Air Travel with a 22 Mo. Old

Use the carseat, definately! Kids are already used to having to sit in it. I think that they just automatically think they HAVE to stay in their seat when they are in it. Don't even give the option of getting out of it. It worked that way for me. Also, good snacks, and lots of stuff to do helps!
Good Luck

make sure not during nap time, not too early in morning or late at night.

crayons, snacks, order a kids meal when you make reservations or call now.

When my son was young, I traveled with him on my own from Maryland to Washington State several times a year. I used his car seat with tremendous success every time. If you do not already do so, I would highly recommend always putting him in the window seat. This isolates him from others on the plane and makes the things going on around him less interesting. The worst flight I ever took with my son was when he was two - he was very verbal and VERY curious. We were on a large plane with 5 seats across the middle - we had the aisle seat and the next seat in. A woman sat down in the middle seat - the seat on her other side was empty. I suggested to her that she might want to take advantage of the empty seat to which she replied, "this is my seat and I see no reason to change." When she was glaring at my son midway through the flight because he kept taking her pen, trying to write in her daytimer, was asking a million questions about her book, I figured she got what was coming to her. :) I did not want to put him on the aisle because I was afraid he would stick his hands out when people and/or carts went by.

The other thing I have learned in flying long distances with my kids is to try and fly at night whenever possible and to be armed with Triaminic (it helps if their ears clog up and it helps make them drowsy - sleeping on the plane is always a good thing).

Finally, I always pack a BIG bag of *stuff* for my kids. I was once told by a parent to pack a bag of goodies that they have never seen before - nothing big, just stuff from the Dollar Store...when they start getting restless, give them something new and fun to get their attention.

When my kids were 2.5, 4 & 9 we traveled from PA to Hawaii (almost 14 hours in the air). All of the above worked wonders for us. We did invest in a really comfortable car seat with deep sides for our youngest - it was worth the investment for the sake of comfort and, when he would lean back in it, it blocked most of his view so he was able to drift off to sleep.

Good luck...I hope this helps!

Hi L.,
I'm not sure about the carseat--personally I'd probably just go without it. Less for you to lug. We will be taking our 5 yr old on his first flight this summer--but it's a pretty short flight so I think just the newness thing will be enough to keep him busy. What I used to do for long car trips for my son when he was that age was to pack a small "goodie bag" full of new stuff - like things from the Dollar Store and when he's get bored, I'd get a new thing out for him to check out. Little hand-held puzzles, balls, etc. It worked pretty good for us. Might be worth a try. Small bag that might fit in your carry-on. Good luck!

When my kids were younger, we always brought their car seat onto the plane with the reasoning that they are used to being strapped into their car seat, and staying in it during the trip (you wouldn't unbuckle your kid while in the car, right? same concept in their eyes!).

I don't know if he is too young for play dough but if not, this always worked wonders for us (we purchased the small party pack size so we had different colors, plastic cookie cutters to make shapes, etc.)

Also, we bought one of those pully carts with wheels to make the car seat easier to pull through the airport. Then we checked the pull cart at the gate & brought the seat on board.

Good luck with the trip!

Hi,
I have flown several times with my daughter, who is 14 mos old. I like to put her in her car seat because then she is able to sleep if wants to and it's much more comfortable for her than sitting on my lap. If you haven't purchased a seat for your child, then at least take the car seat all the way to the gate with you so if there is an extra seat on the plane and they're not fully booked, they will let you take it on board. As far as keeping her occupied, it was tough this last trip a couple of weeks ago because I was traveling with her by myself (a 4 hr flight) and she had to sit in my lap. I brought toys and a quiet book (have you seen those? It has all kinds of things like buttons and velcro and laces in it) that she hadn't really played with before so everything was new to her. I just went to my mom's house and grabbed things that were at her house for my daughter so I didn't have to go buy new toys. I also packed a ton of her favorite snacks. She doesn't normally eat a lot of junk but on the plane I didn't care what she ate! She loves those juice snacks by Gerber graduates. I even sang songs to her and no one could even hear me I think because it was so loud on the plane. If you get to choose your seat, I prefer the furthest back on the plane because it is closest to the bathrooms and the flight attendant area where they can get you water, etc quickly. Plus I think it is nicer for the other passengers if your kid throws a fit because it is really noisy back there already. Also, that portable DVD player is a great idea! I have to get one of those.
Good luck!!!
~A.

I just read the previous posters responses and I really like that idea about going to the Dollar Store for toys! Great idea! Also, as far as lugging the car seat to the gate, if you don't have a way to lug the car seat already, you have got to check out this AWESOME thing I bought! It is strap that hooks your car seat to your rolling carry-on bag and your kid can sit in the car seat! I don't even have to take the stroller to the gate, I check it. If you send me your email address I can send you a pic I took of my daughter in it at the airport. I bought it on amazon.com for $15, here's the link:
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Ca...

I travel alone a lot with my 15 month old son. I always pack air friendly snacks (graham crackers, goldfish and a sippy cup). I bring his favorite lift the flap books and other quiet toys. I also keep the toys out of sight for a week before our trip so it is like he is discovering them all over again. I usually just hold him on my lap but last month that was nearly impossible. If he likes his carseat you can always try it. I hope your trip is succesful.

Hi L.,

My 26 month old son has flow numerous times - the most recent was in February and this was the first time I had to buy a seat for him (other times he sat on our laps and it was horrendous trying to control a child who didn't understand why he couldn't walk around the plane). We HAD to use our carseat this time around on Midwest Airlines and I'm SO GLAD that we did. It kept him contained and safe, and I didn't have to worry about him attempting to run around the airplane. Check with the airlines you are going to fly - they may have restrictions like Midwest did. I know that there would be no way our 2 year old would sit in the airplane seat buckled up without that car seat!

We always drive or fly long distances at night. It is just easier for us to adjust our patterns rather than expect too much from our 19 month old. I love the Dollar Store idea! Thank you.
Good luck, and remember, time passes and everything will get back to "normal", even if things are tough.

Our son was 18 and then 23 months during our last two airplane vacations. He traveled very well in his car seat. I do beieve that he likes his own space (we've always tried to bite the bullet & buy him his own seat) & he knows that he must stay in there until we get him out. I bring one carry-on bag full of new toys & books etc. that will peak his curosity & we usually try and travel around nap time as well. Also, he loves to snack on the plane. He really loved the ABC bus and ABC steering wheel that I found. I figured they weren't that loud and people would rather hear the ABCs 20 times than a screaming child. Good luck!

Hi L.! Use his car seat (this shouldn't make him feel anything but comfortable and it's safer for him to be in), try to get a non-stop flight, have your DVD player, crayons, coloring book, story book, a couple of small toys that he always likes to play with, a mini magna-doddle is always good for games of tic-tac-doh and drawing. Have fun with it.

Hi L.,

I just recently travled with my 3 young children by my self for the first time with out my husband it was scary and difficult at the same time. I would deffinately take along your DVD player & his favorite movies or shows. You may want to get him a small back pack that he can put some things in, like crayons and a book, maybe a toy or two. And take some snacks along as well, that might help make things a little easier. I hope your traveling is good.

Best of Luck

L.,

Look in the "archives" here on MamaSource. People have asked the same or similar questions a lot, about air travel with little ones. I have answered this before, as have others...probably in February or March of this year. There's a lot of good advice already on the site!

Good luck!

Hi L.,

I would suggest bringing the car seat. I found with my son that he would usually fall asleep in his car seat, but if I just had a regular seat for him, he would be more fidgety. Also, in the car seat he can see out the window better, but in the regular seat he couldn't because he was so low. Also, if he does feel too constrained - you can always undo his seatbelt once the seatbelt sign is turned off. He is used to being in his carseat, so it will probably be very comfortable for him.

Have a good trip!
J.

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We are also going on a long flight when my son is 22 months old. While we haven't gone through it yet, this is what we're going to do. We are going to have him sit in his carseat for the comfort factor (hopefully he will treat it like he does in the car and fall asleep after a period of time). We are also going to take the portable DVD player, crayons and coloring books, toys, books, his blanket and his stuffed animal. While it's going to be a pain to lug it all around, I hope it will keep him occupied (it did the last time we flew when he was 11 months old). Also...ask the flight attendant for a few of the cups that they pour the drinks into. My son spent hours playing with those cups on the plane (stacking them, pretending to pour stuff into them, etc.) maybe it would work for yours too!

I would definitely take the car seat; at that age they don't understand that they can't explore but they are used to being in their car seat and know they can't go anywhere. The only time I had an issue with my 20 mth old was when I tried to put him back in, but he quickly quieted down when I got out a new toy. We took some luggage straps and attached the car seat to a fold up stroller and he sat in it through the airport as well so we didn't have to lug it, then you have the car seat to use when you get there too. We also purchased a CARES belt system - it is expensive but so worth it as the extra straps work well to restrain in the actual airline seat for my slightly older child. Also, take lots of snacks and small new toys to bring out one at a time. Good luck.

I have recently traveled with my 3 and 5 YO's. Depending on how long the flight is, I recommend getting a small toy/book/snack for each hour of the flight there and back. This worked well when we did a 12 hour drive last summer and used it for the flight and it worked just as well. We got individual packs of animal crackers, pretzels, mini etch a sketch, coloring book/crayons, plain paper and washable markers. Good luck!

I have flown a few times with little ones. I found that it helped to take a backpack filled with distractions. I packed up puzzles, coloring books, candy, snacks, juice boxes and a few new toys that my son hadn't seen before. DEFINITELY do the car seat, for safety reasons and just to help manage the situation. If he rides in one in your car, he should be able to ride in one on the plane. The DVD should really help. Maybe try a new movie that he hasn't seen. If he gets fussy, and the seat belt sign is off, let him stand on your lap and look at the passengers, or look out the window. Good luck, I know how stressful this is! It usually goes better than you think.

I suggest that you take your car seat. It is safer and better for him. I actually read an article where it said that the kids feel more at home in their car seat. They are used to it so they will better in it.
Get some snacks with you, crayons, and whatever else is interesting to him.
Have a nice trip!