Flying with 13 month old, need advice!

[N&B'smom]

I'm wondering what I can do to help her out with th epressure effecting her ears. I'm also looking for ideas on what I should bring to occupy her on the plane! Any tips would be great!!!

Shelby

 

[jillhou]

If the baby is still nursing or taking a bottle - sucking during take off and landing is a huge help for them. A pacifier also helps, but not quite as much. You can talk to your doctor, too about giving some antihistamine before you get on the flight. My 12 yr old was having some ear issues and she said to give him some sudafed before our last flight - he seemed to do well with it.

Good luck - my kids did fine at that age - and younger on planes!

 

[winniedapooh]

We have 5 cherubs and have been flying with them since 5th was still a twinkle. I have used either benadryl or sudafed-for older ones. The one time I did not use a thing my poor DD, then 2, screamed for the last 45 minutes of the trip. Older DD now gets sudafed as her ears are a mess and she is 14. The ear dr. told me that using sudafed when she first starts to get a cold has actually helped her with less ear infections. Benadryl was prescribed for me by kids pediatrician.

 

[N&B'smom]

Hmm...I wonder what I can use for her since she's so young! Anyone know?

Shelby

 

[N&B'smom]

And I forgot to mention, she doesn't take a bottle anymore, she's been drinking from a sippy cup since she was 9 1/2 months old. I do have a pacifier she'll be glad to use but she usually only uses it when going to sleep. I'm at a loss as to what to do!

Shelby

 

[kimwim8]

definitely check with your pediatrician about the medication and dosage for your 13 month old. DD was that old when she flew for the first time, and I remember giving her something (maybe dimatap or Benadryl) about 30 minutes before we boarded the plane.

Shelby, you're flying Spirit, right? If you're flying the 7am flight, then your DD will be pretty tired from getting up so early. We woke our kids (in 2002) around 4 and were at the airport by 4:45-ish. We let them run around the airport for the 2+ hours we were waiting to board. They were pretty tired from that & the medicine by the time we boarded. They drank (from sippy cups) and ate snacks while we took off, and they slept until we started the descent.

Good luck, and let me know how it goes!

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks, Kim. I know both kids will be very tired. I was just trying to prepare myself to occupy her in case she perks up. lol I will definately have her drinking from a cup while we take off. I'll be calling my Dr on Monday to ask about meds just in case. I PRAY my experience is similar to yours with the little one sleeping so much on the flight! I'm a little nervous! Thanks for the advice everyone!!

Shelby

 

[Tinkim]

N&B'smom,

I think sipping water from the sippy cup will help. I type for docs and they suggest this for kids and adults. My daughter was 17 months the first time we went to WDW. She did fine on the plane in her car seat. I brought along a book that had these pieces that were attached to the book and went into little pockets (couldn't fall off). She did take a nap for a while and we brought some snacks and she was just fine. Changing her diaper in the bathroom was quite interesting, however. Good luck. I think you'll be okay.

 

[crl]

We are going to be using benadryl as recommended by our ped. We'll also have a sippy cup of water, snacks, and some small new toys and books. Make sure you pick up a few new cheap things at the dollar store, since a new toy or book will keep their attention longer.

 

[SueM in MN]

When you ask your doctor about Sudafed for little ones, also ask about trying it out before the flight. Most kids will get sleepy with it, but it is possible to have the opposite effect and become hyper from it. You don't want to give your first dose just before getting on a plane for a 3 hour trip and find out it makes your child hyper-alert and irritable.
A sippy cup, snacks or a bottle are more controllable options.
I don't know how they work for smaller kids, but a lot of people have posted about EarPlanes. They are earplugs that are designed to help with the pressure on airplanes. If you do a search, you should find some postings about them.
While you are at the dollar store picking up some new toys and books, also look for some various size gift bags. 13 month olds usually enjoy putting things in and out of bags. If you have various size bags and some tissue paper to hide things in the bags, that might keep her occupied longer than just having the new toys would. If you have bigger and smaller bags, she can do things like put one bag into another. The nice thing about gift bags is that they can be folded up to a flat small size when done.

 

[Bill From PA]

I'd check with your Dr. re. the Benadryl thing. In addition to helping with the ears, they might put the little tyke down for the whole flight. On the rare occasions when I have trouble sleeping, 2 25's of generic Benadryl caps put me under like a rock.

Bill From PA

 

[KarenP99]

Shelby,

We got back yesterday. My 15month old had a cold coming home so I was really worried. I hated to give her medication, as if it had a reverse effect (ie. Hyperactive) that would not be great.

So we used a Tootsie Pop lolipop. It isn't the most clean option, but it was great and actually put her to sleep!

We had plenty of wipes handy when she woke up.

Good luck!
Karen

 

[K P & J's Grandma]

Our Grandchildren have been given Benadrly before they get on the plane. For two of them it worked great - they were almost asleep before we boarded the plane. BUT -- with one of them it did NOT work -- she was 18 months & she screamed & screamed, didn't want to be held, wouldn't drink out of her sippy cup, didn't want any snacks, wouldn't play with any of her books or toys -- it was NOT a fun flight for us or anyone else around us!!! The next flight, she was not given the Benadrly & was 'perfect'!! The doctor said that some kids can have a 'reverse reaction' to the medicine --- this is what must of happend to her.