Any Help for a Mom traveling with a 16-Month Old?

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

My family and I are traveling by plane to WDW in 10 days! Whoo-hoo!

My hubby and I, along with our 10-year old son, are pros to airplane travel; however, it'll be our 16 month old son first time. My oldest son has told me numerous times that he'll sleep throughout the trip (6 hours down, 8 hours back). I'm freaking out because our youngest is spunky (don't read that as a pain in the butt or anything, lol).

How do I keep him occupied? I tried reading other threads but they tend to be for slightly older kids.

Help!

 

[kjbrown]

Last Feb we took our 18 month old, um, spunky, son.

Portable DVD player!!!!

Window clings - aka colorforms. We have a Dora set that my son spends lots of time rearranging on the windows. You could do the same on an airplane window.

Lollipops, could for tears and ears.

Sticker books. Again, my son spends a lot of time with these, a new one is perfect for the plane.

Some might tell you benedryl.

I've seen suggestions for pipe cleaners. Or if you can find them, wikki stix. Same idea.

Nothing with lots of pieces that will just fall on the floor causing you to twist yourself into impossible positions over and over again just to retrieve them.

Snacks, sippy cups. You can't bring liquid into the airport, but you can and should bring your own empty sippy cups.

Books or other activities that might induce sleepy time.

ETA: I realize I sound like a bad mom, TV and lollipops and all that. Honestly, I just do what I can to make a flight bearable. I'm not always plunking the little one in front of a TV and feeding him sugar. Honest.

 

[NotUrsula]

post-its and scotch tape.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

As a play on the sticker book idea, what about on of the magnet books so stickers potentially don't get left on everything, and there's not a fight when he wants to put on on the seat or window. I know target has a cars magnet book.

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

Last Feb we took our 18 month old, um, spunky, son.

Portable DVD player!!!!

Window clings - aka colorforms. We have a Dora set that my son spends lots of time rearranging on the windows. You could do the same on an airplane window.

Lollipops, could for tears and ears.

Sticker books. Again, my son spends a lot of time with these, a new one is perfect for the plane.

Some might tell you benedryl.

I've seen suggestions for pipe cleaners. Or if you can find them, wikki stix. Same idea.

Nothing with lots of pieces that will just fall on the floor causing you to twist yourself into impossible positions over and over again just to retrieve them.

Snacks, sippy cups. You can't bring liquid into the airport, but you can and should bring your own empty sippy cups.

Books or other activities that might induce sleepy time.

ETA: I realize I sound like a bad mom, TV and lollipops and all that. Honestly, I just do what I can to make a flight bearable. I'm not always plunking the little one in front of a TV and feeding him sugar. Honest.

Being a mom means being a survivor! Do what is necessary at times!!! No judgement here.

Thanks for the ideas! I appreciate it.

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

As a play on the sticker book idea, what about on of the magnet books so stickers potentially don't get left on everything, and there's not a fight when he wants to put on on the seat or window. I know target has a cars magnet book.

I'll search for it!!

 

[*Seanaci*]

Enough juice and milk for your air trip time are allowed as long as you let security know.

 

[#1eeyoregirl]

This will be our first plane ride for my 16mo old too. I am planning to bring the portable DVD player (now that he is old enough to sit there a pay attention to the movies, the one in our car has been a godsend). We will also bring snacks, his cup and a few toys. Luckily our flight is just barely over two hours. I wish you luck and just do what you feel is necessary to keep him entertained and enjoy your trip

 

[Minniemouse07]

We traveled w/ dd at 18mo, 24mo, 2.5yo, 3yo, 3.5yo, 6.5yo and 7yo. Ds has only traveled at 24mo.

We leave the DVD player at home. I know it goes against what everyone else recommends but we can't see hauling it w/ us for the 2hrs each way on the flight. Neither kid has missed it.

Each child gets their own backpack ONLY for amusements. When they are younger dh or I would carry the backpack but dd started carrying her own at 3.5yo.

Pack the backpack w/ a mixture of familiar and new age appropriate things.

Hit your local Dollar Tree for inexpensive WDW themed items (activity books, small toys, etc.).

Leave all the markers and crayons either at home or keep for the resort. Chasing them on the airplane floor isn't fun! Use a travel Doodle Pro (formerly MagnaDoodle) instead.

Colorforms and magnet sets are AWESOME! Lots of mileage out of them. Also anything w/ small characters (like Little People or the Disney Store character sets) for younger kids.

Use a car seat. Absolutely priceless. I would opt for a car seat and no toys over toys and no car seat! Dd slept every flight! Ds of course didn't...but would have been all over the airplane if he hadn't been strapped in! Check out more info about flying w/ car seats here.

Install the car seat rear facing if the child still can do so according to manufacturer's directions. Easier for child and parent to interact when they are facing each other!

Purchase water or juice before you board and have a sippy cup available for younger kids.

Have one parent board w/ as much as they can carry and have young children wait with the other parent and burn off as much steam as possible. First parent can install car seat and stash carry ons w/o having other parent and child waiting in the aisles!

If more than three traveling together seat another from your party in front of young child. This way you can install the car seat rear facing w/o evil glares and don't have to worry as much about children that are forward facing kicking the seat in front of them.

HTH

 

[wrighter]

I have travelled solo with both of my children for long distances many times a year since they were born. I feel your pain! All the posters above have great suggestions - I hope some of them work for you.

I would just like to offer one thing: Remember you can only do your best. Be prepared, have lots of things to choose from to keep him occupied, give him snacks, let him walk up and down the aisles quietly, etc. And then just roll with it. Anyone who has ever had children will remember what that age is like and give you some empathy. Anyone who has never had children will cringe when they see you board the plane and glare at you no matter what. Ignore them, and just do your best.

Good luck!

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

We traveled w/ dd at 18mo, 24mo, 2.5yo, 3yo, 3.5yo, 6.5yo and 7yo. Ds has only traveled at 24mo.

We leave the DVD player at home. I know it goes against what everyone else recommends but we can't see hauling it w/ us for the 2hrs each way on the flight. Neither kid has missed it.

Each child gets their own backpack ONLY for amusements. When they are younger dh or I would carry the backpack but dd started carrying her own at 3.5yo.

Pack the backpack w/ a mixture of familiar and new age appropriate things.

Hit your local Dollar Tree for inexpensive WDW themed items (activity books, small toys, etc.).

Leave all the markers and crayons either at home or keep for the resort. Chasing them on the airplane floor isn't fun! Use a travel Doodle Pro (formerly MagnaDoodle) instead.

Colorforms and magnet sets are AWESOME! Lots of mileage out of them. Also anything w/ small characters (like Little People or the Disney Store character sets) for younger kids.

Use a car seat. Absolutely priceless. I would opt for a car seat and no toys over toys and no car seat! Dd slept every flight! Ds of course didn't...but would have been all over the airplane if he hadn't been strapped in! Check out more info about flying w/ car seats here.

Install the car seat rear facing if the child still can do so according to manufacturer's directions. Easier for child and parent to interact when they are facing each other!

Purchase water or juice before you board and have a sippy cup available for younger kids.

Have one parent board w/ as much as they can carry and have young children wait with the other parent and burn off as much steam as possible. First parent can install car seat and stash carry ons w/o having other parent and child waiting in the aisles!

If more than three traveling together seat another from your party in front of young child. This way you can install the car seat rear facing w/o evil glares and don't have to worry as much about children that are forward facing kicking the seat in front of them.

HTH

Everyone is awesome! Thanks for the tips!

No need to worry. We have the CARES system (www.kidsflysafe.com), so we don't have to lug his car seat around. I bought him a seat because I can't imagine holding him for so long! I'm sending my husband on-board with our oldest, so he can install the system and get some of the carry-ons onboard. I want to wear our baby out as much as possible!