Portable DVD Player and 2 year old -- questions

[labdogs42]

I'm considering taking a portable DVD player on the plane for my 2 year old to watch next time we go to Disney. Ho do I get him to wear headphones? Does he have to wear them? I also have a video iPod. Would that be better for him on the plane? It would be much easier to carry for me, but it is so little! Any ideas/experiences to share? Thanks!

 

[meeskamouska]

Our DD wouldn't wear headphones at that age. We got her a Video Now Jr and half a dozen videos and that is what we used for several trips we took at that age!!! Check ebay for a good deal...they our grow them fast!!!

 

[labdogs42]

Our DD wouldn't wear headphones at that age. We got her a Video Now Jr and half a dozen videos and that is what we used for several trips we took at that age!!! Check ebay for a good deal...they our grow them fast!!!

Wow -- I never heard of this thing! It looks cool. Is it OK for the kids to watch this on the plane? Does the noise bother other passengers? I like the idea of this, as my DS does like his Blue's Clues quite a bit! Thanks!

 

[meeskamouska]

We have never had a problem with other people...most are just thankful the kids aren't crying!!!!

 

[jenseib]

We jsut had a post on this subject recently. ALOT of people got a little irrate about people not having there kids wear headphones. I was amazed at how bothered peopld actually got. I would have your child start practicing. My DD2 likes to watch DVDs in the protable player sometimes, so when she does, I put headphones on her. She usually keeps them on, but sometimes the yfall off, as they are a bit too big, but she is usually standing and moving when it happens. I don't see a problem when on the plane for us. You can also just get her used to wearing tehm, or no sound when it is on if she won't wear them. Some kids don't mind if there is sound anyways.
I really don't care too much what you do, but since I found out how many people get mad, I will do my best to keep noise ata minimum. My biggest fear is that she will just have a bad day or something and decide riding a plane isn't in the cards and just cry for no reason. This doesn't happen often, but it can here or there!

 

[brymolmom]

I too have been involved in a couple previous posts on this topic. The basic conclusion that I got is that people likely won't mind no headphones if there is no other alternative and you have tried every other method to keep your child calm and happy (books, quiet toys, snacks, etc). In other words, if parents are doing it for their own benefit (to enjoy a quiet flight without having to entertain the kids) with no headphones - which WILL bother some other passengers, there's no way to completely avoid this. If your child is having a meltdown for whatever reason and there is no other alternative and you've tried everything - chances are they'd rather hear a very quiet video.

This is how I solved it for me - I told my kids that the sound only worked with headphones so their choices were to wear them OR watch it with no sound (also works pretty well - especially with Baby Einstein videos - no dialog). My dd, 2 at the time, did end up wearing them for part of the time - but then got uninterested in the movie and we had to break out the books anyway.

Just remember to be as considerate as possible for other passengers and I think you'll be making the best decisions.

Good luck!

 

[Annaliese]

I have not looked into this in great detail ... but I would not be surprised if you find one or can even make on very easily ... what about a headband that has tiny earbud speakers in it ?
There was a cothing-craze over the last 12-15 years with people having TECH-SAVVY CLOTHING = it's really popular in europe & japan = like vests, jackets, and pants that have all sorts of pockets & tubes & pouches to disquise ipods, walkmans, etc ... and so that the earphones can have their wires ran up on theINSIDE of the clothing ...
There's gotta be something you can find for kids, too ...

radio-shack sells parts to those things, perhaps they could help you, find or figure out how to make something ... they are "the answer people", right?

I didn't try to put headphones on my little one until after she was 3 ... it was fine for her ... they were a bit big for awhile (the adjustable part over her head was big) ... she does keep picking the foam covers off ... FYI = we used the larger ones that go outside the ear, not the ear buds that go inside ...

Good Luck!

 

[lila]

Wow - I missed this other thread and am interested to read it. I am a weekly business traveler, and this is a huge pet peeve of mine. It is really inconsiderate for a passenger to be playing a DVD inflight without headphones.

Other passengers are trying to sleep, or read, or work and that noise is really negatively impacting them. I have to disagee with a PP - for me, it is much easier to sleep surrounded by noisy/crying children than someone's DVD playing (even using my Ipod and BOSE noise reduction headphones).

I have observed this occuring on several flights recently - one just last week to Orlando. In each case I was annoyed, but kept quiet and let my fellow passengers complain - someone will always complain. In the cases I have observed, the FAs have always instructed the offender to turn off the volume.

ETA - I just found the previous thread, and boy is it a doozy:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1133734

 

[PollyannaMom]

We actually found kid-sized headphones at one of those big music stores - F.Y.E. or Strawberries, maybe? Anyway, they came with a Spongebob cassette player, but it wasn't expensive, so we bought it just for the headphones.

 

[labdogs42]

I also just found a special toddler ipod case and kid sized headphones here:
http://ifrogz.com/products.php?cat=109&has_javascript=1
I have a video iPod, so maybe this could be my answer. I think this could be really cool for my DS. If I get it now, maybe I can teach him to twear the headphones in time for our trip. I think I'll go read the "doozy" thread now -- thanks for finding it for me!

 

[jodifla]

We always flew with a DVD player and did not use headphones when DS was little. Once some not-so-nice person complained. The other times, they didn't. We took DVDs with only classical music on them.

 

[emmismom05]

You could just try to see if he'll wear the headphones ahead of time. My DD2 has no problems other than they fall off sometimes but she thinks they're pretty cool.