flying with toddler for first time

Miss_Cinnabon

We have our first trip abroad in october, i have never been on a plane, dh been on one for an hour, 3 kids, youngest will be 2, so we are apprehensive say the least!:rolleyes:

I have visions of my youngest screaming the whole way! the flight is 9 hours so not a short flight.

Kyle

dawnybabes

We flew long haul last year with a 3 yr old - we packed a few new small toys, some books, some crayons etc and borrowed a portable CD player. We were "advised" to give him some travel sickeness meds as they would "knock him out" for part of the journey - ha ! Nope they made him hyper - so if you are going to do this try a trial run before you get on the plane ...

Eck

I know it's not going to be a walk in the park taking a toddler abroad

Just kind of sums up what i was saying really...:rolleyes:

tarajayne

We bought a portable dvd player for our flight to Canaries last year, £35, with 6 and 2 year old it kept them quiet all the way and was priceless waiting in the airport for the flight. We just don't enjoy the whole travel time thing and the hotel rooms where there is not much space. We decided to stick to self-catering in this country until youngest is a bit older, but that just suits us.

chocolategirl

We travelled to Spain last year with a 23 month old and 10 month old. Both sat on laps, and we couldn't sit together as the airline had a policy that 2 infants cannot sit on the same row on the plane! Not easy but it definitely wouldn't have put us off going abroad for another holiday. This year it's more expensive as have to pay for 2 year old, but we should be able to sit together!

TITEASCRAMP

I have been taking my daughter no further than spain since she was a toddler. i have never had a problem.(few crayons etc).
As for clothes i would take a blanket for baby in evening that way he/she may go sleep in pram if u go for a walk or meal. as for u cardi will do im sure.(its april now).

Eck

We just don't enjoy the whole travel time thing and the hotel rooms where there is not much space. We decided to stick to self-catering in this country until youngest is a bit older, but that just suits us.

:T :T :T :T

MummyOf1_2

were off next month and i also wondered about the nappies, my son is 16 months and i didn't know how much to take. I may try out taking on the economy packs, i will double check with the airline as well.

tarajayne

Would also like to add a note, but people should make up there own mind. Our 2 year old was poorly, obviously some kind of virus, hot and covered in a rash. Doctor did not speak English but did manage to keep telling us 'must keep them out of the sun!' Even though the had factor 50, sun hats and t-shirts, the doctor just assumed it was sun and not an illness. The day after turned out to be a really bad cold and cough. Very scary though and certainly would not put a little one through that again. The trouble is when they are small one illness knocks them out and you have no idea how they really feel. Made me realise though when the rep explained the next day, our kids are not used to that kind of heat and the doctors over there see it everyday which was why that was the only line they knew. We are just very grateful it was nothing serious that would have needed proper treatment. I hope that most doctors abroad are a little more thorough.

Point being, stay out of the midday sun, thats why they have a siesta, they don't put their kids through it. If you look around its just the British wandering around trying to make the most of it. Have a nap and wander around of an evening, if you want a tan get a bottle one 'cos little ones can't take it.

azurepurple

I went to the Canary Islands in November 05 when my son had just turned 1 and again in May 06 when he was 1 and a half and to be honest i didn't know what to expect. Both times weather was very hot - even in November. No-one seemed bothered with jackets at night. Due to it being near Africa Gran Canaria generally is hotter than many countries abroad as you prob know. It can occasionally get slightly nippy on a night, but only slightly and I'm nesh and feel the cold really easy! I just needed my jacket for the plane and going back to chilly Britain!

I rammed a load of nappies into my case and all kinds of baby foods and creams but honestly speaking I didn't need to go overboard. There are loads of supermarket type shops you can get all kinds of baby things from out there and they're really cheap as are a lot of the baby foods if you need them.

The flights not that long and luckily we found that other passengers were really accommadating. My son had a little pain on take off and landing with his ears and wsn't keen on being strapped to me with a child safety belt! We managed fine with swapping him on our laps though and didn't have an extra seat and when we had our meals another family opposite asked to play with him while we ate. At one bit he even was crawling in the aisles after a hostess advised us to let him have a play and amazingly not one person complained, in fact we made loads of friends through it!!

If you can though get strong sunblock over here though as it's expensive for childrens sun cream I thought.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Gran Canaria was very child orientated I found and there was loads of childrens entertainment in both hotels we stayed in. Hope you have a nice time.