Having anxiety about taking my toddler on the plane!

[AlixaLock]

I have a four year old and I've been flying with her extensively (Fl, CA, Europe, the Caribbean) and I kind of see both sides of this. But I have to say this to the original poster ...

You will be fine. You won't end up like those people on the news who get kicked off planes and miss their Disney vacation. You will not have a particularly "good" time on the plane, but you will survive.

No one expects your toddler to be perfect. If she kicks a seat quietly correct her, apologize and make sure it doesn't happen again. End of story. One of my most valuable tips, I've taught mine to sit like a pretzel, legs crossed or folded on the plane. But it didn't happened overnight.

Not to beat a dead horse, but you need headphones. They have child-safe ones and they are a must. Why should a child not have to follow the same rules as everyone else? If she pulls them out and the sound blares for a second, apologize and fix it. End of story. If people glare at you for every little mistake there is nothing you can do and you just move on. Mine loves the head phones for about an hour and then takes them off. But, because we've been enforcing the rules, basically since birth, she know that means no sound whatsoever. There are some great apps, even for a little ones that don't require sound. The color apps are a god-send and you spend less time fishing crayons off the floor.

We're living in a society. No one gets to sit on a plane in perfect silence never being disturbed. At the same time, we all can expect a parent to occupy their child and comply with the rules....

[kt_mom]

Well I don't want to listen to the guy behind me on the plane snoring. Does that mean he shouldn't get to sleep? It's annoying and he should be considerate so no sleeping for him.

When did we become so engrossed in our little worlds that we can't tolerate anything around us that doesn't suit us? We're talking a couple of hours and I don't think anyone has suggested that its okay to play full blast volume or that children old enough to understand and follow directions to sit still and be quiet should be allowed to not use headphones.

I plan to bring lots of different things to help occupy my toddler. If those don't last then we'll try a video. I know he's not going to wear headphones so I'll try with no volume at all first, and if that works then wonderful. But if or when it doesn't would you prefer me to let him fuss or be subjected to the muffled sounds of Toy Story? I'll be sure to let those around me know that the wonderful experts on the dis have said that I should follow the rules and just let him fuss because its extremely inconsiderate of me to allow him any volume.

[Sparkly]

You're not the only ones on the flight; why should I have to listen to Toy Story the whole way there? What happened to having respect and courtesy for other passengers?

[AlixaLock]

Originally Posted by kt_mom

I plan to bring lots of different things to help occupy my toddler. If those don't last then we'll try a video. I know he's not going to wear headphones so I'll try with no volume at all first, and if that works then wonderful. But if or when it doesn't would you prefer me to let him fuss or be subjected to the muffled sounds of Toy Story? I'll be sure to let those around me know that the wonderful experts on the dis have said that I should follow the rules and just let him fuss because its extremely inconsiderate of me to allow him any volume.

I don't fully agree with this, but I do see your point. If it comes down to a fussy child or one watching a video on low volume, I think most passengers would choose the low volume. And, honestly, as a parent on a flight to Florida, I would never even notice. Further, I certainly would appreciate and sympathize with a parent who is trying to make a tricky situation work. I also would be pretty appalled if someone complained to a Flight Attendant under these circumstances.

I guess I wonder why it has to come down to those two choices: a) listen to the movie on low volume or b) be fussy? Assuming that we aren't talking about a kid with major ear pain or who is sick or other extenuating circumstances, why wouldn't they already know before they even got on the plane that fussy isn't an option and that we follow the rules at home, on planes, in restaurants .... wherever.

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by kt_mom

I plan to bring lots of different things to help occupy my toddler. If those don't last then we'll try a video. I know he's not going to wear headphones so I'll try with no volume at all first, and if that works then wonderful. But if or when it doesn't would you prefer me to let him fuss or be subjected to the muffled sounds of Toy Story? I'll be sure to let those around me know that the wonderful experts on the dis have said that I should follow the rules and just let him fuss because its extremely inconsiderate of me to allow him any volume.

An electronic toy can not be the only thing on the face of the earth that will entertain your child. I know it is easy--plug something in and instant child occupier. But your child must be interested and entertained by other things. Bring those sorts of toys along.

As stated before, airlines have a policy of using headphones with electronic equipment. You may not have a choice between headphones or no headphones with the volume on. What would you do then? Best to find what will occupy your child that doesn't include noise now, if they won't wear headphones, before having your child become upset mid-air. Be proactive and there won't be a problem.

[kt_mom]

Originally Posted by AlixaLock

I don't fully agree with this, but I do see your point. If it comes down to a fussy child or one watching a video on low volume, I think most passengers would choose the low volume. And, honestly, as a parent on a flight to Florida, I would never even notice. Further, I certainly would appreciate and sympathize with a parent who is trying to make a tricky situation work. I also would be pretty appalled if someone complained to a Flight Attendant under these circumstances.

I guess I wonder why it has to come down to those two choices: a) listen to the movie on low volume or b) be fussy? Assuming that we aren't talking about a kid with major ear pain or who is sick or other extenuating circumstances, why wouldn't they already know before they even got on the plane that fussy isn't an option and that we follow the rules at home, on planes, in restaurants .... wherever.

It doesn't, no one ever said it did. I know my plan, like I said, is to bring some other quiet things to try first. But my kid is two. I can talk til I'm blue in the face about not being fussy but I'd be wasting my breath. Now my 9 year old will bring her headphones for her ipod and you'll never know she's there.

[kt_mom]

Originally Posted by maxiesmom

An electronic toy can not be the only thing on the face of the earth that will entertain your child. I know it is easy--plug something in and instant child occupier. But your child must be interested and entertained by other things. Bring those sorts of toys along.

As stated before, airlines have a policy of using headphones with electronic equipment. You may not have a choice between headphones or no headphones with the volume on. What would you do then? Best to find what will occupy your child that doesn't include noise now, if they won't wear headphones, before having your child become upset mid-air. Be proactive and there won't be a problem.

He has lots of other things he enjoys. He loves to push his big trucks around the house and ride his little ride on toy. He also loves to play with his singing elmo thing his sister gave him or his basketball goal. Oh and right now he's all about his sisters old zhu zhu pets. You want to talk about annoying, those will drive you nuts. But he's two, everything he plays with either involves motion or noise. He has a very short attention span for anything else, except a video. He'll sit quietly for a video for a good 30 or 45 minutes. And often he'll even watch it with no volume so that's our plan. But he will not wear headphones. So we're going to do the best we can and try not to bother those around us.

[anc876]

I've flown frequently with DS2 since he was 3 months old. For him, new toys never entertained him that well and ended up on the floor anyway. He was more interested in the overhead lights, window shades, plastic cups, etc. Snacks and treats are always helpful during a flight, even a brief one.

Now that he's a little older, our portable DVD player really helps keep him entertained for small blocks of time. We tried headphones when he was younger, but he would rather play with them than use them. We have always had his DVD player low enough so that we can barely hear it or not hear it at all. We've never had a problem and were never told otherwise. I think he's at an age now where he would enjoy using headphones and hearing it more.

Also, keep in mind that many planes do not have changing tables in the lavatories.

[AlixaLock]

Originally Posted by kt_mom

So we're going to do the best we can and try not to bother those around us.

And, in the end, that's really all any of us can do, right? Have a great trip!

[DarthMama]

Never underestimate the power of stickers! I travelled with my (then) 2 year old on a 4 hour flight, and he spent 3 of those hours playing with stickers. I walked off the plane with stickers all over me and all over him, but he was happy and so was everyone else on the flight.

[snoopy5386]

We have also traveled many times with a DVD player and no headphones. I keep the volume super low so that I can barely hear it sitting next to her. There is so much white noise on a plane no one else can hear it, don't worry.

[maxiesmom]

Originally Posted by snoopy5386

We have also traveled many times with a DVD player and no headphones. I keep the volume super low so that I can barely hear it sitting next to her. There is so much white noise on a plane no one else can hear it, don't worry.

Banking on another passenger not being offended by the noise is just not a good way to travel. All it takes is one complaint, and you will be told to either use headphones or shut the volume off. I certainly wouldn't assure someone that they will be fine, when they might not be. We have no way of knowing that ahead of time.

Always have a back up plan to the dvd player, just in case.

I want to add too that I always have my headphones on when we are finally allowed to use electronics, so the odds of my being bothered by someone's child is slim. However it is always best to err on the side of caution, and believe the airlines when they tell you you have to use headphones along with your electronics. Otherwise you are taking a chance that may not work out too well.

[onceagain1]

Was wondering if people like using the built in tvs (in the seats) for their kids, using the headphones with them. Or is there really not enough kid tv options, and hence bringing your own dvd player or ipad preferable.

[AlixaLock]

Originally Posted by onceagain1

Was wondering if people like using the built in tvs (in the seats) for their kids, using the headphones with them. Or is there really not enough kid tv options, and hence bringing your own dvd player or ipad preferable.

When they're available, I love the in-seat entertainment. They always have quite a few kids options. Even better, when they have DirecTV! Disney Junior and you're done! LOL! Last Flight, my 4 year old watched the Smurfs twice and I actually read a book! It's also great, because the options are often different then whatever I've loaded on the iPad and sometime it's more interesting.

I would never rely on it though, as I have seen it not work properly on a few occasions and DirecTV doesn't work once you are out over the water and "outside" the US. Best part is that it's available until the minute you get off the plane, usually, whereas electronics need to be powered down. That last half an hour of any flight is always my least favorite, unless we have the in-seat entertainment option.

[onceagain1]

Originally Posted by AlixaLock

When they're available, I love the in-seat entertainment. They always have quite a few kids options. Even better, when they have DirecTV! Disney Junior and you're done! LOL! Last Flight, my 4 year old watched the Smurfs twice and I actually read a book! It's also great, because the options are often different then whatever I've loaded on the iPad and sometime it's more interesting.

I would never rely on it though, as I have seen it not work properly on a few occasions and DirecTV doesn't work once you are out over the water and "outside" the US. Best part is that it's available until the minute you get off the plane, usually, whereas electronics need to be powered down. That last half an hour of any flight is always my least favorite, unless we have the in-seat entertainment option.

We're flying Delta airlines and I see mention of onboard tv but I'm not sure if its general info for delta, not saying that all delta flights have them. Thoughts?