Has anyone flown across the country before?

[kaohu24]

We're flying to Orlando from Hawaii. It'll be my dd2's first trip on an airplane. We have a stop in LA, but we're flying from LA straight to Orlando.

I'm freaking out a little because I have no idea how to handle a toddler on a flight. I have packed a suitcase with a whole bunch of activity items, toys, dvds, dvd player, and snacks. I also bought earplanes and lots of gummi things for her to chew on.

Should I bring anything else?

 

[SLK1]

Ummm...Benadryl?

Just kidding!!!!! Good luck is all I can say, and if she does get antsy and people give you dirty looks, just smile!

 

[kaohu24]

Actually, my pediatrician suggest I bring that!! I hope my smile will be dazzling enough!!

 

[momtomatthew]

I flew from Philly to Tucson with DS when he was 2 1/2. I highly suggest a portable DVD player with earphones. Also, books, crayons, and playdough all work wonders. Alos, take lots of snack food. I've never given him Benadryl before flights, but he usually ends up taking a nap anyway- the combination of the drone of the plane, boredom, and movement.

I dreaded the flight, but in the end, it wasn't as bad as I feared. Good luck!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

We live in LA and fly to Orlando once a year and haven't really had any problems. The non-stop is the best way to go. It will take only a little bit longer than Hawaii to here. They make a lot of time in the air, as they are allowed to fly at higher elevations. I think you'll be fine. Just take enough variety of things to do and they really will sleep from the boredom. The only thing I would worry about is the DVD battery! Make sure you take a little pack of crayons and a coloring book - that's a great place to color.

My biggest thing is to make sure you change diapers during the LA stopover - right before boarding. I hate doing diapers in airplane lavatories - make sure you know which one has the changing table - not all of them do. Since you have the seat for her - if it's not poopy, it's easiest to change her there.

Tylenol is a good thing to take, too. I haven't yet had to resort to Benedryl, which means I've been lucky!

You'll be fine! You know what - you won't be the only parents on that leg of your flight, either, so at least take comfort that everyone knows flights to Orlando are filled with little ones!

 

[KAMLEM]

My biggest thing is to make sure you change diapers during the LA stopover - right before boarding. I hate doing diapers in airplane lavatories - make sure you know which one has the changing table - not all of them do. Since you have the seat for her - if it's not poopy, it's easiest to change her there.

That's not very sanitary and I'm willing to bet that she would get quite a few complaints doing that.

I agree with the DVD suggestion, that's what worked best with my girls when they were younger. Once we started bring the DVD player they never played with anything else that we brought.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

My biggest thing is to make sure you change diapers during the LA stopover - right before boarding. I hate doing diapers in airplane lavatories - make sure you know which one has the changing table - not all of them do. Since you have the seat for her - if it's not poopy, it's easiest to change her there.

I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to change diapers in an airplane seat. If you need to do a change, just ask the flight attendant where to do it.

 

[SLK1]

I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to change diapers in an airplane seat. If you need to do a change, just ask the flight attendant where to do it.

Why can't you change a diaper on a seat? If you put down one of those disposable pads, you won't get anything on the fabric. I'd rather a mom change a stinky one than let it sit and get even stinkier. I'm also pretty sure those seats aren't that clean to begin with! What I have found is that the flight attendant cannot throw away your diaper for you - you have to dispose of it yourself, even if it's just a wet one.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Most larger planes have changing table (if you want to call it that) in the lav. I've changed my baby on the top of the toilet seat in the pinch. Wasn't fun but we got thru it. The flight attendant might say to change it on the floor in the back of the plane..If seen some people do that.

I don't think I would change it in the seat (planes are close quarters enough). I also have what we refer to as stink bags..(I don't think they actual call them that)..but they are scented blue bags to dispose dirty diapers in.

I think a DVD player, new never before seen games etc...is all you can do. We traveled to LA from Boston when DD was 2 and she slept a lot of the trip.

 

[Minnesota!]

That's not very sanitary and I'm willing to bet that she would get quite a few complaints doing that.
QUOTE]

I see no problem with it! Those seats are filthy anyway. It's not like the kid is peeing/pooping on the seat. And most parents can change the diaper without the skin even touching the seat/floor/changing table.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

We flew from Miami to London,to Madrid. Talk about a looong flight! Our flight left Miami at midnight,so I kept my 2 DD's awake ALL day, so they would sleep the WHOLE flight. I packed them each a little packback they could carry,with all new, never before seen items to play with,color and eat. The real deal is, it won't be easy, but the vacation must go on! I would, and did bring something to "help them sleep", since the time zone is different, and I spoke with my doctor beforehand. Have fun!

 

[DjdBrit]

I have 3 kids and have flown from US to the UK many times, they are now 2, 5 and 8. I have never given my kids anything to make them sleep. This can be a trouble if its something new, not all kids get sleepy from Benedryl! I always bring new toys and such for them to have on the plane, colouring books etc. One neat thing is small packages of playdough. I take one item out of my bag at a time and use it way past its prime. You don't want to blow all your surprises at once, who knows when flying when a delay is coming
I would bring extra food and snacks, favorite blankie, doll, binkies whatever your child has and extras. Change of clothes for your child and Mom (at least a shirt).
We do the over night flight to England and the younger the kid the less mine seem to sleep. Last year my then just 1 year old slept for 40 minutes out of a 7 hours night flight. He fell alseep at take off woke up once we were in the air and fell asleep on the decent which meant I was up the whole time as he was then a lap baby.
Good luck and have a plan B. I just did whatever I could to keep everyone somewhat quite and in there seats. Kids feel stress from us so relax and remember you will never see these people again, do what you have to to make it work

 

[DjdBrit]

Wow I just re read my post I need to start spell checking.... sorry

 

[momtwo4]

What you have planned to pack sounds good. I would make a stop at the store and pick up some pipe cleaners and foam shapes to string, mini playdough someone suggested, window clings, a couple magnetic trains, suckers, little lightup toy may entertain her when the lights go out during flight..
If you are planning to give her Benadryl I would make sure it is not the first time she has had it. Some of my kids do not get tired after taking it.
Have a great trip!

 

[Sabrina90744]

We're flying to Orlando from Hawaii. It'll be my dd2's first trip on an airplane. We have a stop in LA, but we're flying from LA straight to Orlando.

I'm freaking out a little because I have no idea how to handle a toddler on a flight. I have packed a suitcase with a whole bunch of activity items, toys, dvds, dvd player, and snacks. I also bought earplanes and lots of gummi things for her to chew on.

Should I bring anything else?

I have taken that flight for the last three years. IMO it is a longish flight. Have you considered the red eye? United and Delta both have nonstop red eyes.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

That's not very sanitary and I'm willing to bet that she would get quite a few complaints doing that.

I can see that some folks skimmed over the recommendation to get a clean diaper on BEFORE the flight, to avoid having to change on the plane unless necessary.

For everyone that said how awful/unsanitary it is:

1) You must never see people use the plastic changing pad that came with their diaper bag. Also, you haen't seen them use wipes for cleaning up their own hands afterwards.

2) You are not aware that aircraft do not always come with changing tables. Have you personally tried to change a baby in an aircraft that didn't have them?

3) You do not realize that it is against regulations for passengers to be in the flight attendant areas of the plane for any duration of time.

4) You must never see folks with the scented blue diaper disposal bags.

5) You are asking a parent to put their baby on the floor of an aircraft lavatory to change their diaper. Or on the floor next to the bathroom, where men pee on it during turbulence? (I was a corporate weekly business traveller once. Talk to me about what I've seen in airplane bathrooms....)

6) You have never sat in front of or behind a stinky baby that hasn't been changed for a 5 hour flight.

7) You've never been on a flight where a woman got out a bottle of nail polish or highly scented hand lotion! Much worse than a diaper with urine in it that goes immediately into the afore mentioned scented bag!

8) You haven't seen the happy faces of the folks around you after the baby has stopped fussing about the diaper and is happy again.

Why is it that germaphobia has replaced the assumption that many people do posess common sense?

 

[Julylady]

I have done Chicago to Hawaii with a 3 year old! You have recieved lots of good suggestions already. I have a couple to add.

Make sure that you have your child watch the portable DVD at home WITH THE EARPHONES before you go. For about 2 months before our trip, she always used earphones at home to get her used to using them. No one on your plane wants to hear your child's DVD.

We took lots of new little toys that she hadn't seen before and gave them out one at a time. Also took her favorite "lovey" on the plane. We also took turns playing with her: reading books to her, letting her read books to us, playing with little dolls, etc. She loved the one-on-one attention.

And don't forget - lots of snacks. We did a mix of treats and healthier items.
Have a great trip!!

 

[Disneyfriend]

I want to pop in and say hello - we're from Hawaii and are going to WDW ourselves with a 2 (almost 3) year old and a 15-month old. We're staying at AKL for the end of our stay. Maybe we'll bump into you?

I don't have any huge pieces of advice for you; I'm anxious about our own trip. Here's what I've purchased for my 2 year old's good bag:

~Portable magnadoodle I got from ToysRUs
~Several Disney sticker books
~Small etch-a-sketch from Wal Mart
~Portable DVD player with her favorite movies

What dates will you be at AKL? Maybe we'll see you? We stayed there once before and just LOVED it - I'm sure you will too.

Have a great trip!!

 

[kaohu24]

Hi everybody! Thank you all for the great suggestions!

I'm glad you reminded me about the earphones, Julylady. I didn't even think about it until one day my daughter took it out of her carry-on and started wearing it around the house. So, I think I'll try to stick it into the dvd player to try and get her used to it with the movie playing.

Wow Disneyfriend! Another hawaii mommy!! We'll be at AKL from 10/26-11/2. We're actually staying at Universal's PBH for four days before WDW. I did get a whole bunch of sticker books for her, she loves stickers! I think I will get a magna-doodle. I hope you have a safe flight!

Thank you to everyone else for all the tips! My dd2 is already potty-trained, so I don't think I have to worry about diapers (I hope!). My pediatrician suggested benadryl for our second flight from LA to Orlando, just in case her ears get bothered. The HI to LA flight is a red eye. My sister has problems with her ears and the pressure, so we're not sure if my dd inherited that problem also.

Thank you so much for all the tips! I can't wait for our trip!

 

[Disneyfriend]

Hi everybody! Thank you all for the great suggestions!

I'm glad you reminded me about the earphones, Julylady. I didn't even think about it until one day my daughter took it out of her carry-on and started wearing it around the house. So, I think I'll try to stick it into the dvd player to try and get her used to it with the movie playing.

Wow Disneyfriend! Another hawaii mommy!! We'll be at AKL from 10/26-11/2. We're actually staying at Universal's PBH for four days before WDW. I did get a whole bunch of sticker books for her, she loves stickers! I think I will get a magna-doodle. I hope you have a safe flight!

Thank you to everyone else for all the tips! My dd2 is already potty-trained, so I don't think I have to worry about diapers (I hope!). My pediatrician suggested benadryl for our second flight from LA to Orlando, just in case her ears get bothered. The HI to LA flight is a red eye. My sister has problems with her ears and the pressure, so we're not sure if my dd inherited that problem also.

Thank you so much for all the tips! I can't wait for our trip!

Oh, we'll be at AKL the same time! (We're 10/30 to 11/2, because we're staying at Shades of Green for the first part of our trip.)

You have a great stay and safe travels too! I'm impressed that your daughter is already potty trained. Mine is about to turn 3 and . . . not potty trained.

Well, say hi if you see us at AKL. We'll be pretty easy to spot because we have 2 teen daughters and then 2 little ones (dd-almost 3 and ds-15 months).