Flying with Toddler by myself

[keikojmg]

A week from now I'm flying to WDW by myself with my DS (18months) to meet up with our family that is driving to WDW. We luckily have nonstop flights so I won't have to worry about changing planes with him, but he is sitting on my lap during the flight. I'm just a little nervous to be doing this alone. Does anyone have any tips for flying with children? I would greatly appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

 

[marypoppinswannabe]

How long is the flight? I would think carrying a small bag with toys that he likes and some little snacks that he will eat along with a sippy cup. Plus, his comfort item from home (ie. blanket, stuffed animal, etc...)

Also, be prepared that he might be noisy or fussy on the flight. While this is may be frustrating to some passengers, most people understand that this is just the breaks when using public transportation

Also, does he tend to get motion sick? If so, then about 30 minutes prior to the flight, I would give him dramamine, phenergan, or whatever motion sick medicine you can give a child that age. (If that is the case, then the dramamine could also provide for a less stressful flight, because it could make him fall asleep.)

 

[loco4dis]

Bring more diapers and changes of clothes than you think you'll need on the flight. I flew alone on a 2-hour flight with my 2-year-old. She got "sick" and went through 3 diapers and her change of clothes in the first hour. That was all I had. She had to wear the last diaper — which was a real mess — for the rest of the flight. It was horrible. I also asked in advance, however, to have my seat assignment be next to another mom traveling alone with a child (don't know if you can make such requests anymore). Her baby was an infant, but she definitely understood what I was going through so I didn't feel like I had to keep apologizing to her the whole flight. Also, I got the seat just behind first class with the wall in front of us. There's more leg room, your toddler can stand up, and he won't keep banging the seat in front of you and annoying those passengers. And if he starts fussing and causing a ruckus, just take a deep breath, exhale slowly, and pretend you're the only people on the plane ! Good luck!

 

[Liltx]

My best advice would be: Buy him a seat. It will be worth it. The only time I flew with a baby without a seat was the first time when dd was 2 months, after that I learned my lesson. Your child will probably fall alseep in the carseat for half of the flight and then do not give him too many things. Keeping it simple like lollipop and a few small toys has always worked best for me. I have flown many times alone with my one and then two kiddos even when they were 11 months and barely 3 to LAX by myself with no one meeting me at the airport. I would not, however, fly without a seat. Toddlers just don't understand why they have to stay on your lap, they do understand a carseat. You should be able to get a ticket for half price and it should be on a refundable fare which means if there are plenty of extra seats when you check in then they can refund the ticket. Call and ask.

Monica

 

[souda]

Last may was our whole family's first Disney World trip. We decided at the last minute to fly. I have two children and they were almost 2 and 6. I was very nervous at how they would react to the flight. To my surprise, they were fine. My one year old, who can't sit still for more than two minutes, didn't say a peep. We brought her portable DVD player and when the pilot allowed for these types of devices, I turned it on and she watched her movies. We are coming from Louisiana and had a layover in Atlanta so we had two short one hour flights going. Everything turned out fine.

Good Luck.

 

[ldadar]

I've done it several times with one and two kiddos. You'll be fine. (and it's kinda like childbirth-after it's over you forget the pain. )

 

[dmfuru]

Please be sure to take care of yourself as well. What'll you do when YOU need to use the bathroom? Remember that you have needs too. Best of luck to you!

 

[backinoz]

I've done this heaps of times, without a problem, on international multi-leg flights, with a pre-schooler in a seat, and a toddler in my lap, all by myself, and as long as you're prepared it won't be a problem.

As has been said, have spare clothes and daipers (for your toddler, and a spare t-shirt/top for you); and make sure you have a favourite drink/sweet for them for take-off and landing so they keep swallowing (it stops their ears from hurting). It was one of the few times I'd happily hand lollipops to my kids, and let my toddler have juice from a bottle. If they're a movie/DVD kind of kid then a portable player should keep you both happy, but bring whatever your child's favourite plaything is along with you. Drawing things probably aren't gonna work as you may find you don't have enough space to lower the tray table with your toddler in your lap.

Just keep in mind to pack your carryon carefully - you have to handle it and your child. I had a reasonably large sized kapoochi backpack that had lots of pockets and compartments, that if I packed carefully would hold the neccessities for the three of us. Because it was a backpack, I had both arms free to look after my kids. Best hint I can give is to pack the extra clothes in ziplock bags, then suck the air out of them so they take up less room - if you need them, you have a bag ready to put the 'dirty' stuff in.

If your child is going to need motion sickness meds, beware, as quite a few of them (especially phenergen) can have the opposite effect on some children. (A friend of mine had to do an 11 hour flight with a hypo 3yo son after giving it to him.)

Finally - relax and HAVE FUN - you're going to WDW afterall.

 

[lady9]

I flew alone for 4 hours with a non-sleeping almost 2 year old child, non-stop flight. I took a few toys she had never seen including a shoe string and some wooden beads to string on it. She played with it for amost an hour. Another thing she loved was color forms. She played with them on the plane window, rearranging the scene, playing with the people. I also took several new "lift the flap" type books. After reading them to her, she sat quietly and looked at the books herself which gave me a nice break. I am sure you will be fine.

 

[KittieKat]

buy and bring a disney coloring book! Trust me, they love to color! And i totally second the DVD idea.

 

[tracygo]

When I've flown with my toddler, I always make sure we have a drink in his sippy cup. During take offs and landing, he would drink from the cup and the sucking prevented his ears from popping.

 

[6disneyfans]

When I flew with my 1 yr old so many years ago...she struggled with the pressure on her ears...I recommend benadryl or dramanine..and maybe something to chew on ....good luck

 

[ashbradnmom]

Thanks for all of the tips. I have been thinking about how to handle my DD6 and DS2 first flight.

 

[MrsWaltDisney86]

I agree with the seat if its a long flight. We took me 15 month old to Mexico from the East Coast! 7 hours plus a layover. She slept the whole time but it was the most uncomfortable. We had a isle seat going and a window seat coming home and the window seat was the best. You didnt have to worry about legs or feet in the isle when they bring the food cart by...we leave for Disney tom morning. My daughter is now 18 months and we are having her on our laps again. But now its only a 2 hour flight. Last time though Books, bippies, sippy cups, and goldfish was a lifesaver. We just kept on feeding her!!

Good Luck!

 

[kristenz]

Definitely agree - favorite toy, 2-3 changes of clothes for the child and at least 1 for you (top and bottom in case they leak on your pants/shorts (that happened to me). Juice/bottle/something to drink on the way up and the way down.

The other thing I found helpful was a receiving blanket or other lightweight blanket - helps to cover them from the air conditioning blowing on them and blokes out a bit of the light and sound from the plane.

Totally agree with the benadryl - double-check doage with your doctor befor eyou go, but it helped both my kids with their ears and resting on the plane. My DD went when she was 11 months in my lap and my DS when he was 1 yr, 18 months and 22 months - each time in my lap.

The only other recommendation is a window seat if possible - you can lean against the wall and rest your arm there - less work supporting their weight. A sweatshirt/blanket or something to prop your arm up is helpful. It's harder to get in and out if you have to go to the bathroom ,but the extra support if the child is sleeping is really helpful so your arms don't fall off!

As someone else said - like childbirth, you'll forget all about it once you're there.

Good luck!!

 

[Munchkin'sMommy]

I used to be Flight Attendant and my recommedation is that if you can afford it, buy your baby a seat. Your baby is so much safer and secure in a seat and unexpected turbulence can and does occur all the time. I have seen children fly out of their parents arms when turbulence occurs and it is not a pretty sight. I am not trying to scare you but just give you the facts. I understand why parents fly with lap children but really, your baby is safer in a seat.

You may or may not know this but children in a car seat must sit in a window seat (no aisle seats), can't sit front or aft of an emergency exit row and should remain buckled in for the duration of the flight if all possible (this however is not an FAA reg; the other two are) and your FA should give you a personalized safety briefing on how to get out of the a/c in the event of an emergency. This is not required either but alot of airlines do it.

I recommend giving your child a binkie or something to chew or suck on during taking off and landing as this can reduce some of the pressure on the ears and reduce crying. Drink lots of water to keep hydrated and don't be afraid to push the FA call button if you need any help. FA's are trained in safety but customer service is part of the job as well. Most a/c have a changing table in the lav as well and Fa's will give you water, juice etc whatever you need. Just ask. Some will even warm jars of food and milk as well.

But please, please, please, don't hand your FA a dirty diaper. I have had this done to me so many times and it's just gross!

 

[santa's surpriz]

Did this with my five year old last year. Wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Everyone was very helpful with helping me on and off the plane. Bring along suckers to help with the pressure. You can also try practice yawning or holding noses and swallowing. If you have a portable dvd player or video ipod this will also help.

 

[Marthonica]

Food and drink always works best for us. Pack LOTS of snacks and drinks for the sippy. It does help a lot with ears and keeps them occupied. We always went out and bought some new toys, books, stickers, etc and made a special plane bag. Nothing big, just cheap little things that were quiet and easy to play with while sitting in place.

It can be easier on the plane if they have their own seat but then you have to take a carseat and that's hard for just one adult to deal with in the airport. We have one kid and two adults and lugging that seat around was the biggest pain - especially if you have the toddler in a stroller in the airport. And I definately recommend a small stroller. Airports are crazy places and they usually involve a lot of walking. Much easier to do things when the young one is strapped in a mobile seat!!

 

[santa's surpriz]

I thought of something else...if possible try to get a connecting flight with a short lay-over! Can't believe I just said that! Sometimes sitting for a long period of time can be difficult for a child. By breaking up the flight it takes away from the confinement for such a long period of time, gives the child a chance to stretch his/her legs and burn up energy. Also remember that it will probably go easier than you think!