Flying for Thanksgiving

A friend of mine loves to take a Magna Doodle or Aqua Doodle along instead of coloring books (no crayons to lose). Definitely get him some new toys to open on the plane.

We have no family close to us so we fly a lot. Our son is a pretty good flyer but we have our bad times and trust me you'll get the looks but what can you do? We bring things to suck on for take off and landing. We also bring the DVD player, books, toys, etc. Our son always does really well flying to our destination it's the flight home that is so hard because he gets off schedule while visiting and becomes over exhausted from the visit. You know when he was younger I use to do the Tylenol and totally slipped my mind the last couple times. I might go back to trying that. Also we never got him a seat but depending where you are flying out of you might be able to get a extra seat which makes it much easier! Since we moved here to Michigan our flights are always full so we never get an empty seat anymore which makes it hard. Now that our son is turning two we have to start buy the seats :( Good Luck and I'm sure you'll do fine!

Don't stress about it...I've learned that I always expect the worse when it comes to things like this and it always turns out just fine. There are so many things on the plane (window shade, tray table, etc.) that will keep your baby busy. Just relax and don't stress - your trip will be fine.

S.,

I don't think it's wrong at all. If it's going to help him (and you!) relax and it's not going to harm him at all, then GO FOR IT! I was lucky enough that my son loved Baby Einstein DVD's at that age, so he'd watch movies on flights on our portable DVD player. My sister gets toys from the Dollar store and puts them in brown paper bags, and lets him open a "present" every hour. Hey, it's $4 well spent! Good luck!

When my daughter was 11 months old we traveled to California on a plane. She also was a very active child. I called her pediatrician to find out what I could do to keep her calm and prevent the ear popping. She told me to give her Benedryl and have her suck on something during take off and landing. I felt a little weird about giving her benedryl but it was wonderful. It isn't that you are drugging your child but making the flight a lot nicer for them. My husband and I also went up to the counter and asked if they had any seats available in the front of the plan (not first class) so that she would have some room to walk and play. They usually did and made the change for us.

S.,
Not only do I work for an airline, but I have two children as well. By the time my oldest was 4, she had been on 38 different planes. Traveling can be tough, but I have found several things to work for those LONG flights.
First of all, I would suggest giving the baby some night-time tylenol about a half an hour before your flight takes off. No, I would not consider this to be "drugging" your baby because he will need the medicine. The pressure in his ears from the take-off and landing will be nearly intollerable for him. Tylenol will ease the pain and help him to sleep through the most painful part of the flight. If he is not asleep when you take-off and land, have him be sucking on a bottle, pacifier or sippy cup. The sucking motion also alleviates pain in the ears. But this part can be tricky. TSA does not allow any liquids, gels or pastes larger than 3 oz through security and these items in shops in the airport are farely costly. So, this is a copy-and-paste of info from my work intranet site:

Customers may have the following items, but must declare them to TSA at the security checkpoint if the items are not contained in a clear transparent resealable 1 quart (1 liter) size plastic bag and/or the size of the containers exceed travel size (3 oz):

Baby formula or milk (to include breast milk), baby food and/or juice in containers if a baby or small child is traveling
Medications (liquid, gel, and aerosol)
Liquids (to include juice) or gels for diabetic or other medical needs
Items used to augment the body for medical or cosmetic reasons such as mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids; and,
Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically-related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

Customers may be subjected to a secondary screening if they enter the screening checkpoint with liquids, gels, and aerosols on their person or in their carryon bag.

If you have any other questions about what you are allowed to bring for your baby, you should either contact your airline or call TSA at 1-866-289-9673.

I hope this information is helpful.

As a mom whose daughter is now grown, my best advice to you would be to do your best to keep the baby occupied, and should he get cranky or a little out of control, just give a sincere apology to those being annoyed around you. You have just as much to be on the plane as they do, but when my husband and I travel with little ones aboard and the mom and dad just allow the child to carry on, kick seats, etc an apology goes a long way - Happy travels :-)

My 2-year-old daughter has been on at least a dozen planes now, and after all the stress it causes, I don't think anyone would hold it against you to give him something to relax him. Four and a half hours on a plane with him will probably take you to your limit, honestly.

Other ideas: If there is any other open seat on the plane, I suggest you and your husband switching off baby duty. Take the baby to the bathroom a few times and take your time. Let him walk down the aisles. My daughter is also very active! If you can switch your seats to either the first or last row, that would help. Less people to bother in the last row, and more room in the first row.

One thing we do every time we fly with her, is we half-jokeingly apologize to everyone around us beforehand. They all usually laugh and say it's ok. It makes people much more tolerant! It may sound dumb, but I always put my daughter in a really cute outfit for the plane too for the same reason.

Just make sure you have a sippy cup, lots of snacks, a few new toys, and unusual things (cell phones, head phones, lipstick container, etc.). Good luck!

My kids get car sick and I give them dramamine. If it helps calm him why not use it? Just make sure he has a bag of toys he's never had before to play with. New toys can eat up a lot of time while he explores what they do. Good luck!!!!!

I've flown a lot with the kids. The answer is in a bag of tricks. Find toys - like little coloring books, stickers, books using a wipe off marker, play do, cars or little people, little airplanes, books. Not things that roll like balls. I usually stock up on new toys and make up a special backpack for the kids that they can open on the plane. If you do decide to try to calm him down with medicine sometimes Benadryl works. Make sure you test it before hand! Some kids get hyper active on it. Think about chewy snacks for landing and take off. Pretzals or cereal or starburst or suckers if he is old enough. And have an empty sippy cup to bring along - they should have juice and water on the plane. Some people do portable DVD players, but he is probably too young too be interested in that. Remember he'll take his cues from you so you need to be calm and smile. And ask for help if you need it. Many people have been in your shoes and would rather help distract the kid than listen to him scream!

I have never had my daughter on a plane before but we have taken 4 hour long drives during holidays to see family, and she gets very antsy, as she is very active as well. She got a portable dvd player for her 1st birthday, and we hooked that up in our car, and it works a miracle! She used to cry and fuss and want out of her seat, but after we attached the dvd player in our car, she just sits there and watches her dvds. She doesn't usually watch much tv at home, so it was like a special treat for her when she did get in the car. My mother-in-law got it for her, and I think it was around 60-70 dollars. She even wears headphones now, but she is almost 2, so I don't know if your son would wear those. Anyway, just a suggestion as it really helped us out!

All response are great!!! DVD plyer-yes!!!! Also, make sure you take an extra set of clothes in your carry on for him. I know it seems like it takes up alot of room, but just pack something like pj's that is small. I've learned from experenince that this can be a life saver. One time during take-off on a 3hr flight, my daughter pooped (a blowout) and it came out of her diaper onto her clothes!!!! I thankfully had extra clothes with me and changed her in the bathroom.

Flying is always a challenge. My husband and I actually flew from Nebraska to NYC this past August when our daughter was 14 months old. There are definately a lot of different things you can try. As far as the teething tablets are concerned- this is NOT drugging your child. Teething tablets are homeopathic- very natural. They also work differently for different children. I give them to me daughter occassionally (she's getting all four molars in at once right now). They help a little bit, but they won't do the trick for the whole flight. First and for most, assuming your little one is on the move now- probably toddling all over- let her walk, crawl, run all over before you get on the place. Get to the airport early enough so that you can walk around with him and really let him play- almost trying to tire him out a bit. On the plane, I would definately suggest binky, bottle, or breast for take off and landing if possible. Other favrotie snack are always great as well. I know my daughter loves the gold fish crackers. Also have his favaorite juice or something in a sippy cup. Bring a few favrotie toys, and, as was suggested to me by a friend, get a brand new toy (just something small, but something you know he'll like) and wait and give it to him on the plane. He'll probably be distracted and hopefully want to play with this new object. Introduce him to all sorts of things on the plane. My daughter and I sat on the inside by the window (so I could breastfeed) and she loved looking out and opening and closing the window. She also like the air blowing on her face and pushing the button for the light up above your seats.
At this age, really anything to distract would work.
I have heard of people giving some kind of Niquil or something, but I wouldn't want to drug my child with something like that.
Basically, you never know what going to happen when you get on that plain!
Good luck!

My daughter is 9 months on the 14th of Nov and she loves those teething pills. They do not make her groggy or anything, so I don't think it would be like drugging your son. You should definitely give them a try. You can get them at Walgreens or Wal-Mart.
Hope you have a good trip!

The teething tablets are great but they probably won't do much to keep him busy. I have had great sucess with TOYS! I have traveled alot with my daughter and before I started buying her her own seat I would buy a bunch of toys at the dollar store to take with us. You can give him a new toy every 30 minutes or so and you don't have to worry about him losing them or dropping them since they only cost a dollar. Plus, rmember half of the fun is opening the package, so let him open each new toy to take up even more time. GOOD LUCK!

Forget the teething pills...they don't work. Bring a sippy cup along...the sucking will help his ears. You might have to bring it empty but once you pass security you might be able to get a beverge to put in it. Otherwise, ask at the gate if you can get something to put into the cup when you get on the plane.

I agree with the toys...but something without a lot of pieces. The magna doodle is a good idea as are magnetic toys (put those in the basket at teh security check).

Does he like to be read to? My girls LOVE their Storybook Reader. It reads to the kids...has cartridges and books you pop in. When you turn the page it continues reading (you don't have to keep up). You can get earphones with it, too.

Just remember to keep him engaged...point at things out the window...talk to him...if he's not sleepy trying to get him to sleep might make him act up.

Good Luck and have a great visit!

I agree with everybody about new, interesting, cheap toys. I flew with my son on a 24 hour trip when he was 18 months. He had his very own bag for toys, snacks, etc. I don't agree with the "teething pill" though. My son was always engaged if I played with him. He would color a lot longer if I colored the page beside his. He enjoys the window seats--where I can let him stand up and look out the window all he wants. As soon as you check in for your flight ask if there are any open seats and you may luck out and be able to sit somewhere where your son has his own seat. I've had that happen a lot (and you still don't have to pay for it). When other passengers play peek-a-boo with him, let them! It gives you a break for a moment. If he cries or screams, don't worry about the other passengers being annoyed--they can deal with it because your child is more important to you than what they think. Worrying that he's being too loud/moving too much/making a mess is just going to make the trip stressful and you don't need that. I've also learned with my son that I can't expect to get any shut-eye during the flight. Good luck, and have fun with your son on the plane because it won't be as bad as you are thinking!

One option is to ask if the person that is in the aisle seat could switch with you, when the time comes. We traveled with my son last thanksgiving and having an aisle seat was a godsend. He was 11 months at the time, and an active little boy, but he did really well...I just made sure that we had a bottle for him and snacks.

I totally agree on the snacks, sippy cup for his ears, toys, and being prepared for the worst just in case. Absolutely let him get his energy out before the flight as much as possible. One thing I have done is get toys and wrap them like presents. They were toys like the magna doodle, book for us to read, etc but it made it even more exciting to open the present. I had about one present for every hour of flying(sometimes we had to pull them out after about 30 minutes,lol). Good Luck!

Dear S.,

As a single mom who flew with my son many times when he was 18 mos - 4 years old, prepare yourself for a difficult time. Your son may be wild, inconsolable, in pain (ears due to air pressure changes), loud (perhaps screaming), restless, and may be a considerable annoyance to those around you. You could exhaust yourself trying to calm him and have absolutely no control. If you expect that, then you won't feel like a total incompetent failure. And, he might be a perfect angel! But seriously, my suggestion is expect the worst, don't feel incompetent or guilty, don't worry what ANY one else on the plane is thinking, and just try to stay as calm as you can yourself. Good luck and I sincerely hope my negative predictions are wrong! Happy travels. It will only get better as he gets older. :)

Hey! I would bring lots of toys, books and treats. Something that has helped us with our long flights and drives is a little portable DVD player. Our daughter loves Baby Einstein. You can get a fairly cheap one at Wal-Mart.
Good Luck!

Hi S.:
I flew with my son when he was 18 months old it was a 45 min flight from Grand Forks, ND to Minneapolis then about 2 1/2 hours to our destination, Pittsburgh. He did really well until about the last 45 min when he started getting cranky. I got some dirty looks from a guy a few seats up but I ignored him bc he apparently didint have children or he would have understood. Anyway, I just made sure that I packed stuff to entertain him in the carry on. I was also lucky enough to sit next to people who helped to entertain him. One lady was very helpful and even helped with his stoller down the escalator. I recommend, if you dont already have one, that you purchase one of the $15 light weight collapsaple strollers. Work with it before you leave though so that you are not holding up the line because they will store it in baggage. You can keep it right up until you get to the entrance of the plane then collapse it and they will take it and give you a ticket to claim it when you change planes or arrive at your final destination.
Maybe take him to the store before and allow him to pick out a toy or two that you can fit into a carry on. As far as things like ears popping I didint notice any signs that my son had this problem but i guess it can differ depending on altitude. So if he is still taking the bottle or pacifier have one on hand because the sucking will help. Good luck with your trip,
K.
I just read through the other responses and I came across that said her child played with the window shades. My son seemed to get a kick out of opening and closing those too. It can drive you crazy after a while though depending on your tolerance level, of course i had gone out with my friends the night before and had a little too much fun and was stuck flying with a bit of a hangover so I would def avoid that, lol!

You probley wont be able to keep him seated the whole flight. But our first plane ride we brought books, colors, and one of those video nows. But I got up with my daughter and let her walk every once and awhile just so she could see what was going on.