How to survive a flight with a 2yr old?

[Antigua08]

We will be taking our DD2 to Disney this sept, which will be her 1st holiday and 1st time on a plane

Planning on taking lots of snacks and things for her to do like colouring and activity books, but DH is concerned its going to be a nightmare! He gets very fed up and fidgity on flights himself, and he's thinking she'll be the same but a tantruming 2yr old version! (She's not quite at the tantrum throwing stage yet, but we know it's only a matter of time)

For those of you that have done this flight with toddlers, how did it go?

 

[Pegasus928]

How do you normally entertain her if she is at home?
Probably the best thing would be to bring a couple of her favourite toys and activity books as you suggested. Most airlines are fine about you getting up and going for a walk around so that may help if she just has a stroll up and down the aisles. Would she also normally have a little kip at some point during the day, as that might help to pass the time for all of you.

 

[2Tiggies]

Toys, activities and plenty snacks. Preferably toys she hasn't played with for a while so that they are still interesting. I never used to offer all the toys an at the same time, but would pull out one at a time over the course of the flight to keep things interesting. I also learnt not to offer a new toy while my DD was distressed as the novelty was just lost with the whole mood of things.

She will probably sleep at least a little on the plane. If she is still having a daytime nap, try and let her settle for it as usual.

You will be surprised how much stimulation and entertainment she will get just being on the flight itself. Regular walking around helps and there will usually be some interaction with other passengers and the crew.

For what it's worth, not all children throw tantrums. Mine never ever did. For me the 2/3 stage (so wrongly dubbed the terribly 2's in my opinion) was absolutely delightful.

I really think your little one will be fine. Maybe you need to take some snacks and crayons for your other half

 

[Antigua08]

Toys, activities and plenty snacks. Preferably toys she hasn't played with for a while so that they are still interesting. I never used to offer all the toys an at the same time, but would pull out one at a time over the course of the flight to keep things interesting. I also learnt not to offer a new toy while my DD was distressed as the novelty was just lost with the whole mood of things.

She will probably sleep at least a little on the plane. If she is still having a daytime nap, try and let her settle for it as usual.

You will be surprised how much stimulation and entertainment she will get just being on the flight itself. Regular walking around helps and there will usually be some interaction with other passengers and the crew.

For what it's worth, not all children throw tantrums. Mine never ever did. For me the 2/3 stage (so wrongly dubbed the terribly 2's in my opinion) was absolutely delightful.

I really think your little one will be fine. Maybe you need to take some snacks and crayons for your other half

I think you're right, hoping DH will have a nice long nap too so l can enjoy the flight!

DD currently has an afternoon nap, and as our flight is at 13:00 that should work out quite well. She's also a people watcher as l call it, so l think walking her around the plane will keep her quite entertained. Good idea to gradually introduce the toys, and to not give new toys if upset. I'm obviously biased, but she is a good little girl so don't see the flight as a problem, just trying to reassure the other half!

Thanks for the replies

 

[buzz for boys]

I have done the flight twice with a 2 yr old and both times I dreaded it and both times it was much better than expected!!

Remember you are on a flight to Orlando and half the plane is kids so even if the worst happens and you dd throws a tantrum everyone o the plane has been there done it.

Both of mine were huge tantrum throwers but neither had one on the plane

My ds sat the whole flight watching the tv - absolutly loved the head phones and having his own television!!

Now dd was a differet kettle of fish and never sat in her seat once!! We walked the plane A LOT!! She spoke to every single person on that flight and one family adopted her and she sat with them playing with their dd!!

Both did have a mini sleep which helped me recharge my batteries.
I would say be prepared to walk the plane and have many conversations with fellow passengers.
Louise x

 

[Elise79]

All good advice given by the other posters however don't bank on her sleeping! Our DD doesn't sleep on the outbound flight now She did on her first trip at 9 months but since then nothing except the last half hour into landing at MCO!

BTW she has been 4 times now and is just 2 1/2 and the flights have never been a problem as she will play with her toys, colour & watch TV.

 

[T16GEM]

when my DD was 26 months she was quite happy to sit and colour with me, we also took play doh for her, which she enjoyed.

DS when he was 2 was fantastic he slept vertually the whole way there! I propped him up with pillow and blankets to keep him comfortable and he was a dream!

I don't think we have ever had a really bad time flying with our two and they have been on three indirect long hauls to Orlando. I guess we are really lucky

 

[dixonsontour]

We took DD aged 22 months and she was fine.

Stickers, colouring and plastercine keep them busy.

They are fascinated by what is going on around them.

Only bit she cried was when she was woken to land in M/cr - she was fast asleep and not impressed. Kept crying until we got into our car and she fell asleep again.

 

[Lizzi]

Not sure if it is just my boy, but when we flew to New Zealand he "went" for Britain!! Take plenty of nappies if your LO is still using them!

Other than that, I'd pack little toys/games to keep them entertained and give them your attention. Most children are fine if given attention and supervision, and like the others say, hopefully they'll take a nap as well!

 

[Antigua08]

Thanks again for all the replies. Good to hear that no one so far has had such a bad experience that it's put them off going again, if that's possible?

So l just need to go well prepared with toys/books etc, hope that she sleeps, and everything should be fine! And as buzz for boys pointed out there's probably going to be lots of other people on the plane with small kids, so DHs really got nothing to worry about

 

[Zeebs]

We have flown quite a bit with our kids at various ages.

Don't count on nap. Cullen fell asleep before takeoff slept 20 mins and then was awake for the rest of the flight.

Don't overpack the gifts, toys etc. We had a massive carry on full of stuff. Didn't need half the stuff or even 2/3s of it. I bought the kids some fantastic washable markers for the boys at Christmas the lids are attached so you don't loose them down the side of the seats and stuff. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Crayola-6-F...B0/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1297778434&sr=8-40

Snacks are great and lots of them.

Kirsten

 

[starrysky]

One thing that is imprortant is to make sure that your DD has something to drink on take off and landing because this will help with the ear popping problem. The flight attendant on our last flight said that was what caused most kids to cry and be fussy because they have a problem with their ears and not knowing how to pop them. Having said that not all kids have a problem.
You can get ear plugs for kids that will help with this as well if your DD would be willing to use them.

Some airlines also offer kid packs with crayons etc in them but i don't know who you are flying with so maybe check with them. if they provide this it might help lessen the load of stuff you will need to take.

if possible take a small blow up pillow that you can use if your DD needs a nap, the ones on the flight i find are just not enough, plus if its a blow up one they flod up really small. DH laughed when i bought mine and last time we flew he kept trying to steal it from me so now i have to get one for him.

 

[orangetiggs]

we flew wih our 11 month old twins last year and will take them to disney when they are 23 months,

make sure they drink on take off and landing and we took new toys for them to play with

 

[Antigua08]

orangetiggs and starrysky thanks for the tip about drinking. I was wondering what to do to stop her ears from popping, so thank you for that.

And zeebs, thanks for link to the pens. Not having to hunt for mssing pen lids sounds like a good idea!

 

[starrysky]

orangetiggs and starrysky thanks for the tip about drinking. I was wondering what to do to stop her ears from popping, so thank you for that.

And zeebs, thanks for link to the pens. Not having to hunt for mssing pen lids sounds like a good idea!

Its the action of the swollowing which helps with the pressure. I find it helps me as well because i hate the sensation of my ears popping.

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

And zeebs, thanks for link to the pens. Not having to hunt for mssing pen lids sounds like a good idea!

wow, them pens are a great idea, we ar etravelling in May with a 20 month old so thanks for the tips. i am off to order them pens now

 

[Bonnie151]

Baby wipes! DD methodically cleaned her seat, my seat and her brother's seat over and over and over and over...

 

[Alex's Mummy]

We took my little girl when she was 12 months, 2 1/2 and just recently she's not long turned 3.

The 2nd time we went i made up a goodie bag for Alex which i kept as a surprise to give her when we got on the plane. I bought a disney princess drawstring trainer type bag and filled it with princess colouring books, crayons, an ariel doll, sticker books etc. I saved up my tesco points and used them to buy all the goodie bag things. The whole thing only cost about £15- she loved it

It kept her amused for most of the flight- i think the surprise element was the main thing.

I used the bag idea again this time and it was still a hit.

Hope this helps.

 

[katytrott]

When we went with our older DS when he was 2, we went with my parents, brother and his fiance - plenty of people to entertain him (his uncle is a big kid). We went last year when my next DS was the same age and was a little nightmare and we had no relatives to help out.

My son's favourite toy are his legs - meant a lot of walking/chasing/grabbing etc all flight. Yes, going to Disney meant a lot of other kids, but when yours is the worst, it's a little emabarresing. It was particularly difficult during take off/landing when he had to stay seated with seat belt on - we had to literally pin him down the whole time, while he bellowed at the top of his lungs (nothing would calm him down - we just had to endure until seat belt sign came on).

Yes we had toys - unfortunately pens/stickers etc do absolutely nothing for him, so we knew there was only so much time the toys would work. To start with he was intreagued by the seat arm/table/window etc so we just let him play with those (he sat behind another child who was as fidgetty) until they were boring. We also had an ipad with mickey mouse club house which helped pass time.

We really just endured it and counted down the hours, celebrating when each 1/2 hour ticked by!! I would also say it's worth working in shifts - you know when it's your shift, it will come to an end and you can relax/not have any responsibilties for 1/2 hour, recharge your battery.

Don't assume they will sleep - unless very good at sleeping out of their own room. My 2 are fantastic sleepers (through the night from a few weeks old, never wake up before 9.30 if allowed - even Christmas morning), but never sleep any where other then a bed. Night flight back was horrific - our DS desperately wanted to sleep but didn't know how to. He was awake the whole night flight!!

We knew it would be bad, and it was, but the destination is worth what is only 9 hours of hell. We are doing it all again in Oct, but this time with lots of relatives (and he will be nearly 3), so it hasn't put us off.

I can remember scouring the internet and the dis for any advice - keep doing that.

 

[Antigua08]

Oh wow! Sounds like you had a bit of a rough time but I guess the fact that it hasn't put you off doing it again is the main thing.

We are going with my in laws so DD will have 2 of her cousins to help entertain her. Think it will mainly be when she gets tired that we might have an issue as she can get a little irritable if she doesn't get to sleep.

She also is currently a great sleeper but has never had to sleep anywhere other than her own bed. It may actually be worth us letting her sleep over at MIL and FIL house to see how she gets on.

If she is complete nightmare on the plane, l can atleast now think back to your reply and be thankful that she wasn't the only one!