Need Advice on Air Travel

My mother is a flight attendant so I know all about this subject. She gives us passes to fly down to her all the time. Since your child is now 2 years old, you need to purchase a ticket for him. You don't have to have the car seat in the plane, but for me, it is just easier. I mean, you have to take it with you anyways for car rides, so why not take it on the plane. What type of seat do you have? We have the Alpha Omega Elite 3 in 1. It fits perfectly onto an airplane seat. My tip is that you put your child in the window seat. With him being in the carseat, he will be up high enough to look out and see all the cool things. You can even make up a game with him, like counting the number of rivers you see, or lakes. A portable DVD player is a great idea, but make sure you also have headphones. They are required, so it doesn't bother other passengers. Be sure to pack along his favorite snacks as well as some coloring books and crayons, a deck of cards, and a book for you too. I am not sure if you let your child chew gum yet or not, but it does help with take off and landing with the pressure in the ears. Or just make sure he's snacking or drinking something at that time. One more tip for you if you are bringing a stroller. Take it with you all the way to the gate. Get a claim ticket from the ticket agent at the gate. When you are boarding the plane, fold down the stroller and leave it right outside the door of the plane. When you get to your destination and step out of the plane, it will be there waiting for you. Have a great time.

I would say get the CARES restraint system to use on the plane instead of lugging around a car seat. You can find the info on the United Airlines website. It actually makes the airline seat into a car seat and it fits into a small little bag that you can put in your purse or backpack. Also, bring a portable DVD player- it entertained my daughter for hours. I also went to the dollar store and bought 5-6 new toys and had her open them when she started to get restless. If you rent a car- go to Hertz and they will install a car seat for you. If you have AAA you get the car seat for free.

Hi Diane,
Good luck with your first plane trip with your son! I have been flying a lot with my daughter (now almost 3) ever since she was about 4 mo. old. When she turned two and we started paying for a seat for her, we brought the car seat on board and it was wonderful. She loved having her "own" space, her "own" chair that she was already used to, and it raised her up so that she was a part of everything and kept her contained all the while. So, I would definitely recommend the car seat. It can be a pain to carry through the airport, but we still bring a stroller along and have been able to carry it in there (it's a Mclaren umbrella stroller) either with or without her in it. You have to be careful because it can tip out but it's definitely doable.

As for other ideas, this last trip she had her own roller bag full of her toys & books (sticker books keep her occupied for a long time) so she was able to pull it when she wasn't in the stroller. I also try to bring something new (and small) along that would be a fun, new thing to play with.

Good luck!

We just returned from a trip to NY with our almost 3-year old twins. The problem with the carseat is that you have to lug it everywhere you go (when your little one might want to be carried) AND the carseat has to go in the window seat, no exceptions. That plus the tray will NOT fold down all the way. If you have/can borrow a booster, that might work better; I'm not sure whether the booster would have to be in the window seat. That said, the second most important thing is to provide some way to counteract the change in pressure --- a bottle (if your little one still uses one), gum (which we gave to the twins for the first time --- not to worry about starting a habit --- they've been told that they can only have gum when they fly in an airplane) OR some kind of sippy thing that takes some effort. There were no less than a dozen little ones on our flight, and the only one who screamed non-stop was the one whose mom didn't know about the air pressure thing. My heart broke for him; by the time we realized her error, it was too late for that flight but she took home some helpful hints from the other moms on the flight. We packed a favorite blanket, one toy and one book in each of the twins' backpacks. I also got new coloring books and washable markers for each of them to surprise them when they started to get antsy. JetBlue had TVs, so that kept them busy but we had our portable DVD just in case. Good luck and have fun!

Hi Diane,

This experience is fresh in my head as we just went on a trip from SF to Atlanta for the 4th. We got a little DVD player from Target and brought his favorite show (that we let him watch in small doses) Yo Gabba Gabba and a couple he had never seen like Pinnochio. Will is 19 months btw. We also brought all his favorite foods even though he didn't want to eat much probably because of all the stimulation going on around him. Then I had small toys he had never seen before in a big baggy ready at the ready and a ton of his favorite books. We did bring his car seat and got him to sleep on both flights but it took a lot of effort. all our energy was spent on keeping him happy and from crying or having a tantrum. I wish I had brought a changing mat because there were no changing tables on the plane!!! He had a poop and there was no way I was going to change him out in the open in the throughway where the attendants suggested---it would have instantly stunk up the plane. I changed him in the bathroom but it was stressful, he was scared and there was no easy way to do it. It was the most unhygienic place to have him as well---and ugh, he dropped his lovey on the ground in there!!! So bring a big changing mat! Also a couple of changes of clothes is a must. The trip home is easier because they sort of know what to expect. Oh, and a bottle for milk on take off. I also made no bones about telling the people around me to keep it down when he was finally sleeping and had them put the shades down. I wish I had one of those convenient car seat toters that fold up instead of bringing a stroller as well as the car seat. it is just difficult to navigate through the airport. Everyone understood.
Good luck!
J.

For such a long flight, you definitely want to have him in his own seat for everyone's comfort. Plus, it's a wise move for safety reasons. It's a pain to lug around the car seat, but worth it, in my opinion.

Don't forget to pack food. I've found the food options on planes consists of beef jerkey and M&Ms bundled together (not my ideal of a meal), so you'll want to make sure you have a real meal ready for your son (sandwiches are an easy one to bring along).

Also pack lots of little toys. Stickers I've found to be a real winner with little ones. Can put them on themselves or in-flight magazines. Coloring books with washable crayons. New little books. Small items you can bring out when needed.

You may also find your son sleeps a lot on the plane. The motion can be soothing to kids.

Good luck and have a fun trip!

I suggest you go to the $ store or section at Target & get some small toys & dole them out slowly thru the flight. That way he's surprised & since they're new, they will hold his attention longer. Also, we always checked our carserats or rented them at the car rental place. We found that if we installed the carseat on the plane seat, 1) the food tray couldn't go all the way down & 2) w/o the carseat there, they had someplace to use as a play surface while standing. Best of luck & enjoy your vacation.

Hi, I have taken my 3 yo and 20 mo old on a couple of flights. We have never brought the car seat on the plane. Depends on where you are going. When we went to Hawaii, we rented car seats with the car. But that is rather costly. However, if you are going somewhere where you will be taking public transportation most of the time, don't bother with the car seat.

For the flight, talk it up. Little ones love airplanes. We would sing the song.. "We're going on an airplane...we're going on an airplane..." to get them excited. Bring snacks your little guy will eat - nothing is worse than a hungry toddler. Some people say to plan the flight during naptime. I say - early morning is much better. There is too much stimulation to expect them to sleep. If you assume they will NOT sleep and they DO fall asleep - you have a bonus! Also, if you have flexibility on the day of the week, try for a flight where it is not likely to be full. Bring lots of activities. I have found that a portable DVD is MAGIC - but bring shorter movies (we bring Elmo, Dora, Baby Einstein). I think the full length Disney movies are too long at this age. And take him for walks up/down the aisles whenever possible. It's hard for us (adults) to sit still for long flights - can you imagine how hard it is for an active toddler. Also, my 3 yo has her own little backpack that she carries her coloring books, special baby doll and a blankie in...

Good luck! Have a great time on your trip.

Hi Diane,

I have 20 month old twins and we have been traveling with them overseas several times since they were born. I agree with the other moms to make sure you have enough snacks and activities. The car seats we have done with and without and I much prefer to have it with us. If it is bulky to carry, Babies R Us has this thing that the car seat straps onto and your son can sit in it while you pull him through the airport. If it is a very long flight I like to go for the overnight flights. They can sleep for the majority of the flight and wake up at your destination. Good Luck

when my daughter turned 2 we put her in a carseat in the plane and what a difference that made! no more lunging, jumping, poking other passengers, scrambling into the aisles, etc.

we brought our spare cosco scenera (cheapo, maybe 40 or 50 bucks at walmart) and it was great - not too big for the airplane seat, really light to carry through the airport and it comes in a zippered plastic bag with a handle for carrying ease. however, when installing be sure to flip the seat buckle on the plane upside down, it makes it way easier to unlatch when you need to.

Hi there- I am a flight attendant mom to a 2 yr old active son. My husband and I travel with our son a lot and find that our sit n'stroll carseat/stroller was the best travel investment we have ever made. Well worth it! Besides it being a great place to put him during the flight, it is the most SAFE to use a carseat on the airplane. Just like being in the car, a secure seat with buckles that fit your child is the best for every child. Aside from a place to sit, yummy snacks and some good favorite videos on a small DVD player helps a lot in the journey. Good Luck and stay calm. Kids read your nervous energy. Make it fun! Happy Travels!

A couple of things that have really helped us (1) get a portable dvd player and bring some of their favorite movies as well as something they haven't seen before. (2) definitely use the curb check-in at the airport. It costs a little bit more, but is so worth it when you have all of the luggage, little one, and their car seat (3) bring the car seat on the airplane. It helps to contain them instead of them wanting to run around. The first time we went when my son was 21 months we didn't take it but we got an extra seat on each flight. It was awkward for him to be able to sleep in the seat next to me, but also try to protect him from bouncing up with the turbulance. The car seat made me feel a lot better about his safety and we could both fall asleep. It is a hassle to carry in the airport but if you are fying with your husband, you should be able to handle it between the two of you. (4) Limit the carryons. It is easier when you go through security and have to go through the airport. Our 2 year old wanted to walk a lot so it was easier to contain him when only one of us had a rolling bag to deal with.

Good luck!

Hi Diane,
I just flew with my 18mo old a few weeks ago, and had written in about tips for that trip (as well as being 7mo pregnant). Things went fairly smoothly and I used quite a few of the 'tips'. I bought a GoGo carrier for the carseat, to wheel it through the airport.... this I just returned. It was $80 at BRU, and just wasn't worth it in my opinion. I had a hard time fumbling with the pieces trying to get the carseat on/off while also watching my 18mo old. My husband said he would just carry the carseat next time or get a cart at the airport.
I will say, having him in the carseat on the plane was great. He is used to it, and even though he wanted to walk quite a bit while on the plane, the seat was great to have to buckle him in and know he was comfy and safe. (the airline told me on the phone I HAD to bring it onboard, as he had his own seat.... but then when I got to the gate several airline people asked if he was going to use it or check it... this was Midwest).
Toys toys toys.. and DVD player (I made a mistake and started Elmo right before we started to decend.... bad idea as they make you turn it off!). I brought a kleenex box on the first trip, and that took up about 20-25min of him pulling everything out and stuffing it back in. Some new toys from the dollar store, wrapped if your boy likes to unwrap, and several dvd's. I'd also recommend an extra outfit for him; my son spilled water all over himself and he was soaked with ice water.... cold on a plane.
Snacks/and something he likes to drink for the decent (I brought smoothies, yogurt covered raisins, jelly beans--chewy things).
Good luck and hope all goes well!

Definitely bring you car seat! He should definitely be in the car seat during flight. For alot of kids, they're used to the concept of travelling anywhere in a car seat that they aren't bothered by it.

One play tip that might help - bring a kleenex box and let him pull out the kleenexes and put them back in again. He can repeat this as long as he's interested in it. That tip has come up in my Gymboree classes several times and many parents say it was a good activity without any mess.

Also, if you have a new toy that's quiet and small, bring that along too.

Good luck!

J. F.

I recommend against bringing the car seat (onto the plane). It's a hassle to carry through the airport and it makes it impossible for the tray table to fold down. Especially since your child is 2, he can easily make himself comfortable in the regular seat. Do bring your stroller and check it at the gate before you get on the plane. A DVD player is critical for flights. Good-luck.