Seeking Advice on Flying Solo with 15-Month-old

Portable DVD Player. I know he's only 15 mos, but it might be enough to keep him occupied for short periods of time.

Oh, I have never had the luxury of help while traveling with my young son. I still remember having the britax carseat straps looped around my arm..my son in a front sling carrier, the diaper/activity bag floppign around, and struggling with my carryon while walking for what seemed like ever!

A couple of things I have learned from experience since that first flight.

If your carseat is air approved, definately take it with you. Buckle it up, and you can use one arm to sling it, or they make those nifty carts that convert the carseat to a stroller.

Don't be affraid to check your luggage. It is worth the $15 if you fly with someone who charges. You will make your life easier, because you can pick up a cart to take it from carousel to car when you arrive at your destination and you will not be struggleing with it in the plane or while walking between gates or two the exit.

Put your carryon items in a backpack. Diapers, toys, snacks, juice cup, medicines, spare outfits and a blanket for baby and some ziplock bags for messes/diapers. I always made sure my purse would fit in it too. A backpack will store quite nicely in the foot area of most planes.

With baggage checked, backpack, carseat and child in tow, you will do just fine.

Oh, make sure you have plenty of snacks. The take off and landing are the hardest parts, especially for young ears. If he has something to chew or suck it will help his ears adjust to the pressure change. You can also cup his ears a bit, which can help.

Activities...Have a few favored toys...and one new one to introduce to him when things get rough. With my son, I spent the time talking to him, exploring what was around us and what was out the window, and playing with him with his toys as well as snuggling. You know your child best and what keeps him happy.

Best of luck to you!

Hi - I've traveled several times w/my son solo & it was fine. I didn't get him a seat until I had to (@ age 2). If you have him sit on your lap - get a window seat.

My son slept (& still does - he's 5) on every plane ride, so bring his blanket, bottle or sippy (to help w/ear popping). Generally on the ascent I would wait to give him his sippy & rock him - he would be asleep by the time we were fully in the air!!! I've never put him in a car seat - too restricted - check it in with your luggage.

Aqua doodle is great to bring - they sell small ones perfect for the plane, crayons, etc, dollar store items, cars, trains etc

Good luck, have a safe trip!!

the airline will provode you with a special chair for you baby when you get on board just make sure they know when you check in you will be one of the first one to board with your toddler, try and not load yourself down with too much to carry i seen on my laters flight they gave color pencils and a picture to the toddler which she was very happy with. she did have oat meal so the provided her with hot water, the baby was very good. teh lady also had a fold up buggy which they put in the over head locker so she push that onto the plan first.
both male flight attends were very good on my flight.
Have a safe trip and enjoy it.

Both of my daughters learned to travel very early. I would get a seat for him if you can, because both of you will be tired of sharing a seat after about an hour or so. Bring lots of snacks and activities for him to rotate through. Take your stroller straight up to the gate, they will check it there at the plane and it will be brought back to you at the plane's door when you arrive. Of course check your luggage curbside, so that you can have less things to carry. Try to get a window and middle seat too, so that you won't have someone climbing over both of you. Good luck!

You've been given loads of great advice!

I'll only add a couple of things...

*try hiding a few favourite toys & books for a few weeks before your trip - saves buying new ones and your baby will be happy to see them.
*wrapping a few toys also gives you a few extra minutes with each toy
*the dollar store is great for inexpensive playthings that you don't care if they get lost or broken
*try to save the juice for landing - the sugar can make him hyper at the start of a flight
*car seat is safest but with small seat pitches, can make it prime spacing for baby to kick passenger in front of him very easily. Try getting a CARES harness - you can rent them too.
*don't forget a change of clothes for yourself too - if that diaper leaks, it will likely leak on you!

I have lots of advice on my website as well - feel free to check it out! http://www.havebabywilltravel.com/main/home.htm

I used to check my luggage and carry on a diaper bag. I would bring the stroller to the gate and found a car seat cover, that had straps I could put on my back and carry it back-pack style. So, I would be pushing stroller, car seat on my back and diaper bag filled w/ goodies, supplies and entertainment. When I got to my destination, I had to coordinate that with a suitcase on wheels at baggage claim which I just pulled behind me and pushed the stroller w/ one hand. As Moms, we adapt and adjust just like a Marine! Good luck, and just try to relax and go with the flow.

I've traveled 3 hours twice now, once when my son was 1 yr, once just after he turned two. Here's what I would suggest for your 15 month old:

- balloon to play with at the airport
- empty sippy cup (fill it after you get through security)
- books
- DVD player (headphones good, but my son wouldn't wear them. The plane is so loud, I don't think I bothered others. Noone said anything at least)
- books
- NEW toys/books
- his favorit snacks

Most airlines allow your child to be a 'lap child' if they're under two yrs old, so they fly free but stay in your lap. Of course, if you're on SWest like I was and the flight is not full, then your son gets a seat for free. Depends on your son. Some moms recommend you bring their car seat so they'll be more at ease and more likely to sleep. Some don't want to pay the extra ticket - so you decide!

As for hauling it all yourself, whoever drops you off at the airport, have them help you get one of those trolleys on wheels when you first get to the airport ($4 or so). When I traveled a few months ago, I folded up my umbrella stroller and put it on top of my suitcase (which rolled) and held my son's hand while he walked. I put all of my purse/carry on stuff in my BACKPACK instead of diaper bag. That saved me an extra hand. So dont bring a diaper bag. Bring a backpack! Once you check your big suitcase, you can put the kid in the stroller and relax a little and push him to security. If he's not much of a walker, (like my son at 12 months), I just had to push the stroller and drag my suitcase with my backpack on my back all the same time. Not easy to maneuver the stroller, but do-able.

And I packed my sons things plus my things in one big bag instead of a bag for each of us. Much easier.

Good luck. Message me if you have any other questions or clarifications.

You have already received a lot of good advice. I have flown with my daughter a number of times (she is now 25 months), both by myself and with my husband. The earliest was when she was 6.5 months, which was not easy because she was not a mellow, sleep anywhere baby. We always get a seat in the very back 1 or 2 rows. More often than not, other kids will be back there too to help entertain/divert yours. Plus, it is louder back there to help soften any noises--whether fun or upset. I have mostly flown American, but also 1 or 2 other airlines--everyone has always been very, very helpful--heating up bottles, bringing cups, drinks, napkins, not harassing me about getting up to change a diaper when the seatbelt sign was on.
They will make sure you have your son in your lap for take off and landing, but usually don't bother you the rest of the time. If you can, ask when you check in about an empty seat next to you. And when you get on the plane, ask the flight attendant if that could be arranged. Most people will switch for you, especially if it is one middle seat to another.
I second all of the suggestions about bringing snacks, plenty of diapers (I once had 3 changes on the plane alone--and 2 were indeed poopy), NEW toys, the DVD player or a cell phone with video/sound/headphones. Also, lots of wipes and if you do them, antibacterial wipes. Be sure to wipe down those trays before you feed your son off of them. I've heard of people changing their newborns on them, so just play it safe! And maybe a small blanket for your son.

If your son is active, I might not consider walking the aisle with him, as, with my daughter, he may freak out when you make him sit back down.
And as with all parenting stressors, try not to worry about the sideways glances from grumpy passengers or anything like that. They'll get over it and you need to try to keep it cool so that you aren't a mess when you get to where you're going! Trust me, I've had quite a variety of experiences!
15 months is a pretty good age, though.
Oh, and unless you know that your son will sit in the carseat the whole/most of the time, it might no be worth spending the extra $$ on this flight for the extra seat. just my opinion, though.
And, I have had luck with getting passes for my parents and my husband (at different airports) to assist me all the way through to the gate. So if you have someone that can hang with you that long, it might be worth asking.
Good luck!
P.S. as far as occupying you son: as my daughter got older, I began to schedule my flights so that we could eat lunch/dinner right after we got on the plane. This would take up a good chunk of time and seemed to make the time pass a little faster.

I flew with my daughter at 1yr and 2yrs old. The flights were six hours with stops so it made for a 10 hour day plus driving time before and after. It was loooong. But, the thing that saved us was a portable DVD player. She's an Elmo fanatic and it kept her happy for 85% of the trip. Also small snacks like M&Ms, nuts, trail mix, etc. Drink for takeoff and landing to pop her ears. Small books she's never seen have also worked for us. New toys, mom's cell phone, anything that distracts :)

She was pissed the one time I put her in her carseat. If she could sit on my lap or had her own seat she was happy and content. (I wasn't always that comfortable though!) It depends on the child I think, mine needs freedom.

No matter what make sure you have vomit bags handy just in case. I've been thrown up on too many times and you never know when it's going to happen.

Hope this helps, good luck!

Most everyone else said everything I would already say...I would just say that under 2, your child can fly free, so don't bother with an extra ticket. We flew 6x w/my son before he hit 2, and I took full advantage of that free ticket. It's expensive! He would have crawled in my lap, anyway, so the seat would have been wasted. Also, I don't know where you're flying to on the other end...we were lucky in that we always were flying to family who had an extra carseat for our son, so we never had to take his. That helped a lot! I also checked our luggage, and only carried on the diaper bag & my purse. Having a stroller is great, as you can take that straight to the gate & "gate check" it...will make your trip SO much easier, esp since you're flying solo. GL!

Here are a list of toys to entertain your child.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/550

Do it!! Great experience for you both. I've been traveling with my daughter Olivia since she was born, many times solo. . .5-6 hour flights, and to Europe with my husband 8 hours. Don't bring too much. .. keep it simple. . .they always have tv for back up, if you have an iphone load his fav shows. . .if not, his favorite things to do. . .the flight always puts mine to sleep and she'll dose for most the flight. Do it now so he get's used to flying. .. my daughter is 3 1/2 and she LOVES to go. We are heading to Europe (with husband this time) Monday and looking forward to it. . .have fun!. . .safe Travels.

Travel LIGHT! Invest in the extra seat, yes for safety, but most importantly so that you both can spread out a bit. . .you will have to get a seat for him in 6 months anyway. There is a stroller called (oh what is the name) your car seat sits right into it but it's light and it folds easily. . .our Graco car seat snapped right in. . .OH it's called Snap and Go. . .I think it's Graco. . .it's great. .. don't forget to ask for help. You go in the "assistant" line at the airport, usually no line. You will have to put the stroller through by itself, TSA will help you. That's the hardest part--try to not have to many carry ons--check in and go light. Remember PACK LIGHT, travel light. .. if you remember anything out of my long winded tips.

Again, safe travels and don't be afraid. . .if your child is a happy, good child on a daily basis he will be a happy good child flying. Oh, one more tip, ears. If you are still breast feeding, put him on the breast at take off. . .just as you are taking off and then for 5 minutes until you are to altitude. . .and again as you are coming down for landing. . .or a bottle, but the breast is best because he really suckles which helps his ears. . .the bottle he may put down. . .best of luck

Dear J. P - My brother got married in March 1993. At the time I had a 17 month old son and a 5 month old daughter. My husband came with but it was like another kid. He held my son and I held my daughter. Everyone recommended to me I get my seats at the bulkhead of plane because there is more room. They were right. My son had plenty of room to play on the floor (my daughter slept most of the way). Make sure you bring a sippy cup with good suction and have your child drink upon take-off and landing because the swallowing will pop their ears and prevent ear infections. For my daughter, I breast-fed her on take-off to pop her ears. Don't take a car seat, just hold your child during the flight. It will comfort you and your child. Consider making the diaper bag your purse or leaving room in it to put the purse , allowing for one less bag. And always use a courtesy hauler (the golf cart thing) at the airport to move your luggage. Oh, and if you can't let your child play on the plane, be sure to allow a few minutes between flight or before you depart the airport for some "quality" but brief playtime (on a small blanket). Your child will "run-off" some energy and you can gather your stuff (and your thoughts) for your next move. Good luck.

Since you've already gotten a ton of advice, I just want to say enjoy not having to buy a ticket for your son right now! Once he turns two, you will have to and it is expensive! My son is three and my ticket prices have doubled since he turned two because I have to buy two seats. Otherwise, I second all of the advice about a stocked diaper bag, especially diapers/pullups, snacks, and drinks. Remember, even if you stock your diaper bag with lots of games, books, coloring stuff, etc, it is likely that he will lose interest real quickly on each of them. My son always does. Hopefully he will fall asleep like my son does on each flight! Also, make sure he is fed well before you get on the plane. You don't want a cranky boy!

My son is two years old and we've flown with him on both short domestic and very long international flights. You've gotten a lot of good tips already. The only other thing I can think of that was very important to us is to have your son drink while you are ascending and descending. Swallowing will help ease the pressure in his ears.

Good luck!

Look into purchasing a Gogo Kidz. I think amazon.com sells them. They strap to your carseat and turn your carset into a stroller, which is awesome (and makes navigating the airport that much easier). Before you do, though, make sure that your carseat is approved for flight or the flight attendants won't let you use it. Get a window seat for your child if possible so that he will disturb as few people as possible, and make sure you pack his favorite toys and books. Also, if possible, schedule the flight around his nap time so that he can sleep if he wants to, and bring plenty of good snacks. Good luck!

If you want to take a carry on and your carseat while traveling solo, I highly recommend the Traveling Toddler Carseat Accessory - its a t-strap that attaches your carseat to your carry on bag, which makes it a nifty stroller for your child (available for about $15 from amazon). If you buy one, practice a couple of times at home, with your son, so that it all goes seamlessly at the airport. When you reach the plane, you can gate check your carseat and it will be waiting for you after the flight. I also wholeheartedly agree with using a backpack to carry everything that you will both need during the flight. I put toys/games in one small bag, snacks in another small bag, diapering supplies in another, and arrange it all along with my purse in the backpack so that I could just grab out whatever I needed at the moment. Good luck and have fun!

I have flown solo with my child many times including a 20 hr flight to Hawaii when she was only 5 mos old! Our flights are always fine. My advice is based on convenience and comfort, not saving money.

1. Buy him his own seat. You will be so tired after flying and vacationing alone with him and flying back that you will need your comfort too. When booking, try to get seats on the side of the plane where there are only two seats & you will be alone. Put his carseat near the window. If you cannot get this, be on the aisle & have your seat on the aisle and his beside you, so you can get in and out easily. Do not put him on the aisle. People bump into you when you sit on the aisle. Stay away from seats near the bathroom at all costs.

2. Bring his carseat. It is much safer, plus it adds a level of familiarity for him so he won't feel so overwhelmed. It will be very much like a car ride to him. There are many devices to make carseats portable. One is called Go Go baby and it essentially turns his carseat into a stroller. These are sold online, ebay & babies r us, etc. There are many others. If you have time, search online. As I recall, the store "One Step Ahead" has a lot of travel items for babies

3. I travel light when I travel with baby. Diaper bag, baby, rolling carseat. Especially for only a three hour flight. If you need to carry more, I would invest in a sit & stand kind of stroller. Put baby in the front seat and load the back seat with the carseat and all of your stuff. Use luggage straps to secure everything and practice loading and unloading until it is a science because you'll have to do it at security & again at the gate & again at your destination. Always know where your ticket, ID & cash are and make sure they are easily accessible but safe. Using a backpack will also help you carry more stuff.

When you check-in for your flight, ask for a gate tag for your stroller. When you get to the gate, ask for pre-boarding so you can get on without a crowd. When you board, unload everything at the end of the gate. Unload the bags first, then the carseat. Put the baby in the carseat while you collapse the stroller. Pick up the bags & the baby and carry to the door. Ask one of the crew members to help you carry the carseat on. They should be happy to do this for you. One time, the co-pilot offered to carry it for us without being asked. There are usually one or two flight attendants there that can help. It is part of their job, so don't feel bad for asking. Sit baby in your seat while you secure his car seat (they have belt extenders if you need it to make the seatbelts long enough to secure the carseat properly). Relax.

4. Entertainment. Huge must. Get a $50 portable dvd player at target & some $5 cartoon dvds that he hasn't seen yet. Get him used to wearing the kid headphones now. If he won't, don't worry. The other passengers would rather hear Thomas the Train than your kid crying & you going "shhh, shhh, shhh" Also bring along some small books he hasn't heard before and a travel coloring kit. Take a walk up and down the aisles when it is safe & uncrowded to keep him occupied. These things should get you thru three hours. Also, make sure everything is something you won't get upset over if you accidentally leave it on the plane or it drops and breaks or rolls away under the seats :)

5. Have your own snacks/beverage. You might not have access to getting any in flight. Not having them or waiting for them will be torture to you & him. Diapers/change of clothes (shirt for you too), wet wipes, pacifier or bottle or lollipop to give him on take off & landing so his ears won't pop. Keep all this stuff & the entertainment stuff stowed under the seat. If you bought him a seat, you will have his stowage area too.

6. This is the most important: a good attitude. Do not be in a hurry. Do not race. Give yourself plenty of time. Ask for help. Most travelers and travel workers are more than happy to hold a door, etc. A lot of gushing "could you please..." "oh, thank you" and "I'm sorry we're taking so long" go a long way.

7. Have fun and stay safe!!!!