Flying with my 18 month old

Christine - posted on 09/29/2011

I have flown alot with my girls. I always buy/find a "new" toy for them to play with. A blanket is a must even if they are not "blanket" kids. Lots of snacks to chew on. Our toy bag is usually pretty large as kids that age don't stay interested in stuff for very long. So you have to keep changing it up. But our girls almost always sleep a good portion of the way. Sometimes even the whole flight.



Good luck to you. And don't fret, flying with kids is alot easier than the horror stories you always hear. :)

Valerie - posted on 10/11/2011

i took 2 flights with my 2yr old twins a few months ago and i have to say i totally agree with the gummy bears. they helped a lot. i packed lots of fun things coloring books and crayons, they have little leapfrog lap tops so those. and fun toys. and their spacific comfort items. i also packed some of their favorite snacks. if he uses a sippy cup that closes make sure the cup is open when you take off. on the way home we had one closed and when sh opened it it exploded all over her. i assume it was due to the inability to neautralize pressure from being closed. and idk about your son. but i have one little girls that likes to get into everything possible. they had their own seats and we brought the car seats on the plane. it is some extra lugging in the air port. but i reccomend it. we checked them on the way home and i couldnt get them to stop undoing their seat belts. they also seemed a little bit easier on the way their probably because they were used to theri seats. good luck and have a great trip.

Michelle - posted on 10/05/2011

I've flown by with my 2 & 1/2 year old daugher and 6 month old son. I also flew with my daughter before our son was born. My big tips are pack lots of treats - small things that they can eat/drink. Have a favourite snack for take off and landing something you know they can't resist - it will help his ears! Even if it is fruit if they don't eat it all you can, or you can dispose of it before customs if flying international. Wrap small gifts up (it takes that few more minutes to unwrap) - toy cars, books, one of those write and erase drawing board things with the pen attached so it can't get lost, paper and crayons. Whatever your child likes to do.
Most planes have individual TVs now so you can select kids programs if you really need to. A Favourite toy is a must. Change of clothes. Buy some extra water or take an empty water bottle and ask the cabin crew to fill it for you. Don't worry, it is a lot easier than you imagine. Happy travels!

Janet - posted on 09/30/2011

I fly from Germany to the East Coast at least once a year. I have a 4yr old boy and a 2yr old girl and they've been flying since in utero. My best advice for 18 months is a pacifier or sippy cup and depending on the time of the flight, no naps and he'll sleep during the longest leg of the flight. Ziploc bag of Cheerios or other fav snack. Security check will allow you basically anything you want in your diaper bag: juice, water, diaper cream and it counts as his carry on, not yours. I have my own backpack full of stuff like extra clothes for everyone, including my husband, in case of exploding diaper. Yes it has happened and no I wasn't prepared. Bring along easy to pack toys like his fav board book or rattly toy. You can also check your stroller at the gate. I use mine like a mule! Since they board families and disabled after first class, the staff usually try to find you an extra seat if there is one available near the front. If they don't, ask for it :) A lot of other passengers are understanding and will trade seats to help out. I hope this helps and remember to breathe!

Sarah - posted on 09/30/2011

We are a traveling family planes, trains, cars, etc. we are always on the go, so here are some tips that keep kids happy and parents sane!
Go to the dollar store buy lots of play things and trinkets that are age appropriate and/or colorful wrap each indiviudally (unwrapping can be the most fun part!) to give out sporadically thru the trip.
Snacks, drinks, food (gum might be a bad idea for one so young) are also a great idea. Treats that he isn't allowed all the time keep him interested, but as always remember your child's age limitations!
If you own a smart phone or portable dvd player bring that with you to use where electronics are allowed bring a few dvds from your kiddos "favorites" (cool new apps on your phone- age appropriate, of course) and if you are so inclined have a new dvd in the wrapped stash to break out if things get bad.
If your son normally has a security object bring it with you! 60k feet in the air on board an airplane with 100 other people is not the time to be breaking your child of their attachment to their most beloved object.
Make sure everyone gets as much rest the night before leaving as possible- having an overly tired munchkin can make everything harder. If you are stressed out about the ordeal to come your son will be too, so when it all hits the fan and it will at some point take a deep breath and RELAX your mental state will dictate your child's mood.
Good luck

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/12/2011

Wendi, you won't be able to take any water unless it's in a bottle and under 4oz. They'll pour it out at security to test it too. I had formula just in case I had a problem breast feeding on the plane.

They should at least offer water on a 2hr flight. I wasn't offered anything from Rochester to Toronto back in June, but when I flew from Seattle to Kelowna 2 years ago they had water.

Wendi - posted on 10/12/2011

My daughter will be 15 mths old when i fly in November. i thinking of bringing lots of different kinds of toys to keep her occupied and different snacks. sweet stuff to salty stuff. I was thinking to bring water. it is going to be a 2 hour flight, my first time flying with her without nursing so i am a bit nervous.

Wendi - posted on 10/12/2011

it helped brittney to nurse my daughter during take off when she was 7 mths old. she slept most of the way and liked to look out the window. She was really good and talkative.

♥♪Megan♫♥ - posted on 10/12/2011

I flew by myself with my 7 year old and now 7 month old back in June from New York to British Columbia.

The 7 year old was easy from ON to BC- Air Canada has tv screens on the back of the seats plus she had her markers and took a few naps. My 7 month old was 3 months at the time so she slept and napped.

Make sure your son is drinking something on take offs and landings so the pressure change won't hurt his ears. Bring him some snacks he might like as well as any toys. The change tables in the plane's washroom aren't very large, so good luck with that.

Try to pack light as well. I couldn't do that because I was moving across the country. It's easier to push a stroller when you don't have a million carry ons as well. Thankfully I had my 7 year old to help.

Jordan - posted on 10/12/2011

I flew by myself with my 2 1/2 and 1 year old sons and the best thing I did was consolidating. The hardest thing was keep track of them so I packed as little as possible and used a bug diaper bag so I could throw my purse on it and I put our tickets and my ID in my pocket so I didn't have to dig for them when we went through security or boarded the plane. Good luck!

Christina - posted on 10/11/2011

If you have an iPad or dvd player...take it along with your little ones fav shows! Also pack plenty of snacks and things your little one likes to do. My daughter and I have flown back and forth to and from Florida and Australia (36 hours total) once a year for the past few years and are going again in a few weeks. She loves to color so I make sure I buy a bunch of the crayola mess free books and markers, as well as crayons and color books. She also loves her Tag reader so we bring that as well.

And don't forget a change of clothes, just in case!

Antoinette - posted on 10/09/2011

My mum and I flew with my 9mo son, 18mo daughter and 4yo sister the nightmare for us was the check in and baggage collection because my mum is a little crippled and slow (physically) so I was essentially wrangling all 3 kids by myself and the 4yo wanted to explore and the 18mo wanted to follow her - thank goodness I had the baby front pack and a toddler harness!!!

As for the flight as suggested before snacks, drinks, toys, changes (not just for baby).

Some people suggest favourite toys but for big trips I also think something new helps because it's new and they take a bit longer to get bored with it. It doesn't have to be expensive, my kids like makeup/facepaint, little stickers and bubbles/balloons. Also lollipops (I prefer the small flat ones over the fat spherical ones (chupachups) because I almost always find them half eaten and stuck somewhere annoying. Or mini m&m's or chocolate chips or dried fruit.

Also if you have a choice find flights that do coincide with nap times (unlike the time that I didn't even look at the time, just thought ooh thats cheap and ended up having to catch a 1hr flight with the kids at 10.30pm then having to retrieve our car and drive another 1.5hrs home! DUMB!)



GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Amanda - posted on 10/09/2011

use your carry on bag for snacks, toys, diapers, wipes and a cup/bottle of juice. I flew from illinois to florida with a 20 month old, a 12 month old and i was 9 months pregnant and our trip was hectic but we had 4 flight changes. and if you can, try to have him nap on one of the flights. it will give you some sanity lol

Jill - posted on 10/06/2011

i took my almost 1 year old from ohio to arizona and she was fabulous! what helped me the most was knowing there was another baby on board and when he cried, i barely heard him because of the humming of the plane. dont worry too much about your child fussing b/c the humming will help muffle his cries. books, coloring books, snacks, etc. if you should get desperate, after the flight attendants are done walking up and down the aisle, take him to the back of the plane and let him stand for a while. the flight attendants on my flight loved entertaining her for a few minutes, especially when i had to go the bathroom!

Joy - posted on 09/30/2011

My daughter flew when she was 8 or 9 months old. We nursed through the trip as much as she would allow. If your son's still nursing (mine's still nursing at 25 months now), you could do that to help with take off & landing. If he's not, then probably a sippy cup/bottle - whatever you use, just so his jaw works enough so his ear'll adjust (I've heard older children use gum or candy.) At 18 months having toys, books & favorite things should also work for boredom.

Sapna - posted on 09/30/2011

having my son drink from a bottle during take-off never helped as the ear discomfort probably got too much for him to even try drinking then....so i figured out whispering to him in his ears or singing softly into his ears helped him divert his mind....i suggested this to many, and they certainly felt it helped...take care...

Apna - posted on 09/29/2011

keep some powdered sugar for him to suck on it will help with the take off n landing... his fav toys ( carry a few coz they tend to get bored with ne or two), his blankie and some snacks and juice for the journey.. carry light warm clothes especially socks since the inflight temperature is quite cool.. All the best with your flight! everything will be just fine :)

Brittany - posted on 09/29/2011

I've heard that having them drink from a bottle helps with takeoff/landing as well. Has anybody tried that?

Brittney - posted on 09/29/2011

I took a trip from Texas to Florida and that best thing is too take things that will entertain him along with something he can put in her mouth that way his ears dont pop.. just like how we chew on gum, Get some coloring caryons and a coloring book or a portable dvd player..Some airport will allow u to being sippy cups with juice in them i know I was allowed to at the San Antoino Airport... Have his fav. blanket and stuff animal.. Good Luck everything will be fine..

Carmen - posted on 09/29/2011

I just took a trip from ny to ks. we stopped once in philly. I let xander walk around at the airports. but i used my shoulder carrier for him hes a tad bit big for it. but it helped me keep him seated while flying. actually he slept pretty much the whole time! i would make sure to buy milk before boarding the plain get it after security though. they will tak eit if you dont. i know they took his choc. milk. and pack snacks and toys in your carry on. Good Luck and safe travels!

Alicia - posted on 09/29/2011

i have never flown with my daughter, but my husband did. she was 17 months old and flew from washington to florida, which was also 2 flights. i packed the carry on bag with things i thought would help keep her busy for multiple hours on his lap. i packed my netbook with movies on it because it has a 12 hour battery life before needing to be charged.i packed coloring stuff, her favorite blanky, and a few little toys that could be played with on the tray. i packed snacks, sweet and salty stuff. the important thing was i packed gummy bears because they take a lot of chewing and my husband said that was perfect for take off and decent because its like chewing gum. you can pack on your carry on as many snacks as you like and it can still go thru the gate, just no liquid. so my husband bought juice and water before boarding the plane. and dont forget a change of clothes, and an extra sippy incase you lose it. my husband said it was much easier than he ever expected, she was GREAT both plane rides and he was the one freaking out. haha. hope this helped a little! :)