I will be flying with my 19 month old son this weekend. He is an "easy" baby / toddler, but very active. This will be the first time we've flown since he was an infant and my husband won't be accompanying me this time. I am wondering about how to manage all the stuff and what other moms think is most important to bring along. It is a 2 hour flight, I plan on letting him run around as much as possible before we get on and having snacks and new activities to play with on the flight. I am thinking about bringing his carseat so he can sit in it during the flight, but I'm not sure how to wrangle it to the gate, too. I am interested in your advice and ideas especially regarding all the new rules about what you can bring onboard.
Thank you very much ladies. We had a great trip and everything, on his end, went well! I was another matter! I consolidated my purse and his diaper bag into one bag which attached to his stroller. My briefcase was packed with my computer (ahh, the joys of being self employed!) and books for him. That fit in the bottom of the stroller. I did get the pac back car seat carrier and that was a great help. And I had some new toys and some new books which I brought out over the course of the flight. That also worked well. But, I got to the airport late and it took along time to get all our stuff through security. I have to say that sending a car seat through the x-ray is a great way to get rid of all those hidden morsels of food! I had to roll my eyes as I looked back to see if I'd left anything! I had intended to buy some milk, juice and yogurt for the flight once I was through security, but I got to the gate about 3 minutes before they closed it, so I had no time to do that. Note to self: getting to the airport 2 hours ahead is really a good idea. The flight attendants were a great help though. They got us in and buckled the car seat in for me, thank goodness, because I hadn't figured out how to do that yet. And they got us milk before we took off.
I am glad I had the car seat because I think it was comforting to him since it is familiar. He definitely got the idea that we were flying; as we took off he watched out the window and then started saying "All done! All done!" I closed the shades then and got out a book. Later we looked out the windows at the clouds and he seemed to accept it fine. We also had the distinct pleasure of changing a (wet only, thank goodness) diaper during the flight because we hadn't been able to do that before we got on board either. We did it in the teeeeensy bathroom. Happily, he can stand now, and I managed to get a new diaper on. Otherwise the only place to lay a baby down is on your lap or the seat next to you.
On the return flight, having learned my lesson, I got to the airport plenty early... so, of course, the flight was delayed by an hour! And while the pac back is very handy, it's not a lot of fun to wear while you walk up and down, and up and down the concourse. There were a few windows with views of the planes that provided nice distractions and some interesting sculptures to look at as well as several other moms and tots walking up and down, and up and down the concourse, too. By the time we got on he was well past his nap time. I tried to get him to fall asleep, but he never sleeps anywhere but in a bed, so that was a lost cause. Luckily, he is an easy baby, so I just kept entertaining him with stories and toys. He finally fell asleep in the car about ten minutes from home!
All in all it went pretty well. We had a big adventure. I really appreciate all your advice. Thank you.
I would agree with the Portable DVD idea. I would not bring a carseat if you are alone. I would pile all you can onto your stroller. I did bring the large stroller because I could pile more onto it and did not have to break my back. They will gate check it for you. When you get to the gate ask for a tag. Let him run around before getting on the plane then surprise him with a movie and another activity that he does not get very often.
I fly with my 3 children all the time by myself (twin 4 yr olds and a 1 year old). As long as you bring stuff that will totally entertain your little one and snacks the flight will just fly by. Also you may want to bring on board if he has a favorite blanket or lovie. All my kids have/had one and that helped for when they might have gotten a bit nervous or if they wanted to go to sleep. Portable dvd's are truly a lifesaver. I also use to wrap new toys like presents so not only did they think they got a new present but they got the excitement of getting to unwrap it. Depending on how long the flight was I planned on giving them a "new" item every 30 minutes or so. Shoot ya could go to the dollar store and pick up stuff, it is amazing that kids love the stuff that doesn't cost ya barely anything. Also I bring 2-3 new books as well. I just flew with my daughter at the beginning of Aug and brought a sippy of milk and juice and was able to get it through security. They told me as long as it is in a sippy or bottle, that it was fine. Snacks are also major hits for my kids. Snacks that they dont normally get but I know they love was fun for them.
We just recently took a trip on a plane with our 22 month old. He is easy but active as well and I was sort of freaking out beforehand. I bought him a small elmo backpack and filled it with crayons, a new coloring book, and a color wonder w/ markers . A book to look at, and some other small toys not really worth anything in case they dropped on the plane was in there too. He didn't see the bag until we got to the airport, and it even helped keep him busy while waiting to board. We were also able to purchase a portable dvd w/ a capacity for 5hr battery life. This was the biggest life saver because he loves thomas the train and we brought a small carry on dvd holder that held 4-5 dvds. We wouldn't have been able to make the trip without it, and it was a good investment because it kept him busy on the beach when he got bored, in the hotel room when we wanted to watch tv, and for future trips by air or car. i won't take another trip without that thing!! good luck...Holly
K., did you buy a seat for him? If so, I really recommend a product called the CARES harness (you can google it). It is an FAA approved flying restraint. We have used it with our daughter and it's the best product ever!
That way, you can just put your son in an umbrella stroller until you get to the gate; they will check it for you there. If you feel you need the carseat on the other end of the trip, you can just check yours with your luggage and don't have to lug it through the airport (I do curbside checking; it's worth the $3 per bag to not have to lug it around.)
You can bring almost anything on board. Through security, you can bring diapers, wipes, and all kinds of food. You can also bring an EMPTY bottle or cup and then just buy some water or milk once you are through security; you can bring it on the plane.
Oh, and they WILL ask you to remove your son's shoes at security. So be warned!
I think my daughter was around that age when I took her to Florida. It was just the two of us, my husband couldn't get away. I purchased and used this backpack thing that carries your car seat and took an umbrella stroller which I took up the plane and then they will tag it and put it in the cargo hold. It'll be there waiting for you when you get off the plane too. Keep your carry on bag a manageable size and think of combinging your purse with that bag and check all other bags. Below is the link for that back pak thing. My husband laughed at me but I had lots of Moms in the airport tell me they wish they had something like that when they traveled with their kids. The only hard part is making sure when you turn around you don't hit people with it since it sticks out quite a bit from your back. http://www.familyonboard.com/pac_back_carseat_backpack.html
It was a lifesaver and very easy to get on and to get off. I would recommend a car seat on the plane. Other then being a good safety precaution, it kept my daughter contained. She's used to being in the car in her carseat and knowing she can't get out so it was the same thing on the plane and she didn't really copmlain. I kept her busy with lots of acitvities (I got a ton of stuff from the dollar store and saved it for the flight and when she got bored I pulled a new toy out). I also boareded last. I found no reason to be first on the plane. Let him run around until the last minute.
Check out what the Transportation Safety Administration says about traveling with children.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm
Have fun! I found the thought of traveling alone with my toddler much scarier then it actually was!
I just flew with my 20 month old son over Labor Day! Our flight was only an hour, but here's what I did:
1. I packed a backback with my carry on stuff and snacks/toys/portable DVD player. The portable DVD player was a life saver and my son loved watching the Baby Einsteins. I also went to the library and checked out some DVD's and some new books he's never seen. Another hit, the mini-etch-a sketch, he loved playing with that. I had a sippy cup of milk for the take off and didn't offer it until we were getting ready to take off.
2. I put my son in an umbrella stroller and strolled around the airport until I reached the gate. Once you pre-board, you can gate check your stroller and it will be waiting for you as you get off the plane at your destination.
As far as the carseat goes, if you paid for a seat for him, the car seat probably wouldn't be a bad idea, that way he'll think he's in the car. If he's a lap child, and if the flight is full, you lugged the car seat around the entire airport, plus your son, plus your carry-on and it's a BIG hassle.
Also, when I packed, I just packed 1 suitcase for my son and me vs. 2 suit cases, it was much easier to check.
Another thing, we left Midway just fine, but when we were coming back to Chicago, the airport I was leaving from asked for my son's shot record and/or birth certificate. I've never been asked for these documents and I've flown with my son over 4 times in the past 5 months. The agent said that he would have to charge me a ticket if I could not produce these documents to verify his age. I was furious b/c I was unaware of this requirement. Apparenlty if you have a lap child (one where you don't buy a ticket b/c he's under 2), and he looks close to 2, you have to verify his age. So something to consider if you don't have a ticket for your son, you might want to bring a copy of his birth certificate.
Good luck and have a safe trip!
Hi K.,
I travel with my daughter to Vegas 1-2 times a year to visit grandparents and the must have is a portable dvd player. It is a life saver! I also use a sit-n-stroll with my daughter. It is a bit pricey (around $200.00) but so worth it. It is a stroller that converts to a carseat and is approved for airplanes by the faa. Just a bit of advice- if you take a carseat on the plane the seat has to be by the window and cannot be in an exit row. If you have already booked your seat and it is not by a window just go to the counter at the gate and let them know and they can reseat you. This has happened to me. I fly AA and they are really helpful. Let them know that you need help-don't be afraid to ask. AA has always been very helpful with me.
here is the website for the sit-n-stroll.
http://www.sitnstroll.com/
Good Luck,
R.
