what do u do on a plane with a toddler?

[Cadillac_Dreamgirl]

i will be flying from tennessee to californiA and I have a 14 month old .
Many ppl give tips on what to do, some say medicate or flying all nite.

what are you tips ? and what meds are ppl talking about?

 

[NemoMOm]

I would before with meds if she has a reaction there is no way to get help.

We bring these to entertain DS. Portable DVD player, books, stickers, and post-its. Good Luck

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Portable DVD player is the best. Snacks and a sippy cup will kill some time. Getting a direct flight would be my best tip. I wouldn't fly at night personally. What if they won't go to sleep on the plane? Then you would definitely have a very cranky kid.

GL!

 

[jcc0621]

Our flight isn't as long as yours, but still need to keep DS entertained. We are bringing our laptop for him to watch a movie on. We are also bringing some books and some small toys for him.

 

[vancesmom]

Please don't medicate your child. My son made it to Europe and back with no major problem. Snacks - Movies - and a roll of masking tape. Really - he loved just sticking it around - making pictures - making balls. And it all comes up really easy. Cheap too.

 

[Minnie_me]

I agree with *not* medicating your child. It can backfire. Aside from a reaction, which can be dangerous, some meds like Benedryl can actually cause jitters and hyperactivity. You don't want THAT!

In addition to the great suggestions from above, my DD was enthralled with WIPES during a long car trip at that age. She wiped everything! Her toys, her carseat, the car window, her arms and legs, etc. It occupied her for almost 2 hours!!

Also, pipe cleaners are nice little things to play with and make little things with. Use supervision, though, the have a sharp wire inside.

A little tub of playdoh can be a lifesaver too!

And we always used Colorforms -- DD could stick them everywhere, and they come right off.

good luck!

 

[Mkrop]

be careful of colorforms going in the child's mouth, choking hazard.

We have used Magnadoodles, books (all kinds, the kind you push buttons to make noises, although some on here may complain because it may bother the person sitting near you) Id rather listen to that then a cranky kid JMHO. Pop up books then if you dont want noise. Anything new! A plastic slinky, will they color? Colorwonders are great.

Good luck!

 

[Honeymooner04]

I would agree to NOT medicate your child, too dangerous. I fly with my daughter a lot and I think the portable DVD's are the best! I also have a sippy cup and lots of snacks at the ready. It's funny, my daughter also loves wipes! I also will read to her and play games like Pat-a-cake and things like that when she gets tired of DVDs. She also likes looking at the Skymall. Lately she's stopped sleeping on the plane so we've had to get creative! Hope you have a good trip!

 

[krystalleigh1]

Stickers, a small flashlight, some snacks she would love to eat but dosen't normally get at home (mini m&m's, cheetos, etc.), a cup and a small ball-put the ball in and out of the cup, view master, color wonder stuff, books, dvd player, cheap little things you find at the dollar store.

 

[robertl30]

I want to make sure I understand. Are you suggesting you medicate your child? Or the parent? If the latter, all airlines I've flown have always been willing to provide me all the "medication" I've needed to help deal with the trauma of flying with children. Comes in convenient 1oz bottles.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I know the flight may be on the long side, but it's not that long. You should be just fine with a 14 mos old. I would recommend you buy the baby a seat and bring the carseat on if possible. That way your little one has a place to sit if need be. What we normally do is fly close to nap time. That way we get on the plane, the kids have some time to enjoy the novelty of the plane and then go to sleep. Well, my youngest goes to sleep, the oldest holds out! If your baby is still on the bottle or nursing that is a great way to deal with the altitude changes.

I have medicated a child for a flight. It was a night flight from Hawaii to Houston. I don't believe that benedryl is dangerous. We give it to my kids when they are ill. As long as you know how they will react to it, there is no problem. However, it's really not something I recommend. We did it b/c it was a night flight, she is a terrible sleeper and we were really worried about the flight. It was a terrible idea. She ended up having an ear infection and was waking up screaming every few minutes. But, even though she was waking she was a complete limp wet noodle. I would not do it again.

For a flight that short you should be just fine. Bring some toys, snacks, drinks, etc. and just be ready to entertain!

 

[bumbershoot]

Don't fly at night. If she doesn't sleep, neither will you, but SHE can sleep the next day, and you can't! Also, if you're not getting her a seat, you won't be able to doze off even if she does (that goes for day flights, too).

We did the lap baby thing when DS was around...16 months, and I wouldn't do it again. It was convenient to be able to nurse him on takeoff, but other than that my arms were SO tired from holding him! DH's belly kept him from holding DS in those itty airplane seats, so it was almost all me, almost all the time. youch!

A year later we flew with him in a seat, and it was SO much better. He likes his seat, he could play with things in his lap, it was much better. Get her a seat if at all possible.

We didn't have a DVD player (portable) until recently, but I can absolutely see how it could be wonderful for a flight. I know that some airports now rent them!

On our way back last time it was just me and DS, and the flight attendant took a liking to him (and wanted to keep him quieter) and gave him a little packet of Southwest stuff...stick-on wings, crayons, a coloring book about SW. It was wonderful. I also brought stickers so he could put them all over his face (it's his hobby, I think)...cheap stickers that don't stick well, by the way.

have fun!

 

[tjlovespooh]

We'll be flying with DS, 17mo, next week and have slowly built up an arsenal of small toys, stickers, and books to bring with us for the flight(3hrs).
A few of the things we're bringing are:
LOADS of stickers
slinky jr.
sticky note pads
small book(to put stickers on)
small photo albums filled with pics of DS & family(he loves looking at photos)
MANY board books (mostly well-read favs, some new)
small wind-up toys
travel magna doodle
travel/mini aquadoodle(plan to fill pen with water on plane)
chunky magnetic animal "puzzles"
play cell-phones
snap beads (links)
small pks of lizards/frogs
portable DVD (just in case all else above fails, DS doesn't watch TV and being able to view Elmo in action would be a treat for him)

 

[NYCCaitlin]

Portable DVD player is the best. Snacks and a sippy cup will kill some time. Getting a direct flight would be my best tip. I wouldn't fly at night personally. What if they won't go to sleep on the plane? Then you would definitely have a very cranky kid.

GL!

We made that mistake on DS's first trip. To put it this way....It was a long, painful flight. To put it this way....I was not the msot dandy guest the next morning!

 

[NotUrsula]

A little tub of playdoh can be a lifesaver too!

Not anymore. TSA won't allow it (or anything of similar consistency) through security now; it looks too much like plastic explosive on the x-ray.

 

[bzzymom]

I take stickers and paper and crayons, goldfish crackers, now I have a portable DVD player which helps. I also have a travel magnadoodle which is very small. Also, when DS was small, he took a viewmaster.

 

[babymay]

Bring lollipops. The sucking will help their ears.

 

[robsmom]

I don't think some medication is so terrible. My son has always had on and off allergies and i have given him claritin for kids or benadryl for kids. At times we have had prescription allergy meds. since he takes them periodically i know that he won't react to them. flying congests me and besides making him sleepy they keep is airways clearer. Also sometimes some tylenol can help the ear pain.

dvds, gameboy etc.

 

[Mkrop]

Not a Dr but I dont believe antihistamines like benadryl and claritin will help with the ear issue, for that you would need a decongestant to drain your ears. Those make you hyper. I was told this by my Dr to take Sudafed an hour before my flight to help with ear pain and pressure for me an adult that is!

Benadyrl is suppose to make you drowsy but it has been know to make some kids hyper so I dont know if I would count on it. Claritin specifically say non drowsy formula on the bottle.

I think your best IMHO is to bring many of the toys suggested and be prepared to play. My little one was as good as gold as long I was prepared to play. Read, draw on the magnadoodle for him etc. I gave up hope of trying to read my People magazine I bought.

 

[SnowWhite12]

Anyone know if you are allowed to carry the glow-sticks on the plane, or do you have to pack them in luggage to check? I'm assuming they are filled with liquid.