distractions. Bring out each toy slowly... maybe some won't even come out on the departing trip. At the end of the flight we got so many comments on how great our daughter was and some passengers didn't even realize there was a kid on board until we started disembarking.



Good Luck, and have fun! This will be a memorable trip for everyone!

Allison - posted on 05/08/2010

when I take my 2 on a plane ages 5 and 2 I bring lots of toys and colouring books the have been on a plane every summer and every other Christmas since they were born. and since you have a diaper bag you can take a little something to eat as mine alway got hungry about half way thorough the plane ride.

Kelly - posted on 05/08/2010

my son was 12months when we flew (moved countries) and he was a terror on the plane. He was fine eating and playing but he was to excited to sleep which is when we had a problem... we found most people were ok about it and we only got bad looks from a few people.

All you can do it have food and some games for them - you just dunno how they are going to react to flying till it happens. Prepare for a trantrum and then if you dont get one you will be happy

Mary - posted on 05/08/2010

I flew with both my children at young ages......the flying at bed time worked for one and back fired for the other.....bring plenty of toys....plenty of food......and pray that you have the nice grandmotherly type sitting near you.......we had a man in front of us who obviously had no children and i was actually pleased when my son who was about 18 months at the time threw his elmo bedroom slipper at him....

Dora - posted on 05/07/2010

I recommend to try and schedule the flight during nap time if possible. Also if you have a portable DVD player and bring favorite movies. It can be a scary experience for your baby because it is a new environment, your enclosed in a small space and there will be quite a few strangers around.

Dina - posted on 05/07/2010

Do not rush, give yourself plenty of time to get there and settle at the gate. And being an airline employee myself, I have to tell you what we think...truthfully. "You pack it, you drag it." Do not expect to get help at every corner, if you do, consider it an extra. Do not carry a stroller either. Wherever you go, just buy a cheap 20 dollar pop-out stroller and leave it behind for future visits. Same with the car seat.

Sue - posted on 05/07/2010

Bring a bottle, pacifier(s), and or sippy cup, as take off and landing may be uncomfortable for her unless she can swallow and "pop" the pressure in her ears. Her favorite blanket or bedtime toy is always helpful, as well as snacks, because travel can make for upset tummies, you don't want to make it worse. If you can bring an umbrella stroller for the airport, that is always helpful for the long walks in the concourse. Most planes will stow it, you can bring it right to the gate. Just check with your airlines. If you are bringing the car seat with you, and you paid for her ticket, then of course bring the stroller that supports the car seat instead, again, most airlines will stow that for you once you board. Oh, and as a "passenger with young children" you get to board right after the first class passengers. Good luck and enjoy the trip!

Ritzy - posted on 05/07/2010

If you are taking your baby for a long journey u must keep some toys , food etc...when she gets bored , go for a little walk...so they will get to see people...new things...i took my baby to India and it was long enough to make him sick and bored..so this was the only thing helping me...he was just fine after a walk....

Amanda - posted on 05/07/2010

bring toys thats the only thing i can think of..