Help! Five Hour Flight with a Mobile 1 Yr Old!

We just flew with my 11 month old, and the baby bjorn or any front carrier, was a life saver, he sat in it the whole flight, kept him contained and slept well.
We usually dont use the carrier, but i was recomned it for the flight.

Relax that is the biggest thing. If you stress and worry the child will pick up on it and copy. Have them help back a small bag with things they want to take. Then back a back up back up bag with new stuff they have never seen or not seen in a long time. Snacks and drinks are always helpfull.

My daughter is now 5 and I have traveled with her by plane a couple of times and by plane and by car. The car was longer cause it was from oregon to florida. So the back up bag was worth it. I never used a dvd player to entertain her. I foudn some window clings that were mickey and minnie and that is very entaining to stick them and re stick them.

Good luck to you.

It might be easier than you think. We took our daughter to Hawaii but fortunately we spent the money and got an extra seat. We took her car seat and that saved us a lot. Take lots of snacks that they have to pull out themselves, like Gerber fruit snacks and lots of new to them toys, crayons, paper, stickers, whatever you think might be of interest. Cut out a bunch of pictures from a magazine and stuff them into the barf bag and let your little one pull them out and talk about the pictures. We also took a dvd player and about 3 different shows. I would suggest dvds that have short stories rather than one long one since this age gets bored fast and those short stories keep them focused for longer. I'd really suggest to do you best to not have to walk up and down the aisle because once you start, that is it and you will be doing it the whole time and although many flight attendants understand, you could get the evil one. Plus it is kind of dangerous anyhow to have them walking around. I found that when our daughter wanted down, I just let her stand up between my legs and play with toys. I have to say that we lucked out because not once did I have to walk her down the aisle except for the bathroom/diaper change visits.
Maybe you will be lucky and he will fall asleep for a majority of the time. Our daughter was awake the whole flight!!!
Good luck

I have just flown to Alaska with my 21month old from Seattle washington. I too was worried about how to keep him sitting down but the flight attendants let him walk the aisle and we had our 6yr old with us so we took up a whole row. We took a lot of activities, juice and his favorite bear. I did forget snacks so my 6yr old complained she was so hungery. Lesson learned. My 21month old slept the first hour and a half. When he woke up it was refreshment time. They also had a Electronic DVD player that we rented for 10 dollars. This help us not having to carry to much with us. It was a pleasent flight except at the end where he needed a diaper change and we couldnt move since we were desending. Arthur (the 21mnth old) had a binkie and that worked wonders on take off and landing. Our flight was late afternoon and it worked fine because he was tired out from the day and had his regular nap.

My advice is sit in the first row. You know the one that has no underseat area, but WAY more leg area. I think it is called the bulk head. Anyway, this is the perfect area to lay down a blanket and let your son sit and play on the floor. Or, if he wants to walk around, you just sit on the isle seat and block him from leaving the small area. It worked great for us with my active 1 year old.

We just flew from OR to Washington DC with our VERY active 1 year old. This is what saved us, we asked if there was an extra seat on the plane and there was so we brought our car seat and he sat in that most the time. He was more willing to sit there than in our laps. We also brought a ton of toys and a ton of food--food we normally wouldn't want him to eat, like gerber fruit snacks (those were a nice break/treat). We also brought a big bag full of toys (finger puppets from IKEA ended up being the surprise hit of the trip--he loved them!). We also didn't bring anything to entertain us--psychologically it is important to prepare yourself for being on high intensity parenting the entire flight...I think...

We also asked his pediatrician about benadryl and gave him some on the trip home during his morning nap time to help him get back on West Coast time--our kid is not a sleeper so during our 12 hours of traveling each way he slept about 1 hour. If your baby doesn't sleep well don't expect the plane to put them to sleep--I was glad we had planned on him not sleeping because when he took his hour nap we were just really happy.

All and all it went so well--he was so good--but he also had new things coming and going constantly. We also put him by the window and his dad and I took turns sitting by him to keep a fresh parent on duty--the aisle parent was support staff, finding toys, preparing snacks etc. Some people made both legs of trip with us and everyone commented on how good he was. Good Luck! Traveling with a running around 1 year actually made the flight time go really quickly.

Try not to stress too much because well, whatever happens happens. It will go how it does. I say this because we just completed our first plane rides with our 20 month old girl who also just wants to do her own thing and doesn't like sitting for long periods. It all went much better than we anticipated. The DVD player was a LIFE SAVER! It can come in handy at restaurants as well as on the plane. Bring any DVDs he's into. I've heard other moms say to not expect them to sleep, but our daughter did - and that was a nice time killer. The only other thing I'd suggest would be a couple of books he likes. My girl likes the kind of books where you can open flaps and see things underneath and things like that. Also, don't be afraid to walk him up and down the aisle a few times if he's antsy. People are probably more understanding than you expect and the flight attendents are all very nice. AND - if he cries or fusses - the flight will be over at some point and everyone will just move on with their day. Good luck and have fun!

I have a 13 mo old and we have flown about 6 times in her life...one of which was at 11 mos when we traveled from the oregon coast to Naples, Fla. Some things that have made the trip easier, was: when I get to the get, I always ask if the flight is full...if not, I ask if any three seaters are available, and if so, can I have it. If no, I keep my eyes peeled when we get on the plane. I will usually ask to swap seats in order to get this. People usually will do this and then we have 3 seats to ourselves. It makes it easier for her to move around. I tend to sit in the back of the plane, because she gets entertained by the people coming back to the bathroom and there is more room back there for her to move around in the isle. I pack lots of food options, which is needed for take off and landing. Some toys, including ones that make a little noise or light helps. I have also found that magazines I don't mind ripped, play dough I let her smush on the tray table, toothbrush--when teething, markers taht only mark on the paper that they come with have helped. Good Luck.

Lots of good ideas... I used to pack lots of little boxes/envelopes/bags with little toys inside...the boxes were fun to open, like little surprises. I also themed them...like one trip was all little tiny farm animals. So opening and closing, packing them back up, make believe. We had another one with tiny dolls, big hit. Archie McPhee's is a great place to get tiny things. Sticker books, crayons, books to read, I also bought those magnetic doll boards. They have them for farms/fire engine/airport/castles/fairyland so they cover lots of interests. We brought lots of food too. Our basic trick was to make everything like a game...she had to open something up to do anything, including snacks.

I also agree about not bringing anything for yourself. When/if she slept, I slept/dozed.

I sat in the bulkhead seats a time or two, and while I LOVE the space there isn't any room to store anything at your feet so I was constantly getting up and down.

I tried Benedryl; she had a nasty cold and I was worried about ear pain/congestion and a nice side affect was that it made her sleepy. For my part, it was harder dealing with a cranky tired girl then trying to entertain her, so we didn't do that unless necessary.

Preparing for a toddler to be on a long flight is ALOT of work, so when she got older, I still planned small things, but she would get one present that she could unwrap "when the plane was flying flat". Just the anticipation of the present kept her busy for those first 20-30 minutes. The presents were a bit bigger, like Polly Pockets doll house or later a long dvd.

Good luck and believe it or not, I sort of miss those hours of intense togetherness...these days, she can sink herself into a book and I won't see her for hours :-)

I agree with Veronica; I took a 3 hour flight with my 13 month old not too long ago which took off just after his bedtime. I thought, "Oh this will be easy; he should sleep the whole time". Well, he went absolutely bananas, I think because it was past his usual bedtime and he was super tired. He only slept for the last 1/2 hour of the flight. This time I am taking a flight in the middle of the day and I am hoping it will go better.

Hi Ali,

I've enjoyed reading all of the great advice because we are flying to IA next month with our 13-month-old, so now I have lots of great ideas for US. That said, a friend of mine who flys frequently with her almost 2-year-old also recommends packing a) multiple sets of inexpensive foam ear plugs and b) a sense of humor. When her son has HAD IT, she'll stand up, apologize to everyone within a couple of rows, and then ask if anyone wants a a pair of ear plugs. She says it gets a chuckle out of most passengers and then the hands start to go up. :) She also points out that most travellers HAVE kids, HAD kids years ago, or LIKE kids, and they are less annoyed/more understanding of a ruckus than you might imagine. Anyway, I hope I can remember all of her good advice when we're 30,000 feet over Montana... I will say that I have already packed about 20 sets of earplus in the diaper bag. Good luck! I hope you have a wonderful and uneventful trip.

D.

I've flown both solo and together with my partner, and certainly together is easier! It sounds like your husband is travelling with you - if so, you you can sit or stand your baby up between you on the seats and bounce him around or play tickle games to help burn off some extra energy. If not, you might get lucky if the plane isn't booked and ask to be reseated near a spare seat so he can wiggle there. This gives you both some room. If you're still breastfeeding, plan to breastfeed A LOT! for comfort and also for boredom... bring lots of snacks... my little one always likes looking at the magazines too. Most of all, stay relaxed yourself. A sense of humor helps keep everyone happy!

Hi--

I have traveled a lot with my little one and was surprised how well she did. I made sure to bring along lots of little things to entertain her: books, play dough with different accessories, stickers, new little doll toys, you name it. A trip to the Dollar Store ahead of time can be a lifesaver. For some reason, I almost always ended up next to people who were kind and understanding. I did the carrier thing as well. I did find that exercising your little one ahead of time helps take the edge off and burn some energy. As soon as we were beyond security, I made sure to let my little one run around as much as possible. Also, if your little one is still breastfeeding, be sure to keep that up during take-off and landing. That will help tremendously with his ability to keep the ear aches away. If you are not breastfeeding, try giving him the bottle during this time.

Best of luck!

I definitely agree with the advice about making sure he is sucking on something during takeoff and landing, because a overly active baby might get on some people's nerves, but a baby screaming in pain because the pressure in his middle ear didn't equalize will get on EVERYONE's nerves (and your poor baby will be in extreme pain).

Otherwise, it sounds good! It looks like you have a lot of things to distract him if he doesn't want to sleep, so it should work out.

LOTS of snacks :) Maybe extra treats that he wouldn't normally get (little piece of candy or fruitsnack he can share with you.)
My 16 month old loves to use the Doodle pad. They have small ones that work great for travel.
A sticker book is fun for that age also as well as any old magazines. My daughter LOVES to look at the babies in my Parenting magazines.
I also recently read that you should take a handful of earplugs and homemade chocolate chip cookies and offer them to everyone sitting around you :)

Stickers. A small toy with buttons (toy phone,sound board etc - you can put clear packing tape on the speaker to soften the noise if you are worried about being considerate). A small blanket to put over your heads if he is too distracted to go to sleep. You may feel silly, but hey - no one will judge ! And lots of snacks!

Also - be sure that you have kiddie headphones for that DVD player. Some of the airlines can be very difficult if you don't. It won't matter if he doesn't keep them on the whole time. They will be a new toy!

Pray for tubulance, not a lot, but some. It puts them right to sleep like being in a car. hopefully he will sleep most of it. I know we gave our boys benadryl to help with their ears, but I cannot remember if the youngest at the time was closer to 2 yrs old when his doctor suggested it. I just know that it really worked for their ears and as an added bonus, they slept most of the flight. I know not everyone agrees with using meds, but i figured since his doctor suggested trying it.

Our 14 month old just completed a 5 1/2 hour flight and we used the DVD player too. Another thing that she's really into right now are stickers. We just brought a bunch of little stickers and she took them off and put them onto a piece of paper. She did this for a while. A friend has also recommended stamps as a new thing to bring out on the plane. Good luck!

I have flown with my daughter who is now 11 months about 5 times in her short lifetime. I agree with a lot of the advise already. Be sure that during take-off and landing to have your son sucking on something. If they are sleeping you do not need to worry about it.
As far as keeping him contained, it is best to let him move. It is hard is such a tight space, but our last flight, my daughter was crawling, and I let her take a few lapse down the aisle. You will get looks and it may not be the cleanest, but hey, she was not crying! Also, some of the other passengers have been so sweet. I had one gentleman I sat next to that wanted to hold her. So I let him. She enjoyed sitting on someone else's lap and he enjoyed it as well. Grandpa's, Grandma's and other parents our a great source of comfort on the flights. A flight is quite safe for the child as well, they can not disappear! Just try to relax and take it as it goes. I am a very laid back flyer, which I think helps keep my daughter mellow.
Enjoy the flight.

it is easier than you think to travel with a toddler. Your idea to wear him out is good. Try to sit near a window so he has something to look at and behind the bulk head so you and he have room to move without room to move with out disturbing others. Get him a safe play jetplane so he can role play when he wakes if he does sleep.

Have a good trip.

Don't expect your son to sit the whole time. If your lucky he will sleep for some of the flight, but the other time he is awake and not wanting to sit let him wander. It's ok for a child to walk the aisles of the plane. it's expected actually. If you try to keep him in his seat the whole time you may end up fighting with him the whole time. Let him get up and see what is going on around him. It won't be as bad as you think and before you know it the plane will land and you won't believe what a great kid you have. Relax and enjoy your trip. I have two kids and they have both been on planes. It's never as bad as you think it will be. Have a safe flight.

Lots of good responses so far, but here are the things I would recommend...

When thinking about food to bring, think about things that will last awhile. I always found that whole apples were great, because they can gnaw on them for quite some time. Also great were lollipops, and small containers of food that they liked but rarely got. Bring a sippy cup, and the flight attendant can put juice or water in it for you.

The DVD player is great, try to pick up a new movie or two. The Baby Einstein videos are great for this age and they are soothing, rather than winding the kids up more.

For other entertainment, some new & old favorite books (my sons both loved animal books where they could point to each animal and name it, and would always spend a lot of time with these), Color Wonder markers & coloring books, a travel size magna-doodle, magnetic or felt boards with animals, trucks, etc. that he can put on and then re-arrange, a couple favorite stuffed animals...

I would not plan for your child to sleep (if he does, just consider it a bonus). Instead, plan twice as many activities as you think he'll need, stretch each activity out as long as possible, reward and praise good behavior, and hold some new things back for the return flight.

If you're prepared, it will be fine. Good luck, and try to be as relaxed as possible. Stress will stress the baby out.

Just wishing you luck, as we're flying this month with a 15/16 month old to IL, so we're right there with you. I'm reading your responses to get tips myself. We did just buy one of those doodle pads, and she loves that.

My advice truly is to not have an overtired cranky baby. I have found that this is much worse then having happy well slept young kids. I have travels a good 5 plus times with our kids so far and our oldest is only 3.5. They are usually too overstimulated on the plane to calm down to sleep. Just my advice!

I also want to chime in and say that you can't sit in the front rows with more leg room because of having a child because you have to be willing and able to open the door to exit the plane if needed. So don't get your hopes up for doing that.