Plane ride with an 18mo old

[DLgeeks]

We are going to be coming out to WDW from CA with our DD (6) and DS (18 mo) in March. DD has always traveled really easily, but I am a bit worried about the 5 1/2 hour flight with DS who is a wiggle monster and really does not like sitting still at this stage. Any tip/games/toy suggestions for ways to help keep him entertained? We'll have snacks and books and a couple of videos on the ipad, but pretty much everything else I can think of is going to be a bit over his head at this point.

 

[NedsTJ]

We had movies on my iPhone for our 18mo. He started crying and "freaking out" as soon as we stepped onto the plane. Poor guy. For about 15-20 minutes he was inconsolable - he had flown before, but was only about 9months at that point (and was an angel, lol!). This trip he was much more aware of his surroundings. It wasn't until I started playing "Frozen" on my phone that he zoned in on it and quieted down. I also had Little Mermaid, Toy Story and Cars loaded as well. I dl'd the Disney movie app and entered all the codes I could find for the digital downloads.

Just a note on the Disney App, something prevented us from watching (on the return trip, which by then he was fine with new places) as the Disney app wanted to confirm the login or check the collection and we didn't have an Internet connection.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Make sure your child will watch movies with no sound, unless he's willing to wear headphones.

Do a search for this topic; it's been discussed many times and you'll find a lot of good advice.

Buying him a seat and keeping him in a car seat will help.

 

[epsmith921]

How does the flight time fit into your schedule? For example, I was able to get a flight for our trip a year ago (kiddo was 2.5 at the time) that fell right within nap time, so I figured she might sleep, and she did after a little while. I also made sure to have her pacifier. We were working on getting rid of them at the time, but I wasn't going on the plane without it. I know your flight is much longer than ours was, just saying we kind of tried to keep to our normal schedule and it was helpful.

I also brought empty sippy cups in my bag so I could get her whatever she wanted after security.

I also brought an easily foldable blanket on the flight so she had something familiar and that I knew was clean.

We did stickers, coloring with our triangle crayons, and a little bit of ipad watching, flowed by the nap. She oddly wasn't scared, but she was older than your child.

 

[msmama]

I flew from NY to CA when my son was 18 months old. I did the car seat thing, but it backfired horribly. He basically ended up on my lap with his empty car seat next to me (except for take off and landing). After that we got a CARES harness and used that until he outgrew it and he was very happy with that (he was a big guy though).

I had little books, things to color and a lot of little toys to play with. I had my iPad with some kids games on it too. Once he was on my lap he did fall asleep for awhile. Make sure you have plenty of snacks, and more hearty stuff to replace meals. I also had lollipops in case of ear pain (which wasn't a problem).

 

[Pesky]

Ugh, yeah, long flight with a little one. You will likely get up once or twice for diaper changes and that little trip back and forth to the bathroom may seem like heaven for a wiggly 18MO. Just be sure to have a tight grasp in case of turbulence.

Ziploc bags are your friends. Use them to sort out different things to do so you can quickly and easily find things. Need some books? Pick out the Ziploc book bag! Need paper and crayons? Pick out that Ziploc bag! And keep some extra for soiled clothes, dirty pacis, etc. And don't underestimate the fascination of putting things in the bag and dumping them out again.

Puppets! We got the book 5 Little monkeys with the accompanying hand puppet and our kids at that age LOVED it on the plane. Also consider a regular little hand puppet or one that is like a stuffed animal (folkmanis makes some great ones). We used a piglet one to talk and "eat" their hands or hair and the kids just were fascinated.

Sticky notes. Blank paper. All good. Also consider a small travel magnadoodle.

Snacks, snacks, snacks. Sippy cups you fill after security.

Blankies and blanket or two.

Try kidzgear headphones at home (they sell them on Amazon). They are very comfortable for kids and ours would actually wear them for a while on the plane. Great also for music so they feel sleepy. Ours still use those today. Heck, I'd use them if I didn't mind stretching them out. They are comfy.

Movies. Consider shorter ones like segments of Elmo or Caillou. Definitely stick with the more soothing variety than something hyper.

 

[pinkprincess30]

We had movies on my iPhone for our 18mo. He started crying and "freaking out" as soon as we stepped onto the plane. Poor guy. For about 15-20 minutes he was inconsolable - he had flown before, but was only about 9months at that point (and was an angel, lol!). This trip he was much more aware of his surroundings. It wasn't until I started playing "Frozen" on my phone that he zoned in on it and quieted down. I also had Little Mermaid, Toy Story and Cars loaded as well. I dl'd the Disney movie app and entered all the codes I could find for the digital downloads.

Just a note on the Disney App, something prevented us from watching (on the return trip, which by then he was fine with new places) as the Disney app wanted to confirm the login or check the collection and we didn't have an Internet connection.

I agree that a favorite movie can definitely bring some familiarity to his surroundings and help pass the time a bit. A note from my experience: When I flew with my 18 month old DS he did AMAZING when in his carseat, strapped in to his own seat. On the flight home there were no extra seats (and I had not purchased him his own seat) so he sat on my lap. Total disaster, complete with spilling our neighbor's soda all over them! I don't mean to be a discouragement because I think it was a fluke, but he did so well in his own seat I would recommend that over your lap especially if he is a wiggle-worm and because it is such a long flight.
After reading others' experiences it seems obvious that every kid is different so you'll have to decide what's best I am sure he will do great!

 

[DLgeeks]

Thanks for all of the input, the puppet idea is a good one, he'd probably get a kick out of it. We're flying out mid morning so I am hoping that we'll have at least a bit of a nap in there somewhere, but I won't count on it, he's one to completely skip a nap if there's anything remotely interesting going on.

Not bringing a car seat this time around as we'll be bussing it while we're there (and certainly not buying him a $600 plane seat that he won't sit in). He starts complaining if he's strapped in, in the car for too long, so I don't think it would be much of a help anyway.

He's done shorter (1-2 hr) flights a few times now and been fine with the actual flying part it's just the sitting still and keeping his attention on something for more than 5 min that I am worried about!

DH and DD will, I'm sure be a help in keeping him entertained, and I am lining up some extra Elmo videos as well as a couple of movies to keep him occupied (with headphones of course!), and coloring and new small toys and snacks and, and, and....it's just a daunting prospect.

I am a bit spoiled as DD has always been really good at sitting quietly and doing projects/watching movies, etc. while we're traveling....this little guy is just too busy!

I guess we can always just walk the isles for a few hours if it gets too bad!

 

[Lupeix]

Not to be a downer, but headphones at that age with active boys may not work. Boys just move so much more than girls and are so squirmy!
I flew alone with DS, which is also extremely active, to south America at that age. iPad and movies with no or vey little volume helped but the best advice I could give is: Benadryl
Check with your pediatrician first, and test drive it at home, some kids get hyper instead of sleepy on it, but for the most part you will have a zonked out toddler in 30 minutes and it will last for a while. It was my pediatricians idea BTW. I had a 3 hour flight to Miami and another 9 hour flight after that, I think he just felt sorry for me.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I would not plan on being able to just walk the isle as others will need to get to bathroom and snacks being served. you can also have the seat belt sign on for long times. plus what would happen if 4 mothers decided to walk the isle at one time, there is not room to pass each other. that is why I refused to fly with our kids when they were that age

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I would not plan on being able to just walk the isle [sic] as others will need to get to bathroom and snacks being served. you can also have the seat belt sign on for long times. plus what would happen if 4 mothers decided to walk the isle [sic] at one time, there is not room to pass each other. that is why I refused to fly with our kids when they were that age

This is a non-issue. Four people can easily walk the aisles with their children. There will be plenty of time for walking around on a coast to coast flight.

OP, I feel for you. Maybe you'll get lucky and he'll sleep most of the flight.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

then that has changed from when we flew with our daughters as I had trouble with just me and younger daughter getting to bathroom passing one person who was just taking a break and standing in isle. yes this was a flight from east coast to west coast

 

[Wreilly228]

I would not plan on being able to just walk the isle as others will need to get to bathroom and snacks being served. you can also have the seat belt sign on for long times. plus what would happen if 4 mothers decided to walk the isle at one time, there is not room to pass each other. that is why I refused to fly with our kids when they were that age

I did a direct from ATL-HNL when my son was 17mo. Although I was worried beforehand I discovered that it was easy once I realized we are on our way to a vacation destination. Not many business travelers are going to MCO and continually walking the aisles is now going to be noticed by many passengers as they are concentrating on appeasing their own kids. A little trick that worked for us is that we saved his favorite toy when he wanted to get up when the fasten seat belt sign was on. Other than that, you are a paying customer, get up whenever your LO wants to get up.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

our flight was a direct flight from Philly to LAX and most passengers were not parents and kids. ended up with a 3 year old wetting a seat because cart was in isle and we were not allowed to get to bathroom. she had been out of diapers since 18 months. were told it was our fault because we did not put her in diapers plus crew was unhappy about wet seat on a turnaround with 2 hours on the ground in LA

 

[Jing]

We just flew on a 2 hour flight (plus a 1 hour wait on the Tarmac) and he zonked out from takeoff to landing on the way there. We did buy him a seat and used his car seat which he normally hates. I brought snacks, familiar toys, and our Boba4g for aisle walking to keep him comforted, which helped on the way back, though he slept most of that flight as well. Crossing my fingers it is not a fluke and he takes after me (moving vehicle = sleep) with traveling.

 

[ah1126]

Stickers were my life saver on my last flight with my little guy. I flew with my DD4 and DS 18 months. I bought a set that had like 800 stickers and let him stick them on his legs, belly, arms, me, his sister. They kept him busy for a long time. My DD also loved having a little notebook to stick her stickers in. They always have character ones in the dollar spot at Target. Both of my kids also loved playing with the cups after the snack cart goes by. On one flight we had the little cups with lids and a straw. He spent a long time putting the straw in and out of the lid over and over. And lots of snacks!!!

 

[maxiesmom]

I did a direct from ATL-HNL when my son was 17mo. Although I was worried beforehand I discovered that it was easy once I realized we are on our way to a vacation destination. Not many business travelers are going to MCO and continually walking the aisles is now going to be noticed by many passengers as they are concentrating on appeasing their own kids. A little trick that worked for us is that we saved his favorite toy when he wanted to get up when the fasten seat belt sign was on. Other than that, you are a paying customer, get up whenever your LO wants to get up.

You are a paying customer, but you still have to follow the instructions of the pilot and Flight Attendants. It is not as simple as getting up when your child wants to. You may not be allowed to get up, and sometimes for a while.

 

[leahlefler]

That is a tough age to fly with - we have done it a couple of times. I am grateful my boys are now 7 and 9 and easily entertained by Minecraft! I flew with my older boy when he was 15 months old from NY to California, so a decently long flight. I brought snacks... LOTS and lots of snacks. He loved animal crackers in the box - the box made its own sort of toy when he was done with the crackers, and we could play with the crackers, too (making a game out of eating the lions and elephants). I brought a magna doodle, but at that age he didn't really want to draw with it. He mostly played with putting the pen in and out of its holder. Stickers entertained him for about 4 seconds (he wasn't really a "sticker" kid). He did love his sunglasses and played with those for a while, and with a light-up toy (it had a globe on the top and the lights flashed in a pattern when you pushed a button). He also liked "put in-take out" toys (a stuffed little house we had with animals that could go into and out of the house). He also liked lift-the-flap style books (sturdy ones) and the book "Tails" by Matthew Van Fleet (lots of interactive things in the book and very sturdy). He also liked his Little People cars and people (I brought 2 cars and 2 people, and he played with those for a long time on the tray table).

This was before we owned any DVD players or tablets, so we didn't have access to easier entertainment options. If your DS will listen via headphones (mine wouldn't have at that age) or will watch it silently, movies are a good idea.

It is definitely doable, but takes a lot of energy on the part of the parent. We had a very successful flight, but I was WIPED OUT at the end of it!

 

[DLgeeks]

Thanks for all of the tips, I know it's going to be exhausting no matter what, I am just trying to see if there are any additional fun "boy" things out there that I haven't thought of yet to distract him with. Most of the things he loves involve lots of noise or throwing so it's hard to find small, quiet activities that are age-appropriate, and aren't going to go flying over the seats in front of us. I've added a pack of stickers and a magnetic "construction site" play set to the bag of tricks!

 

[jsantini]

We are looking for entertaining ideas too. My son is 1 and has flown several times, but it gets trickier as he gets older--he is very busy! He will be 15 months on our next trip, and so far, he's shown no interest in TV or iPad things. We will bring our bag of tricks, snacks, I'll nurse him, and we'll make the best of it. I don't expect it to be easy, but travel is really important to our family, and he loves experiencing new things too, so I think it's worth it. One thing that can be hard is the impatience some fellow passengers have with traveling children. I learned to let that roll off my back in a hurry. There are plenty of things annoying about adult passengers too--perfume, reclined seats, loud conversations, etc--it's just the nature of being stuck in the air with people we might not have chosen to travel with. I don't let my kid kick the seat, I try to entertain him so he's reasonably quiet when possible, we prevent messes and clean up around him, he's not allowed to run amok, etc, but I don't sweat it if we need to walk the aisles, if he cries a bit, or does other normal baby things. On the 10 flights we've had with our little guy, the majority of people have been kind, accommodating, and helpful. The others can sort out their feelings for themselves. Sometimes accepting the chaos of life with a little one goes a long way for me in stressful situations. I don't think it's any help to tell mothers it's going to be awful, exhausting, and that it's better not to travel with toddlers.