Flying tips with a year old

[robinsegg]

My daughter at 15 months now loves those silly bands that her brother has. Of course I only give them to her when I'm right here but she enjoys taking and putting them on me. Maybe an idea

I let my dd play with my scruncii's (big, fluffy ponytail holders). She likes to take them out of my hair and put them on her wrists/ankles. Just another thought, if you have those at home instead of the silly bandz

 

[amym2]

That would probably work great for a kid who will be happy in their seat for 2.5 hours (the length of our flight). Our 17mo would *not* be happy, unless she managed to fall asleep. In a car, we could (and do) stop and pull her out to let her have a different position, etc. If I do that on a flight, there are 2 consequences I'm not happy with:
1. It will make her think it's ok to get out in a moving vehicle.
2. It negates the whole point of having her in her carseat to begin with.

Otoh, if I put her in my wrap (literally tying her to me) anytime we're asked to strap in and anytime she's sleeping, we won't disturb *everyone* else because she's screaming after the first hour and we won't be sacrificing very much safety, imo.

That said, this is our first flight. If we ever fly again, she'll already be over the 2yo age cutoff, and it won't matter anyway.

Again the point was to keep your child seated, so if your wrap accomplishes that better than a carseat, by all means go that route. I think too many parents, however, take a lap child expecting them to actually sit on their lap and find that without some method of keeping them sitting, the kids think they can crawl all over and stand up. Our kids were used to long car rides, so a 2.5 hour trip on a plane was not an issue. When we drive, we certainly stop but not more than every 2-3 hours. You might want to check the safety rules (call the airline) and make sure you'll be allowed to use the wrap.

 

[MScott1851]

If she won't wear the headphones, you may want to re-think bringing along the DVD player. Unless your daughter will watch the pictures without sound. You are supposed to use headphones on an airplane for any gadget that makes noise. If you use the DVD player without headphones the FA may make you turn it off. And if another passenger complains, they will make you turn it off.

I think it would just be easier on you to not have the DVD player there, and have a child that can't understand why they are not able to use it.

I know you have to have headphones...We fly pretty often. I am actually just going to take my iPad and Airtran is giving away free wi-fi on our flight, so we will be youtubing the heck out of some Wiggles songs. If DD won't wear the headphones, she'll just have to watch. She LOVES looking at the picture slideshow on it now, no music or soundtrack with it, so if need be, we will just do that.

 

[robinsegg]

Again the point was to keep your child seated, so if your wrap accomplishes that better than a carseat, by all means go that route.

Thanks! She'll stay seated on my lap much better and happier than in a carseat

You might want to check the safety rules (call the airline) and make sure you'll be allowed to use the wrap.

I don't know if I can have her in the wrap during takeoff and landing (though the position that's been described for a lapchild during those times is identical to how she would be positioned in the wrap), but at other times, it seems to be fine.

Thanks for your understanding and consideration!