Please tell me about flying x-country with preschoolers

[molly2004]

I am in the inital stages of planning a trip from Boston to Disneyland in about a year's time. I'm second guessing myself. We just got back from Houston (a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hour flight) with our 3 yo boys.

The return trip was harrowing, giving me second thoughts about flying cross country when they turn 4. Please tell me what I should change to improve the flight experience next time. The primary issue with the boys must have been fatigue. They were very irritable. We've flown only about once each year since they were born.

This is what I did on this flight. What did I do wrong with this trip? How can this be improved next year?
1) sat them next to each other in car seats the entire trip. Should we have allowed them out of their seats during the long flight?
2) brought snacks, which they quickly tired of.
3) brought a movie they didn't want to watch
4) brought travel candyland and memory. Kids have never seen these before. Occupied them for about 20 minutes total.
5) brought stickers and other diversions. Also never seen before. also occupied them for about 20 minutes each
6) brought IPOD which worked for about 20 minutes, actually kept them calm and helped them sleep. But the bleedin' ear buds kept falling out.
7) did not use benadryl (makes them hyper).
8) sat them together with one parent so the other parent could take a break.

Is flying with 4 yos easier? Should DH and I each take a kid in a separate row next time?

Thank you for your input!

 

[dana1003]

oh boy..im sorry to hear about your flight. we flew in dec w/3 year old twins. our flight was ablut 3 hrs and we had 4 adults w/us. we all sit in the same aisle. 2 adults w/one kid in the middle. im a big fan of jet blue because every seat has its own tv w/ear phones so they can click thru the channels themselves. my girls were pretty good. i brought coloring books and stickers. i think being able to switch back and forth to different adults is what kept them entertained. i dont know of any 3 year old that can sit for that long anyway. we did have to give both our girls dramanine on teh way back cuz they got airsick going there. coming back they were more tired. good luck

 

[CaliGirlB]

Have you ever tried the red eye! I had to once with my 4 year old and it was the best flight I ever took with her. I even got to read a little. Flying is usually very stressful trying to keep her occupied. We always sit one parent and one child (if we can) and in different rows. We have found the one on one to be easier. Plus the kids don't disract each other so much. Also, I don't use a carseat so they can wiggle a bit more and half way through I take them to the restroom so she could stretch her legs. They have always done fine.

 

[dis-happy]

I've done x-c flights on avr. 3 times a year with children now ranging in age from 6-18 (and child no. 4 will have his first flight next Dec. at age 2 mos). Anyway, some flights were horrible, others great. Sometimes you just have to live through it. The best thing I can say is that your kids will be a whole year older next time and better able to occupy themselves. One thing I always did is let them pack their own plane toys into a small backpack, they seemed to like to play with those the best. A few suprises from the dollar store can come in handy. Next time I'd try to divide 1 parent/1 child per row...and maybe the parents could switch off. At age 4 I wouldn't try to use car seats on the plane, they will be more comfortable without it (especially so the seat tray can come down). Other than that, I wouldn't spend the next year worrying about it, chances are you'll have a great flight, just because of the age difference.

 

[brergnat]

I've heard great things about the Leapster game system for kids around 4 years old. I would buy 2 of them, keep them a secret, and give them to them when they start acting up on the plane. The cartridges come in all sorts of different characters, so whatever they are into, there will probably be a game for them (i.e. Thomas the Train, Disney games, etc)

I would also look into some activity books. I saw some at Costco the other day that you write in with dry erase markers. They are geared towards preschool kids. Those might be fun.

I would second the suggestion of a portable DVD player. Bring SEVERAL dvd's, but not necessarily movies, as those are long. Bring stuff with short episodes, like some of the Playhouse Disney DVD's (JoJo, Little Einsteins, etc) or if they are into Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder, or if they are girls, whatever girls are into these days (I have 2 boys, so I have no clue there!)

 

[bellarella]

When we flew with only two children, we would sit two and two, preferably in planes with the 3/2 configuration. That way each child had a window and each parent had the aisle. We would sit one row behind the other, putting the child most likely to kick the seat in the back row (so they would be kicking their sibling if it did happen).

I think the big downfall was sitting the kids together with one parent. Kids tend to feed of the energy of each other, so it would only take one of them being cranky to have both of them cranky. I find it much easier to split it up and do one on one.

Some other tweaks to what you did -- bring multiple DVDs, so there are a lot of choices. At that age I found Dora or "episode" DVDs more useful than movie DVDs.

Buy regular headphones rather than earbuds.

When we travel, each kid gets their own carry on back pack. In each goes a leapster (some of the best money we've ever spent) with games, coloring book and crayons, cd player (I bought cheap ones for $8 at Target) with CDs, snacks, and usually a couple of surprises (like those activity books with the magic pens or dollar store toys). We also bring our portable DVD player with a selection of DVDs.

We've never had a problem flying with the kids once they hit 3. knock on wood!

 

[Kez250]

My kids now 5 and 4 have both been flying since they were 6 weeks old - we fly back to the UK from houston normally twice a year - 8hrs going and anywhere between 10 and 12 coming back not to mention numerous cross US flights - so i've had plenty of experience with them on planes.

I let them take a backpack each that they are allowed to put what they want into it (i also take some extra things that i think they have forgotten in my carry on)

I take their video i-pods and take headsets that fit over their ears (i have trouble keeping the earbuds in myself) so these work very well for them

Stickers and coloring pages and also blank sheets of paper so that they can draw and practice their letters themselves

we also play the who can speak in a whisper for the longest time game which helps my dd as she has a tendancy to be extremely loud when she's bored/unhappy thinks shes not getting enough attention

Dry erase books and papers are great - my son is just learning to play tic tac toe so he loves being able to play again and again

i have also made presents with tons of wrapping layers on it and every so often they are allowed to take of a wrapper as long as they have behaved for the time set period before hand - if they were not behaved then they miss a turn

we sit in seperate rows with one each so that if one of them drives us crazy we can swap - if they sit together for too long (about 10 minutes) they start to fight and get mean with each other

snacks - nothing with too much sugar or food coloring in it as after that they have energy with no place to burn it off

mine haven't sat in car seats since they were 3 they can curl up and sleep a lot easier - the main problem i had with my daughter is her wanting to get up and walk around when the seatbelt sign was on - so i had a word with one of the flight attendants and she quietly/politely but firmly explained to her that when the seatbelt sign was on it was because the captain needed everyone to sit down in their seats because it could get bumpy - i had explained the same thing but of course she took no notice of me at all

try not to get annoyed with them because they will just play up more (well mine do) and if i have to end up with my arms and face covered in stickers for 3 hours and it keeps them quiet then i'll go for that

 

[wrighter]

I have also flown with my DS now 4 and DD almost 2 countless times on cross country trips. Indeed, you just never know what you're going to get. Most of my tips have been covered by PPs, but I want to second them!

DVD player with large selection of movies and episode shows. Then they can pick what they want. I also use the "over the ear" big ol' headphones. To make them fit more snuggly on little heads, I got foam from the fabric store and attached a strip of it to the top of the headphones themselves. So it sits on their heads better. Looks incredibly goofy, but since I did it I haven't had to adjust the headphones once. Those earbuds are terrible!

I also recommend ditching the carseats - our flights are much easier without them. More room to move around, or sit with their legs crossed if they want.

I've been considering getting the Leapster, as well. Perhaps for a Christmas gift!

I wouldn't worry too much - next year will be better. Good luck!

 

[molly2004]

Your replies have been so helpful!

I can't ditch the car seats because the monkeys slide right off the seats can can't sleep when they're buckled in.

Definitely going to try to flying JetBlue to take advantage of the TVs.

Leapsters, better headphones go on the shopping list.

And each parent takes a kid!

Thanks for sharing your experience. To think I was going to ditch going to Disneyland altogether! Thanks!

 

[brergnat]

FYI, Jet Blue only flies into Long Beach airport. It's about a 30 min trip from there to Disneyland.

BUT, if you book a direct flight through Delta, you will most likely get an old Song plane, which will also have a t.v. with DirecTV on each headrest, and for a LOT cheaper than Jet Blue. The cheapest cross country JetBlue fare is $199 each way...

 

[molly2004]

FYI, Jet Blue only flies into Long Beach airport. It's about a 30 min trip from there to Disneyland.

BUT, if you book a direct flight through Delta, you will most likely get an old Song plane, which will also have a t.v. with DirecTV on each headrest, and for a LOT cheaper than Jet Blue. The cheapest cross country JetBlue fare is $199 each way...

Sweet tip! Thanks!

 

[solgent]

We have twins and a younger daughter. Have flown with them x-c and x-Atlantic a number of times beginning when older girls were 11 months.

Since my kids are a bit older, it seems, than kids of the other people on this thread, we did not have iPods, DVD players, Leapsters, or built-in TVs for any of these trips prior to our last one, in Dec 2006. However, we were allowed to bring any amount of liquids and even pocket knives on board. Those were the days.

I recommend (a) books that you don't mind reading over and over (e.g. Cat in the Hat), books with engaging visuals (e.g., I Spy books), and books with many stories in them. Disney publishes several volumes of these. (b) ziploc bag of Legos. (c) ziploc bag of small animal figures or other little toys that you can use to tell stories.

Before the first trips we took, I asked the girls to guess what is the most important thing you need to be a good traveller. Not plane tickets, money, stuffed animal, luggage, but PATIENCE, because travel involves a lot of waiting. Then I praised them all the time for being patient.

Our family also travels with an invisible companion called the "Skittle Fairy." When she sees good behavior, she doles out Skittle candies at random intervals. If she is busy, she sends her friend the Gummy Bear Fairy. Once she sent the Hershey Miniature Fairy, but that didn't work well because someone ate up the Hershey miniatures that were meant for the children.

 

[molly2004]

Once she sent the Hershey Miniature Fairy, but that didn't work well because someone ate up the Hershey miniatures that were meant for the children.

Yes, gotta invite the fairies too! THanks!

 

[EthansMom]

We always sit with each parent getting one child... usually DH gets DS, who is older and a requires a little less attention and I get DD. As another poster mentioned, each child gets his/her own backpack filled with books, crayons and paper, game system (Leapster, Gameboy), a sack lunch with lots of healthy but tasty foods, bottled water. We try to sit with the kids in the window seat so there is lots to see. On long flights, we let the kids get up a couple times to walk around, use the restroom, etc...

The boys are probably big enough for you to check their carseats and do without the bulk on the airplane. For DD3, we still take an umbrella stroller and check it at the gate so that she doesn't have to keep up with the walking in the large airports.

I always try to schedule flights that are direct or have as few connections as possible. And the kids do best with flights that are daytime hours than with night flights... I wouldn't take my kids to MK for the day and then fly home that night, for instance, since my kids would be so tired they'd be miserable.

In all honesty, even a good airplane trip takes quite a toll on the whole family. Our last two vacations have been cruises out of local ports so that we could avoid air travel. But both kids have been begging to go to WDW again soon....