Flying with Toddler - Broomfield,CO

I agree that a DVD player is a must. The only other advice is to NOT get the bulkhead seats (the first row) because the seat arms don't go up - and that was a huge disadvantage because LO couldn't snuggle with me. Like the other poster said, lots of new and different activities. Stickers and sticker books use up a lot of time. Hope this helps!

I didn't use a car seat because I didn't want to cary it. I wished I had had it on the plane though. We were on Northwest Airlines and their pollicy is that all peaople must be buckled in at all times. It would have been much easier for my daughter to get confortable if she had had her seat. She kept undoing the lap belt and trying to lay on the floor. It wasn't fun for either of us. The flight atendents would come by to check her seatbelt, and all the kids on the plane, often.
Our flight home lasted untill after midnight. I thought she would sleep but she couldn't get confortable so she didn't sleep.

Hello A.,
My husband and I just flew on a plane with our 15 month old dd Taylor last week. We found that the carseat strapped into the seat worked really well. Taylor is used to the carseat and knows that when she is strapped in she is there for the duration of the ride. We were on 2 seperate planes for about 6 hrs. We made sure to have snacks readily available and some toys and books for when she was bored. We also gave her drinks during take off and landing to help with the pressure change. The security @ the airport had to search all of our things because we had more than three oz of liquid so keep that in mind also. Best of luck!!

I took my carseat and it worked great. I had him in it for take off and landing and other than that, he could be in my lap or the table folded down just right for him.

We got a portable DVD player to go and lots of movies, along with color crayons, color books, snacks, easy toys that I'm not sad if they get lost.

As far as the carseat, your carseat should say on the side sticker or in the book for it, This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards. This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.

I have flown a lot with kids from 5 weeks to 5 years, and several times with 3 in those age ranges. Do not take a car seat. I have regretted it every time, except for the time it was late night on a puddle jumper, and then only for safety, and not comfort or ease. Your car seat will state on it if it is approved or not. They will check it at the gate.

I would strongly advise against a late night trip. Our kids have never slept on those and it's a miserable trip. In fact, one time, on a 5.5 hr trip, my, then 3.5 yo, cried the whole time while the 6 mo old also cried. When the captain announced landing, they both went to sleep. It was after 1 a.m. when we landed, and I had to carry the kids and all their stuff off the plane because they were then too tired to walk (the older one).

I would advise taking a regular size stroller so you can load the basket with things and not have to carry everything and push. It will make security a big hassle, but the rest of your trip will be easier, if your son will ride in it. I recommend that for toddlers, but not babies. You can wear a baby through security. I doubt your son would go for the Baby Bjorn again, even if you could manage it. :)

For entertainment, I take a new coloring book and toy for each way. One that has been put away for a while works just as well if you don't want to spend money on that. I've never used the DVD. I like to go simple. Have your son help pick out toys and he can carry them in his own little bag. An extra pair of pants isn't a bad idea to have in there either. I have known little boys to not like the airplane bathrooms. :)

Have fun!

My daughter is 2.5 and now a pro, flying transcontinental and transatlantic a few times a year.
We bring the car seat on the plane, it's easier for her to sleep in it since she is used to it from the car. Airlines are really picky about things like CARES, so even if it says it's FAA approved, the flight attendant may not allow you to use it.
We always try to take red eye flights. My husband hates it, but both my duaghter and I sleep well in flight and it helps us deal with jet-lag. Last trip to the EC we left at 11 PM and got there at 6 AM - it was nice. We all took a nap in the afternoon that day and were on schedule right away.
Bring lots of small toys, entertainment - I pack activity bag in ziplock bags, so I can easily grab them from my purse.
I also bring an empty water bottle on the plane and have them fill it right away, so we don't have to keep asking for water and/or make a mess with an open cup.
Good luck!

I haven't taken car seats on the plane, I checked them. But I just wanted to say that you should buy a couple new toys and wrap them up and when things get hectic you can give him a present. I took a 4 hour plane ride with my girls and this was a huge help. I know your flight if very early in the morning but this might be a good back up plan. Good luck.

Hi A., we took our car seat for our 1 year old on a flight from Australia to America and it was perfect. I know he's quite a bit younger than yours, but it was familiar and comfy to him. It is a pain to carry around but worth it on the plane. There will be a sticker on the car seat. You MUST give the airline the number on the car seat sticker at the time of booking the ticket for your toddler. We had to do this twice because the first person didn't actually put the info in our booking. I suggest calling back to check the info is actually in your booking before you leave. We saw someone have to check theirs at the gate because it wasn't approved for air travel and they didn't have the info on the ticket. (I think most new car seats are approved) Good luck!

My daughter who is not quite 3 has traveled a lot. We did use the carseat once, and I'm sure it's a bit safer, but we spent our whole trip trying to get her to not kick or put her feet up on the seat in front of her. The last roundtrip flight, we just put it underneath & it was fine. She was able to pull up the arms and cuddle with us during the flight. I second the DVD as well. If you are trying by yourself, you may want to consider getting one of those animal "leashes" so that he can walk through the airport--so much better than being strapped in a stroller & then strapped in on the airplane. I don't use the "leash" often (you can get them at Target), but my daughter loves it. I second everyone's comment on the DVD player. One of my daughter's favorite things to watch other than NEMO or Winnie the Pooh is photos of herself and the family. We made up a DVD at home and she loves it. It can take up some time on the plane. I also put together a few bags--one of toys, one of snacks (including healthy ones like apple slices, etc--you don't want them totally wound up on sugar). Make sure to bring purell and/or hand wipes, as it's a lot easier than getting up everytime they are dirty. I also would say don't travel at night. We've flown to Europe and although it was okay, they are wound up because the plan is so exciting and they are so tired when you arrive. I recommend a mid-morning flight, as it seems to work best. I always bring one present, wrapped, and tell her if she is good for a little bit, she'll get to open it and I bring stickers. You can bring some juice boxes too and at Whole Foods, I found squeezy applesauce, which she thought was a huge treat on the plane. Lastly, I went to Target and got a rolling backpack, so she could roll her blanket, teddy bear and some toys through the airport. She was thrilled and did a great job--plus you don't have to carry it! Good luck!

My 3 yr old daughter and I travl quite often. I did not bring her car seat on board with us either time we traveled. The reality is, it was just WAY too much of a hastle to struggle with carry ons, strollers, child and a car seat. I'm not sure what CARES is though so I can't advise you on that. One thing I didn't learn until the the return flight, you do not have to pay luggage fees for the car seat, like you do for any other luggage that is stored under the air plane, so don't do it. My advice is just have lots and lots and lots of diffent things to do for your son. New books, coloring books, toys and lots of snacks. Also if you have access to one, a portable DVD player was a GOD SENT. especially if there is a particular show your child is really into. I would be careful about the late night flight though, because if he doesn't end up sleeping through the flight like you hope, then both you and him are going to be exhausted and miserable by the time you get where you are going. Good Luck and Safe Travels.

I have traveled quite a few times with my kids (one is 9, the other two are 1 and 4). I have never used a car seat or any other option. The plane is just so different than a car, I just plug them in with the seat belt. I have found that moving them through the airport and the plane is so cumbersome with kids anyways that any other elements that I have to carry becomes too difficult to manage.

I also have never tried to leave in the middle of the night. I would like to think my kids would sleep (they are very good sleepers) but history tells me that the excitement of it all would wake them up and then I would be tortured for the rest of the day.

Good luck and happy traveling.

Take a car seat on. It's worth it. I don't know what CARES is. Do they provide a car seat for you?
Have a bag of new crayons, pad paper, coloring book, little toys, anything new he can be excited about and take up time. Gum, life savors, a must, especially during take off.
Normal sleep hours might be best on the other end, depending on where you are going?
Good luck and have fun!

My son loved having his familiar car seat when we flew a while back. I guess he was just over 2, so we had to pay for a seat for him. I think your flight time is perfect--right when he'll be wiped out from all the excitement. The only problem we had was that he got scared during take off. He just looked scared. He didn't cry or anything. But he would have liked me to hold him then, and of course I couldn't. And as soon as the sensation of acceleration stopped, he was out like a light. We had two legs of our flight, and he slept through both. Once, he didn't wake up until we were in the terminal, the other time he woke up when we were pulling up to the gate.

I'd make sure to have snacks and a sippy cup. Sucking on the cup will help him pop his ears, although that was never a problem for us. He sounds too young for gum and Life Savers (or at least my kids were at that age). My son liked holding a little Hot Wheels airplane the whole time. He would have liked books if he hadn't slept the whole time.

I highly recommend a "leash" too, mostly for the airport. Can you imagine losing your kid in a huge airport? And take advantage of pre-boarding if it's offered. And just sit tight when you land. It's much easier to get all your things after most people have deplaned.

Good luck!