The Terrible Twos and Flying

[inloveindisney]

Ok, my daughter is definitely in the terrible two stage of development right now. A few temper tantrums a day and just all out whiney.
So, I"m really worried about our flight in a few days. I will have four flights total with the longest being 1.5 hours. She's not typically one of those cuddly children that like to sit on laps. She's a little more wild. If we had known all this prior to booking the flight, we may have considered getting her her own seat.
Anyway, I was wondering, just so I can prepare myself, what happens if my child does throw a tantrum? I mean, I'm sure mine will not be the first child to throw one on a plane, but what should I do to be courteous to everyone else? She typically just has to finish once she starts and then she's fine, but I can see that being horribly horrible on a cramped plane.
I am way over prepared for these flights. I have all kinds of special goodies packed and have bought a few brand new toys to introduce once we get there.


I was also thinking that maybe we could request to get on the plane at the last possible moment? Anyone else do this? I just know that sometimes you can sit there forever while everyone is getting situated and I don't want to have to sit there any longer than necessary.
Then, we have also realized that our second flight is right in the middle of naptime. This is not good. She doesn't sleep if she's not in bed.
Ugh, just thinking about it makes me tense. I'm really hoping she'll just be excited about all the new stuff happening that it won't make a difference, but this is the number one thing I'm worried about for this upcoming trip. I might need a nice drink and a relaxing soak in the hottub when we get to Orlando!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Oh boy! All I can say is good luck! Maybe she'll surprise you and be really good on the plane (fingers crossed!!!).

I think you have the basics already covered - new little toys to pull out, snacks, etc. I would make sure the toys don't make noise for the sake of your fellow passengers. Have you thought about her ears during take-off and landing? There's nothing worse than an active toddler with an earache! Usually, giving her a sippy cup will help keep her ears clear. If she's a kicker, try to keep her legs situated so she's not kicking the seat in front of her.

Otherwise, just stay positive and do your best. That's about all you can do. Hope it goes well!

 

[inloveindisney]

sorry, duplicate

 

[inloveindisney]

Yes, we considered the ear thing. I have chewy snacks and two sippy cups (just in case we forget one or something crazy happens to it). We also have pretzels and those cheese dunker crackers.
The toys I got were a little magnet carry case with winnie the pooh characters. You can move the magnets around according to the scenes on the case. I also got pipe cleaners and a carry pouch with a coloring book and fat crayons.
Also, I got these small notebooks and a ton of stickers. I tested it out and she loves to stick those stickers on herself and on the pages in the notebook, so I think that will be her favorite activity.

 

[williamohms]

We flew down in March with a 2 year old who definitely is in the terrible two stages of life. Surprisingly she was really good on the plane. We actually had little to no problems from her the entire flight including any stops at other airports. Hope you have good luck. If anything I can offer is, ours was at the tantrum stage in March and she didn't fit at all during the flight and was very eager to know what was going on.

We are flying on Saturday to go back to Disney and I'm a tad concerned with the same 2 year old who has gotten wilder since March.

 

[Doot Fan Mommy]

I have the same concerns for my 2.5 year old as we go down in a week and a half!! Our longest flight is 2 hrs 45 min. We made up a goodie bag of stickers, magic pen books, color wonder books, DVD player with toddler headphones, lolly pops, chewy snacks, etc. I just hope that he can't reach the seat in front of him from his car seat because he is a kicker!!

 

[nilseks]

Can't really offer you much advice, just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! And also to answer your question about what happens if a child throw a tantrum...pretty much nothing. Except that you wish the roof would open up and eject you because you are so mortified about your kid. On our trip 2.5 years ago, my then 2.5 year old decided he was going to throw a fit THE WHOLE WAY HOME. Yes, he was the kid who screamed for 2.5 hours on the plane. The bit me repeatedly, he kicked the seat in front of us 1,000 times, he squirmed, he screamed, he went bezerk. I resorted to pulling the seat belt as tight as I could with one hand, putting my other arm across him, and just HOLDING ON. It was a nightmare and boy, did I do the walk of shame out of that plane. Throughout the whole thing the flight attendents just kept walking by and giving me the "I'm sorry" look.

I was soooo bad, I was sooooo emotionally scarred (lol), last year we drove 1,200 miles because I couldn't stomach the thought of another flight like that. We are flying in 2 weeks and I pray to God my now 5 year-old can control himself.

So hey, if nothing else, just think...your kid probably won't be anywhere near as terrible as mine!!!

 

[goofygal531]

When you arrive to board, tell the flight attendant that you need to sit up front and might need assistance as your child is not a good "flyer". They'll put you in the first row and help you out. They've played with my DS4 the entire 2 hour flight. He's helped collect garbage, handed out snacks, and the flight attendants take him to the restroom to wash his hands with the foam soap, which he loves! Also, the front row is a little wider, so you can bring toys and put your child on the floor to play.

Also bring "surprise toys". We have airport backpacks for the boys that they only use for the airports. Inside we have Disney-related activity books, sticker books, lollypops, color wonder, etc...

The flight attendants are there to help you and believe me they have tons of simple tricks of their sleeves to entertain the little ones.

A DVD player also helps. We fly Jet Blue exclusively just for the movies!

We also always take the first flight out of NY at 6:30 am because my 20 month old ALWAYS falls back asleep. We take the evening flight back and he naps on the return flight too.

Good luck! You have a short flight.

Oh, my 20 month old LOVES Ring Pops stops a tantrum immediately!!! The Dollar Tree sells them 5 for $1 which is a steal! I think because he uses a pacifier he thinks the Ring Pop is a COOL YUMMY pacifier!! It amazingly stops a tantrum. I just had to use it this morning at the doctors office!!!

 

[goofygal531]

I might need a nice drink and a relaxing soak in the hottub when we get to Orlando!

Bath Bombs from Basin in DTD or Basin White at the GF!!

 

[nessz79]

I flew with a 16 month old son while I was 7 months pregnant and we didn't get him his own seat. I have NO idea what I was thinking, except I think I thought other people would hold him. He only wanted me. I would never have done it again.

However, since the situation is already done, just be prepared with the toys, etc. Bring new things that she doesn't already play with so she'll be more interested in them. If you have someone else who will be with you, take turns.

When she freaks out, don't worry. Yes, some people will be annoyed, but you just have to keep calm and not worry about them.

The sound of the plane tends to be very soothing, so she may fall asleep. That was my saving grace with my toddler - he slept for at least half the flight.

You'll get through it!

 

[crashbb]

When you arrive to board, tell the flight attendant that you need to sit up front and might need assistance as your child is not a good "flyer". They'll put you in the first row and help you out. They've played with my DS4 the entire 2 hour flight. He's helped collect garbage, handed out snacks, and the flight attendants take him to the restroom to wash his hands with the foam soap, which he loves! Also, the front row is a little wider, so you can bring toys and put your child on the floor to play.

I'm going to assume that you were flying SW, on any other airline (well other than European LCC like RyanAir or EasyJet) the flight attendant can not just put you up front, since those seats are likely assigned to someone else.

I'm also going to assume it was a fairly empty/uneventful flight - most of the time FA have too much to do to play with your child for you.

OP - if you are not on SW (i.e. on a flight with assigned seats), definitely let her run around before getting on the plane. You said "we" so I'm going to assume that you aren't doing this solo, if that is the case, I'd send the other adult(s) onto the plane before you, so that they can settle your carry-on baggage etc. and then you and your daughter can board close to the end of boarding.

For the most part, people understand that there is not much you can do with a child on a plane - it isn't as if you can take them for a walk out of earshot - and are willing to give you a break (i.e. not roll their eyes/comment) if you are at least trying to calm your child down and came prepared. From the advice you've gotten here and from your ideas in your OP, it sounds like you are doing the best you can. All you can do now is hope for the best.

BTW - is your daughter actually in the "terrible twos" or just acting like it? I thought that lap babies had to be under the age of 2 years (and they do ask for proof).

 

[goofygal531]

I'm going to assume that you were flying SW, on any other airline (well other than European LCC like RyanAir or EasyJet) the flight attendant can not just put you up front, since those seats are likely assigned to someone else.

I'm also going to assume it was a fairly empty/uneventful flight - most of the time FA have too much to do to play with your child for you.

Jet Blue, full flights.

Every flight we've flown with them (MANY!) their flight attendants go out of their way to entertain my children. They always announce to the children "who wants to collect garbage?". They make a game out of putting the garbage in the swinging garbage can. The Co-Pilot comes out, gives the kids wings mid-flight. It's really very entertaining. Plus you gotta love those TVs!

Every time I've asked to be put in the front row, they have fullfilled my request. They reserve those seats for those in need of assistance, flying alone, people afraid to fly etc.... As long as you say you need an extra hand, they'll put you there. My DH does not like to fly, he gets antsy. They talk to him, give him tons of liquor! and help me out with the kids when DH zones out.

If you ask for their help, they are there to assist you. They have tons of tricks up their sleeves for entertaining kids with the simpliest things like making paper planes out of the barf bags!

 

[goofygal531]

BTW - is your daughter actually in the "terrible twos" or just acting like it? I thought that lap babies had to be under the age of 2 years (and they do ask for proof).

Jet Blue has NEVER asked proof of age for my kids. They don't need the children's ID under 18 years of age - that's their policy.

My 20 month old will be on my lap this trip too

 

[crashbb]

Jet Blue, full flights.

Every time I've asked to be put in the front row, they have fullfilled my request. They reserve those seats for those in need of assistance, flying alone, people afraid to fly etc.... As long as you say you need an extra hand, they'll put you there. My DH does not like to fly, he gets antsy. They talk to him, give him tons of liquor! and help me out with the kids when DH zones out.

How, on a full flight, could the bulkhead possibly still be empty when you got on board? I could (sort of) understand if you asked at check-in or (less likely) at the gate, but not once on board. If the flight is full, there had to have been people already in those seats. I'm not being argumentative, but if we are giving suggestions to the OP, they have to be ones that will work for her and set up expectations that are not met.

I've never flown JB, but I have bulkhead seats on Air Canada, United, and US Airways for flights within the next 2 weeks and I know that there are other people also already assigned seats in these rows. Saying that you need an extra hand is not going to put you there.

 

[crashbb]

Jet Blue has NEVER asked proof of age for my kids. They don't need the children's ID under 18 years of age - that's their policy.

My 20 month old will be on my lap this trip too

Since the FFA rules that only children under 2 years can be lap children, all airlines (by Federal law) are supposed to see proof of age for any lap children. Any child for whom a seat has been purchased, doesn't need ID.

You are correct that the TSA doesn't require ID under the age of 18 - I was refering to the fact that the OP stated that she didn't purchase a seat for her daughter. I know that others have been caught by the "under 2" versus "2 and under" rule.

 

[quasar4legs]

You may like to give your little one the chance to run around before the flight. If there is a play equipment at the airport make of use of it prior to the flight.

Try to relax no matter what as kids are very good at picking up your tension and I am sure that if the worst happens most people will just feel sorry for you.

Good Luck and have a magical trip.
Trish

 

[goofygal531]

How, on a full flight, could the bulkhead possibly still be empty when you got on board?

Jet Blue keeps the first row empty for those in need of any type of assistance. At the gate, you may request to sit in those seats. I've flown alone with one of my sons, and sat there as well as our whole family last year when my DH was really nervous during a storm.

 

[goofygal531]

You are correct that the TSA doesn't require ID under the age of 18 - I was refering to the fact that the OP stated that she didn't purchase a seat for her daughter. I know that others have been caught by the "under 2" versus "2 and under" rule.

Well, I can see how people try to get away with it since the airlines do not ask for ID for the children.

 

[bavaria]

JetBlue reserves row 1 and row 2 seats in order to provide advance
seat assignments, as requested, to customers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors. We will gladly pre-assign these seats to qualified individuals at the time of booking when requested.

As someone who does fly weekly in the bulkhead row, I would suggest that being a whiney toddler (to paraphrase the OP) does not fall into the requirements outlined by JetBlue. It would be a courtesy to your fellow travellers to truly keep those seats for those who need them.

As crashbb pointed out, almost every other carrier reserves the bulkhead row for elite travellers. I would not lead readers to believe that they can request a bulkhead row on the majority of carriers, as it will be highly unlikely that those seats would still be available.

As to FAs entertaining children; again, please do not expect this. FAs are there for your safety. Having been in several airline incidents, I can assure you that I would far rather have someone on board who can react and deal with an emergency than someone who is acting as babysitter.

OP, thousands of people fly with their children every day, with success. Don't stress or panic as I am sure you know this can have an impact on your children. Read up as much as you can in advance about clearing security, etc; have reasonable expectations from your family, your fellow passengers, and the airline crew, and you should manage it just fine.

 

[crashbb]

JetBlue reserves row 1 and row 2 seats in order to provide advance
seat assignments, as requested, to customers with disabilities and unaccompanied minors. We will gladly pre-assign these seats to qualified individuals at the time of booking when requested.

This was what I trying to get at. Even if the OP is flying JB, they do not keep the first row empty - one may get lucky and have the row available at the gate, but do not count on it. And, if a passenger in one of the groups noted above needs the bulkhead, they would very likely get it before a family would.

Also, JB does say that they can ask for proof of age for lap children:

Customers traveling with lap children are required to call 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) to provide JetBlue with the name and birthdate of the lap child.

A child between the ages of three days old until their second birthday is considered a lap child and does not need to pay for a seat.

Once a child has their second birthday, they are no longer considered a lap child and a seat must be purchased in order for them to travel. If the child has their second birthday between the outbound and return flight, a seat will need to be purchased for the return flight.

Customers traveling with a lap child could be asked for proof of age, such as a passport, birth certificate (copies are acceptable for domestic travel) or an
immunization record when the infant's age is questionable.