First time flying with 2 children

[maxiesmom]

double post

 

[SeanTomorrow]

All I'm saying is that when the pilot turns the seat belt light off, it is OK to get out of your seat. This is not controversial, right? You can get out of your airplane seat for any number of non-emergencies:
- You need to use the bathroom
- Your want more pretzels
- Your neighbor smells bad or is snoring
- You want to stretch your legs
- You want to get something from overhead
- You are 3 years old, you got ants in your pants, and your mom/dad says it's OK

On the other hand, if you want to get really scared, consider this:
- My airport parking lot bus: no seat belts
- My airport tram: no seat belts
- The DME bus: no seat belts
- The Disney monorail: no seat belts

I think we'll be OK. But you're right, I can't guarantee it.

 

[jworthy]

I have found that post-its work really well for little ones. They have lots of fun sticking and re-sticking them. Best of all they are easily picked up. My kids also loved Pipe cleaners, ribbon and pom poms at 2 years old. We counted them, sorted them, tied them etc. I made sure I had a few new little toys packed too. Bring wipes and a change of clothes for each of you just in case someone gets airsick or has a bathroom accident packed in a gallon ziploc bag for containing the mess after.
I also packed suckers and many small packaged snacks to help keep them occupied.

 

[maxiesmom]

All I'm saying is that when the pilot turns the seat belt light off, it is OK to get out of your seat. This is not controversial, right? You can get out of your airplane seat for any number of non-emergencies:
- You need to use the bathroom
- Your want more pretzels
- Your neighbor smells bad or is snoring
- You want to stretch your legs
- You want to get something from overhead
- You are 3 years old, you got ants in your pants, and your mom/dad says it's OK

That is a bit different from your prior post where you state you are "free range" and let your child "roam" the aisles. Do I get up and use the bathroom if I need to? Yes. Do I get up and roam the aisles for no reason, or unbuckle for no reason? No. I tend to follow what the captain says, which is to keep your seat belt on at all times while seated. I think keeping you seat belt on while seated is a standard we can all agree on.

 

[luvmy2babies]

Thank you all for the responses! I'm definitely more concerned about my son. For those that have used the cares harness, does it come with a strap for between the legs? I wonder if he would slip under the belt or wiggle his way free.

Otherwise, I plan on bringing plenty if things to keep them both occupied. Good tip for getting my son used to headphones now - my daughter already uses them.

The CARES harness doesn't have a strap between the legs. The lady I rented from recommended something for the seat if the seats are leather like on Southwest. A little piece of material like that used to line cabinets keeps them from slipping. It worked for my son.

 

[deedeew80]

This will be our children's first time flying. I have a DD5 & a DS3. It will be the 4 of us flying. What do you think is the best seating arrangements? DH hates flying & will probably prefer the window seat. I'm sure DS will take turns sitting on our laps & sitting in his seat. I guess the best option would probably be to sit DH with the 2 kids & then I would be across the aisle from them? Wish they had 4 seats across!! LOL!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...ight-experiences-turbulence-article-1.2116313

 

[Elacklen]

Count me (and my three kids) firmly in the category of "my kids will stay buckled unless a bathroom break is needed." It's a safety issue.
The odds of a baby dying of SIDS are extremely low, less than one percent, yet I'm not putting a blanket in with a newborn because "Hey, the odds are so low! Won't happen to US!"
To the OP-I would strongly consider your kid and their personality. If you let them out of a stroller/high chair for a bit, do they willingly go back in? Just prepare yourself for the discomfort of a heavy lap child when they won't go back in the car seat.
And to the other posters, yes, we may smile, but we DON'T think it's cute that you let your child wander in the aisles.

 

[maxiesmom]

This will be our children's first time flying. I have a DD5 & a DS3. It will be the 4 of us flying. What do you think is the best seating arrangements? DH hates flying & will probably prefer the window seat. I'm sure DS will take turns sitting on our laps & sitting in his seat. I guess the best option would probably be to sit DH with the 2 kids & then I would be across the aisle from them? Wish they had 4 seats across!! LOL!

I know many people sit 2 and 2, with one set right behind the other. If you have a child that is liable to kick up them behind a family member. That way you have less chance of someone causing a scene if they are kicked one too many times. I would also limit as best you can ( I know it is not always possible) how much lap holding you do. So that you are not accidentally squashing the person next to you.

 

[HockeyIsLife]

My youngest is not as young as your child, but she has the worst case of ants in the pants EVER. She loves to fly, and the reason is because JetBlue is just so easy for us to use. I am a creature of habit, and am not sure if flying is just as easy elsewhere with kids, but they have snacks and TV's. Snacks and TV will get us through any annoyance. I always bring coloring books and "guys" but to be honest, unless it something super special, all the kids want to do is watch Spongebob (which they arent allowed to watch otherwise).

 

[DisneyChef]

I went on my first flight when I was 2 1/2, and my mom kept me entertained by letting me bring my little back pack with a couple sticker books and coloring pages. She also put in a baggie of mini marshmallows to eat on the plane. She said I did very well and was pretty involved the whole time just looking out the window and eating marshmallows .

A few months ago on a trip out East, I noticed a mother sitting with her two very young children (one was about 3 and the other 5) entertaining them with 10 pieces of black electrical tape! She had them cut in little 1 inch rectangles and told them to close their eyes. While they did that she "hid" them around their row of the plane. Ex. She had one on the window, on the armrest, tray table, water bottle, reading light, the wall of the plane etc. Then she told them to look and try to find all of the pieces of tape. I thought this was pretty genius! It kept them entertained for over an hour and since they got to move around a little bit they weren't squirming in their seat for the rest of the flight.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

This will be our children's first time flying. I have a DD5 & a DS3. It will be the 4 of us flying. What do you think is the best seating arrangements? DH hates flying & will probably prefer the window seat. I'm sure DS will take turns sitting on our laps & sitting in his seat. I guess the best option would probably be to sit DH with the 2 kids & then I would be across the aisle from them? Wish they had 4 seats across!! LOL!

We nearly always sit 2 & 2 front to back, with my husband and our oldest in front of me and our youngest. We originally did this primarily to avoid our youngest from annoying the person in front of us when he (inevitably) kicked the seat in front of him. Luckily, he has finally grown out of that, but the two and two arrangement works well, so we tend to stick with it. It's easy to pass stuff back and forth without bothering other passengers.

My youngest is not as young as your child, but she has the worst case of ants in the pants EVER. She loves to fly, and the reason is because JetBlue is just so easy for us to use. I am a creature of habit, and am not sure if flying is just as easy elsewhere with kids, but they have snacks and TV's. Snacks and TV will get us through any annoyance. I always bring coloring books and "guys" but to be honest, unless it something super special, all the kids want to do is watch Spongebob (which they arent allowed to watch otherwise).

I remember in the early days always bringing 50 frillion activities for the flights. They never got used because the kids were always engrossed in movies! Now I don't even bother. We bring a couple of books and a notebook just in case, but other than that, it's all movies/TV! LOL.

 

[DisneyCAL]

Hi! This September we'll be heading down with our two children. This will be the first plane ride for them. Our daughter will be 6 by then and our son will be 2 1/2. Will our daughter need a carseat or not? I thought I've read that they don't need one at that age. I was planning on bringing a carseat for our son for safety and to keep him contained, but he does get antsy if strapped in too long. How have people dealt with the antsy child that wants out of the carseat? Any other advice would be great!

When our boy/girl twins were 2.5yrs we didn't need a carseat. We brought an iPad for games and little coloring pads. Every once in awhile we'd wall them up and down the isle. Snacks and chewing gum (for the ears) help too. You can also try an iPod with headphones with a disney playlist. The flight attendants are pretty good about this. Also helps if you're towards the front of the plane where the attendants sit, there's a bathroom close by and you can board last and get off first.

 

[maxiesmom]

When our boy/girl twins were 2.5yrs we didn't need a carseat. We brought an iPad for games and little coloring pads. Every once in awhile we'd wall them up and down the isle. Snacks and chewing gum (for the ears) help too. You can also try an iPod with headphones with a disney playlist. The flight attendants are pretty good about this. Also helps if you're towards the front of the plane where the attendants sit, there's a bathroom close by and you can board last and get off first.

Depending on the aircraft, that bathroom towards the front may be for first class passengers only. Just something to keep in mind. You may want to look at the aircraft type ahead of time, before choosing a seat towards the front.