Nervous about international trip with 16 month old

[Willow25]

Hello All

I was just looking for some words of encouragement, advice and positive experiences traveling internationally with a toddler.

We are leaving in about three weeks just me and my 16 month old daughter from Australia to Portland, Oregon. We have three flights on the way over two are 2 hours or less but the big one is 13.5 hours. I am really uncomfortable with the concept of giving my child and antihistamine but am wondering about a decongestant if they have a cold. Just worried about ears.

Thanks for any helpful responses.

 

[Willow25]

Just bumping

 

[star sweeper]

Wow, that's a long flight (13.5 hours). When we adopted our children (9 & 6 months), we had a 4.5 hour flight from Guatemala to the U.S. We learned a trick that really helped and had happy babies on the flight. We were told to not let them have a bottle, no matter how much they cry, until the plane begins to charge the runway for take off. The hungrier they are the better because they suck on the bottle harder and it helps equalize the pressure from take off to initial cruising altitude of about 10,000 feet. They slept most of the way. The flight attendants refilled their bottles about 30 minutes before landing and we hid those from view. When we started the descent to land, we fed them another bottle to again help equalize the pressure.

The people sitting around us were rolling their eyes and unhappy before take off because of the screaming for 10 minutes before take off, but greatly appreciated 4.5 hours of silence. If your child still drinks from bottles, this may work for you as well.

 

[quasar4legs]

I'm in Australia so we also have done some long flights over the years.
I agree with the good advice Heather gave you about take-offs, they need to be sucking or chewing.
We've dragged our son (now 17) all around the world and for the most part it has been great. Take several changes of clothes for the baby and changes for yourself as it is horrible sitting in 'baby effected' clothes
Take familiar snacks and drinks keeping in mind that you could get delayed any where along the way and it's best to have too much food than not enough.
Try to stay as calm as possible and if baby is unhappy on the flight just do the best you can and keep in mind most people will be sympathetic to the situation. Not all mind you
I'm guessing your flights are already organised but we usually break up the travelling by stopping over in Los angeles at an airport hotel and do the rest of the flying the following day.
We've never gone the drug route.

Have a wonderful trip
Trish

 

[ALittleDisneyFan]

My DD and I traveled from Guatemala to Houston to Newark ALONE. It was awful. Will your husband be accompanying you? The hardest part of the plane for my DD at that time was the landing. Definitely have a bottle (if your DD is still on them) available for her to drink. Thankfully, my child slept on all of the flights or it would have really been awful! Also, I had 2 carry-ons, a stroller, and the baby to get through immigration, down escalators, etc. I'm sure you will be just fine though!

 

[all4fun]

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com - this is written by a former flight attendant, who's co-host of a traveling with childrens board on babycenter.com. She's got great information about traveling on planes with children, including info on international travel. I think you may find it very helpful.

 

[katied]

I've gone to Paris, London and Athens with DS (he was 5 & 6 mo for the first two, and 11 mo for Athens). I did all trips on my own with him, and we survived. Paris and London were direct flights, so not so bad (about 8 1/2 hrs). Athens was harder - first to London, then a 8 hr layover, and then 4+ hrs more to Athens.

What I've generally done is take a saline nasal spray with for DS, since the airplane air gets quite dry for him over time. If he seems at all congested, then the dr. has recommended infant tylenol 1 hr before take-off (so about 20 min or so before you board) and then again about 1 hr before you land (if this gives you at least a 4 hr gap between doses). This just helps keep the edge off any pain.

Otherwise, I try to have lots of drink/snack options. I have a snack trap I'll fill with Cheerios (plus extra cheerios in a ziplock). Munching also helps with the ear pain. I'll also have undiluted juice - about the only time DS gets juice is when he's sick or on an airplane, so he's normally really happy to drink this. I'll have milk and I'll have water. With all the options, it helps give me something he's willing to drink during take-off and landing. For milk, I bring the shelf stable milk so I don't have to worry about it going bad without refrigeration. I've gotten through security with it OK on the U.S. side, and in Paris and Athens, but in London, I have to open and drink/eat from all the baby stuff to bring it through, so the milk is only OK to serve for a short time after. I'll also sometimes buy a juice box post security, and the joy of drinking from a juice box will encourage him to drink even if he's sick of his sippys.

Most people have been really nice to me on international flights when I'm on my own with DS, and DS is happy with people, so if a flight attendant wants to borrow him for a bit - have fun!! A chance of person/space always makes him a bit happier (and gives me a short break).

Anyway, you should be fine. Just have lots of snacks, drinks, etc., (plus toys, etc. to play with) and even if you have trouble, remember - it will be over and you will never see these people again!


Good luck!

 

[design_mom]

I think Katied has excellent advice. I have taken the transatlantic flight with each of my kids, and with DD I was by myself (she was 16 months). We all survived. It wasn't always fun, but we made it through.

Lots of snacks and toys are a must. Like Katied suggested, take something "special" (juice, etc) for your child to drink during take-off to help with the ears. Overall, other passengers were very kind and accommodating. My DD was not perfectly behaved by any means, but I think everyone knew I was doing my best and we got lots of "what a good baby" comments as we got off the plane anyway.

One other thing -- consider taking some extra snacks for yourself, especially if your child is going to be a lap baby. When I traveled with DS, he had his own seat (with a car seat) and it was *much easier.* When I traveled with DD, she was a lap baby (the cost of a ticket for her was insane!) What I did *not* count on was that *I* couldn't eat. There was no way I could hold the baby and put the tray table down. I had brought plenty of food/snacks for DD, but nothing for me. I was one hungry girl by the time we landed! Even if someone had been with me, I don't know how we would have both managed to eat -- because there wouldn't have been anywhere to put a second tray. You don't eat in "shifts" on an airplane!

 

[Willow25]

Thanks for the advice, my daughter no longer uses bottles but drinks happily through a straw so I might try the juice box idea as that is a real treat for her. I saw our doctor today who suggested a nasal spray that should also help with the ears. My daughter is a pretty good sleeper and we will be traveling at night for the majority so hopefully she will sleep.

Has anyone else used the CARES restraint. I just do not have enough hands to bring a proper car seat so wondering if this would be my best option as she will have her own seat.

Also I am 5 months pregnant!!

 

[scottish mum]

Has anyone else used the CARES restraint. I just do not have enough hands to bring a proper car seat so wondering if this would be my best option as she will have her own seat.
!

I haven't used CARES but when we travelled with DD who was 20 months we had bought her her own seat on the plane but didn't bring our own car seat for her the airline provided a baby seat for her, so you could go ahead and ring them to see if they have any available.

 

[Lizzybear]

I think with connections there should be someone there to help you in the airport/s. We recently flew Manchester (UK) to Newark then Newark to San Francisco and before we landed in each airport they made an announcement that there would be staff at the plane exit to assist anyone who needed it. This was with Continental but i'm sure other airlines do it too.

 

[NotUrsula]

She may be too small for a CARES; the lower limit is 22 lbs.

I would suggest moving heaven and earth to bring a carseat on board if you can; go buy a lightweight one if you have to. How are you going to manage going to the loo yourself, or as someone else pointed out, eating? The FA's may be willing to keep an eye on her, but they will almost never be allowed to actually hold her or restrain her in any way when you are not present. Don't forget sleeping; if you are asleep and she wakes up she might wander off anywhere on the plane and bother people. That was always the thing that bothered me the most; without a good restraint for her you won't be able to sleep, and you will be utterly wall-eyed by the time you reach the US. I've always flown US carriers over-the-water for just that reason -- carseats are always allowed, whereas other countries' carriers don't have that mandate most of the time and may refuse them.

If you HAVE to lap-carry, beg for a bulkhead seat so that you can put her on the floor while you eat. (Otherwise don't get the bulkhead, because you can't keep your bag with you there; you have to put it in the overhead.)

Your carryon should be a backpack rather than a rolling bag (you are going to have to manage with only one, so make it as large as is allowable to hold all your needed flight supplies.) This will leave your hands free to deal with her. I use a backpack plus a small across-the-body string wallet for my ID/money so that I can get to it easily and keep it safe.

BRING REINS!!! They are a lifesaver when navigating an airport alone with a toddler. They are especially useful for security, when you may have to put her down for a patdown without the stroller handy. Also this will allow her to walk in the airport and get some exercise, which is important because this age is PRIME squirmy stage -- you want to give her exercise any time you have the chance.

 

[design_mom]

Your carryon should be a backpack rather than a rolling bag (you are going to have to manage with only one, so make it as large as is allowable to hold all your needed flight supplies.) This will leave your hands free to deal with her. I use a backpack plus a small across-the-body string wallet for my ID/money so that I can get to it easily and keep it safe.

OR -- get a good baby carrier and put the baby on your back allowing both hands for the luggage. You might even be able to strap your car seat's harness around the handle of a rolling suitcase and roll both. (If you're taking a stroller you can just check it through to your destination.)

I'm wearing DD at 18 months old in an Ergo Baby Carrier in my avatar photo and used it for travel until she was 3-1/2.

 

[DawnM]

Did you get her her own seat? That will help tremendously.

I have travelled from China to NC alone with a 2 year old. He had his own seat and those who didn't purchase an additional seat really had a hard time. It was a 16.5 hour trip from Beijing to Newark, NJ and another 2.5 hours to Charlotte, NC. There were also storms in NJ and we were stuck there for 7 hours. It was miserable, but we got through it!!!!

Find whatever your child really likes that can entertain her for a long time. This helps. For each of my kids it was something different.

Dawn

 

[QueueCT]

We just did a round trip to London with our twin 20 month olds (7.5 hours) and a China trip at 13 months (13.5 hours). Both went surprisingly smoothly but, as others have said, you do need to be prepared.
1. Definitely get a bulkhead seat. Once a child is mobile it's impossible to restrain her for such a long flight and there's really no room in front of your seat if you're in a regular row. Allowing our girls to play on the floor was a big help.
2. The girls never had ear troubles (even when they had a cold) and we just filled a sippy cup with milk or juice. As a PP mentioned, wait until takeoff so it lasts during the climb out.
3. You should check on line for how full the flight is. We had lap tickets both times and, as it wasn't a full flight, the airline left the full center row open for us at the bulkhead. Not guaranteed though, obviously.
4. Plan the flight around your schedule, not the child's. When flying to London we took the red eye assuming the girls would sleep on the overnight flight. Nope. So mom and dad were exhausted and cranky in addition to the girls. The flight home was mid-afternoon and was much easier for us to deal with. Of course, the girls decided to sleep half that flight.
5. Food. Pack your own. While it can be done, it's difficult to eat your own meal and feed a child at the same time in an airline seat. Just easier to get something in the terminal to bring on board.
6. Entertainment. We had endless fascination with the in flight magazine pictures so it proved to be no problem at all. Dependent on the child though.
7. Don't stress! While it may seem endless at times, the flight will end and it'll be over.
8. Jet lag . . . good luck is all I can say!

 

[Willow25]

I will be traveling without my husband and I have booked her, her own seat. My husband and I brainstormed all night about how to bring her car seat but I really can not work out a way to do it by myself. We tried to look up the stroller frames or sit n stroll but they are not available in Australia. Therefore we ended up purchasing the CARES restraint system. My daughter is an excellent sleeper and I plan to bring pillows and her special blankey's.

We decided against bulkhead as United does not have the seat back screens on flights to and from Australia so the big screen would be right in front of us which would be too distracting for her.

I guess at the end of the day we will just have to get through those 24 plus hours of travel.

Thanks for all your suggestions.