The Terrible Twos and Flying

[DISNEYFOS]

Does your child sleep in his/her carseat in the car? Besides safety of course, this is my number 1 reason to buy a seat. The hum of the engine puts them to sleep every time and they are comfortable in their familiar seat.

 

[inloveindisney]

Ok, yes, my daughter is under two. Children are not necessarily in the terrible two's just because they're two. They really start much earlier than that. Trust me, she's there.
I've decided it will be fine. We'll do our best and we'll either have an interesting story to tell or we'll have a great time! Keep checking back for the update! We leave in two days!

 

[nessz79]

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

We flew JetBlue and had to produce ID for our lap child. We only had a SS card and a vaccination card- they needed 2 forms of ID.

 

[churchpilot]

If you google screaming kids and airlines, you will get find an article about soothing kids on airlines. The biggest tip seems to be suckers, like a PP mentioned. The best advice I can give you is keep your positive attitude. IF your child does throw a fit, the other passengers are more sympathetic and tolerant if they perceive that the parents are doing their best instead of "oh well, we paid our money too so grin and bear it!" I know I am always rooting for the parents because you never really can predict the behavior of a 2 year old! I find it odd that in today's sue happy society that airlines allow children to help pass out snacks and pick up trash--I know I have never seen it and would never let my children participate. The safest place for anyone on an airline is buckled up in their seat, as unexpected turbulence has injured hundreds of people and killed a few. Your flight time will "fly" by and then you will be at the most magical place on earth!!!! Yea!!!!!!!!!! Good luck.

 

[bavaria]

I find it odd that in today's sue happy society that airlines allow children to help pass out snacks and pick up trash--I know I have never seen it and would never let my children participate. The safest place for anyone on an airline is buckled up in their seat, as unexpected turbulence has injured hundreds of people and killed a few.

I agree completely and I think that the poster who gave out information about bulkhead seats and 'babysitting' on board had a very unusual experience, which should not be taken for the norm.

In fact, on many carriers it is a requirement to have the seatbelt buckled at all times while seated. I don't know the laws in America but suspect that it is similar as I fly UA very frequently and they too discourage anyone roaming the cabin or standing in the bulkhead or galley areas.

Also, as one who does sit in the bulkhead, it is very annoying to have passengers treat that space as a lounge or a play area. This is especially bad when seated in row 9 left side on a 757, when there is about 8 feet of empty space. This is not a cocktail bar or playground, but someone's personal space, and as people are often trying to sleep it should be respected.

Ultimately, safety is the first concern, and even if one has small children (or especially if one has small children), properly trained FAs will not encourage this sort of behaviour as it endangers passengers and crew.

 

[nikkers]

I have not read everyone elses replies. We fly several times a year with my 2 kids DS (4) and DD (2). I flew once with my son as a lap child. He was just under 2 years old. My husband was not with us on the flight. We ended up in the middle seat. I had people on both sides, no open seat. It was very difficult to get things out of our bag to keep him entertained. If you are flying by yourself, get an aisle seat. Much easier to set your child down for a sec to readjust. But if you are flying with someone else you will not have that issue. Or maybe you will luck out and have a open seat next to you. Good luck!

 

[nilseks]

In fact, on many carriers it is a requirement to have the seatbelt buckled at all times while seated.

Exactly! When my child was having his horrific tantrum, it happened to be during a very turbulent flight. The flight attendants told me he NEEDED to be strapped in. I had to physically pull his belt tight and hold my hand over the latch mechanism so he couldn't get out.

And let me just say for the record, in no way, shape or form did the flight attendants ever offer to "entertain" my child. Not even close. Gave me lots of sympathetic looks and they were never condescending, which is more than I actually expected. I was lucky to have a *VERY* kind and understanding man next to me who turned on his ipod for the entire time and acted like nothing was happening (this after I apologized profusely for my son's behavior ).

We are flying again in 2 weeks and initially when we booked our tix I didn't get any special seats. But AirTran bumped us from 2 different flights and in the course of talking to a SUPER nice agent about my son, it turns out her grandson has Sensory Integration Disorder like my son does, and she put us in the front row so he doesn't kick anyone's seat if he gets overwhelmed again. There are 6 seats in the front row and none had been taken so far, so I didn't feel bad about it. But of course if I saw a handicapped person I'd move out of there in a heartbeat. DH and DS will sit further back in 'regular' seats.

 

[staticgirl50]

I was terrified to bring DD on her first trip--She was 2 and could be a terror!! She was a GEM!!! We brought coloring books and tons of stickers, as well as cheap tiny plastic animals to keep her busy..Not sure she has been that good since!

 

[nikkers]

Exactly! When my child was having his horrific tantrum, it happened to be during a very turbulent flight. The flight attendants told me he NEEDED to be strapped in. I had to physically pull his belt tight and hold my hand over the latch mechanism so he couldn't get out.

And let me just say for the record, in no way, shape or form did the flight attendants ever offer to "entertain" my child. Not even close. Gave me lots of sympathetic looks and they were never condescending, which is more than I actually expected. I was lucky to have a *VERY* kind and understanding man next to me who turned on his ipod for the entire time and acted like nothing was happening (this after I apologized profusely for my son's behavior ).

We are flying again in 2 weeks and initially when we booked our tix I didn't get any special seats. But AirTran bumped us from 2 different flights and in the course of talking to a SUPER nice agent about my son, it turns out her grandson has Sensory Integration Disorder like my son does, and she put us in the front row so he doesn't kick anyone's seat if he gets overwhelmed again. There are 6 seats in the front row and none had been taken so far, so I didn't feel bad about it. But of course if I saw a handicapped person I'd move out of there in a heartbeat. DH and DS will sit further back in 'regular' seats.

From my understanding, a lap child cannot buckle in. You buckle in and they sit on your lap. At least that is what I was told, when my DS flew as a lap child.

 

[nilseks]

From my understanding, a lap child cannot buckle in. You buckle in and they sit on your lap. At least that is what I was told, when my DS flew as a lap child.

I was under the impression the OP's child would have their own seat, since she says she's in the terrible two's. A child over 2 cannot be on a lap. When I was referring to my son, he was 2.5 and had his own seat.

 

[DjdBrit]

I have only ever flown internationally with a child under 2 and have done this ALOT. We travel to England and its usually an overnight flight which my kids DO NOT sleep on, the good thing about these flights is that they have a belt that loops onto your seat belt and round the baby, these I don't believe are FAA approved (forgive me if I am wrong). This spring we went to Disney and my little guy was just 2 and got his own seat. It took all of 10 seconds for him to figure out how to unbuckle himself. I did bring a bag for each of my 3kids stuffed with snacks, stuff to do etc and included blankies, binkies and bears that they sleep with at home.... Still no napping

Good luck and as long as you are calm and do what you can, whatever will be will be

 

[nikkers]

I was under the impression the OP's child would have their own seat, since she says she's in the terrible two's. A child over 2 cannot be on a lap. When I was referring to my son, he was 2.5 and had his own seat.

I got it. I misunderstood.

 

[crashbb]

I was under the impression the OP's child would have their own seat, since she says she's in the terrible two's. A child over 2 cannot be on a lap. When I was referring to my son, he was 2.5 and had his own seat.

The OP clarified that although her daughter has entered the terrible twos, she is not yet 2 years old and will be traveling as a lap child.