Need Help with Air Travel

For flying- I've had great success using 1/2 dose of Motrin plus 1/2 dose of Benadryl. Helps them sleep! Otherwise, bring along a thousand little stickers and a lot snacks...
For in the airport, I recommend one of those cute little harness/backpack things, so your son can get some of his energy spent before you board, but not get away from you. Good luck!

We've gotten a lot of milage out of re-usable sticker books.

Whenever I fly with my toddler, I take enough diapers to last a day and *plenty* of food too-- otherwise I agree with everyone that says to travel as light as possible. Our most recent flight sat on the runway for 3.5 hours before takeoff, I was really glad we had extras of everything.

I have done a flight like that as well C., My son was about the same at the time and it was from Ca to Michigan.

I got a Gerber Baby Harness with a leash. I didn't use the harness just the leash for him attached to his wrist and mine. I had a car seat strapped to my luggage bag, a backpack on my back and I had little Alex. It was the best 15$ I spent.

I didn't have to worry about him running off. While we would wait for the plane I strapped him in is car seat and kept him busy with Cheerios and stories. On the plane the Flight Attendants helped keep him busy.

Good Luck!

Hi C.,

I flew with my son (by myself) when he was 18 mos for 15 hrs (overseas). I made sure that I had plenty of snacks and also new "toys" that he had never seen before to help keep him entertained. I would take them out, one at a time, when he seemed bored or I needed to distract him. (Sometimes the surroundings themselves can be entertaining too.)
Since it's close to his bedtime, maybe you'll be lucky and he will sleep on the flight!

Good luck,
J.

I've taken my 20 month old daughter on 7 flights and several long road trips. At your son's age, I would recommend a DVD player with a variety of DVDs like Blues Clues or Dora or Elmo, or whatever is his favorite. Even if he doesn't watch much at home, this will work because he'll be bored. It also helps keep him more still. You can't count on him to sleep because he might be too excited/stimulated. My daughter either never sleeps, or maybe nods off just before descent if she's exhausted. This last trip, I also downloaded a couple episodes of Dora and Blues to my Ipod. This was a life saver because we could just hand it to her in the stroller if she was losing it during security check or long wait in a line. At one airport, my husband found a flat Brookstone speaker we could plug the Ipod into so she could hear it. It also converts into a tiny stand to clip the Ipod to. Since most DVD batteries only last 4 hours, this was so helpful with an unexpected 8 hour delay last week. I'm assuming you know to give him something to eat or drink on take off and landing to unstop his ears, and to check your stroller at the boarding gate, rather than through luggage. My daughter, who can be quite the scamp, has been an angel on flights. As far as the airport--there will be plenty of running around. The plane is so confining, you really do need to let them move around before and after. Just let him go and follow him. I put my dd's diaper things, DVD player, and my stuff in one back pack, which makes it easier to follow her around without a bag falling off my shoulder every time I bend over to redirect her, or stop her from shoplifting. Have fun!

Hi C.,
I have a lot of experience traveling with 18 month olds and two children as well. What the mom suggest above is true. New toys. Nothing expensive or fancy even. Little light spinner thing, walgreens has an easter one right now, or party city has one, little drawing board from target - fisher price, new books with sliding doors or flaps, DVD player!!!, 'Parents' keys also from Target, also bring those plastic rings so you can clip the toy to the car seat.
ALSO, i bought (if you plan on doing more travel) the GOGOBABY.com wheels that you screw onto the back of your careseat! Great! Check your stroller with the luggage and roll you kid through the airport! They have to hand screen your care seat, and you take the wheels off once you roll to your aisle onthe plane, but this is a major saver.
Also, the food/milk snack nap time thing. Bring lots, airline attendants can keep you milk cold for you. I bring the bear or special nap time thing that my child needs and bring it out at nap or bedtime. I have even had my daughter where a sun hat to cut down on the light/distraction around her.
Pack you back pack with enough diapers for the day and an extra outfit. Good Luck, it will be fine.
Just traveled and my DVD was not charged on 3 hour flight and I thought OMG, but my 18 month son played with the emergency card for about 1/2 hour! great toy!

oh and the baby einstein puppets at target, great too! and light!

I was going to respond with what we do until I saw Marlese's response below - and she does everything exactly the way we do it. Nothing left to say. :) We've been on over 30 flights with my 2 year-old, and these are the things that work for us. Just remember - try to really think about what he will need on the plane, and for the lag time getting baggage, etc. right after the flight. Otherwise, don't lug yourself down with a ton of extra stuff that you might use - bring the essentials and it will be so much easier when you're rifling though the bag to get your license at security or his snacks on the plane.

I always do a new toy on the plane too. It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, just something new. That always buys you some time.

Also don't bring out your tricks (new toy, DVD player) too soon on the plane. Space them out, and fill time in between looking at the trucks and planes out the window before takeoff, or reading stories. This will keep him from getting overstimulated too. My son is fascinated with the window pull shade, the tray table, etc. Good luck and you will be fine! Oh also, ignore anyone that shoots you a dirty look for having the gall to bring a baby on the plane. My son, who is a total spaz half the time at home, is a pure angel on the plane and I still get dirty looks sometimes if he makes any noise. Some people have apparently forgotten that they were 2 once!