Kids' first flight. Tips??

[AllesonWonderland]

We leave Saturday for WDW--woohoo!! It will be my DD9 and DS6 first flight. (They're doing better than me, mine wasn't until my honeymoon! lol) Anyway, I'm a little worried about my son. He used to be more adventuresome, but is going through a fright stage...doesn't like to swing high, go fast, etc. Add to that he got carsick a couple times recently. The other night he was saying he didn't want to fly because he doesn't want to go high in the air. I called the pediatrician and they suggested dramamine or Benedryl. Any good tips or tricks to get through take off? I think that will be the only time he's apprehensive...once we're in the air I think he'll be fine.

Thanks!!

 

[Elaine R]

I'd try the power of distraction. A new really cool toy or activity, or you could read to him. We just took trip in Dec. and I must have read 20-30 pages to my DS.

 

[TheDizMom]

OK here are a few tips from a former flight attendant.

Don't put him in the window seat! Best bet the aisle, what he can't see is less likely to scare. If he likes it after take-off you can always switch seats.

I would use dramamine if he has had problems with car sickness. Carsickness doesn't mean he'll get air sick but he may have a problem. It makes them a little drowsy too so he may be less bothered by the first experience. Benadryl won't help the motion sickness. Also keep him cool. I know from experience if you over heat you are more likely to get airsick.

Ask if he can visit with the pilots before the flight. If he gets a chance to speak to them and see the cockpit after you board and before the doors are closed it may fascinate him enough that he forgets about his fears. Most pilots are happy to visit with kids and give them a look around, especially when it's a first flight.

Ask the pilot or a flight attendant about getting a set of wings and a first flight certificate. Most airlines have at least the wings. Again he may think this is so cool he'll forget about his fears.

Try not to make a big deal about the whole process and overwhelm him with things that can happen on a flight like turbulence. This will only magnify his concerns. Should they happen during the flight then you can deal with it then.

Pay attention to the FA's when they do their safety demo so you know where the exits are and what to do in an emergency, xomething you really want to know when traveling with your kids anyway. If he freaks out tell him it's ok, and you know just what to stay safe during a flight because the FA's have told you. Don't talk about an emergency only in general terms of knowledge. If he feels you are knowledgeable and unconcerned he is going to calm down and be fine.

Give him something to do to keep him occupied during taxi and take-off, and don't ask him to look out the window at the other planes. Just act like it's not even there and tell your DD to look out if she wants but refrain from saying anything this time around. Next time if he handled it fine then by all means have at it.

I have yet to see a child who didn't have fun flying once they had been on a plane. He is simply wary of the unknown. If it makes you feel any better my sister's son was around the same age, and had flown a number of times, when their flight got caught in a thunderstorm on landing. It was of course bumpy, and my nephew screamed at the top of his lungs, "We're going to crash!" . She was mortified . He is a great flyer now. If he doesn't react like that you are home free .

Have a good flight. I hope he loves it .

 

[TnTWalter]

I get motion sick and bonine really helped me without the drowsy side effect of dramamine. I took it the night before a morning flight. You can get it anywhere [CVS, Walmart, etc.].

My kids enjoyed watching movies on a portable DVD player. I also provided baggies with snacks. I wouldn't recommend any activity book or something where he has to 'read' might not be good for motion sickness. Although with bonine, he might be ok [I was able to read which is great!]. I'll probably take mine for the rides too.

Here's a picture of my kids watching movies.

We're bringing their leapsters also this time around.

Have a great trip!
Trish

 

[Starr W.]

Explain how the airport works, going through security(my eldest was a little concerned about that). We would practice at home of taking off his shoes and pretending to go through the metal detector. Told them how the airplane goes really fast then goes up in the air. Both sat by windows on their first flight and thought it was cool.

I give dramamine to my eldest, bring gum for them to chew to help deal with changes in the cabin pressure. On the flight back, during boarding the pilots invited my 5 yr old to check out everything.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Thanks for the tips. My children will be at the time we fly 14,10,4 they have also never flown before.

 

[suzieqmomof4]

Check with your pediatrician, but I had the idea of giving the kids a half dose of Sudafed about 20 minutes before the flight. It helps clear their sinuses and therefore there isn't a lot of ear pain. Please check with your pediatrician, though. I did. And I wouldn't try this if your child has never had Sudafed either. Mine are all fine with it, but some kids get jumpy.

 

[TheDizMom]

I get motion sick and bonine really helped me without the drowsy side effect of dramamine. I took it the night before a morning flight. You can get it anywhere [CVS, Walmart, etc.].

My kids enjoyed watching movies on a portable DVD player. I also provided baggies with snacks. I wouldn't recommend any activity book or something where he has to 'read' might not be good for motion sickness. Although with bonine, he might be ok [I was able to read which is great!]. I'll probably take mine for the rides too.

Here's a picture of my kids watching movies.

We're bringing their leapsters also this time around.

Have a great trip!

That would be a great tip if she could use it during take-off which is her concern. Since electronic items can't be used until the plane has been off the ground for about 5 minutes or so, it won't help distract him then. During flight yes for sure! Also I really don't think reading on a plane will cause motion sickness, it's just not the same as in a car.

 

[Starr W.]

Check with your pediatrician, but I had the idea of giving the kids a half dose of Sudafed about 20 minutes before the flight. It helps clear their sinuses and therefore there isn't a lot of ear pain. Please check with your pediatrician, though. I did. And I wouldn't try this if your child has never had Sudafed either. Mine are all fine with it, but some kids get jumpy.

Good idea if you have kids that are prone to ear or sinus infections. I do it too(sinus infections from long flights were the story of my life when I worked and travelled alot), recommended by my Dsis's ENT doctor(though she won't do it )

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

My kids enjoyed watching movies on a portable DVD player. I also provided baggies with snacks. I wouldn't recommend any activity book or something where he has to 'read' might not be good for motion sickness. Although with bonine, he might be ok [I was able to read which is great!]. I'll probably take mine for the rides too.

Here's a picture of my kids watching movies.

We're bringing their leapsters also this time around.

Have a great trip!
Trish

If you don't mind me asking, what brand is your dvd player and are all three kids watching and hearing the movie? The few brands I've researched have only 2 headphone jacks...we have 3 kids so it would be great if we could invest in one dvd player w/3 jacks. Thanks.

Joanne

 

[AllesonWonderland]

Thanks for all the great advice! I think distraction will be the key, so we'll plan lots of that! I'm hoping the carsick incident was an isolated thing...we've driven lots of times since then and he's been fine. But for awhile after that he was really focused on whether or not he was going to be sick again. He got some new color wonder things for his birthday last month, so I've got those packed. Hopefully we'll be able to get some wings or maybe meet the pilots, that would definitely keep his attention. I'll pack his little Super Mario figures to play with until we get the okay to turn on electrical devices...then he can play with his DS.

Mom2my3kids--I had my DD9 read the kids corner page at Southwest's site: http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/kids_questions.html She really liked it and said it made her feel a lot better about flying.

Thanks again everyone...3 more days--woohoo!!