How did your child handle their first airplane ride?

[traces7]

We'll be flying to Disney in Oct. Me and my 7 year old DD. This will be her first time flying and only my second! I'm a little nervous about how she'll handle the flying. And what can I do to help her not be too nervous (and me too)? We don't have any hand-held video games or portable DVD players, so those are out (I've heard this is what others do). Thanks for any advice.

 

[Hannathy]

How would she be nervous about flying if you don't suggest it to her? Only say positive things about it and that is just how you get there like you drive in the car to the store. Tell her how exciting and fun it will be to look at the clouds etc and leave it at that. Kids don't know to be anxious unless adults convince them to. That's why kids recuperate from surgery faster no one ever told them you don't! so they just get up and get going. You have to hide your nerves and don't even mention you don't like it, be a grown up. My kids have flown since they were 6 wks old so it is second nature to them, my DD was flying alone at 6.

 

[bjscheel]

My kids were fine. Actually DD had flown when she was 1, but of course didn't remember. We had a bag of activities. 3yo at first kept looking out the window and saying "I just can't believe we're way up here!". They just never even knew to be scared or nervous, it was like riding in the car for them.

We took Crayola Model Magic, which is like play dough but super clean. That would keep her hands busy. Sometimes we just take two different colors and tell the kids to mix and mix them until they are completely a new color. That takes a while. Or they can make figurines out of it. It dries and you throw it away. Also activity books. Does she read chapter books yet? We brought the DVD player but didn't have a lot of time to watch since you have to have it turned off so long after takeoff and so long before landing.

 

[tophee99]

My ds was 4 when he had his first plane ride. He loved every minute of it!! I'm not a good flyer and was worried about it, but ds and dh had a great time. As we got to the level off point, ds stated " wow...you can see everything, even heaven, up here".

Good luck!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

Both of my kids 1st flights they were under 1 year old ( for the oldest we went again a few times when 2, and 3 and so on.)

One thing that is good is the Caillou (sp?) childrens show on PBS. They have a episode where he flys on a airplane for vacation. It is very well doen with what will happen, what flying is like, the noises the wings make ect...

DD saw it when she flew before she was 3 years old (she had been on planes before) but it was great to see what it was like and talk about it.

 

[mamacatnv]

I take Xanax which takes the edge off for me. My Dr. gives me a small RX at my request for when I fly. Works like a charm without making me feel drugged.

My kids & DH enjoyed flying. We took lunches, games & Game Boys along with crayons and coloring books. We do our best to get the kids in the window seats. DD had a little trouble with her ears on the decent into Tampa in Dec, she was getting over a cold and we had giver her a decongestant. We gave her some gum and basically kept her distracted looking out the window. For the return flight her cold was gone and she had no issues.

There are these things called "earplanes" and they do come in kid sizes although I am not sure how they work. I bought some for the return flight and forgot I had them

 

[PaulaSue]

My girls (2, turned 5, and 7) did great both coming and going home. I packed each a backpack full of snacks, coloring stuff and our dvd player (target clearence deal ) . We even had an early flight and had to get up at 3 am to catch the plane.

Good thoughts and talk to DC before about what is going to happen in line and on the plane.

 

[Tam1067]

Last time we flew, my then DS was 5 and scared because someone at school told him about some airplanes flying into big buildings...

He was therefore pretty freaked out before the trip, and made us so uneasy that we talked to the pediatrician about it--to see if there's anything we could do for him beyond the usual.

It turns out, he was fine. We have 3 kids, and on the trips, we just bring crayons/markers/paper (mine don't like coloring books) and small toys they can play with. I bring extra snacks and drinks because we spent over an hour sitting waiting for an open gate at O'Hare, without access to anything. And bring at least one change of clothes per person. The same DS got sick all over me, himself, the seat, and the floor of the aisle on a mildly rough flight, so we had to change--and luckily I was prepared (although I hadn't thought to bring a fresh bra.... .

Anyway, it's a hassle to fly with the kids but not necessarily as bad as you might fear. And just act excited about seeing the big airplane and all that--ours picked up on that and were okay with it, and they're all excited about flying this summer.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Hi!

Before I flew with my kids for the first time, we got them excited about the whole idea of being in a plane. We never talked about being scared...just about how "cool" it would be. We got a bunch of books about airplanes. There was one, I can't remember the author or the name, but it is all about a little kid's first flight, and tells about each step. I want to say the last name is Barton or something like that??? It's geared toward younger kids, but is still great for an introduction. We also went to the viewing area at our airport so we could see the planes land and take off.

We talked a lot about what would happen, what we wouldn't be able to do (getting up to move around much). We packed a bag for each child that had quiet activities (word find books, gameboy) and some snacks. They loved the idea of getting served a special drink.

Although I was nervous, as it was only my 3rd time flying, they were not scared at all. They found it all very exciting. Oh, the only thing that upset my dd was seeing her suitcase being taken away on the conveyer belt. Wouldn't you know...her suitcase was the only one that got lost!!!!

Have a great trip!

 

[mjh8955]

My kids (now 12 and 15) still talk about this. To get our kids ready to fly we read lots of books and even drove to the local airport for a visit. Before their first plane ride, when DD was 4 and DS was 7, I set up the living room like a plane, with rows of straight backed chairs. I made tickets and boarding passes (in little folders) with seat numbers on them and placed seat numbers on all the chairs. I packed their little backpacks with a lightened up version of what they really would be taking with them. They did not see this set up beforehand but were in the "waiting room" or "pre-boarding area". As their "mommy" I gave them their instructions. They would enter "the plane" when the stewardess announced their flight. Then they were to put their backpacks on and board the plane quietly and quickly and find the seat numbers that matched their boarding passes. They were then to immediately stow their backpacks under the seat directly ahead of them and buckle in (I rigged up seatbelts using old belts). I stood at the living room door (that had been labeled GATE 1719) and announced their flight number on their Little Tykes microphone and became the flight attendant. "Welcome to flight #417 now boarding for Orlando." Etc. We are now prepared to board. All passnegers please proceed to gate 1719." They both came in from "the waiting room" and did exactly what they were supposed to do and thought it was great fun. When the real flight came along they boarded like they were old pros. They knew what they were supposed to do, what was in their backpacks, what each pocket contained and they needed very little assistance. Because they were so well prepared they were able to enjoy the ride. And so were we... and so were the people around us The ONLY problem we have had on airplanes was when our kids legs were still short and they could only stick them straight out or sit cross legged. One time our son's feet kept bumping the seat ahead and this lady was really intolerant. He couldn't help it, it's just where his feet reached and his legs were too short to bend at the knees so they could hang down. We had him sit Indian style and that worked out fine.

 

[Evil Queen]

My youngest's 1st trip on a plane, he vomited as soon as we landed. But he's done fine after that.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

This was my dd's first time flying and I too was worried about how she'd do. Well, she did great! She was very excited to fly and for the whole vacation in general. We shared my Ipod with two headphones, she had a video now player ($30 from Target), and about 4 diffferent activity/coloring books. I also packed Push Pop lollipops and a bottle of water to ease any pressure with her ears. Her MD suggested giving her Motrin 30 mins before the flight which I did give her going and coming. It was a positive experience.

 

[annie1995]

When we flew down this last September, It was both my kids first flight, and mine too. My kids were 10 and 6. I was a complete nervous wreck, but made sure not to show it to them. My oldest son, who is a more nervous kid, sat with my husband so not to pick up any signals I might have given off. Both did great! They would actually prefer to fly anywhere now. We drove on new years day to an indoor waterpark about 3 hours away, and my youngest said we flew to Florida quicker than it took to drive there, and wanted to know why we just couldn't fly.