Judge me!

[Gracie09]

If that were the case, the airlines would still be offering discounts for children, not spending a bunch of money lobbying for lap kids. JMHO of course.

Look at it this way if an adult seat on a plane costs $100. A family of three, mom, dad and 1 year old is flying. If they offer a discount of 50% for the kid seat they would pay $250. If they take the kid as a lap child then the airline can sell that seat the kid would take for the full $100 therefore increasing the airlines take to $300 vs $250.

The airline is worried that mom and dad will decide to drive and then they lose the $300 they would have paid.

 

[Freesia123]

Our plane tickets were $650 each on sale. Buying a seat for my daughter means going or not going.

 

[MSSANDRA]

One thought, aside from the medication and car seat safety, you can maybe give her a little bit of time,when the seat belt sigh is off, in your older child's seat.If they are both pretty tiny, they might can sit beside each other and share the ipad to watch a movie and give your arms a bit of a break. Your older child may also enjoy a bit of lap time if the seat ahead of you is not reclined and you can let your little one play or maybe even nap in the seat for a bit. Yes, everyone is safer in their own seat buckled in, but if that is not going to be the choice, look for anyway to make it easier.

FYI-We did have the airlines question why in the world we would purchase a seat for a cross county flight for our under two child. They of course were willing to sell it, but acted as we were sorta crazy!!!!!!

 

[chris31997]

I would not give benadryl cause it makes my kids hyper Nor would have I bought a seat for my Ds when he was baby and put him in his car seat in a seat cause that would have made everyone misreable listening to him scream while he was in his seat. I had one of those.

I would wear baby in sling to help arms. I would sit baby in with sibling sometimes to watch movies or play, with seatbelt around both of them. I would let both of them walk to the bathroom to stretch their legs. I would have them(depending on time of flight) stand in the seat for a few mintues and stretch(touch their toes). I would also get them a disposable camera might get some fun pics of the plane ride

Go for it

 

[Gracie09]

Our plane tickets were $650 each on sale. Buying a seat for my daughter means going or not going.

Then our family wouldn't go. To us it's that simple.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Well, the longest flight I ever took with a lap baby and an infant was 3 hours, but some things I found helpful:
1) Make sure the older child has plenty to keep them occupied. If baby fusses, you need to know that they can self-entertain. Mine were that age before the electronics era. I brought along sticker books (just a notebook works fine) and lots of new stickers. A few favorite stuffed animals is good. Small toys work well inside a crayon box so that they don't fall off the tray. They also had their own backpack on wheels with all their own stuff in it for easy access.

2) Snacks - make sure you have plenty of snacks, especially for the baby. I found that lollipops also worked well in a pinch of fussiness. (Especially since they didn't usually have them at home.)

3) When mine were one, their favorite things to do on a plane were to read books and sing songs.

7 hours is long. But, it's not THAT long. A friend of mine used to routinely travel back and forth to Malaysia with her kids to see their grandparents. (from MA) Now that was long.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[Nancyg56]

Just to be clear, my parents ate meeting us there. So DL is the whole point.

I also travelled alone with them on a five hour flight two months ago. I know what I'm getting into. My kids are good travellers, they are very well behaved. i was just wondering if it would be a good idea for her or not. I'm going with not.

I am not going to get into the medication issue, or the unstrapped baby issue. My concern, if I ignore the rest, is what are you going to do with the baby if your four YO gets sick or she needs to use the restroom on the aircraft? You are going to be severely handicapped by an infant who is trapped in your arms, if you need to tend to your other child. If you were traveling with another adult, you would not be at such a disadvantage, but you are not. you are alone on a plane with a little girl and a baby, so are you going to rely on passengers to assist you in the event you find that you need two hands and they are both occupied?

You are determined to travel in the manner that makes sense to you, but I don't understand why you asked opinions Once you opened the door to benedryl, unsecured infants, and a little girl who is needy.Yikes! If I was in your situation, I would rethink the travel plans. All I can picture is Bill Cosby and "Jeffrey! Jeffrey! Jeffrey!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[christineangel]

I am not going to get into the medication issue, or the unstrapped baby issue. My concern, if I ignore the rest, is what are you going to do with the baby if your four YO gets sick or she needs to use the restroom on the aircraft? You are going to be severely handicapped by an infant who is trapped in your arms, if you need to tend to your other child. If you were traveling with another adult, you would not be at such a disadvantage, but you are not. you are alone on a plane with a little girl and a baby, so are you going to rely on passengers to assist you in the event you find that you need two hands and they are both occupied?

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess she's used to juggling two kids on her own.

 

[AB6876]

My only bit of advice would be to be prepared and relax.
I flew with my son alone every couple of months from the time he was 3 months old until he was 3. I bought a seat for him and he rode on my lap. He was a very squirmy, independent toddler, who at home never wanted to be held or in a crib/pack and play etc...wanted to run/crawl
I realized that if I felt prepared and I was relaxed he was too. Have a system games toys and books what ever works. My son would sit still on the plane because it was like he knew he had to. As a mother you know your emotions and feelings seem to transfer to your children. If you feel relaxed he will feel that way. I know it sounds silly but it worked for me. Tell the 4 year old you need their help, give her a job to do to help you.

 

[Nancyg56]

I realize that the op is used to traveling alone, but there is a huge difference between traveling alone and traveling alone on a long plane trip with a 4 yo and a baby that is not strapped into a seat. I was alone with three little ones and understand that traveling is possible, but a lap baby a plane makes tending the 4 yo very tricky is she needs to get up.

 

[martinezmom3]

OP, I think you'll be fine. I don't think you've "bitten off more than you can chew". It won't be fun and it will be hard work, but isn't a LOT of parenting hard work? Just take all your baby's lovey/comfort tools, lots of cool snacks and some interesting toys and you'll survive the experience.

Yes! This exactly! I've never been in a situation where I needed to give my kids meds that they don't "need", but very recently my pediatrician recommended a regular over the counter Zyrtec for my very teeny four year old. If I went by the box, she is far too small and also too young to take it,,,obviously I trust my pediatrician,,she took them, and she had great relief from her allergies. That being said, your Dr should be able to give you some good advice. Also, you're mom, I'm sure while they may have given you a few gray hairs on the way, you'll get them through! You've kept them alive a well thus far Have a great trip, and remember, we have all seen our children meltdown and fall to pieces in their worst moments, and surprise us and rise to the occasion in their best! Maybe you'll be in for a pleasant surprise!

 

[megan10310]

Stickers are your friend. And electronics. And fruit snacks.

That is a long flight, but you'll do fine! And you've settled the Benedryl issue so that's good.

My 1 yo loved to share a seat with big sis. So you may get a break from holding that way. We have been lucky and gotten open seats, we have also been on very full flights. So good luck!

 

[frisbeego]

This thread keeps getting better!

Since I last checked in, OP has provided additional background that the kids have previously traveled on a 5 hour flight, are “good travellers,” and are “very well behaved,” which begs the question why the OP was wondering about Benadryl. I’m anxious to see how that plays out.

Another poster would never give a child Benadryl but nonetheless recommends the OP go on the trip carrying the child (contrary to pediatricians’ recommendations) because the poster has done it before and “it’s always been okay.” I wonder whether someone will attempt to quantify and compare the risks of giving Benadryl to a child versus holding a child in your lap on a plane. Why do we follow one pediatrician recommendation but refuse to follow another, when both could lead to serious harm to the child?

Another poster has introduced a new plotline: what if the 4 yo needs the OP’s help or attention? I did not see this coming!!

Where might this go next? The OP mentioned that the OP’s parents are also traveling, which makes me wonder where they’re traveling from. I predict someone will suggest that the OP should go directly to the parents -- saving both DL costs and airfare for the parents -- or that the parents should go directly to the OP. (The seeds for this rationale have already been planted but haven’t been fully articulated.)

I can’t wait to tune in tomorrow.

 

[robinb]

Where might this go next? The OP mentioned that the OP’s parents are also traveling, which makes me wonder where they’re traveling from. I predict someone will suggest that the OP should go directly to the parents -- saving both DL costs and airfare for the parents -- or that the parents should go directly to the OP. (The seeds for this rationale have already been planted but haven’t been fully articulated.)

I can’t wait to tune in tomorrow.

The OP lives in Canada. Her parents live "across the country", so I'm thinking maybe Vancouver. Thank you for playing along .

 

[christineangel]

This thread keeps getting better!

Since I last checked in, OP has provided additional background that the kids have previously traveled on a 5 hour flight, are “good travellers,” and are “very well behaved,” which begs the question why the OP was wondering about Benadryl. I’m anxious to see how that plays out.

Another poster would never give a child Benadryl but nonetheless recommends the OP go on the trip carrying the child (contrary to pediatricians’ recommendations) because the poster has done it before and “it’s always been okay.” I wonder whether someone will attempt to quantify and compare the risks of giving Benadryl to a child versus holding a child in your lap on a plane. Why do we follow one pediatrician recommendation but refuse to follow another, when both could lead to serious harm to the child?

Another poster has introduced a new plotline: what if the 4 yo needs the OP’s help or attention? I did not see this coming!!

Where might this go next? The OP mentioned that the OP’s parents are also traveling, which makes me wonder where they’re traveling from. I predict someone will suggest that the OP should go directly to the parents -- saving both DL costs and airfare for the parents -- or that the parents should go directly to the OP. (The seeds for this rationale have already been planted but haven’t been fully articulated.)

I can’t wait to tune in tomorrow.

Classic dis

 

[taaren]

If you haven't already done so, try to book the latest flight possible. If you can tolerate it, wake them earlier and keep them on the go without naps earlier in the day.

Before boarding, go through their normal bedtime routine as closely as possible-pajamas, blankets, snacks, stories and all. The lights will eventually be turned down. Close the shades until it's dark so they can see that it's "nighttime."

If you remain calm and laid-back (I know, easy for me to say...) they will hopefully do the same. However, the more frantic and frazzled you seem, they will feed on that, as well.

If you can't book a later flight, try to stick with the normal napping routine, etc.

Good luck.

This is great advice.

Just to be clear, my parents ate meeting us there. So DL is the whole point.

I also travelled alone with them on a five hour flight two months ago. I know what I'm getting into. My kids are good travellers, they are very well behaved. i was just wondering if it would be a good idea for her or not. I'm going with not.

Our plane tickets were $650 each on sale. Buying a seat for my daughter means going or not going.

Hi OP. Just wanted to lend some moral support. We flew all over the country when my DS was 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 15 months, 18 months, and 22 months as a lap child. Because it was the way we could afford to fly at the time, usually 5-7 hour flights on each of those since my parents lived in Hawaii and then we did, and my in-laws were in AZ. It was worth it. We were frazzled at the end of the flights, but we survived and you will too (and at that point the grandparents take over! Yay!). Its okay to contemplate Benedryl ... my DH suggested it (and he works in a pharmacy, and the pharmacists were the ones who told him it was fine), but we never needed to fortunately. Personally I'm more old school and would have gone with brandy.

Make sure to bring something electronic with a long lasting battery for your 4 year old, and you probably won't hear a peep out of them the whole flight.

Depending on the airline/flight crew you get, they will often be sympathetic and super helpful to families, especially parents who are on their own. If you ask nicely, not expecting anything, of the gate agent they might see if they can find you a seat with an empty one beside it before boarding and they will probably look to see if there's any seats available. (I've been caught on some flights where we did a late booking, and my energetic DS6 was seated a few rows away from me because they were the only seats left when we booked, and all but one time they moved us to be seated together because they had the seats that were blocked off in the computer for one reason or another ...)

One other bit of advice ... what I found more overwhelming than travelling with my lap infant himself, was travelling with all his stuff. If at all possible, can your parents meet you with everything other than what you need for your flight? Eg, can they pick up a car seat/umbrella stroller/etc and meet you with it at the airport? I like to travel light in general, but with kids its easy to forget stuff so the less you have the better, plus then you have more hands free to attend to the littles. I tried to whenever possible trim down to just a diaper bag, a carry-on (that fit my purse inside), and Bjorn the kid. It made travelling much easier.

 

[Freesia123]

I am not going to get into the medication issue, or the unstrapped baby issue. My concern, if I ignore the rest, is what are you going to do with the baby if your four YO gets sick or she needs to use the restroom on the aircraft? You are going to be severely handicapped by an infant who is trapped in your arms, if you need to tend to your other child. If you were traveling with another adult, you would not be at such a disadvantage, but you are not. you are alone on a plane with a little girl and a baby, so are you going to rely on passengers to assist you in the event you find that you need two hands and they are both occupied?

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

 

[Freesia123]

This thread keeps getting better!

Since I last checked in, OP has provided additional background that the kids have previously traveled on a 5 hour flight, are “good travellers,” and are “very well behaved,” which begs the question why the OP was wondering about Benadryl. I’m anxious to see how that plays out.

Another poster would never give a child Benadryl but nonetheless recommends the OP go on the trip carrying the child (contrary to pediatricians’ recommendations) because the poster has done it before and “it’s always been okay.” I wonder whether someone will attempt to quantify and compare the risks of giving Benadryl to a child versus holding a child in your lap on a plane. Why do we follow one pediatrician recommendation but refuse to follow another, when both could lead to serious harm to the child?

Another poster has introduced a new plotline: what if the 4 yo needs the OP’s help or attention? I did not see this coming!!

Where might this go next? The OP mentioned that the OP’s parents are also traveling, which makes me wonder where they’re traveling from. I predict someone will suggest that the OP should go directly to the parents -- saving both DL costs and airfare for the parents -- or that the parents should go directly to the OP. (The seeds for this rationale have already been planted but haven’t been fully articulated.)

I can’t wait to tune in tomorrow.

You make me laugh! Grandparents are coming from an opposite direction, and are handicapped and cant fly that far. The squirminess of my daughter has increased since the last trip if I could sleep away a flight I would, which is where the benedryl question came from. (She is obviously too little to just close her eyes and sleep just because I ask her to when its not nap time. But that question is settled)

 

[Freesia123]

I will be traveling light. Oldest dd will have her little carryon that she knows she has to carry, and ill have a diaper bag. Ill also have a gate checked stroller and one checked suitcase. I'm going with bare minimum.

 

[Nancyg56]

As I've said, I've traveled alone with them before. If I need to get up, I ring the flight attendant and they are happy to hold my youngest. It is part of their jobs, and I have never had one ever be unwilling or unhappy to help me out. Often I'll have other passengers offering to help me as we'll. (obviously I don't ask when they are busy)

I guess you are all set for the flight then. I think I am just a bit confused why you wanted feedback from us, because you have already traveled with teh kids, don't want to discuss the merits of seats for each child, have no problem having a baby on your lap for I think it was 7 hours, and don't mind the flight attendants or passengers helping with the kids.

My comment about "Jeffery" was only in part a jest I have traveled when a little one was miserable, and did not want to remain confined it was not fun. I really am pretty tolerant of babies, and know if a baby is in pain, is overtired or just plain unhappy, crying is going to happen, but you are knowingly traveling with a squirming child on a long distance flight. But again, those flights have been pretty LONG....