Air Travel with 14-Month-old

Hi B.,

My son has traveled since he was 11 months old (he's now 6 year old) on 8-hour-long flights. My tips in bullet points:

- Don't expect to rest on the flight; your role is to cater to your boy during the flight - unless you want to get dirty looks...

- Throw out all the rules about food etc. while on the plane. Stock up on the foods, including treats, he likes, and let him eat as often as he wants. He'll know that the plane is a special environment, and you won't destroy the habits you created by making an exception on the plane.

- Have a reserve of new cheap toys to present whenever he gets bored.

- Be ready to walk along the aisles a lot with him... at his age, he won't want to sit still for a long period of time.

Using those strategies, and a few others I outlined in an article I wrote (go to http://www.dailymastery.com/free.htm for the article, scroll down to the SuperMom section), I got compliments on how well behaved my son was on almost every plane trip I was on, and I think I used Benadryl children only once.

Hope this helps,
K.

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Hi, I have traveled with toddlers and young kids and I have learned that it is a good idea to pack a backpack for them. In the backpack, have snacks that you toddler likes and activities for them. Coloring books and crayons or some cars or a portable dvd player with movies that he may like.

Ooh...good luck! If you can afford it, I would DEFINITELY get him his own seat. It's not required, but having his own space would probably be helpful. You can take his carseat with you, and then he has a place to nap.

If he takes a bottle, the stewardesses can EITHER give you hot water for formula, or they can heat up whole milk (from the beverage cart) in a "sick bag" full of hot water. If he likes to color, I'd go find some of the triangular crayola crayons - they won't roll away! Definitely bring his lovey, and his favorite toys...maybe even some new ones! My father suggested this to me: Go to the dollar store and get some cheap, colorful toys. Wrap them individually in pretty paper, and hide them. Pull one out each hour (or 45 minutes...whatever) and let him unwrap it and play with that toy. Make sure you space them out over the entire flight (to and from!)

Does that help?

hi, im sure you will get lots of good advice, i just want to quickly say that all the stuff you bring for him to play with should be stuff that you can attach to the straps of his carseat with those rings or something safe. otherwise you will spend the whole flight squeezing down there to try to pick everything up, very annoying. use a stroller, a light folding cheap one, right up to the gate. and a smaller diaper bag within the big one, carrying him plus the bag up and down the aisle is a lot, with an extra extra diaper and onesie and shirt for yourself. the restroom is small and awkward for changes, be ready for messy mishaps. have fun :)

We just traveled by plane for the first time with our 15 month old twins. We were so nervous about what to expect but they were SOOO good!! Our flight was 2.5 hours so it wasn't too long either. We had a seat empty in between me and my husband which they took turns playing in and was a huge help to have that space for them. Here are some other things that worked for us... we had plenty of fluids for them to drink to prevent ear problems and had them drink during take off and landing. Have lots of snacks and things he likes to do. My kids love books with lift the flap pages, so this was a hit for us. We had overnight diapers for them in case it was a while before we could change them. They do have very small changing table in the already small bathroom on the plane, but it does the job if needed. I would suggest bringing fewer things he will enjoy rather than overstuffing your diaper bag with unnecessary things that will only get in the way. If you are sitting near the window he might really enjoy looking out as you poin things out to him. I hope these suggestions help! Enjoy your trip and good luck!!
Danielle

he can use a pacifier for the plane's take-off and landing, that might help him with ears' discomfort. Then, just have lots of snacks, and drink for him and his favorite toys(and not just for comfort, also ones that can entertain him for longer time), walk with him along the plane (when you're tired, let him do it himself - he won't escape from the plane and usually, people are understanding if they're a little bothered by a toddler). Well, that seems all (also depends on how long will be your trip), oh ya, almost forgot - for you - lots of patience. It'll be okey.

The only problem I see is frustrating passengers sitting near your child when he moves around his seat. Think about booking seats in the back of the plane by the window. You can distract him from his annoying activies by captivating his attention to things outside the window. With no passengers sitting behind your back, you'll have less complaints. Keep some fun toys to the plane!

take enough toys to keep him busy.... something to suck on during take off and landing ( you can even stuff cotton in his ear)... food depending on how long the flight is....enjoy! :)