First Time 5 YO DD To Fly -- Any tips?

[tlbwriter]

- Your child will take cues from you. If you act nervous, your child will be nervous. So be in control & calm! (This coming from a nervous flier but drugs help a lot!!!)

Thank God for Xanax or I never would have made my first trip!

I've seen the Disney Polly Pockets at Wal-Mart, if you can't find them at the dollar store. Amazon has some too... search for "hasbro" and "purse."

 

[Mitzi]

Thanks for the tips for flying with kids..Grandkids are flying in two weeks,they have never flown before even though they are a little older, 12 & 10 kinda worried about grandson as he is a worrywert. Will be taking the DVD player as I got it because we were going to drive, but changed mind and decide to fly..Grandkids are excited but I want to be prepared for the unexpected if I can at least some of it.. I made them each a notebook of things to do plus they have their gameboys and will be packing gum and drinks(water)..
If anyone has any othr tips I'm sure they would be appreciated..

 

[wuv tigger]

And the Crayola Wonders were great too as they made NO messes ~ I mean only showed up on the special paper.

I never thought to use a margarine tub for the disney princesses polly pockets but they were a great idea.

My eldest does get car sick so we give her a dose (checked with Pharmacist) of Bonine. It's just enough to calm her ears and her tummy.

We have NEVER had anyone sick on a plane but my sil did. Not the youngest one but the oldest. SIL didn't bring a clean shirt for herself which was sorely needed.

We also bring wipes and Purell. Our youngest picked up a bug before we left home & spent 3 Disney days sleeping in the stroller.

hth,

Judy

 

[la79al]

Well, we just got back sunday and DD4 flew for the first time. on the morning we left we woke the kids at 3:45a.m., left at 4:15 and told the kids at 4:30 that we were going to Disney and we were on our way to the airport. DD4 worried about it for the rest of the ride to the airport and until we were sitting in the terminal. luckily we got there early enough that we had time to walk around the terminal looking at planes and pilots. i just explained as much as i could to her about what everyone was doing and let her pick out something from the shop in the airport. we got on the plane and i figured she would take a nap at some point. WRONG! she stayed awake the whole time. had no interest in the DVD player or any of the new toys i packed for her. she was okay for takeoff but complained that her ears were hurting on the way down. i gave her gum and she was fine. she didn't get sick and neither did the 5 or so other small kids on the plane. she was really chilly though and got a blanket from the stewardess. they are limited however so keep that in mind. just be ready to really interact with your DD, explain things to her and keep her occupied (look at the clouds, now they're under us.....etc....)

 

[StephMK]

My kids have gotten carsick on long road trips but never on planes. Those Crayola Wonder products are the best! If you bring crayons, bring a container for them - we are always digging around under the seats when they roll off - next time I'm packing them in a small lidded bucket!

The only distraction I didn't see mentioned was a Leap Pad. They have a place for headphones & my DD5 will spend hours playing the different books. Lots of Disney options & TRU online has a some for $5 now!

 

[disney longhorn]

Thanks so much to everyone for all of your input.

It has gone a long way to calm some of my fears and I am definately going to to try to implement some of your tips.

It is a comfort in itself to know that there are others out there with similar concerns. I hope others are finding your tips helfpful as well.

Thank you again DIS friends.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Just wanted to say thank you for all the tips as well...we will be using alot of them.
Thanks everyone.

 

[Dustin & Shelby's Mom]

I have never had to try this, but read somewhere that if your child does end up with ear pain it should help. Ask the flight attendant for a cup with a small towel or paper towel, soaked and wrung out well in hot water. Put the towel in the cup and hold it against the child's ear. The heat from the towel will help relieve the pain. Just make sure there is no water dripping from towel. We always carry EarPlanes and now the kids decide for themselves if they want to use them. I have even given some to a couple whose child was in pain coming down. I had overheard them talk to the flight attendant about their connection. I hope it helped. My kids have used them even when they have a mild cold, but still had to fly.

My kids have been flying since they were very small and we have only had one incident where my DS got sick on the plane. He had picked up a bug while at WDW and I wasn't sure we would get home. At one of our layovers, we picked up medicine for upset stomach and he took that and slept most of the way home. You might want to have some, just in case.

 

[bopper]

Help! I am very nervous about my DD's first time on plane. She will be 5 1/2 when we go to WDW.

How should I prepare and what should I try to anticipate? I have even considered finding a really cheap flight to anywhere for a weekend to take her own just to see if she will get air sick. Any first time experiences to share?

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

If she doesn't get car sick, she probably won't get air sick.
Carry a change of clothes (including a t-shirt for you) in your carry on.

Another thing to try is role-playing "airplane". Set up some chairs and explain to her what will be going on...especially that you mostly have to sit with the seatbelt on. Bring a cup with a lid for her drinks to minimize spillage (beware of pressure changes!). Bring fun things to do, but not too many small parts you have to keep picking up.

 

[Dizneydaz]

My daughter was 2 yrs. 9 months on her first plane trip. She was very excited. Even though she (very) occasionally gets motion sick on curvy roads-she had no problem on the flight. She's now been on 4 round trip flights with all but two having multiple takeoffs and landings. She absolutely loves flying! I was surprised on her first flight how single travelers were eager and willing to fly next to an under 3 yr. old. I don't think I would have. My daughter was fine, however, she did talk their ears off. Our flights have been a min. of 5-1/2 hrs. and she'll sleep sometimes but I can't count on it (even our last trip-the red eye). I always pack plenty of her fav snacks and some surprises for along the way. In a recent car trip (5 hrs. to Vegas) she was very entertained with some toys I picked up at Walmart for about $5. It's a self-contained magnet set in a metal tin. (Will this be a problem thru security?) Its similar to the old Colorforms except magnetic. She spent several hours playing on the way with at least an hour spent popping the magnets out of their sheets. And being magnetic is great for traveling-the parts don't get misplaced as easily. Other items I've brought-a notebook with princess stickers and a self-inked roller, cards, books, DVD player (this time). For her first trip I put together a "traveling set" with a princess theme. I put all sorts of little playthings in a see-through Cinderelly bag-I think it came with the markers and ink roller. RELAX-it'll be fine. 64 days and counting

 

[pamluvsdisney]

Sorry if I missed it, but where do you buy earplanes? THanks in advance.

 

[kkaisu]

Our first trip to Disney my DD had horrible ear pain, she was 6 and had flown three other times with no problem gum would not take care of. She was actually screaming in pain - everyone on the plane was offering us gum and suckers which we had already tried. Finally a woman offered DD some childrens benedryl - this worked like a charm + she slept the rest of the way so was refreshed when we arrived at Disney. We fly at least once a year, and ever since I have given her some type of antihistamine, she has no more problems. She does have hayfever and I felt like a BAD mother for not thinking of the Benedryl myself

 

[disney longhorn]

Sorry if I missed it, but where do you buy earplanes? THanks in advance.

I was able to find some at Walmart. I have also heard that you can find them at drug stores as well.

 

[pamluvsdisney]

Thanks. I looked at Walmart today. They have adult size. Do they make earplanes for kids too? I will look at some other stores. THank you.