Flying with a toddler - Stops or Non-Stop?

[Angel Ariel]

We have a family trip we're flying cross country for this summer, and we're trying to decide whether to get a non-stop flight or a light with stops. We're heading to DLR in the fall, so this is kind of a test run for us for that trip as well.

DD has been on flights before, but the longest flight she's been on was about 2 hrs, maybe 2.5 (to Orlando). For the summer trip, non stop flights are about 4 hrs long, flights with stops are appx 6.5 hrs long.

DD isn't walking yet, but we're hoping she will be by then. She's done very well on all of our previous flights, but this is the first flight she will have taken since becoming mobile (she wasn't even crawling the last time she was on a plane). She'll be 3, so she'll have her own seat - we're bringing her Cosco Scenera Next with us. We have a car seat dolly for it to roll through the airport, and we plan on bringing our city mini with us as well.

Thoughts on non stop vs. stops? Any tips/tricks for flying with toddlers are always appreciated as well Thanks!

 

[Magic Band Defender]

We've done basically the same thing! Our almost 3 year old has flown to Orlando twice (about 2-2.5 hours for us too) and we went to DLR last year and it was about 4-4.5 hours. We are also going back to DLR this October.

We have always flown non-stop. We are considering a connecting flight on the way back in October, because the only non-stop is a red eye. The red eye did not go great for us last year.

We prefer non-stop flights because connecting flights increase the possibility we don't make a connection, connecting flight is delayed, cancelled, etc. On a non-stop, once you are up in the air, there isn't much to worry about. I also worry that after landing at the stop, our DS will not want to go back on another plane and get strapped in again, once he's had the freedom of being off the plane.

We are very lax about the normal rules while we are on the plane. Basically anything to make him happy! We bring tons of different snacks, chocolate, whatever he wants. The iPad. I get cheap toys from the dollar section at Target, and sometimes the allure of a new toy (however cheap it is), is enough to get us through a rough patch. And basically force him to drink from his sippy cup or chew something, because a baby with ear problems is a very unhappy baby

 

[MammerJammer]

We are flying non-stop this August with our little guy. I just think I want to eliminate the hassle of getting off a plane onto another plane. It's 2.5 hours in the air.

 

[luvmy2babies]

If there is a non-stop available I can afford that is my choice automatically pretty much for all of the reasons Magic Band Defender mentioned.

 

[nalajms]

ipad, ipad, ipad. Earphones. Small books, playdoh, small toys, chewing toys, pen & paper. Whatever you're willing to carry and can take!

Always non-stop. The faster you get there, the better. Plus take off and landing are the worst for my kids.

If you have the row to yourself, unstrap and let them play on the floor. When my daughter was 1, she LOVED climbing up and down. You can also buy Dramamine for kids. I tried it with my 3yo when we were on a small jet. The turbulence was horrible. She passed out pretty soon after taking it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would recommend non-stop if possible, especially since she'll be in her car seat. Once you pop kids in those it's like they know what to do.

Questions I'd ask myself are: Do we ever drive for an extended period of time? How does she handle the car seat for that long?

I have flown often with my now 6yo and have done both but always choose direct flights when possible.

 

[Mousemommy1]

I would absolutely do non-stop if possible. Layovers are a pain even for just adults. We just did two flights and had layovers with our 3 month old. We normally book non-stop but the layover flights were cheaper. Luckily, he was fine, but it was more hassle than needed.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Questions I'd ask myself are: Do we ever drive for an extended period of time? How does she handle the car seat for that long?

We drive 2.5 and 3.5 hr car trips fairly often, to go visit her grandparents, so she's definitely used to spending time in the car. Neither of those drives is ever usually a problem, and we do those without stopping, or with maybe 1 restroom break.

 

[Kathryn777]

Non stop, no question. We fly with our kids and always have to have a connection. Getting them off, the stuff, trying to keep them up at the right time so they sleep on the plane, delays. Definitely non stop any chance you can

 

[Angel Ariel]

ipad, ipad, ipad. Earphones. Small books, playdoh, small toys, chewing toys, pen & paper. Whatever you're willing to carry and can take!

Always non-stop. The faster you get there, the better. Plus take off and landing are the worst for my kids.

If you have the row to yourself, unstrap and let them play on the floor. When my daughter was 1, she LOVED climbing up and down. You can also buy Dramamine for kids. I tried it with my 3yo when we were on a small jet. The turbulence was horrible. She passed out pretty soon after taking it.

DD isn't really into the tablets yet. On the rare occasion we've put movies on in the car (full length ones), she only somewhat pays attention to them. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a favorite, and I have some of the longer episodes on DVD, so we'll definitely bring those. Everything else you mentioned is a great idea too

Right now I'm hoping to get a 9-10am fight (somewhere in there) - that has us getting to our destination in the afternoon. She doesn't nap consistently any more (sadly ), but I'm hoping that she might sleep on the plane...just not counting on it.

 

[han22735]

I agree with the pp's. To me the thought of switching planes and starting the flight over again is not appealing when traveling with a little one.

 

[kuhltiffany]

For me it depends how your child is with takeoff/landing. My kids don't have a problem with it, so stopping in the middle of a travel day to run around an airport, have a real meal isn't necessarily a bad thing…it does make for a longer day though...

 

[nalajms]

DD isn't really into the tablets yet. On the rare occasion we've put movies on in the car (full length ones), she only somewhat pays attention to them. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is a favorite, and I have some of the longer episodes on DVD, so we'll definitely bring those. Everything else you mentioned is a great idea too .

What? She can't sit through Frozen.... 2 or 3 times in a row? That's the only movie my DD will watch. We have a bunch of cartoon shows on the ipad. She'll switch from Mickey, to 7D, to Peppa Pig, and on and on. Their attention span's really low.

Also lollipops if she likes them Great for take off and landing.

 

[blackpearl77]

nonstop - get it over with! hehe

 

[linzjane88]

It can go either way, I have done both. We come from Washington so one ways are about 5.5-6 hours . Our most recent flight we had a layover about midway through and it was almost better...the kids got off, ran around a bit. BUT you have the added stress of packing up kiddie backpacks and collecting everything they have shoved and dropped in those narrow seats twice. I have also done non-layover and there is something to be said about overall shorter length of time. Six of one, half dozen of the other I think. If the flight was 4 hours or less without a doubt straight flight. Anything beyond that and your going to need some in flight adult beverages regardless

 

[squirrel]

Non-stop and I actually prefer a red-eye if there is one. I don't sleep much but at least my niece slept most of the way. Then we checked in to the WDW hotel and it was ready. We took a nap and were ready to have lunch and hang out at the pool. It gave us more time to adjust to the time difference going from PST to EST. We never do a park day on arrival anyway. Much rather spend my travel time at night while I sleep. My niece was 4. Also took her sister on a connecting red-eye to WDW the year before. My neighbours went with their kids and they weren't sure about their youngest son (about 5) sleeping on the flight. She agreed afterwards that the red-eye was better than the previous year with an early morning flight.

 

[msmama]

I would say nonstop but what I actually like is a short flight (like an hour in length) followed by the rest. For some reason that has always really worked well with my son on cross country flights (I also do it this way because I can fly from my closer home airport rather than the bigger farther away one).

 

[Betty Rohrer]

one more thing to consider, how long between landing and getting to hotel where you are going? what time are you landing? because if you are looking at rush hour times in LA, the trip to Disneyland can be almost 2 hours for what should take about 45 minutes. not sure the closer airports to Disneyland have nonstop from as far as need

 

[Angel Ariel]

one more thing to consider, how long between landing and getting to hotel where you are going? what time are you landing? because if you are looking at rush hour times in LA, the trip to Disneyland can be almost 2 hours for what should take about 45 minutes. not sure the closer airports to Disneyland have nonstop from as far as need

The summer trip we're taking isn't to DLR - just to family out west (not LA). We'd be landing at a good time for traveling to where we need to go. We will definitely be keeping that in mind for the DLR trip. We're likely flying into LAX...not sure what the timing will be quite yet as Southwest hasn't released those dates for booking yet.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if you are using LAX you want to land by 1 pm if you have to get luggage and rental car. that should make you ahead of rush hour as rush hour starts about 330.