Long Flight with a 18 Mo. Old!

I was reading your responses and had to laugh. We did get our daughter her own seat (at 16 1/2 months), and she just wanted in our laps the whole time :) However, the red eye was great. Also, I don't know when your flight is, but if you have some time, put her favorite toy away and then bring it out for the flight. Also, the novelty of something new works wonders - and wrap it in gift paper so they have to spend time opening it. We did this over the holidays when we flew. I also broke out a new snack trap (I just usually throw her cheerios in tupperware) and that killed 45 minutes! Good Luck!

I would get a seat - even if you are concerned about flying in a separate row - if you are really that worried about her sitting and being occupied. We have taken red eyes several times, with out son on our laps - but was always pretty mellow about flying and always slept...but, got heavy after a while! Now, he sits in his carseat, and never gets out because we have not allowed him to, or given him that option (except for potty breaks)...he thinks that it is the "law" like in the car. Otherwise - a lot of snacks, coloring books, watercolors (Crayola has some that are great for travel), books, magna doodle, small toys...good luck!!!

Please get your 18 month old a seat. I have found that children with their own seat sleep way better. We are a family of four as well. I sit with our two children and my husband sits across the aisle from me.

Another tip is for one of you to get on the plane with the carseat and set it up, while the other parent walks around the gate area with the toddler to work off some energy and boards last.

I am in agreement with many of the responses. If you can afford it at all get the extra seat. At 18 months I am sure your little one is active and trying to keep her in your laps in cramped quarters is going to be difficult. Hopefully she would sleep and then it would be much easier but there is no guarantee that will happen. If she has her own seat where she can move around a little she will be much happier which, in turn, will keep you happier. Also, she may just sleep better with a little room to stretch. I have tried this both ways. Once on the lap with a 13 month old and once with the extra seat. The extra seat was by FAR completely worth the money!
Good Luck!

We flew with our 18 month old to Hawaii which was about a 4-5 hour flight. We did not purchase another seat,.. but we tried to plan for us to be flying while he was sleeping.. My suggestion is,.. get another seat if you can afford it.. but if you cant.. Get seats in the way way back near the bathrooms or all the way in the very front... We kept our son near the window because we did not want him to think he could get down and walk around.. Bring new toys,.. flip books and several crayons so that if they are dropped you don't have to worry about finding them! Red eye is probably the way to go,.. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised about how wonderful she will actually do! Bring something for her to chew on during take off to help her adjust her ears.. Lots of snacks! STICKERS!! Stickers were a life saver,.. by the time we got off the plane we were covered in them.. Also some planes pass out personal videos,.. Renting one would be a good idea,.. Now a days they have all kinds of movies and shows on them.

Last thought,.. Don't sweat it too much if she throws a tantrum just relax, shes a kid. And don't worry so much if someone gets upset over it,.. they probably don't have any kids, they'll get over it! If she only cries once I would still consider it a great flight! After all, can you really blame her? I hate not being able to move for hours at a time too!

Towards the last half an hour on our flight we were getting ready to desend and my husband put our sons shoes on and got ready to go,.. worst thing to do,.. my son thought it was time to get up and go right when his shoes went back on,.. If your daughter is anything like this,.. don't get her ready until you really are leaving!! This caused a lot of frustration for our son,.. luckily the guy sitting next to us was about to be a father and he was very patient and understanding. It was quite a good experience for him! LOL

Just got back from a 5 1/2 hour flight with my 21 month old (and Im a flight attendant for 17 years). I highly suggest a dvd player. I brought Dora & others of her favorites (although she doesnt watch much tv) -- but she loved the dvd player. I bought the "kids tough" player online for its extremely durable and can be dropped and such. Also -- yes, snacks. We brough her favorite toys, snacks & dvd player and she did great! She only slept for 1 1/2 and the rest she was busy with her snacks, toys and movies. As far as the red eye -- its your call. But all the others passengers will be trying to sleep then as well.....so it may or may not work better. Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

We flew to Europe last year with 8 months old overnight and it was a NIGHTMARE! He would not sleep! We had bulkhead seats right by the bathroom and that was too noisy. He barely slept and cried for the second half of the trip (almost 5 hours! - past 8 pm his time). I thought night will work well as it's his time to sleep but it didn't. I have to say people were very understanding, many offered help. They saw we kept trying to make him happy, nothing just helped...By the time we made it to our destination I was in tears thinking I'll never do this again. Yet in few months we are going again :). We flew 6 hours in December when he was 15 months old and he did great. The day time flights seemed to work well and on the way back he slept for 2 hours! in the evening...I agree with advises given below. But I think you cannot prepare yourself for everything and if things don't go well try to stay calm - your energy feeds your kids energy. My son was not interested in any new toys, but his old ones and loves to play with things he usually cannot or doesn't - cell phone, water bottle, keys so I know I am bringing items like these with us on our next flight. We are not getting another seat yet, but we are 2 to 1 :). Good luck to us all traveling with kids!!!

Hello I also fly alot by myself with my two girls ages 2 and 4. This is very hard but I find what helps is to take a midnight flight. I have not noticed the layover being to bad and they usually fall right back asleep once they are on. I don't know if you are nursing or bottle but I would save the nighttime bottle until right before we took off that way the pressure etc is better on their ears. This always helps to. My dr also told me and I don't know how you are about giving your kids meds but he told me that sometimes kids get jittery flying and so to give them some benadryl 20 mins before you get on the plane and that it helps with their nerves etc. I noticed this always, seems to help I just make sure to take lots of snacks, books, colors, and a favorite blankie/toy/animal.

I just flew with my one year old and couldn't have done it without his carseat. When he did fall asleep he slept long and hard, I think because he knows his carseat and sleeps there during car rides. I know my child could never sleep in my lap, at least not for long. Also, when he was out of his carseat (diaper changes, etc.) he wanted to explore, and there is really not enough room to walk him up the aisle, etc.

That said, I brought a bag of toys and books he has never seen. I also agree and believe the red eye is your best bet.

Good luck and have a fun trip!

I know you do not want to be separated from your husband, but get her a seat. This will give you extra room. Try to get the seats either across the aisle from each other or behind each other. The red eye is a good idea. We traveled 13 hours from China when we brought our daughter home. She slept most of the way. Get both of your kids new toys for the trip and don't let them see them of play with them until you are on the plane. When we traveled back east to visit the family, I bought her a little writing toy (Magna Doodle, not sure of the brand). This still keeps her busy and you don't have to worry about her writing on things. Little books, finger puppets work too. When you are in the airport for the layover, take you for a walk in the stroller. You can bring the stroller right to the plan & it will be waiting for you when you get out. Traveling is a pain but with kids it is a challenge. Also, remember not to bring any water or they will make you drink it or pour it out. Bring a couple of empty sippy cups. The flight attendents can give you something to drink in the cups. Let me know how you make out.

First of all I would say don't worry about it too much...I know it seems daunting but after the 8 hours it will be over. We have flown many times with our son - and we always live through it! : ) That said here is my advice...I don't have any personal experience with the red-eye but I have a friend who flew it with two kids and she said she would never do it again! The kids were so overstimulated after the airport and everything else that they didn't really sleep at all so they go to their destination with tired kids and tired parents. Although I see that someone else said this is great for their kids so I guess it can go either way. My other advice is to go to the dollar store and get lots of little toys that you can pull out during the flight - like one per hour for each kid. Or hide some of her favorite toys now and don't let her have them again until the flight. This has been a lifesaver for us. And snacks! lots of snacks! Good luck and have fun on your trip!

We travel often with our 3 year old son, but had one of the worst flights ever on a red eye when he was 18 months old. This past weekend we tried it again and we are still recovering.

My advice is this:

1- Get a seat for the 18 month old. If she doesn't sleep that means none of you will sleep and at least one of you needs to be alert and available- not just during the flight but once you land.

2- Don't assume your child will sleep on the plane. My son is an excellent sleeper and he can rarely ever sleep on the plane. The flight attendants make continual announcements or loudly push the cart down the aisle, other people turn on their lights around you or if there is a movie playing it will distract.

One last tip- make sure you buy plenty of water before you board the plane. We ran out before the 2nd leg of our trip and it was a bit of a hassle to keep getting up for more.

Good luck to you!

I am a military Momma so I have flown far and often with my boys. First of all, call ahead (usually 24 hours) and request a bulk head seat. If the airline will not reserve it on the phone ask when you check in. The bulk head seat is the row in front so you have extra leg room and no seat in front of you to restrict you. This makes traveling with a lap infant so much more comfortable. Families traveling with lap infants usually have priority for the bulk head seats.

Other then that, if you can get them to sleep on the plane it does help on the other side of the trip, if they can not sleep just make sure you have some activity's like coloring books, hand held games, dvd player, little toy dolls or cars (whatever they like best to play with). and bring some snacks. And just remember during the flight, even if things are not going so well with the kids, just a few hours and it will be over!!! and something great awaits on the other side!

Best of luck

Get a seat - if you are anxious when you fly they are going
to notice.

Also don't assume they are going to sleep - I flew with my daughter when she was 15 months - granted it wasn't a red eye but it was 8 hours flying including a quick layover and a 2 hour drive and she only fell asleep 1/2 hour before our destination.

Lots of new toys.

Good luck = you'll be fine.