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]

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]

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.

 

[henry72]

We flew when DS was 19 months. Since we were using ME and staying on property, we did not need the carseat at the other end and we didn't want to drag it through the airport. Even though DS was active, he did fine with his own seat (without the carseat). He thought he was so big seating like we were with the seatbelt. We also brought snacks and a DVD player and that kept him busy. This time with DD we again are not bringing the carseat. We have the DVD player, color wonder coloring books, stickers and maybe some window clings to keep her busy in addition to the snacks. I expect to have her at the window seat so there is no chance she can get down to "explore".

Forgot to add that DD hates her carseat so she would NOT be more comfortable there.

 

[brandylouwho]

I have flown with lap babies, car seats and toddlers in a regular seat....all worked out fine.

As far as keeping the toddler happy, I am a bad mom and let her watch cartoons (on a portable dvd player, now on our iPhones). This easily keeps her happy for an hour or more. We bought special, kid sized headphones and she loves it.

We always bring snacks & drinks. I like to have a color book with crayons or a color wonder book & marker set. My youngest loves dolls, so I also brought a small doll, bottle & blankie.

Seriously, the cartoons on the iPhone were THE BEST!

 

[aetrom]

I have flown several long haul flights with lap babies. so I have TONS of experience keeping kids happy.

I love those foam stickers - you can get them off of anything but they also stick everywhere! a deck of cards is fun too. snacks, a bag of gummy worms or m$m's can last forever and save you tons of time! portable dvd players.... etc. my son hated tv but would watch the dvd's stuck on the plane.

also, if you request they can try to get you an empty seat if the plane isn't full you still hold during take off and landing but then you can use the seat for them to play on.

also, if you request bulkhead it gives places for them to play on the ground, you can't have toys out on the way up or down, but it can be very advantageous to have that space. so you just need something small to keep her occupied (snack?) on the way up.

if you have more than one child I don't recommend bulkhead, as the under the seats provides a fun play area and you can keep your toys with you.

 

[KingdomHearts]

What is bulkhead? Is that the extra room in the back? We are flying a very small plane, will they still have that? She will be 15 months will they let her do that?

 

[MayzDisney4]

Even though I knew it cost more to get my son a seat, he was 12 months old, then flew again at 18 months, then again an 2 and half... I couldn't have done it without the car seat!