How to Fly with a Toddler

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

favorite toys
new toys
books
snacks
sippy cup
tissue paper
yarn
magazine
compact mirror
know some songs to sing
Tylenol (for you!)
diaper bag and one big carry on bag
stroller
car seat
blanket
change of clothes
extra t-shirt for you
airline pillows

Step 1

bookyourownflight.com

Booking the flight. Book your airline tickets as early as you can. If your baby is under 2 years old, decide if you will purchase a seat for your child, or if they will ride on your lap. Flying with your baby on your lap is much cheaper, but it can get tiresome to hold onto them as toddlers are not the stillest of creatures. If they are in their own seat with an airline approved car seat, they may behave better since they are used to sitting in their car seat for long car rides.
If you can, try and book the bulkhead seats at the front of the coach class. You will have more leg room and no one sitting in front of you. If your child is small enough, you may even request the use of the airline bassinet for your baby to sleep in. If you are booking seats for you, a spouse and a lap infant, you might want to book a less desirable row near the back, perhaps even the last row by the bathrooms and book the window and aisle seat, hoping that no one will want to book that middle seat so you end up with the whole row to yourselves.
If possible, book your flight during a time your baby would take a nap or at night so they sleep.
Step 2

Carry On Baggage. You need to have 2 Carry On bags for Baby. 1 diaper bag and one small suitcase or back pack. A diaper bag does not count against your Carry On baggage allowance, even for a lap infant, so take advantage of the extra baggage allowance here. In the Diaper bag, pack all the things that you want easily accessible, such as diapers, sippy cup, snacks, and a few favorite small toys. In the second Carry On, you will want to pack as much stuff to entertain your baby as possible. Stock it with books, extra baby food and diapers in case of a delay, a change of clothes and an assortment of toys. Bring some new toys too. Go to the dollar store and pick out some new stuff to entertain your infant on board.
Just remember to pack lots of finger snacks, a blanket, stuffed animal, toy car, baby food, new toys wrapped in tissue paper (leaving one end open for inspection), the tissue paper is great to play with too!, a magazine to rip up (perhaps the in-flight one), a shoe lace, and a compact mirror that baby can open and close to play peek-a-boo!
Step 3

In the Diaper bag, pack all the things that you want easily accessible, such as diapers, sippy cup, snacks, and a few favorite small toys. In the second Carry On, you will want to pack as much stuff to entertain your baby as possible. Stock it with books, extra baby food and diapers in case of a delay, a change of clothes and an assortment of toys. Bring some new toys too. Go to the dollar store and pick out some new stuff to entertain your infant on board.
Just remember to pack lots of finger snacks, a blanket, stuffed animal, toy car, baby food, new toys wrapped in tissue paper (leaving one end open for inspection), the tissue paper is great to play with too!, a magazine to rip up (perhaps the in-flight one), a shoe lace, and a compact mirror that baby can open and close to play peek-a-boo!
Step 4

To make life easier, before you pack, tie a piece of yarn to each toy. If your baby likes to drop things on the floor or throw things, you can keep the end of the piece of yarn in your hand so that it doesn't end up hitting another passenger, or so you aren't trying to crouch down and search the airplane floor for toy cars. It also came in handy in the rental car. When my baby was fussy, I was able to tie a toy to a handle in the car above her car seat for instant entertainment.
Step 5

Some people suggest giving Tylenol or Benadryl to a baby before take off, however a lot of doctors say not to give them anything. The last thing you want is an adverse reaction when you are up in the air. Also, Benadryl can have opposite effects on kids sometimes making them drowsy and other times making them hyper active. My Pediatrician also informed me that Tylenol does not really help with ear pain for take off and landing. My daughter was teething during our trip so I did end up giving her Hyland's Teething Tablets which are homeopathic and have a natural calming effect.
Step 6

Gate check your stroller and car seat. The airline allows you to check the baby's stroller and car seat for free. When you get to the gate, go to the desk and let them know you want to gate check the stroller and car seat. Check if there are extra seats on the plane and they might let you bring your car seat on board even if you did not book a seat for your baby. If not, you can bring your stroller and car seat down and leave it at the jetway before you board the plane, and it will be waiting for you right there when you get off.
Step 7

They allow families with small children to board the plane first, however, you may not want to have to sit and wait in the plane that long. If you have a partner with you, have them board the plane early and get the carry on bags situated while you let your little one continue playing and burning off energy. Then board the plane last.
Step 8

During take off and landing, have your baby drinking or eating a snack to help them pop their ears quickly. I fed my daughter goldfish crackers and she didn't seem to be bothered by her ears at all.
Step 9

Do not worry if your baby cries. She has the right to fly too and even if it does get bad, the other passengers will live. Most people are pretty understanding and things will probably go better than you expect. You might find out it's better flying with an infant because your are so busy trying to keep them occupied, the flight goes by really fast!

Comments

oneloved said

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on 7/19/2008 Great ideas!

on 7/17/2008 I love that you want to offer the other passengers tylenol if they complain. That's marvelous! Also the tip of having one parent board early while the other entertains the children is great too. Last time we were waiting for 45 minutes and went through about half the snacks and games by the time we took off.