Travel Oversees with 1Year Old

Hi D.,
I've done that trip(though even longer) with my daughter, although that time she was 2.5m on the way to Europe and 9m on the way back... the flight there was a breeze... she slept and ate and was just as happy as could be... she always loved to look around for new things... and i did have her as a lap child and it was all great... on the way back with 9m old was not too bad either... she never cried, also i never used any medications... dont believe in them unless really needed... but i did have to do few little walks with her to keep her occupied... and she never had a problem with take offs and landings, although she has done lot of them in her short life... recently i also did a 2hr flight and i had toys and books and aquadoodle little coloring book(no mess, yet lot of fun) and crayons... and she never cried and i didnt even have to walk anywhere with her... she did bug peole only by being cute and trying to talk to them, saying hi and smiling, playing pee-a-boo... now she is 16m old... in spring i'll do alone with her another trip to Europe(my family lives there, so is sort of nessessity trips.... :)))) also as the airline policies about what you can take now are so crazy and strict, then is a little harder now... they even tried to tell me on my last trip that i cant have a zippycup for my 14m, oh they heard the worse part of me... and did allow it for her after their test on it... :P heheheee... :))) so it is easier to get drinks on the plane or in the airport after the security... that's what i'm planning on on the next long one... and as much as i can fit in my carry on with her favorite toys and activities... and definately snacks she likes, also as much as i can fit or think of... you never know what she likes at the moment, and i really rather suggest you have it, rather than trying to argue over it... :))) generally is not my kind of method of how and what, but in a placa an time like that... anything goes!!! :)))
about the time difference... well i think is harder to come back and then get used to the time difference rather than opposite... i have done that trip myself several times and that's the way it seems to me... there the day just starts earlier, but i dont know...
if he still uses passifier, then that is a good help on take off and landings... mine decided not to like it when she was 9 months old... but it hasnt really seem to have bothered her too much anyway....
but i have done longer and shorter trips also while i was babysitting with other kids, also young(birth to 5yrs old) and the key word always is plan a nap time and have plenty of activities, drink and snack... and never mind if it isnt the healtiest one, as long as it's something that makes them happy... i would not recommend on sweets though, as then you have a hyper baby in a tight space and that really would be the last thing you need... :)))
okokok... i think i've blabbed here already too much... if you have any additional questions then email me ____@____.com
But if i dont hear from you, then have a fun and safe trip!!! :)

Hi D.

they sell those trays to put in front of your car seat...and you can buy some activities for your boy...that's what I would do with my 19 month old ...he is always active and never likes to sit still...so try to find some stores that carry activities for him when in flight.

Can I ask ...when you work full time who watches your son? I am also going back to work but I don't know who to get to watch my son.\

Take care
Kelly

Hi D.! First I want to say Kudos to you for taking your child on a plane so young! I know many people who are too afraid to do it.

I am a seasoned "with-kids-traveler". My husband is Air Force and we were stationed overseas in Europe for a total of 5 years. During those times, all 3 of my children were infants. I didn't let that stop me from visiting my family. And I often did it by myself as my husband couldn't get leave. It is possible! You just have to prepare, prepare, prepare! Then, when something goes wrong....just accept it.

As many have already said, make sure you have plenty of toys to entertain and something to chew or drink. The other thing to make sure you have is snacks! Airline food is usually not the type of food children want. Sometimes they will have a kids meal but not usually. And sometimes a little bag of goldfish or other crackers can calm a crying child like nothing else. One person mentioned giving motrin before getting on the plane. I always gave my kids a dose of Dimetapp or some other cold medicine that would make them sleepy. And I know many other parents that do the same. Even if it doesn't put them to sleep, it helps relax them a bit. Understand that the plane experience is SO new and exciting to them and they don't understand why you want them to be quiet and sit still.

If you haven't already done it and can afford it....GET HIS OWN SEAT ON THE PLANE! I know it is cheaper to have a lap baby, but it is so much harder. When they have their own seat, they have more room. Be sure to bring his car seat so you can buckle him down. He may cry because he doesn't want to be buckled, but it will be a lot easier on you if he stays confined. He probably will cry some. I remember before I had kids and would think "OMG! There are kids on this plane. Great!". But you know what? Most of the time, their cries aren't as loud to everyone else as they are to you. And if they don't want to listen to kids cry, they need to take a train or drive.

He will kick the back of the seat in front of him so if you can get a bulkhead seat, that is preferable. Also, it provides a little more room so he could get on the floor and play a bit if you wanted to let him. But getting him back in the seat after that will be difficult.

A lot of airlines have goodie bags they hand out to the kids with wings, crayons, color books, and a few other things. These will work to entertain for a little while. But it isn't enough.

I know this was long but I have done this alot and wanted to share. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me.

I hope your flight goes well and you have a very nice Christmas!

One other thing I can add is to bring small toys that you can wrap in Christmas paper. No tape is necessary really, just wrap tightly around toy--that way if security makes you unwrap them, no big deal (we didn't have that problem). He'll have fun unwrapping and each toy will take that much longer to get tired of. Hope that helps!

I've only taken my 18 month old on a plane once, and it was only a 2 1/2 hour flight, so keeping him occupied wasn't too hard. I would definitely pack a bag of toys. The only advice I can really give is regarding landing. On the way to our destination I really didn't know what to do, he started to cry the second we started to descend and it didn't stop until we were on the ground, it was horrible. On the way home, someone actually helped me and said if you can get a bottle (or cup) into his mouth the second you feel like you're descending it'll keep their ears from popping and will stop the crying. Good luck & have a fun!

hi D., a few things
during tgake off and landing ears tend to pop so it's good to give him something to chew, preferably a bottle but if he is off bottles then maybe a lollipop just during take off and landing. that will eliminate the chance of ears hurting.
then during the flight to europe it will be sleeptime for him so make sure before getting on the plane he gets tired, this way he will sleep for a long time. when he is not sleeping get music toys, maybe a portable DVD player with a favorite movies of his. books, playdough even if not age appropriate but he will be under your constant supervision. it won't be bad, what will be bad is passing through security as nowadays they don't let you take much with you on the plane
good luck
vlora

Hi D.,

I travelled to Germany last year for Christmas with my son who was 6 months at the time and it wasn't really a problem with keeping him occupied, but definitely get him to chew or swallow while taking off or landing.

We've flown with him within the States when he was 15 months old and it definitely was more of a challenge. But as long as you and your husband take turns to play with him, you should be okay. Take lots of toys, pacifiers if he takes them, or anything else to chew on...

Good luck and Merry Xmas!

D.

D.,
When we flew with our 13 month old I gave her Motrin about one half hour before take off. It was very effective for take off and landing. She did not even fuss. She was still using her pacifer at the time also and I made sure she was sucking on that. Our flight was much shorter we were only flying to Florida but I just took some toys and snacks and she stayed entertained between naps. It was not as bad as I had excepted. I was very worried before we went also. Hope this helps.
Good Luck,
J. A

hello... my husbands family is from holland so we have done the trip with all our boys. you can request the seat that backs up to the wall and there they have a basinet that hooks to the wall so your sone can sleep during the night. if he still drinks a bottle, nurses or uses a sippy cup its good to do that during take off and landing. I can remember using a chamomile herbal supplement with my youngest son when he was about 14 months and it really helped with him relaxing. As far as jet lag, kids are amazing and seem to easily adjust, (more then their parents) Good luck and enjoy the trip!

Good job on traveling! We lived in Tokyo for 5 years so traveled back and forth to the US and spent hours in the air. Toys, Food, Favorite cup from home, blankets are my answer. Pampers crusiers hold more liquid than any I've found so if you use cheaper diapers,try these for traveling. Don't expect anything from the airlines anymore. Those days are gone. I don't give my kids drugs to fly but if you do, test at home first. My son had the opposite typical reaction to benadryl last year. The dr. told me to give him some and he became super hyper boy. For too much day travel, bring black pashmina and big safety pins and curtain off your area. I have a Creative Zen (like an ipod but bigger video screen) which has home movie, pictures, Baby Einstein, Sesame STreet and Barney on it--it's small and easy to use. My older daughter has Leapster which you can even use earplugs for. Carrying a lot is a pain in the arm but not as much as the pain of an unhappy child on a closed up airplane! Just returned from traveling to Grandmas-door to door travel 11 hours.