5+ hr flight with a one year old!

[CBMom]

What can I do with my 17month old on an airplane for 5+ hrs? We are coming from Seattle to Florida. Does any one have any ideas.

DRH
P.S.
Baby Tylenol makes him hyper.

CH DH BH CH

 

[Minniemouse07]

My best recommendation...make sure he has a seat on the plane and use a car seat!

Small toys, a travel magnadoodle, a couple board books... a NEW toy...all may help as well.

Dd always fell asleep in her car seat. The longest flight we took was 4hrs...but if the engines had been whining longer, she would have slept longer... I'm sure.

Good Luck!

 

[Aristomommy]

Do you have a seat for him? I always prefer this way, because my kids like their carseats but if you will travel with him as a lap child, the travel can be a little trickier. We travel frequently and my kids are used to sitting for a long time on the planes. What I usually do is find small toys for them to play with that are new. That way they play with the toys longer than old ones from home. Some of the better options for us have been:

1. Mini magna doodle boards.
2. Travel aquadoodle books or boards (they only need water to work)
3. Window clings (if you have a window seat, you can play with them on the airplane window.
4. We usually have a laptop and DD and DS would watch DVDs (if they had a favorite tv show at the time)
5. Felt board/magnetic board toys. I found a little Einsteins one at Disney store.


Basically, I go to Walmart or Target and browse their travel sized toy section and see what age appropriate stuff I can find. Just be considerate to fellow travelers and avoid loud toys and small parts that can roll on the floor. Also, bring some favorite snacks and wait until you get into the plane to eat them. Allow your little one to walk before getting into the plane to make sitting still easier. Have a great trip!!!

 

[Kae]

I agree with I did not use a car seat once my kids were out of the small seat, that way they could lean on me when they slept. Make sure you have that special blanket or friend.

Kae

 

[Zeebs]

5 hour flight I wish, try a flight from the UK to NZ. We spent a lot of time just walking up and down the plane in shifts, having snacks helped for us as did the seat TV for a little bit. We were lucky to get the bulk head so Cullen had room to move around in front of us and sit and play with his toys on the floor. He didn't have a seat of his own so when he fell asleep he was on one of us.

We are planning a trip to WDW in Oct 2008 which is 9 hours Cullen will be 2 and 8 months and new bubs 10 months

Next trip in 2009 to NZ should be interesting as by then we will have two of the little rugrats walking.

Cheers Kirsten

 

[james'mommy]

Portable DVD. That's been the trick we've used since we started traveling with DS now 5. Plus lots of snacks and new little toys.

 

[tanyaandallie]

If you have a seat for him, take his carseat. Chances are, he will fall alseep at least part of the trip. We did an 8 hour to HI when my dd was 15 mos. It was, ummmm, a challenge. My other advice is to pack lightly! When we traveled we had a million carry on bags, dvd player, car seat, camera, camcorder. That was way too much. I think the dvd player for a 1 year old is questionable. We tought it would really keep my dd occupied but it did not. She would not leave the headphones on and just kept messing with all the buttons. So, for us the dvd player was not good at 1 year old.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I second to take his seat and if possible, try not to let him know he can get out. His best entertainment will be you . Plan to spend lots of time playing with him. Snacks with lots of play value are great. Animal cracker that can walk across the tray into his mouth, fish crackers that you can tell a story about and then swim into his mouth. Anything to dip and eat. If he is still on his bottle or passie, be sure that you bring that for take off and landing and comfort in between. If you nurse, you might have to let him know he can get out of the seat but that can be a great comfort item too.

Toy wise--Think ouside the box.

Small toys are often a choke hazzard but might be ok with you sitting right next to him and with your eyes on him every second. Think small cars or lego type toys.

A roll of masking tape can keep a child happy for hours!!!
LOTS of stickers and a note book to stick them in.
color wonder markers or paints & paper
Favorite blanket or pillow
books

Good luck.

 

[CBMom]

You are ALL amazing! WOW thank you SO much. We don't have a seat for him. I am hoping the person next to us take one look at us and asks to move!! We are also taking my 5 month old DD I think she will just sleep {I hope!}

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Denise

 

[Aristomommy]

You are ALL amazing! WOW thank you SO much. We don't have a seat for him. I am hoping the person next to us take one look at us and asks to move!! We are also taking my 5 month old DD I think she will just sleep {I hope!}

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Denise

WOW, you are brave. I remember DD was about 9 months old and I didn't get a seat for her for a 5 hour flight. She ended up kicking the seat in front of her, threw up all over her clothes and the lady in front of us wanted to recline her seat the entire flight . I had to politely tell her not to crush my baby, since she sat on my lap. Make sure you an aisle seat, so you have a little extra room.

 

[all4fun]

You are ALL amazing! WOW thank you SO much. We don't have a seat for him. I am hoping the person next to us take one look at us and asks to move!! We are also taking my 5 month old DD I think she will just sleep {I hope!}

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Denise

If there's any chance at all the flight will not be full, bring your car seat and see if you can use it. Most airlines will allow you to do this for free providing there are enough empty seats to accomodate. If not, you can gate check it. Bring a plastic bag to put it in just in case.

 

[SilverMickey]

Modeling clay or playdough! I didn't let it in my house for a month before our 1st flight... They when we were on our way I gave each of my kiddos a small amount. (Actually the dollar tree had kits at the time with a small amount of several colors came in a tin and insturctions to make safari animals) I got a kit for each for both flight.

My Doc told me to give the kids Benidryl for there little ears. This ended up making them sleep for the entire trip.

My little ones are older now. I'm not sure the docs would still reccomend the meds... Now my kids watch a dvd, play a video game or usually read a book.