Flying with 15 Month Old

We took my daughter to CA (4 hr. flight) when she was 13 mos. old and the best investment I made was a portable DVD player which you should fully charge before boarding. One with both an AC/DC adapter is perfect. I also took lots of snacks & juice. As far as toys go, anything that is NOT noisy. Definitely request bulk head seats when you check in. I also found feeding her BEFORE boarding to be helpful so I didn't have to juggle food on the plane & changing her right before boarding. (Those bathrooms are TOO tiny for changing diapers in.) The Ergo carrier is also a great idea, my arms & legs got really tired from having her on my lap the whole flight. Enjoy your flight & don't stress over it, I'm sure they'll do good! :)

ooh God, hope we're not on the same flight! I leave Saturday, same scenario, all the way to California with a 3 year old and an 18 month old how is very quick and agile. I'm wondering, do we "check" the second car seat or lug it to the plane "just in case" we hit the jackpot with another seat...ahhhh that would be nice. Good luck. Enjoyed the reading the responses

Good luck, I would bring lots of snacks, my little guy likes suckers, so I brought him a few suckers.

I asked that same question here about a year ago when my son was that age. I will tell you first of all, hands down, you should get him his own seat. It will make all of your lives so much easier. Not fun paying for it, but if your son is as wiggly as ours was at that age (still is) he will be trying to squirm out of your arms to run up and down the isles, climb under the seats, etc. If there's one thing I can suggest, it's get the extra seat. You strap his car seat into it so he will be accustomed to it and may even take a nap in it. As far as toys go, in my opinion, there is not just 1 toy that will entertain a child for a 3 hr flight. There are too many things going on, ears popping, noises, etc. We even went as far as to buy a portable DVD player with age appropriate head phones. That was a joke. He wouln't pay attention and was more interested in taking the head phones off rather than leaving them on. That obviously was a bust. The suggestion I got that really saved us to go to the dollar store or the dollar area of Target and buy him lots of little cheap toys. You can entice him with a new one when he starts getting bored, kids always love tearing open a wrapped gift and there's always something new he has never seen before to play with. Coloring books, stickers, little stretchy sticky things, etc. And make a big deal about it when you go to give it to him. That's honestly the best advice I can give. Hope it helps!

I second the get his own seat thing. Imagine being in line at the grocery store when your trying to hold him still while he tries to slither down at the same time your taking care of your other son. he will be trying to get away the entire time. people are staring he is screaming and you want to climb under the seat. thats a best case scenario. getting some small things are good. my kids loved magnadoodles. anything that talks or makes noise is good. although my grandkids had a small dvd player on the trip to disney last month and the man behind them complained it was too loud so it had to be turned off. guess he like the crying better lol. good luck
S.

forgot the biggest thing. Ask for the bulkhead seat. they save them for families with children. that way you have a little more leg room and he won't be throwing things onto the people in front of you

We are going to be in your boat (plane...) next month - only with girls of the same age. We have 3 seats for the 4 of us and are planning on sharing the baby on our laps too. I saw a pic from a friend with similar-age girls and the caption, "don't cry, don't cry!"

Definitely the dollar-store idea is a good one, and from experience don't get too excited and bring it all out at once, let each thing run its course. Also anything your son likes that takes a while to eat? That could eat up some time to bring a favorite snack. Save at least one or two things for the buckling-in at landing time. The DVD if you have one might be good to keep your 4 year old busy.

Good luck!

I have a friend who travels often with her 3 children and she says that her portable DVD player is a lifesaver. Your 15 month old son might be too little to truly enjoy an entire DVD, but it's just a suggestion.
I have a 17 month old who LOVES LOVES LOVES Baby Beethoven. That video is a lifesafer. He also loves playing with my cell phone. I can lock the keypad and he's a happy camper.
Good luck!