Flying with a 10 month old

[UK bride WDW 06]

Hi we are going to WDW in August(we are getting married there) any suggestions for toys that we could use to keep my baby who will be 10 months entertained. As you can see we are from the UK so very long flight.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[mom2bellaandlivi]

Are you getting a seat for the baby?? We just took our 11 month old and she slept the whole way. granted it was a much shorter flight than yours will be but it was still almost 3 hours. We found that snacks that you can pick up off the trays were GREAT! It kept her entertained, although it leaves kind of a mess.

We did take flap books to look at. She discovered crayons, that were her sister's.

Good luck! I hope you have a great time!

 

[Luv'sTink]

I would try to buy a lot of inexpensive toys, so when baby gets tired of one then you would have another to pull out and rotate them often to keep them "new" to baby. Also, if baby eats finger foods I would bring those along.

Sorry, I cant really be of any help.

Good luck.

 

[Tam1067]

I've flown many times with babies about that age, and you've got to be prepared for nearly anything. Bring extra clothes, even for you; my oldest got sick all over me when he was about that age--even my bra was wet--so I had to unexpectedly change on board. You should also have some plastic bags to put things in in case of a situation like that.

And I'd go purchase a few new toys he hasn't seen before which you can bring out during the flight. Plus, he should be drinking or eating, if possible during take off and landing, to prevent ear problems.

Good luck!

 

[UK bride WDW 06]

Thanks for all your help. Just out of curiosity what is the pack and play thing i keep reading about?

 

[dougsmom98]

We flew with a 9 month old on the last trip. My DD really didn't play with anything. I packed a bunch of stuff and she really wasn't interested. We did not buy her a seat and the best thing was our Baby B'Jorn. You can't use it during take off and landing, but it kept my hands free when she fell asleep during the flight. She wasn't as squirmy as she would have been if she had been free the entire trip. She had a double ear infection before we left so the doctor told us to give her a 1/2 tespoon of Benadryl before the flight and this helped to keep her a little less active. I agree with the previous poster who suggested bringing extra clothes for even yourself, because I had a similar situation with my first son. Good luck. It won't be as bad as you think it will be. Even if the baby starts crying just try to stay as relaxed as possible. It will be fine.

 

[o2bacelt]

What airline are you flying and what time?

We took DD to see the inlaws (DH from the SW) in the UK right after her first birthday. We left on the late night flight so she actually slept most of the way over. She screamed (we were late taking off and she was tired) while we taxied and was asleep by take off and woke up about an hour and 40 minutes outside Heathrow.

We kept her busy with Fisher Price Little People, and a couple little toys she'd never seen before, and some books, lots and lots of books. I also agree to make sure you've got extras of everything, diapers clothes, a blanket from home.

Now coming home from the UK, we left around noon, my DD and DH walked that airplane for quite a while. She did take one nap but other than that between my DH and my dad they all walked miles around that airplane. She didn't scream but she didn't want to sit, she wanted to visit everyone on the plane. (Not sure if your baby is walking yet, ours walked very early.)

If you're flying BA, they have some sort of baby bed that they use, as well as Britax car seats but they are only available on a limited basis, I'd call your BA rep and see if you can reserve one. I'm not sure about Virgin, I haven't flown with them and the last time DH didn't think he'd ever have kids so he didn't notice anything.

I hope you have a good flight. I know it's a little nerve wracking to think about it. I know I'm nervous about going over in December with a very active 2 year old.

 

[kitsch4]

Just out of curiosity what is the pack and play thing i keep reading about?

It is a collapsible portable crib that sits low to the floor.



When I flew to WDW with my DS who was 9 mos at the time, I made sure to take a sippy cup for him to drink from on the takeoffs and landings.

We also bought a seat for him and let him sit in his carseat. He was used to having to stay in it when we were traveling in the car and was also used to taking naps in it. Just something a little familiar for him.

 

[las3888]

Our portable DVD player is our best weapon on any flight; started using this at 8 mos. Good luck to you and congrats!

 

[UK bride WDW 06]

What airline are you flying and what time?

Travel City well its an Excel aircraft 1pm. Thanks for everyones positive comments unfotunately we could not stretch to paying for a seat for her so no car seat unfortuately. Had not thought about using baby carrier on board so thanks. Not sure if she will be walking she is crawling and pulling up will have to wait and see!!!!

 

[Nanu57v]

Probably a little young to be walking at 10 months. We took DD at 9 months... Had her own seat and slept most of the time. Otherwise drank sippy cup, ate cheerios, read her books...I agree with another poster...a portable DVD player for Baby Einstein vids would've been helpful, too.

 

[all4fun]

This site has a lot of helpful info:

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Have a great trip and Best Wishes on the nuptials. I'm jealous. I would have LOVED getting married at WDW.

 

[UK bride WDW 06]

Great site, thanks

 

[katytrott]

What airline are you flying and what time?

Travel City well its an Excel aircraft 1pm. Thanks for everyones positive comments unfotunately we could not stretch to paying for a seat for her so no car seat unfortuately. Had not thought about using baby carrier on board so thanks. Not sure if she will be walking she is crawling and pulling up will have to wait and see!!!!

Hi UK bride. We are also using an Excel aircraft leaving at 12 midday. It will be our first trip with our son who will be 23 months when we leave. We also do not have a seat for him. I am nervously excited about the trip (optomistic I think is a better description) providing I do plenty of research and planning, so thankyou for this thread.

So far, I have been to local £ shops and spent £18 on toys. I intend to get a new toy out each hour and rotate that with his own favourites. I got small things to make easier packing. None of them will hold his attention (never know, some might) for very long as they are so cheap and I will have to watch him with them as I don't know how safe they are, but it doesn't really matter as they are so cheap and will do their job for that one hour. His own toys I plan to take will be 4 wooden jigsaws, a car, a ball, bubble mixture (perhaps for only at the airport) and LOTS of books. My son was into both books and jigsaws at 10 months, so if your daughter is not into these things, try now to get so, they are easier to have in hand luggage as they are flat. Early Learning Centre has a great selection of jigsaws with giant pieces with giant knobs for little hands. My son is only interested in eating any art material at the moment but I'm working on that and hoping that will change by our flight. Guess will be the same for your daughter. Portable DVD would not work with my son and certainly not at 10 months, he can only manage 1 min watching TV (probably not a bad thing), so be wary of this before going out and buying one. If anyone has any other ideas I would be grateful to hear them as well.

I would be really grateful if you could let me know how the flight was using an excel flight, eg toilets, seating plan, moveable armrests, meals etc, as you will be going before me. I understand if you forget or something though, I can't imagine how tough it must be organising a holiday, travelling with a baby and a wedding all for the same time. Will be amazing though - I'm just jealous

 

[yaksack]

My wife and I flew from NJ with our DD when she 13 months.

We got her a seat so we didn't have to hold her for 2.5 hours, brought picture books and a laptop computer to play DVDs for her. It went smoothly.

Good luck.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I took DS8 when he was 10 months and I was pregnant with DD, now 7.

The flight was shorter at 2.5 hrs and uneventful. I gave DS a bottle feeding during liftoff & landing to keep his ears from hurting and it worked just fine... baby food works too. Although DS had his own seat next to me he was happier being held so I was grateful I had taken a front holding baby carrier which kept my hands free. As someone else mentioned I would ask at checkin if there were any free seats for the baby...you might get lucky.

To be honest, the only trouble I ran into was when DS had to be changed up in the air. To be honest this was EXTREMELY difficult because of the lack of space. I used in-expensive disposable bed pads (for adult incontinence) I used to get from Walmart so that wherever I put baby down was clean. I seem to recall clutching/balancing DS on the closed toilet seat because I didn't see any other flat surfaces big enough.

Have a Magical time

 

[UK bride WDW 06]

I would be really grateful if you could let me know how the flight was using an excel flight, eg toilets, seating plan, moveable armrests, meals etc, as you will be going before me. I understand if you forget or something though, I can't imagine how tough it must be organising a holiday, travelling with a baby and a wedding all for the same time. Will be amazing though - I'm just jealous

Thanks for your ideas you can private message me early September if you like and I will give you info about the flight. I will probably forget otherwise so much on my plate at the mo.

 

[LuvTinkBell]

My girls were both fascinated with the Baby Mozart DVDs from the time they were 3 or 4 months old. If you have a DVD player, I'd bring a few of these along.

Also, make sure you have plenty of baby food, or whatever "table food" your child is eating. You never know what the airline will serve that is child friendly, and WHEN it'll be served.

This is messy, but when all else fails a box of tissues to empty is GREAT fun! I am a flight attendant and this worked wonders for a lady by herself with 3 little kids, the one year old loved it. (ok, your flight attendants probably won't, but it stopped her child from screaming so we didn't care, and it was easier to pick up than smashed cookies)

Make sure to offer something to drink starting about 30 minutes before landing, this is when descent begins. If you wait too long, your baby will possibly have ear discomfort by then.

 

[katytrott]

Thanks for your ideas you can private message me early September if you like and I will give you info about the flight. I will probably forget otherwise so much on my plate at the mo.

Thankyou ever so much. I will if that's ok. I bet your getting so excited now, and it sounds like you do have a lot on your plate. I hope everything goes ok

 

[Karrie Davis]

We flew a lot with my ds at that age. We always got a seat but one time and that one time was the worst trip in the world. If you call the airline directly they will only charge half price for his seat and should wave the phone reservation fee because you can't do that 1/2 price ticket on the internet.

Free seat advice-

If you can't swing the extra seat have them book you with a space between you empty, that will most likely get you a free seat if tha plane is not full. When you get on a plane with a small child the not kid people look at you like you have the plauge! They will most often be jumping to switch seets to get away from you, take advantage of it The attendents also know this and try there best to get you that space. You can only put a child seat at a window so book the 3 seats by the window (with the MIDDLE free, then if it is still empty have your car seat put on the window seat, it it is not they will gate check it at the last min for you - they really understand and want the best fkight for everyone on the plane)

I also had my Pediatrician calculate the dose of benydril (spell?) and sid that but it did not make a difference for him (may with other kids at that age). He was ALWAYS sleeping at the end of the leveling out, he would fall to sleep during the take off if he was in his car seat. In our arms it was a nightmare.

Don't bring a lot on the plane, he won't use it and you will just have more to carry...


Car seat tip - watch there feet, even slight kicking will drive the person in front of you crazy, and it does suck. If his seat is still reclines remember to put it in the upright possition for the flight and he won't be able to kick so much and it is still comfy- I made the mistake of that and did not realize why his feet were smashed to the front seat -oops!

Good luck & no fear