OT- Flying with a 2 year old

[mickeys friend]

Anyone have any tips for flying with a 2 year old? They aren't going to Disney,but going on vacation and will change planes once.We've taken a 3 year old before,and that's been several years ago,but any tips would be very helpful.Thanks

 

[ah1126]

We just flew in August with our 2 year old. This trip she brought her own small backpack with small toys and snacks. She also enjoyed playing on her Daddy's ipad and itouch. I tried to pick up new toys for her backpack that she had never seen.

In my bag, I had a change of clothes for her, diapers, wipes, an empty sippy cup, and a small blanket. I found that it was nice to have some pull up style diapers. We didn't have much time between our connecting flights. She had a skirt on, so I was able to slip her wet diaper off, and pull clean pants on and no one could see anything.

When it was time to board, my husband would take the stroller, and carseat to check at the gate and the bags that he could and he boarded first. I waited with my DD, so we could be last to board the plane. This way we could go to the bathroom at the last moment, and walk around. The less time on the plane, the better!

I made sure to pack some of her favorite snacks that I could give her for take off, so she would be chewing.

I hope this helps!

 

[luckyfin]

Come prepared with snacks and activities. I picked up trinkets in the Target dollar section prior to our trip, books and sticker sets. Even if its not usually your thing, watching a movie with headphones is always a sure bet for a good distraction with our DD. On our last trip we lugged the car seat because we rented a car in Florida but if we were just going to WDW I think I would leave it behind next time. I don't know if your child is potty-trained yet but a trip to the bathroom when you board is worth it to try to avoid needing to go when the drink cart is blocking the aisle. I also had my DD exit the bathroom before flushing because it is very loud.

 

[pfp258]

Not sure what kinds of "tips" you are looking for but any parent of a two year old should know to brings snacks and activities for their children. Stickers are great, books, etc. Also just a parent to engage with, sing songs with your child, tell them a story and so forth. My girls have both been traveling since they were infants (youngest was 8 weeks old for our first Disney trip) and we never had a problem with them on an airplane.

 

[LJSquishy]

If you have an iPad or portable DVD player w/ headphones, that would really come in handy even if you typically don't allow your toddler to watch movies or play with apps.

Other than that, the typical no-mess snacks (several different varieties) will be nice to have as well as a couple of books and quiet activities. The mini Magnadoodles are awesome because they are compact, the pen is attached so it can't be lost/dropped, and it can be erased over and over again so your little one won't run out of drawing materials. I also like the idea of bringing stickers to stick on paper.

If your toddler has chewed gum before (some allow it at that age, some don't), I would bring some along to help with their ear pressure. I'm actually not a parent myself so I don't know if there are other methods of helping a young child pop their ears.

Don't be afraid to talk and/or sing quietly with your child, either! No one should expect your little one to be totally silent so don't feel like people are staring at you or waiting for you to make a mistake or waiting for your child to have a meltdown. Most flights I've been on that have toddlers have been excellent with little to no disruption.

 

[malibuconlee]

The biggest mistake I made when flying when my daughter was two was trying to insist she fall asleep on the plane during nap time. She ALWAYS had on EVERY flight before. Lesson learned. It was a rough day of traveling. I should have just given her snacks and let it go.

Suckers are good for take off and landing for ears for little ones.

 

[dhardawa]

1. Drinks are good, but too much to drink equals pee running down the child's leg and soaking the carpet at O'Hare! I speak from experience!

2. Take the car seat and use it on the plane. This avoids it being lost (even gate checked things can get lost - again, I speak from experience) or damaged. It also gives the child a familiar seat to use.

3. Snacks, snack, snacks...

 

[Bell30012]

Between the ages of 2 and 4 my daughter was a frequent flyer. Not only was I a single parent but I commuted from ATL to PVD and back every week. I always gave her the window seat and let her watch movies on the laptop. She loved flying.

 

[aprilgail2]

2. Take the car seat and use it on the plane. This avoids it being lost (even gate checked things can get lost - again, I speak from experience) or damaged. It also gives the child a familiar seat to use.

3. Snacks, snack, snacks...

I agree! I always told my daughter that being on a plane was no different than being in a car- we get onboard, sit in the car seat and stay buckled until the plane stops moving-you dont get up and walk around in a car so why would you on the plane.

 

[sherry7]

I don't have any tips to offer, since I haven't flown with my 2 year old yet. But I've always wondered, where on the plane can you change a diaper? I can't imagine doing it in the teeny tiny airplane restroom. (Is there even a changing table in there?) My daughter has perfect timing, so she's be the kid that would go #2 as soon as the plane was in the air.

 

[dsneprincess]

I don't have any tips to offer, since I haven't flown with my 2 year old yet. But I've always wondered, where on the plane can you change a diaper? I can't imagine doing it in the teeny tiny airplane restroom. (Is there even changing table in there?) My daughter has perfect timing, so she's be the kid that would go #2 as the plane was in the air.

Just did exactly this with DS2 on way to WDW in August. JetBlue has changing tables in restroom. It's not easy, but it was an adventure!

 

[Bell30012]

I don't have any tips to offer, since I haven't flown with my 2 year old yet. But I've always wondered, where on the plane can you change a diaper? I can't imagine doing it in the teeny tiny airplane restroom. (Is there even a changing table in there?) My daughter has perfect timing, so she's be the kid that would go #2 as soon as the plane was in the air.

If that were to occur, you ask a flight attendant. There are several options. I've used a counter in the galley area (with a cover). One flight, they had a fold down changing station where the flight attendants sit. Once, I had to use the restroom. They gave me one of those mini-ironing boards to put on the counter. It was high enough to cover the faucet.

My daughter was only six months on her first flight. Remember to check your car seat for the words certified for vehicle and aircraft use.