flying with toddler for first time

bluep

Take lots for your toddler to do on the plane, try and book a night flight in the future if its long haul, we're taking a portable dvd player with the current favourites of the Jungle Book and Pepper Pig -that's at least a couple of hours out the way! Stickers, crayons and paper is always popular (easier to manage than pens!) plus I always keep a few wierd adult things that belong to mummy and daddy and fascinate our toddler because she doesn't usually get to see them - sounds strange but keeps her occupied....like...a clip that fastens food bags shut, a nail brush, an old wallet with old invalid credit cards/pretend money, an old watch - generally things that don't make a noise but are a treat to explore!!

De-stress the experience - rather than a long drive to the airport in the morning, can you book a cheap hotel/B&B nearby, if the flight is in the afternoon, is there anywhere relatively spacious at the airport where they can have a good run around in between checking in and going through - tire them out for the flight by using up energy. If you are travelling with anyone else - maybe one of you could do the queuing for checkin with the luggage whilst the other plays with the toddler elsewhere out of the queue and joins the queuer when they reach the front.

Avoid all food likely to get them hyper - chocolate bribes may seem a good idea at luggage control but will you pay for it tenfold when stuck in the plane?!?! Definately a good idea to pick the most chewy food that they like to feed them during take off and landing or if they are too young, then a bottle to suck will work better than a sippy cup in equalising the ears during this time (if they are at the stage of having both bottle and cup sometimes).

Don't get overly worried about other people on the plane...I mean, be thoughtful rather than let them run wild but hey, if your child is crying, do what you would normally do make them feel better rather than focus on what other people are thinking about them crying. Yes, being near a crying baby/child on a plane really sucks, but if someone is trying to calmly solve the problem, i feel sympathy for the parent whereas if the kids are running wild and the parents are practically shouting at them, its much worse! Besides, big horrible snorey old men annoy me far more on a plane!! (Apologies to any big snorey old men who read this...but you know its true!).

What works best with our daughter generally is attention - dedicating the whole flight to playing with her, talking with her, telling stories, reading , cuddling, anticipating needs like food, nappies, drink before it gets to the stage where she is upset about it and focusing 100% on her for those hours. Something we don't always get time for when trying to do housework, shopping etc...

Can't think of much else at the moment but hope there's something helpful in there...

liney

Good luck! I would take my own nappies and take less clothes; you can always use a laundrette or hand wash while you are there. Leaking or irritating nappies will cause you more grief than adjusting your packing habits.

cazziebo

Jopsey

I took my two away many times when they were young. I am a single parent (not through choice - especially as the kids were both under three!) and as my family live in Canada, I'd travel there several times a year. (Can't afford it now as they are both teenagers and therefore full adult fares!) We also did Florida a couple of times which was a much longer flight.

First flights I was still breastfeeding the youngest so that was easy. I found reading stories and talking about what to expect made it much easier. Take new toys and produce them at intervals - my two loved these sticker books. As they got older travel Connect4 was good, and that game where you have to guess the faces. Taking little snacks helped as well - raisins, cheese cubes, grapes. Don't worry at all about other passengers - that will stress you out and the kids will pick up on that. My two were great - my only problem was people stopping to tell me how good they were and I thought they'd wake up!

My biggest problem was trying to get the luggage off the carousel with two tinies in tow... Never found an answer to that one!

Have a fab holiday.

C

TITEASCRAMP

Yes have a lovely time Jopsey. Im counting down to my holiday in July cant wait, my little girl is 6, but she has been going since she was 1. And she not just me really enjoy it. She keeps asking me how long now mummy? Have a great time and dont worry about what some people say.

MarkyMarkD

cazziebo wrote: »

My biggest problem was trying to get the luggage off the carousel with two tinies in tow... Never found an answer to that one!

Ask someone else to help, surely! There are always lots of spare people hanging around at the carousel.

elisebutt65

I've travelled with my 2 since they were both small, both with and without partners.

The collecting luggage thing really is the worst bit out of it though - I just waited until the scrums die down and then strapped one in the pushchair and held the other by the hand and grabbed luggage one handed - LOL

Long haul - I used to pack a wee case full of wrapped presents and doled them out one an hour - little things like a colouring book and crayons or a little toy. I don't normally advocate dummies either but if your littlie has one then use it for take-off and landing - or offer a drink then as the sucking helps their ears pressurise (or is it de-pressurise??)

It's absolute nonsense to go on about not taking kids on planes as well. They're usually so fascinated by the whole experience that they're better behaved than some adults!! Ever had a baby on your lap and the !!!!! in fronts decides to recline on you without warning???
*Tip for this - Keep a keen eye on the person in front of you and wedge your knees into the seat when they go for the button - after a few minutes futilely pushing back on the seat they WILL give up thinking it's knackered - RAFLMAO!!!!

milkydrink

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but bring some chewy sweets for take off & landing, it will help with sore ears.
Bring (or hire) a light buggy that reclines so baby can nap in it, especially in the evening while you have a coffee/drink after dinner.
Have a great time. Your baby will be welcomed & fussed over (& hijacked) wherever you go.
Kim

milkydrink

Duh, just read above:whistle: :doh:

Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully
Should read posts more carefully

:rotfl:

cazziebo

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

Ask someone else to help, surely! There are always lots of spare people hanging around at the carousel.

Have you ever been to Toronto?! Rudest people ever - passengers and employees. One woman eventually came to help and said to me she felt embarrassed to be Canadian, she was always offered help in Britain,

I did once faint waiting to go through immigration in Toronto - that got me fast tracked right through!

MarkyMarkD

I presume you flew from Britain, so you had at least half a plane full of other British passengers to choose from!

@elisebutt65 - I cannot understand AT ALL why budget airlines don't lock the seat mechanisms to prevent reclining. I cannot think of ANY occasion where I have found the person in front of me reclining their seat acceptable - it's ridiculous for them to do so on a short-haul flight where the person behind them has around 1 inch of knee-room and has (sometimes) to eat a meal or hold a baby.