Dealing with a chil on a plane

[KingdomHearts]

This is the second we have flown, with our now 15 month old. Now that she can walk, that is all she wants to do now. So I am worried that when we are on the plane she will want to get up and walk all around. How have you dealt with this with your child(ren), and what can I get or use to distract her? TIA

[Cedarmom]

Put her in her car seat. It will make her (and you!) much more comfortable! She'll be in an environment that is familiar to her and she won't be able to get up and move around.

[Bren's Mom]

Originally Posted by Cedarmom

Put her in her car seat. It will make her (and you!) much more comfortable! She'll be in an environment that is familiar to her and she won't be able to get up and move around.

What she said!

[tinkerbellmichelle]

Def. do the car seat. Not only is it familiar to your child and will keep her restrained but it is also the safest way for your child to fly.

[KingdomHearts]

But with the car seat wouldnt I have to buy another seat, which I really dont want to do?

[brymolmom]

At that age - with car seat is definitely easier, but I did not buy a seat for my kids until age 2 - so it IS doable - just way more work for you. Just be prepared is all I can say - and each kid is different. But for my dd - it was SNACKS, SNACKS, SNACKS!!! I planned out our meals so that she would be hungry on the plane and then brought lots of stuff - and lots of stuff in little bites (like string cheese doled out a strand at a time, goldfish given a few at a time, M&M's same way, or a bagel that would take her awhile because it was harder to chew). That would take care of (hopefully) a third to half of our flight! Other than that - we would buy some new pop-up books in something that I know would interest her. These we would try to use from boarding time until takeoff (didn't want to go into my 'good stuff' so soon). Then once up in the air, DVD player is great! Even if your child doesn't watch full movies or anything - try for things that will keep attention here and there (like Baby Einstein videos or other music-type videos - borrow some from the library). Or if she has a favorite show that she will actually watch - borrow or buy a DVD of it before you go. Other options - stickers, those mess-free coloring books (can't remember the name now but don't mark on anything but the page), oh BENDAROOZ are a great idea - no mess and the kids can play with them forever!

Make sure you sit down and explain that on a plane you HAVE to stay seated or the pilot can't fly.

If she has a comfort item - make sure you bring that too. Looks like you're in NJ- so not too long of a flight at least (assumign you're going to MCO).

[aidtrismommy]

Try and schedule flight around nap time. Or schedule an early flight where you will have to wake up your child extra early, so byt the time you take off, she will be exhausted. My kids nap time is around 12:30 and there is no way I am waiting around for that, so we go for an early 8:30 am or so flight so I have to pull my kids out of bed at like 5:15am. So they are both asleep by take-off. Works every time. And they sleep most, if not all the way there. I also bring my DVD player. My little guy likes music-type shows like Barney and such. Buy a couple DVD's of what your child will watch. But, in most cases I end up watching a movie because both my kids are asleep. Just be prepared. Have a juice and snack ready in case they wake up and you are golden. It's about 2.5 hours for you right? That's how long our flight is from Bradley (CT).

[allyphoe]

Another vote for the car seat.

Unless you only have monster Britax seats (and I've even seen some of them fit on planes), I'm not sure why you'd need another one to fly with. We flew with cheapie $30 seats from Walmart, so if they got banged up we didn't lose a good carseat.

[Schmeck]

Originally Posted by allyphoe

Another vote for the car seat.

Unless you only have monster Britax seats (and I've even seen some of them fit on planes), I'm not sure why you'd need another one to fly with. We flew with cheapie $30 seats from Walmart, so if they got banged up we didn't lose a good carseat.

I believe the OP meant she'd have to purchase another seat on the plane.

I would try to keep the aisle walking to a minimum - people will need the aisle to get to the restrooms, the attendants will need the aisles clear to serve drinks (if they have that scheduled) and there's always the chance that the plane will hit an airpocket or other turbulence, which could prove fatal to a small child not restrained by a belt or parent's arms.

When we have flown from Logan to Orlando, we've always hit a bit of turbulence, as the route takes us over the ocean then back over land. The change in air masses can be quite abrupt at times during the transition.

[The Hendies]

I am probably in the minority, but I really don't mind a parent taking their toddler for walks down the aisle when they get restless. Just be careful to watch for the beverage cart. I'd rather look into the smiling face of a toddler that hear the poor little guy cry.

[nfceagles]

She's not talking about buying an extra car seat. She means an extra seat on the plane.

My vote is also for a car seat on the plane. Ony way I will travel with a toddler, for the sake of my own sanity.

[waltskids]

I am all for lap babies on a plane and have even had my own children as lap babies (DS at 3 months and 7 months, DD at 9 weeks and 3 months). That being said, in my opinion once the little one starts to walk, it's time to get them their own seat. DS did great on the plane at 9 months, 12 months, and 21 months with his own carseat on the plane. He knew he had to sit in it and it was comfortable for him. Another vote for using the car seat!

[lolakat]

Just did this with our 2 yo. I agree whole heartedly with the car seat. The portable DVD player worked great. Also brought some colorforms. My daughter LOVES stickers so these kept her busy for hours. All it all it went very smoothly. You might also try to schedule the flight around nap time so your child can sleep through part or all of the flight.

[Macduffy]

Sorry but I have to agree with the car seat option. I planned our trip with my 20 month old as a lap baby. I couldn't sleep and was so worried about my little guy on a plane because he's active and curious - he's a toddler LOL! I finally cracked and purchased a seat (totally NOT in our budget). The relief I felt from that moment was WORTH the $$ it cost me. We brought his car seat and he was an ANGEL! You know your child's personality best so you'll know in your heart if they would do best in a seat.

That being said we still had to entertain him! A slinky and travel magnadoodle were the best picks for toys. Book and stickers a distant second. It was however the travel DVD player that made the trip even possible

Good Luck

[allyphoe]

Ah, I didn't clue into the lap baby thing.

Book an unpopular flight time. When I've flown with DD as a lap baby, there's always been at least one empty seat on the flight. (I fly SWA, so no assigned seating, but even the one time we flew Delta, there were enough empties to get two together.) If there's a seat, you can put the carseat in it. If not, you gate-check the carseat.