What's Allowed on a Plane - Travelling with Toddler

The airline can't and won't guarantee a peanut-free flight. They can't control what each individual passenger may bring or have packed with nuts on a flight. You can only do your part like you said by wiping down 'your area' of the plane. We have already flown twice this summer and on both they still offered snack items (for purchase) that have peanuts/nut items in them. Peanut M&M's for one and a snack mix with nuts, sunflower seeds, seasame sticks, dried fruits. Also if you take a DVD player consider headphones if you haven't already. If you have the volume up and someone else on the plane is annoyed by it, they will ask you to use headphones or turn it off. That happened recently on one of the flights I took and they had to turn it off because of no headphones.

Make sure all medication is in a clear ziplock baggy and out of your bag and in a tub before you go through security.
Any milk or juice, also in a clear ziplock bag (don't worry here, you can also get juice and milk once you're through security if you don't have enough).
Food is fine kept in your carry on- no need to take it out in order for them to scan it (unless its jello or something of that consistancy).
Epipen in its own little ziplock baggy w/ doctors note.
Have fun! :)

I won't be answering all of your questions, just to share my own experience. I brought my 2 years old to Germany last October, I was able to bring milk in it's original container and in baby bottles/cups. They will test it, but ask them to pour out to their testing strip instead of swiping their strip on the inside of the bottle, so your milk is safe from the testing material. I don't think they allow juice. Food does not come out the carry-on to be screened, but take out the milk and show them separately. Hope this helps.

We always take our DVD player out - just like the laptop to be screened... I don't know if you still have to or not though. I would buy milk after the screening and you can either do the same for juice or they have juice for free on the plane and they will be happy to give you a sippy cup full!

The food is fine and doesn't need to be taken out. You can bring all the snacks you want - packaged either way.

You do not need to remove the medicines and have them screened separately. If they are liquid, I'd put them in a zip lock --just in case they leak or break though.

Have a great trip!
C.

I traveled with my daughter who had just turned 3. I had my purse, she had a (clear) backpack and a single under seat carry-on. I brought 2 empty sippy cups and an unopened box of snacks in the carry on. She also had her blanket and two small Care Bear plushies along with some other things in her backpack. Her favorite things at the time. We had no trouble, the flight offered plenty of juice and water. Just a quick run though the x-ray machine and the TSA people can look at you and your little one and see the things in your bag and know who it's for. If they see your Epipens, they might ask you about them or ask you to take them out so they can look at them, just obey. They should allow you to have them, or even have you pass them to the cabin staff on your flight to hold for you. Just remember to remain calm, they are just doing what they have to. Just do as you're asked as best you can. They aren't trying to make life hard, just trying to keep you and everyone else safe.

Good luck and enjoy.

We just got back from traveling to Brasil. Here's some of the things we discovered.

In your luggage that gets checked in, you can bring food sealed in it's original container.

Both domestic and international - To go through security in the airport, (this includes all carry-ons) we were not allowed any food or drink of any type. We could not even bring in sealed water bottles. There are exceptions for formula and baby food. Your DVD player will be treated like a laptop. After you go through security you can purchase food in the airport.

To go through the security gate, you need to take off your shoes and put them in a bin. You put all your carry on items into a bin. The bins are then scanned, if there's a questionable item they will open and go through the carry on bag.

Call the airline ahead of time to let them know about the food allergies.

Medication should not be any problem as long as it is in its original container with the presciption label.

Have a good trip.

I used to be BA cabin crew and we always had EPIPENS in the medical kit on board I cannot say if American carriers have the same policy as they are governed by FAA regulations not CAA I would call and ask to be sure. If you are carrying your own EPIPEN i would mention this at screening it may scan as a sharp object or pack it near the top of your bag so you can show it if they ask about it, bring the docs letter for certain. BA also did not serve peanuts on board as snacks when I worked for them however I have had them on US carriers since so depending on the severity of his response I would advise the crew when boarding, they can make sure no-one eats them in your area if airborne particles are enough to stimulate an attack.Notify them at least 24hours prior to flying if you want a peanut free meal or eat before you fly.I always take empty sippy cups with me and a dvd player ,I scan it with the hand luggage not separately.Take snacks in their original packing unopened and for the way home if you are flying internationally - open food in unmarked containers is not accepted by some customs and can get you a fine, fruit is a no no to Australia for example.take what you need for the plane in the handluggage check the rest. A sucker is great to help with ears take off and landing.They can provide you regular cows milk on board so don't bring your own.You can take toys like colouring books etc but I was told no stuffed toys last time I flew it changes so I would try to avoid these just in case. Goodluck!

When I traveled with my 2 year old on an 8 hour flight to Europe, I went to the Paper Store and iParty and bought lots of little party-favor type toys. That way when she was bored I could pull out something she had not seen before that kept her busy for a while. I found a magnetic Barbie (flat) with magnetic clothes, little face pages with mouth/eye/mustache stickers, long sticky sticks that you can twist into shapes (sort of like pipecleaners covered in playdoh), tiny markers and coloring pads, Polly pocket dolls, littlest pet shop miniatures, etc. I gave her her own little backpack that had her blanket and a stuffed animal in it. I let her wander through the plane a bit, but mostly she was content to sit and play and nap. We did bring a sippie cup but had the stewardess fill it with juice/milk upon request. They are very helpful in keeping little ones happy and in their seats. On the way there we brought the car seat in the plane but on the way back decided she was more comfortable with more space and being able to move around in her seat. We gate checked the stroller so she did not have to walk long distances. If you pre-arrange it, you can have those golf-carts drive you to your gate/back to luggage, but it has to be reserved in advance. It seems like you are preparing in advance so you can relax when the time comes - way to go mom!

I'm not sure how long your flight will be, but don't go overboard with snacks and drinks. He will not eat and drink as much as you think he will. I accidentally took sippy cups of water (forgot to pour them out before we got to screening) and they had to use a hand wand on them to test for gun powder. Of course, that grossed me out and I washed them thoroughly before I let my son drink out of it again! You can usually buy juice and milk and water inside the secure area of the airport so I don't know if it's worth it to try to take your own through screening. Food does not have to be screened separately and you can put it in whatever bags or containers you want.

No noisy toys that will annoy other passengers. With a DVD player, you may not need toys. And yes, the DVD player should be screened like a laptop. I don't know if you are taking a stroller to the plane for gate check, but it has to be scanned through the machine just like carry-on luggage, so don't load it down too much to make it difficult to unload at security.

Good luck, and don't stress too much. The times I have flown with my son, I found the number of helpful people far outweighed the rude ones!!

You can always buy drinks after security. You can make your screening go easier if you just bring empty cups!
I agree with Luci's Mom about notifying the airline about his peanut allergy. If you call the airline and anyone else you can think of before flying day, they will keep peanuts off the flight. Remind the gate agent when you check in and the flight attendants on the plane. Tell anyone and everyone, esp if your son is so allergic that you need an epipen. My niece is so allergic that if anyone has touched even the bag of unopened peanuts and then her, she'll break out in hives. When they flew, they called the airline in advance and talked to someone high up who kept peanuts off the flight. I remember that my sister called to remind them several times. She didn't care if she was bothering them, she just cared about her daughter's health. Good luck!

Food is fine. Beware that things like yogurt and peanut butter can sometimes catch someone's attention and they will make you throw it away. Not every time, but it does happen. You shouldn't have any problem with milk, but I honestly never bother. I take empty drink bottles and have them filled with ice water at a restaurant after security and buy milk or juice if my daughter really wants it. You will be able to get juice on the plane.

I've seen parents get some incredible stuff through, but I find that it depends a little who is on duty that day.

Yes, the DVD player needs to be screened like a laptop. I would put the Epipens in a ziploc (with the letter) and put them separately as well.

If you haven't already, notify the airline of your son's peanut allergy. They can't guarantee a peanut-free flight, but they will usually make some accomodations. Also, notify the gate agent and the head flight attendant. They'll often ask passengers to avoid peanut products during the flight--though there are certainly will still be a lot fo contaminated products.

One thing I do to make screening easier when I travel with my daughter is pack everything that has to come out in a compact tote bag. That way I am not digging through my carry-ons to get everything out. It is easy to get everything out and into the bins. After security, I can put everything where it needs to be.