Need Advice on Flying with a One Year Old

Just a note on the Benedryl, try it at home first, some children get hyper not sleepy.

Absolutely have a bottle or sippy cup for take-offs and landings--my son has flown since 9 months of age and every 3-4 months since then. If you have the extra spare change---a few new toys or crayons and books so you can bring out a new thing every 30-45 minutes would be awesome--even if it's a tiny new stuffed animal you can make play-talk or whatever. LOVE the new "bag of tricks"--it saved us! Also--if you have a portable DVD or laptop to bring--that's the perfect length to bring a movie or a few DVDs---we just turned the volume down low. Or computer games if you bring a laptop for babies--Reader Rabbit Toddler was a huge one!! Good luck!!

Hi D.:
When my children were babies like yours I used to bring along the following: a healthy brown bag with snacks, coloring book & crayons, legos. I would put everything in their baby back-packs. Although my trips were trans-Atlantic and much longer than your, this really helped them and me. We live accross the other side of the world now, and the girls who are in their ealy 20's travel all the time and still have fun including my son who is 16.
Happy travels,
I.

Did you take that flight yet ??
If not, I'll share with you that we fly with our teenage daughter, 6 year old girl and two little boys (ages 2 and 3) frequently. Our flights are 5 hour flights to Hawaii ;-)
Everyone is different, but here's some HELPFUL HINTS that may help you:

- keep him from napping before your flight, so that he will possibly sleep thru out the trip

- give him Children's Tylenol about an hour before boarding time

- keep his favorite blanket or toy very handy

- ziplocs of dry cereal or his fave snacks

Hope all is well !

Get a portable dvd player and bring new toys or books or ones that he hasn't played with recently. Thats what we do with my daughter. She is 16 months and has flown 3 times already and we haven't really had any problems. Good luck. Oh yeah and food if he's a good eater! (save his favorites for when he starts to get fussy!) Hope this helps.

Just don't worry about what other people think. Bring toys, snacks, etc. Dig through your toybox and find toys he hasnt' played with in a while (it's like giving him a new toy).

Also, can't pack creams - desitin, vaseline, etc. They will take those away at the security gate.

No fluids, except baby formula. Just don't open anything yet. Bring it new in the can, bottle, etc.

Have a good trip!

Make sure to take chewing gum and allow him to chew it just before ascending and landing, this will help so his ears do not pop (due to cabin pressure changes) prepare a bag with all his favorite activities that can keep him busy during the duration of the trip and you could offer him a reward for well behavior that he can look foward too. Children are just so unpredictable at that age, so expected the unexpected. Have a safe and wonderful trip.....

I have flown many times with my little ones. Here is what I have found very helpful. If your son has a binkie give it to him during take off and landing. If not make sure you have him eat a snack, crackers or fruit snacks work well. This helps greatly with the ear pressure. I also bring quite a few quiet toys for the plane ride, a portable dvd player with his favorite movie, books, color book with crayons, and a special toy we have picked out just for the plane ride. I don't know if you have gotten your tickets yet but I do try and fly during nap time so there is a better chance they will sleep during the flight. I also ask when I check in we can have an open seat next to us if any are available so you have more room. I always have a 3 hour plane ride so I understand what you are going through.

I feel your pain :)
I am traveling for the 1st time with 3 small children under 6 without my husband next week, and I have a year old as well.
With my other children at that age I would give them a bottle at take off and landing to help clear their ears. Have plenty of hand toys ( rattles, doll) for her to play with, pack snacks for her, and try to plan flights around nap time so that after her bottle she would hopefully sleep. Good luck as I do apprecite how hard it is to fly with a baby, especially with all the restrictions of air plane travel.
I let you know if I learn any additional pearls on this flight, as we have one more mid-summer.
Best-
L.

I have a 20 month old and he has been on multiple flights. Since he turned one I always give him a little benadryl (my pediatrician's advice) and he does great. Everyone around you will be thankful too!

Your son will do fine! You will be surprised by how understanding people are (only once did a woman-- obviously angry and frustrated-- give me a dirty look and said oh no! I am not sitting next to a baby and she requested to have her seat changed... I told her it wasn't a disease. The people sitting around me all told me to ignore what this woman said and her attitude. The truth is that most people remember when their children were young and what they went through, so they are more than willing to help.)I have traveled with my two sons across the Atlantic, and across the country a handful of times (with layovers!)... and with the help of the stewardness (in warming up a bottle at the appropriate time)you can have a great flight. Two and a half hours is a short time. It helps if you are traveling with your husband. VIP: Make sure you give your son something to drink as the plane takes off until it reaches cruising altitude AND on the way down as soon as the plane starts its descent. This is important because it will help your son to equalize his ears -- something we have learned to do automatically, but the little ones need some help with this. That's it! Have a good flight. Laugh a lot. Remain calm. Be prepared with the bottles before you board. You can even prepare the formula or juice at home. They will let you take it through security. If you are still breastfeeding,good for you!, you have less to prepare but may want to have some juice as a back up or supplement. Good luck!

I have flown with my now 2 year old son several times and I have been apprehensive initially, but each time, he has been great. The very worst was when he was over tired and it took him about 5 minutes of crying to fall asleep and then he slept for over 2 hours. Make sure you nurse him or have him drinking from a bottle or sucking a pacifier during takeoff and again at landing starting soon after the "initial descent". Believe me, each time we have flown I have received the "oh no, she's got a kid" looks before we got on the plane, and then nothing but "what a great kid you have" after the flights. Bring a few favorite things - they will help him feel comfortable and "familiar". and of course, snacks. Good luck and best wishes. R.

I took my daughter to Hawaii when she was two. The problem is, they're too young to tell you what they're feeling. Most often, discomfort comes from the change in cabin pressure, the sinuses plugging (ears needing to pop) and just plain ole excitement. My pediatrician suggested giving her cold medicine a half hour before the flight. She said it isn't enough to knock her out, but if she's tired it'll let her sleep. It also keeps the ears and sinuses from getting plugged. I'm not big on medicating at all...ever. But, this worked. I was more worried about her discomfort than that of the people of the plane.
C.

ive been flying with my 11 month old since he was 2 months. the best thing you can do is to get the bulkhead seat, bring lots of snacks and toys, and when all else fails... walk him up and down the isle. :) the bulkhead seat is key, and normally airlines dont assign them until last minute....you can also call the airline and request it specifically. hope this helps :)

Hi D.,
I have 2 girls (4 yrs. and 19 mos) and have traveled with both of them by myself on more than one occasion. Since your son is 11 1/2 mos. old he might still be on the bottle. If so, make sure you have the bottle handy since air pressure in the cabin will probably bother his little ears. Also, you may want to take one of his favorite toys. Once your son gets older investing in a portable DVD player is a lifesaver. I was told by multiple mothers to give my girls benadryl and was SHOCKED to hear this. I always try to give my girls homeopathic treatments for their ailments and to hear about giving them drugs just to keep them quiet quite frankly bothered me. Bottom line is this, if your son cries or screams the entire flight try not to lose your cool and not care about the stares other people are giving you. Any parent on the plane will sympathize with you and anyone who doesn't sympathize can take a train or bus to their destination. Good luck to you.

The 1st time we flew with our son he was 9 months old and it was a 4 1/2 hour flight. It went really well. When the plan took off and landed we made sure he was drinking a bottle to avoid any problems with his ears. We brought lots of snack and new toys he had not seen before so he was really excited to play with them to keep him busy. Of course he slept on and off on our laps for sometime which was nice for everyone. Lot of walks up and down the aisles to avoid him from getting fussy. Good Luck :)