Airplane Travel for a Toddler

I have never traveled with my son, but I too have a 16 month old and can only suggest that you buy another seat for him. Not only for the safety fact in case of an emergency, but who wants an antsy toddler sitting on their lap for anything more than 10 minutes! If he gets scared, you can hold him, but at least you have the extra seat as back up.

Good luck and you have really received some good feedback from the other moms who have some good ideas.

Hi C.,
I took my son on a 7 hour flight to Portugal last summer and I did not pay for a seat. I personally think it's ridiculous that they charge full price for a baby. Anyway if you do decide to get the seat, Britax car seats are the only manufacturer i know that is approved for airflight travel. I would call the airlines and see what brands of car seats they would approve for flight.
As far as my experience, it was great. I gave my son some benadryl and we flew at night so it just put him right to sleep. I would call your doctor and see if they would recommend the benadryl. He slept in my arms for about 5 hours and woke up for landing and his ears didn't hurt. I think it was because of the benadryl was still in affect. If your baby is getting restless see if there are empty seats in the back so he/she can spread out. That's what i did and we were just fine. I was also lucky enough that i didn't need to bring a car seat and a pack n play. my aunt had ones i could borrow when i arrived. I would ask to see if anyone would have those kind of things for you so it's less luggage. All i had to bring was a stroller and that was enough believe me.
So i hope this helps. Good luck and just ask your doctor for some recommendations and the airline you are traveling.
L.

Well I dont know what airline you are flying with, but I travled alot with my son when he was yonger, and it was free for you to take your car seat and stroller on the plane! you can use your stroler right up to the gate when you board the plane all that they as is for you to fold it up right before you enter the plane and they will have it sitting out for you when you get off. And with buy a extra seat, I wouldnt do it! My son always sat on my lap, they feel safer there once, once he is 2 years old is when your required to buy him a seat! Hope this has helped!!

Hi C.! I would suggest bringing as little as possible and getting your son a seat. It will be more comfortable (and safe) for you and him. If you are staying in a hotel they should have a pack n play or a crib that you can use. If not, maybe a friend of your relative will have something so that you don't have to lug one with you? We brought our carseat that our little girl used on the plane (FAA Approved) but I believe you can ask the airline if they have one you can use if you have to. I would bring my own since you have to bring it to the airport anyway - unless you are walking. Your son will sit in it on the plane and then you can use it in the car you have if you have one where you are going. If you don't want to bring it and if you are renting a car they rent carseats also (usually) or again, a friend of your relative may be able to lend you something? That could eliminate a few items that you have to drag with you. The only things we brought big were the carseat and umbrella stroller - carseat only because my husband carried it and the umbrella stroller because it was easy enough to bring.

Good luck!
S.

I really like all the suggestions you have so far, so the only other suggestion I have is that you may want to consider shipping some of your stuff (clothes, diapers etc and some smaller stuff) ahead of time. We have done that in the past and it worked out very well. We also have shipped dirty clothes back home so we werent lugging a suitcase full of dirty clothes. We didnt overnight it..just did ground shipment and it really wasnt too expensive and it will lighten your load at the airport.

I've traveled a lot by plane with little ones. I would advise you to get him his own seat unless he is a really mellow kid and you can see him happily sitting on your lap for the duration of the flight (remember, you will probably have people sitting next to you in cramped quarters as well). If he has his own seat, the two of you can spread out a bit and leave room to move around and play. If you have a portable DVD player, I highly recommend them.

You can check his car seat and stroller at the entrance to the plane--they will take it right down to the luggage compartment at no extra charge. Are you staying at a hotel? Most hotels have pack n' plays or cribs available. Good luck!

We flew with my son when he was 15 months and got him his own seat. It was sooo much nicer to not have to hold him the whole time. We took his carseat and buckled him in so he thought it was like being in the car and didn't give us a problem about staying in it because he didn't know he really didn't have to be in it. As far as equipment...I suggest bringing someone to the airport with you so they can carry the pack n play and suitcase...which you will then check in. Get a carseat carry bag which should have a strap on it that you can put around you so it's on your back...not the most comfortable but it's only to get to the airplane. Put your son in his stroller and push him right up to the airplane doors. you take him out and they will stow your stroller right underneath so when you get to your destination it will be waiting for you outside the plane door. It will be hard but it works.

i would get him his own seat, do you really think you can hold a 2 year old on your lap for hours and not have to commit yourself? we he gets rowdy, and he will get rowdy, just put him in his own seat, give him some cookies, pen paper,etc,,wahtever, but either way it will be a memorable trip.

as for the car seats and things, forget the pack and play, at 2 years old, he will feel more secure if he can sleep with you, if you think a trip is abig deal for you, what do you think it will be for him. take your stroller, and send somemoney ahead, and see if your friend cant look at yard sales or rummage sales where she lives to pick one up, you can find one at almost any sale from $5-$15. then when your done with it, have your friend donate it, or save it for when you come back to visit, then you wont have that problem again.

Check with the airlines to see if they want you to check in the carseat or to bring it on the plane. I've been on flights where they want you to have it on the plane and others who discourage using them. Really try to pack light because every big item you bring is counted as luggage. If you can live without the pack and play, I would leave it at home. There are car seats/stroller combos. They cost quite a bit new but you can always see if there are parents in your area who can lend you one. Depending on your kids personality, there can be advantages to having his own seat. Some kids are less fussy with their own space. Some hate it. My daughter stayed on my husband's lap for take-off and landing. She actually loved it. Then the rest of the time unless she had a hard time getting to sleep, she sat in her own chair.

Good luck.

Y.

In Oct we traveled twice by plane with my just 3 year old and 1.75 year old. I recommend getting a seat for your little guy. We put both of ours in their car seats so they didn't count as luggage. They are used to riding in the car in the carseats so they understood that they had to stay in them as long as the plane was flying. Also, you can push the stroller to the gate and gate check it - it doesn't count against your luggage count either and they will have it waiting for you as you get off the plane so you'll be ready to push away. We took our pack and play on one trip as we were staying with family without gear. The other trip we stayed in hotels and used the ones they had, but took our own sheet and blanket for him. My daughter was in a bed.

In terms of things to have with you on the plane - plenty of diapers. You never know when there might be a mechanical and you'll need for than just for the expected time in air. It's also good to have plenty of wipes to go with the diapers or just for wiping of grubby fingers or dirty tray tables. Fun finger foods can keep them busy for a while - different dry cereal, raisins, crackers, etc. You might want to try to take a little of a lot of different things to change out and make it interesting. Different shapes or styles of each type of food makes eating fun. You don't want to do too much sugar or it will make him wired which isn't good. You can get him juice, milk, or water on the plane, but it's good to have a sippy (or bottle if he's still on it) for landing and take off because of pressure change as it will help him relieve any discomfort. It's best to bring along some fluid at least for take off though even if you want to get a refill onboard. Again, it's good to have back-ups in case of unexpected delays. I also took a variety of new toys/books to make things interesting... the dollar store often has things that you can pick up inexpensively. Does he like crayons yet? Drawing works well. Also playdough can pass the time. Someone mentioned a portable DVD. My older one watched ours, but the younger one wasn't as interested. It depends on how much he likes to watch tv at home I'm sure, but it can be helpful onboard and even while you are traveling. We had a couple hour+ drives while away so we used it in the car too and used it for nighttime cd's to fall asleep.

Good Luck

Hi, I have had alot of experience with traveling with my kids.I have 2 and one on the way. I usually travel without my husband. We are usually meeting him, due to his work.
I would suggest to buy his own seat and bring his car seat on the plane. Most kids will get restless after 10 minutes on the plane. When I started to bring the car seat on the plane, my son sat there the whole time and was an angel. You can gate check your stroller, and they will not charge you. When you land they will have your stroller ready for you, at the ramp. I would check all luggage and pack n play. Bring a diaper bag on the plane, with snacks and toys. I hope this helps.

This Jan, we went to Florida with our (now) 6 1/2 yr old and 22 month old. We got seats for all.
We brought her car seat, and jogging stroller. Since you can check 2 pieces of luggage per person, we got to check the carseat. You can wheel the stroller right to the plane and fold it down, the stewardess will take it and you will get it right back once you exit.Make sure you put a nametag on it)Do you have anyone helping you? That will be a ton of stiff on you, does anyone that you will be meeting down there has anything you could borrow instead of bringing? Good luck-make sure to bring a bottle or sip cup and ask the stewardess to refill for you. It helped my daughters ears when we flew to give her drinks and let her snack on things.
TAke care,
K.

If you buy him his own seat - he's entitled to the same number of bags as everyone else. He can bring his pack and play and his own suitcase of clothes. You can bring your suitcase and his stroller. The stroller and car seat can be checked on the front of the plane - ask the flight attendant to help you with this. You'll need the stroller in the airport to get to your gate and you'll need it again once you deboard to get to baggage claim. Are you renting a car? Usually, the rental companies have child seats available to rent. If you are renting a car, you can just have him sit on your lap and not buy the extra ticket. If not, the car seat is what he'll need on the plane to sit in. Whether he has his own seat or not - he cannot sit in an exit row and he cannot be near the aisle because they feel he would impede the other seats exiting should there be an emergency. Also - make sure you ask for a cart transport to your gate. There is no way you can carry a car seat, push a stroller, and lug your carry ons at the same time. I took my then 4 month old to England and it isn't easy to travel by plane with him. I've since taken him on many other flights and the one thing I've found is that flight personnel are very helpful. Good luck and have fun!

Hi C.,
Often you can rent equipment when you get to your destination. This is especially true if you're going to a resort area like a beach. We have often rented cribs and car seats so we didn't have to take them with us. Good luck!
L.

Hi, I have a 2 and a 6 year old, both girls. I have flown with both of them. The only advantage to not buying a seat for him is saving money. It is safer for him to have his own seat, you strap his car seat into the plane seat, just make sure that it is FAA there should be a sticker on the side or contact the manufacturer. In terms of saftey, even something as simple as tubulance he isn't going anywhere just like in the car. And with his own seat comes his own oxygen mask. Your hands will be free to entertain him and if he is active you won't have to fight with him the entire flight. With the car seat you will have to book him a window seat. The flight attendants were very helpful and considerate. Your stroller can be checked at the end of the gateway just before you board the plane and will be there when you get off at your destination. They do sell harness for your car seat to either strap to your back like a backpacck or to your stroller. Also if you book him a seat you have now doubled the amount of bags you can check for free. Careful bacase there is a weight limit of 50lbs. I think for any checked bag.

I wish you lots of luck, and hope you have a wonderful trip.

Hi C.,
I used to work for an airline. I haven't traveled with my son on an airplane yet, but I can tell you I agree with these ladies! You never know what kind of flight you'll have. If it's packed you'll have people all around you and you don't want to have a toddler on your lap too. It's definately doable - consider your flight length and your finances (it may be worth the sacrifice). I was a cutomer service rep at the airport, and if there was room on a flight, I would block the seats next to the parent (for free) so the child could have a seat. As far as saftey, the flight attendants will provide a seat belt extension to fit around you and your son, but you would have to share oxygen masks in case of an emergency. If you do decide to check the stroller, car seat and pack and play, please package them well!!! Most airlines will not assume responsibility if damaged. If lost, you would be issued a "loaner carseat" which from my experience are not reguraly cleaned, and you would have to just wait for the stroller and pack and play to show up.
Hope everything works out for you!!
GOD BLESS