20 Month Old on Airplane

We just got back from a trip with our three little ones (all under three) and had a very easy time with it (caveat - they all had their own seats but I had someone on my lap for most of the trip anyway). There are a few things that made it easy:

1. Fun games for when you are sitting down -
This little piggy with toes, patty cake, hiding small items in one hand and making them pick which one, some books with colors so they can find things with those colors, if you have a computer out they can type, of course the DVD player if they are willing/interested in that.

2. Singing Songs but changing them or creating new verses - for instance, singing "Oh Susanna" with the banjo on different body parts. Or singing your favorite songs making things up or singing them incorrectly...they will want to correct you over and over again so it lasts a long time.

3. Keeping food and other items at the ready for when hands just need to be occupied.

The hardest part with my son (who is just a little bit older than yours) was that he kept kicking the seat in front of me. So at some point I just had to turn him around facing me and have him play looking at me.

We weren't successful with napping on the lap - I hope you have a better time with it.

Good luck and have a great trip!

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we took our 18 mo. old on a plane last Fall. She did really well. Like all of the others have said, lots of snacks, DVD players are great, and new books/toys...the best thing we did was to buy a bunch of different shapes of post-it notes- she LOVED them. We would take them off and put them all over the tray table and wall next to us and then pull them down. I also had one of those picture books w/ words (apple, fork, dog, etc.), we'd put the post-its over the pics and make our own little "flap" book by pullng them off to see what was hiding beneath- she thought it was the best!!

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Hi A.,

I flew with a 15 month old and it wasn't too bad. But a 20 month old may want to explore more. We tried to bring some books & toys that were quiet & light weight. We liked the magnetic play sets, they were flat like a book but my dtr could take out the magnets & "tell a story". I nursed her when we took off & landed so that she would not have any ear pain. You may want to let him have a drink or snack at those times so he is chewing during the pressure change. Let him get up & walk every once in a while. Make it an adventure to go to the bathroom!
Have a wonderful trip!

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I always went to the store and got my kids something new they have never seem before a bag of tricks I would say. As far as ear pain have him a drink something or eat as you are taking off and while landing. Some people give a children's sudafed for ear pain, but if your child had never taken a decongestive you never know how he will react.

You can always walk him up and down the rows I did that plenty of times and somtimes the noise helps them fall asleep too. Good luck I'm sure he will do just fine

D.

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If your son is good about sleeping when there are a lot of people around, he will probably sleep on his normal nap schedule (especially with the sound and movement on takeoff and landing!). If he is a busy body, like my daughter, he will be perfectly happy just walking up and down the aisles the entire flight. Whatever you decide, just make sure to keep him hydrated and bring food in case there is a delay and you miss meal time...you may be able to handle that, but he will likely be more cranky if he's hungry. Give him anything to chew on, suck on, or drink if his ears bother him. Overall, don't worry too much and help him enjoy the flight!

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Check out Bach's Rescue Remedy (can be found in most health food stores). It's a calming herbal remedy. It's really well known in the UK and Ireland. It worked wonders for us on long cross-atlantic flights.
I agree with the other posters, lots of snacks and a new toy...coloring book, stickers, dvds.

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HI! I just flew with my 5 month old from NY to FL. I did not buy a seat for her. ON the way to FL, I held her on my lap and brought some toys. I nursed her on the way up and down. On the way home, I asked the people at the jetway if I can bring the carseat on, and they said yes.
So, my advice is to ask to see if there is an empty window seat next to you. IF there is, then they may let you bring the car seat with you.
I also bought water and a cup for her to sip on after we went through security. So if she was not wanting to nurse, the cup and drinking was plan B.
Hope this helps!

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if he still uses a bottle, that's the best way to prevent ear pain, something to suck on.
if there are 3 adults, you'll be totally fine.
if you have a portable dvd player you can bring it for an emergency, although i avoid using that. just bring something he's never seen before, new book or toy that you pull out right when he's getting bored. 3 hours isn't very long, he'll probably enjoy it!

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I just traveled with my daughter in July when she was 18 months old, so our little one's are around the same age.
She didn't seem to be bothered with her ears, but I made sure she was crunching on her cheerios or drinking her bottle at the time of take off and landing. You'll know when you are getting close to your destination as you'll feel the pressure changing. That's when it's time to pop whatever he will take into his mouth.
I did bring her food on the plane.
I brought her yogurt, cereal, and fruit. I had it all bagged in little ziplock bags and it worked out well. I used the bags to discard any unused food and ALL THE WIPES ;) that I had to use on the plane...LOL
Being that it takes a while for her to eat, that helped to pass the time.
To keep her occupied, I brought my laptop so I had her watch her favorite dvd. If you have a portable dvd player, it will be less bulky. (But I always travel with my laptop so it was no biggy to me).
Also, I had bought her new books and didn't give them to her until the plane ride. As you know, anything new will keep them occupied for a long time.
Look for the books that have the flaps to lift to see another picture. (She is a big Elmo fan so I got her a book called, "Where is Elmo's Blanket" and she loved looking for the blanket under all the flaps. (I bought it in Walmart, but it is in toys r us too).
Other books helped too.
We did buy her a seat and had her in her car seat on the plane. It is really hard to keep a 20 month old still for any length of time....So I hope your other family members are up for a wrestling match...LOL
They have so much energy at this age!

I am glad you are traveling with family members b/c going through security with a little one is a real hassel.
The more hands you have, the better!!

Good luck,,,all will be fine and you will have a great flight. Enjoy your trip!
P.

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I traveled with my kids for the first time when my daughter was a little over 2 yrs old and my son was 10 months old. I worried so much about it and prepared for the worst. When it came time to take off, my 2yr old fell asleep before the plane took off and my 10 month old was so calm. I've heard that either having them drink their bottle during take off or sucking on their pacifier is the only thing that you can really try. Be prepared but dont worry too much. My flight was twice as long as yours and I had my father with me. That was a big help. Get ready to change a diaper right in your seat because there are no changing tables in the bathroom on the plane. Good luck!!

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I've traveled many times with my 2 year old son. What has helped me in the past is to buy a few small toys that my son has never played with before and give them to him on the plane. Most recently, I bought him a Melissa and Doug puzzle (the one with a bunch of different locks to open) and he played with it for an hour on the plane!!!! Bring lots of snacks too. I usually don't give my son a bunch of sweets so it's a special treat to have a box of animal crackers on the plane. If your son still uses a pacifier, it may help his ears if he sucks on it during lift off and landing. If not a pacifier, drinking from a sippy cup (or bottle or breast feeding) may help.
Good luck!!!

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Drink something upon takeoff + landing (the act of swallowing keeps ears open to prevent popping) and bring a few bags of snacks, sippy cup and magazines to show him (w pics of kids) and most of all a portable dvd player w a laurie berkner dvd of music.

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We took my 16 month old son on an airplane and I too thought he would nap. He was way too excited and both ways, fell asleep 5 minutes before landing.

We had no trouble with ear pain. We gave him a sippy cup at takeoff and landing. The most important thing he had at takeoff and landing was his favorite stuffed animal, Monkey.

Bring along a lot of toys for good about 10 minutes worth of distraction, and try to avoid small toys that you will curse when you need to pick them up from under the seats every 3 minutes. We had success with stickers, a little drawing board with attached magnetic pen, finger puppets, and playing hide and seek with Monkey. Also lots of snacks to distract him.

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Our daughter was almost 2 when we flew out on a 5 hour flight to Arizona. She was still hooked on her nuke so she had her pacifier for the take off. A friend of mine recently flew somewhere and she gave her son his sippy cup and some chewy fruit snacks which worked.

As far as planning things around your son's normal schedule, I wouldn't worry too much if things are a little off kilter with all of the excitement of the plane & all. The only mistake we made was taking a red eye back from AZ - our daughter was bouncing off the walls.

I would just suggest doing things that keep him busy. Good luck!

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what the other mom said about the ear pressure. also, it helps to bring things that you can attach to him or you or something, so you arent squishing down there to keep picking things up that he drops, very annoying. and be extra prepared for a bathroom change, an extra extra onesie and shirt for you, its very awkward and more chance of a mess. a small bag within your bag for the bathroom is nice, so you dont bonk everyone on the way up the aisle. it will be fine, enjoy...

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Hi,
What I do for my 14 months when we travel by plane is I give her milk or juice (depending what time of the day it is) when the plane is taking off so she's swallowing something and helps with her ears. And I do the same when we're landing, if she's not sleeping. I don't know if I've been lucky or it actually works.

Also, I buy pop-up kids books for the trip...but I don't show them to her until we're on the plane and she's getting restless. When they see something new they are captivated by it.

Good luck and have a safe trip.
P.

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We've been traveling with our son since he was 11 months. He nursed, so it was easy for him to sit on my lap. But, having a DVD player was the best as he got older. Just have your little prince sit on a lap and watch his favorite movie or show, and then do the same thing with each family member. When you have to turn the device off, read a book or get anything that lights up -- toys and books!
All the best!

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Dear A.,
The important thing is to take several, different type of quiet time toys and activities, and picture books to keep him occupied during the flight. I took my daughter on a flight cross-country to California, an 8-hour flight, when she was 18 mo. old. I ended up occupying several young children on the plane because I was the only one who brought something to do.
Also, bring a few things to suck on during take-off and landing: lollipops, bottle (if allowed), pacifier, etc. The sucking action alleviates the pressure in the ears.
Good luck and have a nice trip, W.

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