Flying with a busy 2 year old HELP......

[daisy2jae]

We will be flying from Sioux City IA to Orange County with a change of planes in Minneapolis. We have apx 1 hr flight to Minneapolis and second flight is apx 3 1/2 hrs. My 2 year old is a pain the SUV on a 2 1/2 hr drive but we can stop and get out. I'm SO worried about flying with him. Does anyone have tricks. My Jaxson is a very busy 2 yr old (DOB 4-13-2007). Should I take a carseat? I need help.... I have flew with my 3 yr old last year but she is much better at traveling than my Jaxson!

 

[dlawallace]

If he watches television a portable DVD player is an ABSOLUTE LIFE SAVER!!! Also, bring a little bag full of cheap toys that he has never seen before (Dollar Store). Lots of little snacks help as well----suckers, goldfish crackers, M&M's, raisins, grapes.
Hopefully this will help

 

[teatime]

I sugest a car seat, that will keep him in his seat and safe. you can then bring paper and crayons, and all sorts of fun things for him to do. I took a small DVD player with me the first time, and he watched cartoons, when he got bored he colored, when that was done he played with a hand held game that was cheap. but the car seat was a god send !!

 

[JeannieNM]

A car seat for sure.

Take a bag full of fun cheap gifts wrapped and have him open them one at a time. Do not let him know you have more until he is bored with the first one. As someone else suggested they can be from the dollar store. Of course you should do the same for DD so she is not jealous. I also read a lot of books with my dd when she was young on the plane. Earplanes are a most. My DD flew for the first few years without them then she had a hard landing on a 777 and from then on we used earplanes and they were a life saver.

Have fun.

 

[daisy2jae]

If he watches television a portable DVD player is an ABSOLUTE LIFE SAVER!!! Also, bring a little bag full of cheap toys that he has never seen before (Dollar Store). Lots of little snacks help as well----suckers, goldfish crackers, M&M's, raisins, grapes.
Hopefully this will help

Have you ever had one start throwing a fit? If so how'd you get them not to scream the entire time. I'm so affraid he is going to get mad and start screaming. When he starts he will make sure everyone on the plane knows he is mad. I have a "fun" bag packed with little cars, coloring books, snacks, etc...We will also take our laptop for games and movies. I know we can make the first flight but omg...the second one for 3 1/2 hours freaks me out. So much I thought about not going

 

[daisy2jae]

I sugest a car seat, that will keep him in his seat and safe. you can then bring paper and crayons, and all sorts of fun things for him to do. I took a small DVD player with me the first time, and he watched cartoons, when he got bored he colored, when that was done he played with a hand held game that was cheap. but the car seat was a god send !!

I agree I think the car seat is the best way to go. He climbs out of everything so I know the seat belt on the plane won't keep him in place. Do I use the one from my SUV we use everyday or should I buy a new one. If so what kind?

 

[daisy2jae]

A car seat for sure.

Take a bag full of fun cheap gifts wrapped and have him open them one at a time. Do not let him know you have more until he is bored with the first one. As someone else suggested they can be from the dollar store. Of course you should do the same for DD so she is not jealous. I also read a lot of books with my dd when she was young on the plane. Earplanes are a most. My DD flew for the first few years without them then she had a hard landing on a 777 and from then on we used earplanes and they were a life saver.

Have fun.

Earplanes....Where did you get them at? Never heard of them before.

 

[dlawallace]

Have you ever had one start throwing a fit? If so how'd you get them not to scream the entire time. I'm so affraid he is going to get mad and start screaming. When he starts he will make sure everyone on the plane knows he is mad. I have a "fun" bag packed with little cars, coloring books, snacks, etc...We will also take our laptop for games and movies. I know we can make the first flight but omg...the second one for 3 1/2 hours freaks me out. So much I thought about not going

Ya know what? I dont know if your little one takes naps, but when I took my 2 year old on his first plane ride, I sent him to bed eary the previous night and woke him up extra early. This made it that he was sleepy on the plane and slept for 1 1/2 hours. Mine will always fall asleep if he's in the car seat. I would definately bring it. Wrapping the toys is a really good idea also. Then, if he does start to get mad, pull out a present. I'm sure that would help.

 

[teatime]

I took one of these , it worked well and was easy to pack.

 

[teatime]

 

[daisy2jae]

I took one of these , it worked well and was easy to pack.

How old was your little one when you used one? Mine loves to unbuckle and tries to climb out of everything! I think everything I put my parents through as a toddler is happening to me through my little Jaxson!

 

[teatime]

How old was your little one when you used one? Mine loves to unbuckle and tries to climb out of everything! I think everything I put my parents through as a toddler is happening to me through my little Jaxson!

He was 3. and yeah they try to get out of things, but you can put the tray down over these and there great. and he can play on the tray and eat his snacks. put the buckle in front of him, and under the tray

 

[ashpinoza]

well, we are not taking a car seat because under two they fly free, but if you bring a carseat its not free because they use seat space. my boy is CRAZY too, he is always on the move does NOT like to sit still. so this should be fun LOL.

 

[teatime]

well, we are not taking a car seat because under two they fly free, but if you bring a carseat its not free because they use seat space. my boy is CRAZY too, he is always on the move does NOT like to sit still. so this should be fun LOL.

oh I forgot to ask if they wre buying a seat that is a dilemma. my son would not sit on my lap, I had to bring a car seat and pay for the flight seat .

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

well, we are not taking a car seat because under two they fly free, but if you bring a carseat its not free because they use seat space. my boy is CRAZY too, he is always on the move does NOT like to sit still. so this should be fun LOL.

They do not make you pay for a seat if they have extra seats... just ask when you board! DD flew on something like 12 flights before she turned 2, and we were almost always given a middle seat for free (for me, we had to put her in the window.)

Bring your carseat, kids are less apt to want to get up in they are in their own seat. TONS of snacks (like double what you think you need--all the favorites.) New toys--color wonder coloring books are awesome.

And I know this sounds nuts, but children's benadryl can really help, makes them drowsy and will help with ear pain, our ped suggested it the first few times we flew until we knew how dd would do on the plane.

DD is now 5, and has logged in over 24 flights in her life... we have it down pat. And she is a pro... but I still bring her harness carseat, tons of snacks, and new "surprise" toys. My fav flights are Frontier and Jetblue cause they have DirecTv and she can watch shows while we are flying.

 

[ashpinoza]

They do not make you pay for a seat if they have extra seats... just ask when you board! DD flew on something like 12 flights before she turned 2, and we were almost always given a middle seat for free (for me, we had to put her in the window.)

Bring your carseat, kids are less apt to want to get up in they are in their own seat. TONS of snacks (like double what you think you need--all the favorites.) New toys--color wonder coloring books are awesome.

And I know this sounds nuts, but children's benadryl can really help, makes them drowsy and will help with ear pain, our ped suggested it the first few times we flew until we knew how dd would do on the plane.

DD is now 5, and has logged in over 24 flights in her life... we have it down pat. And she is a pro... but I still bring her harness carseat, tons of snacks, and new "surprise" toys. My fav flights are Frontier and Jetblue cause they have DirecTv and she can watch shows while we are flying.

that is true about the car seats, BUT...if when you get there there isnt room, and you didnt purchase a seat ticket hoping there would be room you have to have them in lap.

 

[avalon451]

I agree with all the previous posters' great ideas, especially the portable DVD player. That SAVED us when my youngest was little, because she can really focus on a movie that she likes, although I know that not all kids are like that. If your son has favorite DVDs, bring them with you.

The other thing: You want to be careful about this because you don't want to get in the stewards' way or annoy the other passengers unnecessarily, but when they're done with the drink cart, if your son's getting antsy, let him walk down the aisle with you and go to the bathroom. He'll be fascinated with all the tiny little fixtures in there. Again, not for a long time so you'll be monopolizing the restroom, but it will be short change of scenery. Sometimes you can also stand by the rear of the plane and look out the window while waiting for a restroom-- it's just a few minutes to stand and stretch. I know that can make a world of difference with toddlers.

I'd have books, coloring books, lots of finger foods and games, like PP said.

Good luck!

 

[Brady's Mom]

You can't use the booster seats on the airplane. You will have to gate check it or put it in the overhead bin. The airline seats are not set up to handle them (no over the shoulder belts), use his regular car seat that he is familiar with - if you are getting him a seat. It can be a big pain to get the car seat buckled into the airplane, but you may be very glad you have it. Good luck with the flight. I know I would be freaking out if we had to change planes and fly longer than an hour and a half.

 

[daisy2jae]

thanks for all the ideas...I think I will be putting together a fun bag of snacks and cheap goodies. I also will be taking a carseat. I'm not sure yet if we will the one in our SUV or buy one. I'm really affraid of a booster seat. My little guy will not sit in a high chair but seems to be "stuck" when he is in a 5 point harness carseat. Not too excited about dragging it along but I think it will be well worth it! You guys are wonderful. (PS We already bought his seat on the plane so we have one no lap seating here)

 

[DisneyMomma81]

A great travel/spare/2nd seat is the Cosco Scenera http://www.walmart.com/search/searc...48_0&search_query=scenera&Find.x=18&Find.y=12 ~ my DD's main seat is a Britax Marathon, a Scenera is her back up seat, she's almost too tall/too heavy for it and that'll be a sad day for me. I take it on the plane for her and will continue to do so until she out grows it ~ when that happens I'll gate check a backless booster for her.