Write your best tips for airplane travel with a 1 year old

[JleStar]

Please help! I'm leaving on Thursday and need your advice. My son is 13 months old and active. He has never been on a plane. Our flight is 7.5 hours, then another 1.5. He does not take a pacifier and does not drink from a bottle.

 

[Natsku]

Will he drink from a carton of juice with a straw (or a glass of something with a straw)? A straw helps in the same way as a bottle does for the ear pressure. I flew with Maria when she was 13 months old and it was pretty easy really, she was very active too and we spent a lot of time walking up and down the aisle and the people sitting near us all played with her a bit. I took lots of snacks and a new book and a small electronic (but not too loud) toy and she was pretty well entertained but that was a shorter flight than yours.

 

[seoj]

^^Agree with above... just walk with LO to take breaks from sitting (when you can). And take a straw cup if LO will use it.

I would take along an iPad (there are "baby" apps you can download or even on your smartphone) or coloring book/pens (even those color wonder kind so it doesn't end up all over the seat lol)-- maybe a doodle pad, puzzles-- things to occupy their little mind. I've only flown with LO once and she ws 8mos- so she slept most the way.

I'm sure it will be fine. My step-sister flew several times with her son- across country, so a good 7-8hr flight. He did really well overall. Best of luck!

 

[onetwothreebp]

Resign yourself now to the fact that you will probably get at least one dirty look. I never really stopped to think about it so when Asher had a bout of being really unhappy of being on my lap and fussed for a bit, the amount of dirty looks that were thrown my way really surprised and upset me. I could have just let it go but that's not my style, lol.

I turned to this older women who kept glaring and tutting and said "It's hard enough to know that not only is my son unhappy, but everybody else around us is unhappy as well. I'm doing my best to keep him happy but looks and comments like yours don't help me. They stress me out which in turn, stresses my baby out, which in turn, makes him cry more!"

That shut her up pretty quickly!

 

[Natsku]

Resign yourself now to the fact that you will probably get at least one dirty look. I never really stopped to think about it so when Asher had a bout of being really unhappy of being on my lap and fussed for a bit, the amount of dirty looks that were thrown my way really surprised and upset me. I could have just let it go but that's not my style, lol.

I turned to this older women who kept glaring and tutting and said "It's hard enough to know that not only is my son unhappy, but everybody else around us is unhappy as well. I'm doing my best to keep him happy but looks and comments like yours don't help me. They stress me out which in turn, stresses my baby out, which in turn, makes him cry more!"

That shut her up pretty quickly!

Well said!
I was so scared every time I flew with Maria that I would get dirty looks but actually I never did (yet, flying again tomorrow so shall see how that goes!) even when Maria was screaming for about 40 minutes nearly non-stop cos her ears hurt so bad, people just gave sympathetic looks and offered advice, hoping people will be as understanding tomorrow.

 

[housewifey]

We packed a 'goody bag' with new (cheap) toys that she hadn't seen before so it distracted for a little longer than a toy she is used to would. Take things out one at a time otherwise you'll end up with mess and a bored child after 2 hours! We put things in it like a new colouring book and pens, jigsaw, a few different new books (cant think what else but you get the jist!)

Also have plenty of wipes, snacks and water. Remember you are restricted at times when you can get up, snacks like cheerios last longer than something that's in one bit ie, cereal bar.

Try and get up as often as you can to stretch your legs.

Also take advantage of other children, my LO played peek-a-boo amongst other games with 2 children sat behind us for over an hour, when we were getting off I thanked the lady and her children for distracting my LO and she thanked me and my LO back for distracting hers haha!

Enjoy your holiday

 

[Seity]

Have a special new toy just for on the plane and if possible have a tether attached to it, so you don't have to retrieve it from the floor. I nursed my son for take offs and landings, so that there wasn't a problem with his ears adjusting to the pressure change.

 

[skc22]

I flew 5 hours when my LO was 13 months. I got a few new toys that were small, some books and a few snacks. I was really worried about it, but she slept the entire time and again on the return flight (she was bfing so I just popped her on take off and landing). She is an awful sleeper to this day, and has never slept that long before. People were surprised when I got off the plane that I had a baby with me. Hopefully your LO will surprise you and do the same

 

[Lulabelle27]

We took our DD on a 12 1/2 hour flight at 13 months (I was dreading it)...our trick...we kept her up late the night before, woke her early in the morning and let her sleep on the flight. It worked nicely and she slept for the majprity, waking to have a drink, something to eat etc. Towards the end of the flight we got her changed and sat and read books.

I also really liked that she she was awake, I should have her sat on my knee with the tray table down and it acted almost like a high chair so she couldn't move around too much.

Other tips, we got up and wandered around a bit, let her stretch her legs when she was awake and have a little e3xplore (obviously avoiding serving/duty free time). We also bought some plain paper and crayons for her to keep her occupied though she didnt use them very much at all.

Good luck, i'm sure you'll have a fantastic time.

 

[d_b]

We went to visit my parents when LO was 14 months.. it was two flights, about 10 hours of travel time. IPad was a life saver, and lots of Cheerios and raisins! On some of the flights we were able to get seats with no seat in front of us (there was a flight attendant room in the middle of the plane) - this was great as it had more leg room so we could let DS down onto the floor for a bit.

 

[jenny82]

We're flying in about 7 hours and I also have a very fussy little woman to entertain on the flight

Like a PP, I have packed a goody bag for both of them with new, cheap toys they can fiddle about with. LOTS of snacks. THeir blankets & teddies. I really hope it will be ok. My older one should be fine as if all else fails, we have the iPad. The younger baby really is a law onto herself so I'm stressing about her!

 

[emsie_123]

Books,
snacks,
show little videos /music videos on your phone or tablet. I highly recomend baby einstein.l
little mini boxes of reisins is a life saver.

 

[ClaireLouise]

On our trip to Florida a couple of years ago (Marley was 22 months) he had to sit on my knee for the whole 9 hour flight so I researched this thoroughly as I was dreading it!

I had my phone for apps and his fave films, a DS, I made him a lucky bag: made up of snacks, little £1 toys wrapped in wrapping paper so he was excited to open them, toy cars, story book, a magic colouring book (has pens that only work on the paper so won't mark anything) there was also a tv on our seat so we watched Rio.....twice haha. I did also walk him up and down the aisle a few times to stretch our legs and the MIL swapped seats for a while so I could eat and relax.

I brought his blanket and small pillow so he was comfortable. We also went through the inflight magazines a few times and played "can you find a......."

Looking out the window and pointing out clouds etc.

Give them sweeties to suck on during take off and landing and I also apologised in advance to nearby passengers if he played up but he was fine really.

On the way home there was an empty seat so we could use it and it was much easier.

BABY WIPES!! Haha