Air Travel with Infant/Toddler

[bellastella227]

OK so one tip I see over and over when traveling with an infant/toddler by air...is to make sure they are drinking/sucking for take-off and landing. My next question then is, how do you make an almost two-year-old drink something? My daughter has an agenda all her own!

 

[rrobin3051]

You really cant. I can just say from experience that it really didnt bother my children once they werent babies anymore. If my ears were starting to bother me I looked over at my almost 2 year old and opened my mouth really big and he coppied. It relieved my ear pressure and Im sure his too. The other thing I have on hand is dum dum suckers. I normally dont make a habbit giving them to my little ones, but on the plane I make an exception. I figure he will suck on those durring take off and landing and to be quite honest I use them at disney durring show times as well.

 

[tjmw2727]

Most kids aren't bothered by the ears but with babies its hard to tell so its a good idea to offer a drink.

With a 2yo things like gummy snacks or lollypops can work just as well and she will probably be able to tell you if she is feeling pressure. My dd's usually chew starbursts but not all 2yo's would do well with them. I think Gerber makes a gummy snack for toddlers but any chewy snack that you approve of will help. If its something she dosen't usually have that makes it more of a treat

TJ

 

[Siouxstone]

I buy chocolate milk at the airport. My DS knows what it is, and he wants it! This is something he never gets at home, only at his Meme's house when we travel there or when we fly. We constantly joke about him flying in his thirties and having a craving for chocolate milk.

 

[PistonsFan]

We used a lollipop last year for our 2 year old and it worked well. The problem is that it was really messy. I like the gummy candy suggestion - might try that this year - or maybe some of those fruit snacks, my son loves those. I think anything that makes them swallow or chew will help. I always chew gum for myself.

 

[tjmw2727]

I buy chocolate milk at the airport. My DS knows what it is, and he wants it! This is something he never gets at home, only at his Meme's house when we travel there or when we fly. We constantly joke about him flying in his thirties and having a craving for chocolate milk.

Just a word of caution; if your child hasn't flown and you don't know if they will get airsick its a good idea to avoid diary if you can. Dairy won't make a child airsick but if they do get sick "complicates" things due to the curdle etc. My dh gets motion sick so we knew it was a possibility for my dd's, luckily only my youngest gets airsick so we stick with water and clear juices just in case.

Otherwise the idea of something novel or a treat they don't get at home is excellent

TJ