First time flying with a 5 year old....looking for some tips and advice!

[mzspaz]

Our Disney trip is so close that the reality of it has finally hit me!

I've done all the planning and prep....and feel pretty good about our overall attack plan for the parks.

So now it is time to prepare for flying with a 5 year old. This will be his first flight and our first time flying with a kid.

We will be flying SW and have the EBCI. We will carry the backless booster from the car and I understand that we will have to check this or put it in the overhead bin (we need it for the rental car). My son will have a backpack that will have his Leapster and several other things in it to keep him entertained on the plane. My husband will have the bag with the portable dvd player and laptop in it. I'll have a carry on bag with other stuff in it.

My biggest question is one of the things my son wants to take are matchbox cars.....I'm not thinking there will be any issue getting those through security....or am I wrong???

Am I missing anything else? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Your ds should be fine with his Matchbox cars...I can't think of any reason there would be any kind of issue.
Don't forget to bring snacks. And it's good to have something the kids can actually 'do', rather than just sit and watch or listen to. Sometimes they build up excess energy, and/or get anxious. So, having something to physically do, helps with that. Coloring books, connect the dots, that kind of thing.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is a good idea to have something non-electronic for your child to play with. That way they won't be bored until they say you can turn your electronics on. Also, keep in mind that anything that makes noise must be used with headphones, or with the sound off.

 

[crashbb]

My comment was already covered.

 

[ZoneOrr]

Stickers!!! We went to the dollar store and bought a lot stickers. My daughter had fun placing them on the back of the seat in front of her.

 

[Missypyxi]

Stickers!!! We went to the dollar store and bought a lot stickers. My daughter had fun placing them on the back of the seat in front of her.

You let your daughter put stickers on the airline seats?

 

[Jillianv29]

Just flew with my 3 and 5 year old for the first time. I packed so much stuff and didn't use most of it. Snacks and water were a biggy along with sticker books for before you could turn on electronics. I also loaded new videos and games on their leappads and didn't let them play with them about 2 weeks before the trip. It worked out great!!!

 

[sshaw10060]

The only problem with cars, and action figures for that matter, is that when they get dropped (and they will) they can be hard to retrieve since they have a tendency to end up under the seat in front or behind you. We're big fans of sticker/coloring books. Also, we never travel without a new toy that can be pulled out at just the right moment. Usually its something small that we know will be a hit.

Also don't forget lots of snacks. With delays your trip can take a lot longer than planned and you don't want to run out. Also carry a change of clothes. You never know when you'll need it. Our DS has a habit of spilling water all over himself when flying (he's done it 3 times!)

 

[sam_gordon]

Just flew with my 3 and 5 year old for the first time. I packed so much stuff and didn't use most of it. Snacks and water were a biggy along with sticker books for before you could turn on electronics. I also loaded new videos and games on their leappads and didn't let them play with them about 2 weeks before the trip. It worked out great!!!

Keep in mind you can't bring water through security. You can purchase all you want after security before you get on the plane.

 

[Donna M]

Keep in mind you can't bring water through security. You can purchase all you want after security before you get on the plane.

Or you can bring your empty water bottle and fill it on the other side of the security line.

 

[helenk]

I just travelled to WDW with my 4 & 1/2 year old grand-daughter, travelling with me was her other grandmom. We flew from Phila so the trip down was about 2 and 1/2 hours coming home we had a stop in Charlotte NC, but did not change planes, that trip was about an hour longer.
We took coloring books, crayons, I also took my Nook which had several children stories loaded on it. I also had taken some DVDs with us, movies that she liked, as well as her head phones. She really did not watch any of the movies on the plane. She really enjoyed looking out the window, coloring and being read to. We had plenty of snacks, pretzels, crackers, finger foods that were easy to get to and did not make a big mess.
I was surprised at how well she did on the flight. She's flown before but she really did not remember her flight last year when she was 3.
Coming home I thought she would sleep, our flight was suppose to leave at 5:00 but we had a 2 hour delay, fortunately she had other children to play with at the gate, so she was not upset about the time in the airport.

 

[mzspaz]

The only problem with cars, and action figures for that matter, is that when they get dropped (and they will) they can be hard to retrieve since they have a tendency to end up under the seat in front or behind you. We're big fans of sticker/coloring books. Also, we never travel without a new toy that can be pulled out at just the right moment. Usually its something small that we know will be a hit.

Thanks sshaw10060, I never even thought of that! I'll have to give this one to my husband and pack the cars in the suitcase (no way this kid could go a week without his cars).

Thanks to everyone else for the suggestions on the sticker book. We'll make sure to pick one up.

We'll also be getting one of those Brita water bottles so we can fill it up after we get through security. We will also pack lots of snacks. The flight will hopefully only be a 2 hour flight.

I really appreciate the advice, tips, and tricks!

 

[mslhb]

I just flew with my DD (4.5) last month. Her and I have flown a bunch of times. I agree about some non electronic toys since you can't use them on take off and landing. I always bring some books that we can read together and some color wonder coloring books. Those things are great since they aren't messy (other then the stupid tinker bell glitter pen kind!). On a longer flight I once brought pipe cleaners that we made animals and stuff out of. Definitely bring snacks and I always buy a bottle of water once we get through security. For your booster I would check it when you check your luggage so you don't have to carry if through the airport. Only other piece of advice is I always explain the process to my DD as we go so she knows what is going to happen and has a clear expectation in advance... stuff about rules of staying in her seat, when the plane will speed up, upcoming bump at landing, etc. I am sure your little one will do just fine. Have a good trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

Stickers!!! We went to the dollar store and bought a lot stickers. My daughter had fun placing them on the back of the seat in front of her.

It is never a good idea to allow a child to put things on the back of the seat in front of them. It's extremely annoying to be sitting in a seat that keeps getting banged at from behind. And if a child is putting anything on that seat, they are going to get excited and start banging on the seat back...really not fair to the person sitting there. Been there, done that!!!

 

[Missytara]

Go along with the flow. We traveled last year with a 5 year old; my first time.

She sat between her mother and I and grabbed on to me for dear life. She shook like a leaf, while Mom was attending to lap baby. Mom explained the entire process to her - we go very fast,etc.

When we got in the air, Mom got her to open her eyes, and she loudly proclaimed, "Mommy, I can see Texas where I was born."

We looked at each other and shrugged. We were flying out of BWI. Huh? We just said, okay, you are right, there is Texas.

She loved the rest of the trip.

My word of advice is to NOT show them the tray set-up until after you can use them. I have seen some major meltdowns when you have to put it up for take-off after you let them use it for entertainment while witing for boarding.

 

[DEA]

For a different perspective, my 5 yo DD was reading over my shoulder, and had some suggestions:

1. Make sure that you buckle his seat belt if he can't, and let him know that it will be different from his seat belt in the car.

2. Go over the safety rules, including when bathroom breaks can happen, because that can be a problem if a 5yo has to go when you are not allowed out of your seat.

3. Make sure he doesn't climb on the seats, and do one activity at a time so it is less likely that things get lost.

4. No getting up and dancing. (This might be a trouble spot for my daughter, but she's aware of the restriction.)

5. Chewy snacks at takeoff and landing can help with ear-popping issues and any pain from the pressure of altitude change. My daughter recommends brownies.

6. Make sure that he knows to use a voice quieter than the normal inside voice. Also a danger area for my daughter, but, again, she's aware of what she should do.

7. The seat back pockets can eat all sorts of things, so make sure that he knows not to put things in there, or they might never come back out.

So sayeth my 5yo DD. I think a lot of it is just setting expectations for the close-quarters environment more than worrying about being afraid of flying. Good luck!