Traveling with 2 Year Old - Leesburg,VA

Hi,

I have traveled a lot with my now 3 year old, so here goes....

1. You don't need any special seat - he will just sit in a regular airline seat and you can strap him in. You do have the option to use a carseat and put that in his airplane seat, but we never do as my daughter is not a huge fan of her carseat. I always put her in the window seat so that I don't have to worry about her putting herself or her toys in the aisle and blocking anyone.

2. I would bring his favorite toys and books, and sometimes I hide them for a week or two before we go on our trip so they are even more exciting. And I usually buy a small new toy or two for the airplane trip. Also remember to make sure he is drinking or eating something during the take-off and landing so his ears don't pop. The airline snack will be exciting for him, and walking up and down the aisles is a good way to keep him busy. Also, normally I am kind of strict with my daughter's diet, but on airplanes I let her eat whatever she wants - lollypops are great because they keep her very busy and happy! I wouldn't bank on him taking a nap since everything will so new but it would be great if he does...

3. Regarding renting a carseat, the rental per day for a carseat is really expensive - it was something like $50 extra a day when we looked into it. So, we bring our carseat and check it with the luggage. (If the airlines lose it for some reason they provide you with a carseat at your destination while they locate the missing one.)

4. You can request a crib at the hotel - most have them. I bring our own sheet and babywipe the crib down since I'm kind of a germaphobe when it comes to my kids! We prefer not to bring our pack n play since it would just be another big piece of luggage to deal with.

I would suggest bringing some new toys that he hasn't played with yet also. They always play with new toys for longer. Also, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but most hotels have pack n plays for your use for free or a small charge. I would bring your own sheets and call ahead to make sure your hotel does that. I am interested in seeing what people suggest about the car seat. The last time we traveled with our son, we lugged around his seat and it was a giant pain in the rear.

Good luck!

We have traveled on an airplane almost every 6m with our son (he's now 3) ... here are my thoughts:
1. We chose to bring our son's carseat and have him sit in it on the plane -- there are 3 reasons behind that ... first, he is used to getting in his seat and "snapping in" so I knew we'd have less problems getting him to sit than if we had put him in the seat by himself. Second, I didn't want him to be confused about the fact that he ALWAYS has to be in a car seat -- it only takes once for him to hone in on something and I wanted to avoid a potential conflict. Third, we had our own carseat for the rental car (but see below). MAKE SURE if you choose to take your carseat that it is FAA approved (usually a sticker on the back will indicate if it is). Keep in mind that traveling with a child eliminates you from sitting at an exit row.
2. We went to the dollar store and the dollar section of Target and bought new things for both the trip there and the trip home (we just packed the homeward bound things in our suitcase for later). That way he had novel things and not the same old same old. I recommend stickers/sticker books, board books with "peek a boo" doors, triangle crayons/paper (the triangle crayons won't roll off the tray), even colorforms that he can play with on the window. Try to bring "new" snacks again to keep his interest. My son often eats raisins so we brought yogurt covered raisins. We also keep animal crackers as a "special" treat so those came along as well. Putting them in a snack sized bag allowed him to pull one out at a time (what a big boy).
3. See point 1. However if you choose not to bring his carseat most companies allow you to rent one along with the car. I personally don't like the rentals ... they are cheap and not up to the standards that I want so I just bring ours along.
4. Most hotels have portable cribs ... just request it with your reservation. The earlier you check in the better chance you have of getting one (most places have 5 or 6 but they tend to go fast in the summer when families are traveling). One time we got in after midnight and they didn't have any more cribs so we pulled the cushions off the sofa and made a bed on the floor for our son. He actually loved it :) OR most hotels have extra linens in the closet that you can use to make a pallet on the floor.
If you have any more questions feel free to contact me further ... I KNOW how stressful the prospect of flying with a toddler can be :)

Hi! I remember seeing a website for traveling with tots and they had a link to these great travel seats (like car seats) but for planes, and they transform into strollers- they weren't expensive either. I think you definitely need a special travel seat or harness for the plane- I would check the airline's website (they all have traveling with kids sections) for what they suggest. We traveled a few times this spring with our baby (he was 8 mo. and then 9mo at the time) and we checked his car seat at the ticket counter for free, then checked his stroller at the gate. It couldn't have been easier- especially since we used my hubby's car seat- which is lighter weight (since I drive around the baby more). For the hotel, they all have cribs and I travel with his blanket and a crib sheet with me so he has familiar things/smells when falling asleep. Just call the hotel, or let them know when checking in, that you need a crib in your room. I also bring 3x as much food and diapers with me on the plane- you never know when there will be a delay. This happened to us and I was SO grateful I had done this. Don't forget extra food for you too! Here's our drill:
1. hubby drops of me, baby, luggage, stroller and extra car seat at check-in and gets everything on a luggage cart with porter- then goes and parks in the economy lot while I check us, luggage, and car seat in at the ticket counter.
2. Hubby meets us, we go through security, then to gate where we check the stroller, so we just have baby + carry-on with baby's stuff.
Good luck!
L.

I've traveled with small boys many times. I did lug the car seat onto the plane because it is safer than using the seatbelt but you should check with your airline. We sent Dad on first in the initial boarding with kids to set up and then got on later. We coslept at home so nights were same as always but some hotels are using pack n plays now - you should call ahead. Sometimes we pushed a chair up against the bed to make a kind of railing for the boys. Or you can put a sleeping bag on the floor.

You can rent car seats from the car rental agency but must reserve ahead just in case they run out. Also, they make you install it yourself for liability reasons which kind of takes the point out of renting instead of lugging your own.

One thing we learned over the years was to use a luggage cart from the airport and even to use a skycap if we are running late or really tired. With a bunch of boys and too much luggage, we looked pretty silly from time to time.

I also like a backpack to carry the child and/or an umbrella stroller that rolls down the aisle of the plane and then fits in the overhead. With a sleepy grumpy child in a backpack, we could use the stroller for carryons or to carry the car seat once we got off the plane.

Something that has been great and is still working a decade later, is buying carryon size suitcases with four wheels that even a toddler can push by themselves. It slows them down enough so you can keep up and they love it. The suitcases have held up and are still in use.

And bring a sippy cup for takeoff and landing. You might need to fill it after security but it doesn't matter what you put in it, the sucking helps the child's ears feel better.

Have fun.

You will need to bring his car seat along for the plane trip so that solves the issue of what to do in the rental car as well. Car seats are required for children under 40 pounds. Also, check with your hotel, most of them provide cribs per request. I doubt your son will cause too many issues on the plane, bring a few favorites and let him enjoy the surroundings, most people aren't annoyed by a curious baby, just a screaming one. Checking out his new surroundings will keep him occupied for awhile. :)

I fly back and forth to South America with my 2 kids and started doing it when my daughter was 3. Okay, here are some tips:
1. Get a window seat for your son -- it is both easier for him to fall asleep there and looking out the window while they load the plane, at take off and until you are up in the air will fill about 30 minutes of the trip.
2. Pack his own little carryon, even if it is a backpack, but don't bring too many toys -- just maybe the one that is his favorite to sleep with, a book he likes, and some paper, a coloring book, and crayons or colored pencils -- the coloring will be another 1/2 hour to an hour of entertainment on the plane. If he has another toy that will keep him occupied for another 1/2 hour or so, bring that. But, the worst thing is to bring something with little pieces that fall on the plane floor and frustrate him. One thing I do is get my kids something special for the plane ride and reserve it until then, so they have a new toy to play with -- it doesn't have to be expensive, just practical -- it can even be a new coloring or puzzle book.
3. They won't let you bring drinks or snacks on the plane with him, so don't. I had a TSA agent literally take a cookie out of my four-year old daughter's mouth and throw it away, which didn't end well, as you can imagine. Part of the fun of the plane ride is when the stewardess comes around offering drinks -- that's another 15 minutes gone out of your plane ride.
4. At that young, you might want to take a small umbrella stroller with you to the airport -- the really cheap compact kind. Usually the toughest part of traveling with kids is not the plane, but checking luggage, going through security, walking to the gate. Being able to strap him in the stroller and zip through the airport will make yours and his life easier. They will gate-check your stroller and have it waiting for you when you debark the plane.
5. All car rentals will also rent you car seats for fairly minimal fees. I would not bring my own car seat -- 1.) because they are a major pain to lug through an airport 2.) because they aren't necessarily that stable on the airline seat 3.) because at 2, for an air flight, he doesn't need anything more than the lap belt to keep him from bouncing too much from turbulence and he will be much more comfortable with just the lap belt -- more able to play and reach the tray table, etc. -- therefore happier, which is good.
6. Most hotels will bring a crib or single cot to your room-- just ask them when you make the reservation. I would not take a pack n. play. It's more expensive but if you can get a good deal on a suite, it will make your life easier. That way, you can put him to bed in the bedroom and you and hubby can hang out and watch TV until you are ready to sleep.
7. This is out of order, but finally -- the best way to get him to sleep on the plane is tire him out. When I fly to South America, if I can, I spend a night in Miami. The next a.m., I take the kids to the beach for 2 to 4 hours and get on a plane in the afternoon. They crash. I know that when you are packing to leave, everything is hectic, but if you can send your hubby to the park with your son for about 2 hours in the a.m. and let him run off all that excess energy, he might be more fussy in the airport, but fall asleep as soon as the plane is in the air. If instead, he is watching videos in the a.m. while you are doing all your last-minute stuff, he is going to be just full of energy because of the excitement of traveling.
I have a very hyper son. From experience, you will be surprised at how well he behaves and if he fusses and bothers people, don't worry about it. That's life.

Well, first, if flying southwest (I just got back from a trip where I flew SW with 2 children under 2 by myself with two layovers...) I would suggest buying the 'early bird' check in. Because SW doesn't load families first. They load section A first and then families. Well that is all fine and dandy, but if you need a whole row you will be in the middle to back of the plane, and with a short layover it starts to get a little stressful.
1. I think your questions depends on your child. I have brought my childs car seat on the plane and I have had them just strapped in to the regular seat belt. My child seems to do better in the regular seat, but if you think yours would benefit from being strapped down use the car seat. If safety is the issue, the safest is probably with the car seat, then in one of those approved airline seats. My opinion? The more you bring on the airplane, the more stressful it is!
2. I went to the dollar store and bought a whole bunch of little jewelry, and cheapo toys and hid them until the plane ride. I brought them out one by one on the plane to continually entertain. Once that wore off, food and those awesome plane magazines work well. Some people bring the dvd players with their favorite shows. If all else fails, walking up and down the isle a few times and talking with the flight attendants can take up some time.
3. My suggestion would be bring your car seat. Why? You know your car seat. You know it's safe. You know how to install it. One less stress to worry about than working a new car seat. You have a few options as far as how to get it there. You could check it when you check your luggage. I have never done that. I use mine as my "stroller" in the airport. I bought a gogo kidz travelmate. It basically turns your carseat into a stroller with 2 wheels and a handle. I would never ever fly without it!!!! You use it all the way up to the gate. Then you 'gate check' your car seat (obviously if you bring it on the plane you dont have to worry about it) I cover mine in a large red bag that says 'gate check' on it, so they can't miss it! You leave it at the end of the runway right before you get on the plane, and pick it up at the same place when you get off. If you have a short layover, I would suggest gate checking it all the way through, meaning you only get your car seat back after the last flight, and just carry or let your son walk to get some energy worked off!
4. Check with your hotel, most have cribs available. Ask to reserve one. Then ask the brand name and manufacture number so you can check to make sure they haven't been recalled. You would be surprised how many recalled cribs I have run into at hotels. Most places don't know this info, and you normally have to talk to a manager after calling 3 times, but if you can get the info it will help. Depending on where you are going, a lot of vacation spots and large cities have rentable baby equipment. Just google it. It's like $25-$35 per week for a pack and play. They normally can deliver it to the hotel for you. If you do check your pack and play, they probably will charge you depending on how many other bags etc you have, so it might be cheaper to just rent one, or buy a cheap one from wal-mart once you get there.
A few other suggestions: bring enough diapers for 2 days in your carry on. Who knows what can happen!!! Bring an extra outfit in your carry on. Don't forget the child's birth certificate. SW always asks for it! If your child has any medications, bring them with you in your carry on, especially if its for excema, and even if you haven't used it for a year. With the change in water/climate, all my kids have seemed to break out again even if it has been months! Leave earlier for the airport than you would if you were traveling alone. Granted I had 2 children by myself, but it took me close to 4 hours from my house to the gate! I like to take my time and not be stressed! When you go through security, announce everything you have and pull it out of your bags (food, milk, car seat, etc) before it is screened! I didn't do that once, and you can get in big trouble apparently! Oh, and if you are worried about sleeping in the same room as your child, i would bring a few sheets and some duct tape/tacks to create a 'room' around the crib. That way he can't see yall if thats what he is used to.
I consider myself quite an experienced traveler with young children, and my experience is that the children seem to do so much better than you think they will. It always makes me feel like I was worrying for no reason!! But you will be tired at the end of the day! I hope some of my suggestions are useful!! Good luck! and have a great vacation!

Didn't read any of the other responses and I'm only really responding to the sleeping situation...
We had to travel just prior to my daughter turning two (my son was three weeks old), and we would just make up a little bed for her on the floor out of blankets and pillows. She did great. She had JUST started sleeping in a regular bed, so not being caged in was becoming more familiar to her.

Since you are renting a car and will need a car seat anyway I would recommend just bringing your own car seat and strapping your son in that for the flight. Check to make sure it is the kind that can be used on an airplane (should be in the instruction booklet or online). Then you know your son is safely strapped in on the plane and that you have a safe car seat for your rental car. Since you are hoping he will nap bring some books or quiet toys for the ride. Bring some old favorites and something new too to hold his interest. Bring a cup with a straw so he can sip on it during take off to help his ears - you can ask the air hostess for a drink when you board to help with take off. And as bad as it sounds you may want to bring some tylenol or something similar in case he goes absolutely bonky. It will help him relax and hopefully sleep.
For sleeping in the hotel - give them a call and find out what they offer in terms of cribs. Most hotels have cribs but there may be weight or age limits on them. If they do not have a crib I would bring the pack n play to avoid starting a bad habit of him sleeping in bed with you and to make sure you all sleep well. We hauled our pack n play overseas and it arrived just fine. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

I am an avid traveler alone and with my hubby with a two year old. We've been traveling via plane since she was a few months old. Here are my suggestions:

use a car rental that supplies car seats. Most do; some for a fee. But I find it is worth it. We have used Hertz and National in the past.

Portable DVD players with favorite movies. Headphones are not necessary. My daughter doesn't use them and have never had a complaint from passangers.

Enforce the seatbelt on the plane. It shows you and DH are strapped in and gives them security.

Sticker activity books.

Snacks.

Don't count on a nap. It is much too exciting. Especially the first time. My daughter napped as an infant but once she hit 18 months the plane
was too exciting for a nap. I prefer early am flights and keep her in pjs until we get to our destination.

Take advantage of the tray table for activities.

Most hotels have pack n plays or cribs. There actually hasn't been a hotel in we have stayed that did't have one. Just call ahead of time to secure it. They provide a crib sheet in most places. They are not allowed or obligated to provide a blanket or pillow. I think it is a law or liability they cannot provide. I always pack two favorite blankets
and a few favorite bedtime lovies.

I have seen all types of parent/child traveler and it really is what you are
comfortable with. After your first time you'll be a pro!

Good luck!

Here are some toy ideas to keep him busy.
http://www.bigbluetrunk.com/ourcorner/550

First this may not be as stressful as you are thinking. I have taken a couple of trips like this when I just had one and now two. I would recommend sitting towards the back on the plane since hopefully that may be the most empty. As you said bring snacks, some books if possible a portable dvd player or ipod where he can be entertained. The time will go rather fast, you will see. Do not count on him sleeping since this will all be so exciting. I am not sure where you are traveling to but I know if Disney there are companys that rent all kinds of baby stuff including car seats so you may want to check in the area in which you are traveling. In regards to the pack and play I have discovered that most hotels have pack and plays available to use - I would call the hotel in advance and check to see if it is an option and if so reserve one in advance. Hope some of this helps.

I would suggest you bring his carseat for the plane so he can be properly restrained, he can sleep in it more comfortably, and if you don't want him running around its a good way to keep him in one place. My son was so interested in the plane ride, it was only 3 hours, and looking out the window that he didn't have much time for anything other than a few books and food. When you do book your seats though let them know that you will be using a child restraint. Apparently the seats behind the emergency exits can't accomodate a child safety seat, there may be more as well I'm not sure. I don't know if you can rent but I am a carseat fanatic. I prefer to use my own as I know the condition its in. But again just a personal preference since I had it on the plane anyway. Most hotels also if they know a child/toddler is staying offer a crib and will set it up for you, that's what we did. Good luck and have fun.

I just took at trip with my 2 year old. First the hotel you go to should have pack n plays and you can request to have one in your room. Most hotels work that way now, so you dont have to worry about bringing yours.

Second my son was scared and didn't want to sit in his seat in the plane and sat in my lap. The airplane attendant (we flew southwest) had to tell me that it was not reccomended but after that didn't give me a problem. I brought snacks and a book and a portable DVD player. My son sat there with his head phones on watching Elmo while we were allowed to use electronics and didn't bother any of the other passengers. I am not a "babysit with the TV" mom but this seemed like one of those occasions when it would be less stressful for me and everyone else if my son was entertained.

You can rent a car seat from most car rental companies but they charge you an arm and a leg for them. I would reccomend getting a back up car seat from Walmart. Cosco has some really inexpensive 5 point harness front facing carseats. It will probably be less than renting one and you can check it for the flight. Worst case scenario it doesn't survive the flight well you can just get rid of it at your destination. Its also a safety thing. You dont know if rented car seats have been in an accident before or if they have damage or have expired as some of them do. This way you at least know the seat is safe for your son.

fortunately it's a relatively short plane trip so that helps. southwest is a great airline but their seats are small and legroom very tight. i would absolutely bring the carseat. you'll need it when you get to your destination, it's familiar to him, and it's safer in the plane. i would put him in the window seat, both to entertain him and because then you and your husband can get in and out a little easier. the less you have to get up during the flight, the better. have i mentioned how tight southwest's seating is? again with the pack and play, i would bring your own. you don't know that the hotel will have a good one, and he's familiar with his own. if co-sleeping is out, then you want him to be in as familiar a sleeping place as possible. no one wants to drag too much stuff on a trip, but imo these are pretty essential. keeping a toddler content and everyone sane is a much more pressing priority than trying to keep stuff pristine for a future baby.
khairete
S.