Traveling with Our 21 Month Old

My son is 2 1/2 and we have flown with him a couple of times since he was born. I invested in the sit n stroll. It is a carseat stoller combination. I will roll right down the airplane aisle to the seats and you can strap him into it on the plane. The wheels fold underneath. It is about $200 but we found it helpful.

The dvd, liquids at take off and landing and bringing new toys are all great ideas. The last time we flew, I gave my son a toy with multiple sound buttons and he kept pressing the doorbell sound over and over and over. I told him to press something else before he bothered the people sitting by us and the man across the aisle told me the doorbell was better than crying!! Most people are pretty understanding about children.

Well, we have travelled alot with our son and he is now 19 months. A portable DVD player can be a GODSEND to settle a child down on a plane. A couple books, maybe a toy without small pieces to get lost on the plane, snacks and drinks of course. You can talk to the pediatrician about possibly giving a dose of benedryl to help with any cabin pressure for her ears, although if she still takes a paci or a bottle the sucking will also help that, my son just refuses both so we do have to give a little bene and that seems to help. He is so active as well, though, that you just have to NOT care what everyone else thinks when you have done everything you possibly can do for her to settle down, kids are JUST that way in confined spaces sometimes!

We also find the dvd player very helpful as well as the magnadoodle. I also like to have plenty of snacks and drinks (but check on what's allowed through security these days!). Stickers are also great, and books. Have fun!

My 5yr old son and I travel by air 2-3 time a year since he was 6 weeks old, but our flights are usually about 2 hours - though we have suffered a 6 hour delay before! The most recent flight was the first week in October.

The rules are strict now for flying - but if your flight is domestic YOU CAN NOW BRING DRINKS ON BOARD - but only IF they are purchased in the sterile area (AFTER you go through security). The airport stores charge a fortune for things, but you CAN bring snacks from home- just not liquids. Any liquids that you bring through security must be 3oz or less and in a clear plastic bag that you present at the security checkpoint.

To keep your little one distracted, bring NEW toys she has never played with. Other moms suggested the magnadoodle (or however its spelled) and that works great. New books she's never heard before are a good idea too. I used to put plain paper or coloring books in our carryon bag with crayons for my son to scribble with. He also would play with matchbox cars on the little tabletop -- but that has to be up during takeoff and landing. During these times, we'd do fingerplays ("where is thumbkin", "the itsy-bitsy-spider", etc) to distract him. I've never brought a portable dvd player with me, but I'm sure that works wonders. My son, at 5, is a seasoned traveller and ever takes his shoes & coat off as he approaches the security checkpoints and puts them in the bin that goes through the xray scanner!

If your daughter still takes a bottle, give her that during takeoff - it will help lessen the pressure in her ears. You can also use a pacifier, or a sippy cup if it's the kind she really has to suck on to get the liquid out. I normally try to schedule flights during a time my son will be tired, though now that he's in school he doesnt take naps so it's harder. A full belly and the lull of an airplane might help your daughter nap, which will give you a break and make the time pass much more quickly for her :)

Hi N.,

Have you thought about getting a kid leash (we call it a back pack with a handle) we have one that looks like a monkey and one like a dog. You can get them in the kids section at walmart for less than $20. When we took our son it helped. For my 22 month daughter we also brought the magnadoodle, a doll with a bottle and her hair brush. Since she sat on my lap for the trip it was easy for me to brush her hair, that also helps relax her and entertain her for a good hour. I wished we had a dvd player.

Good Luck and Enjoy your trip.
B.

I'm writing this from the lounge in heathrow london with my 4 month old in my lap so I'll say go ahead and do it...you'll both have fun!
I try and make sure flights are at night so there is more chance of sleeping, give her something to suck when you take off and land (bottle or pacifier) to reduce the ears popping.
Make it exciting for both of you so she's not afraid of flying and take some familiar things...and get her to run around the airport and lounge (I'm assuming she is walking)
bon voyage

My parents live a 4 hour flight away so I have been there many times! The DVD player is definitely a must...like the previous Mom said. It will make the hours pass much faster. Since you can't play it right away try taking a magnadoodle on board. The "pen" is attached to the board and won't roll away from you like crayons will. My 18 month old loves ours. Have a wonderful trip!

Hi N.,
My daughter is almost 22 months and we just got back from Vegas. It's also about a 4 hour flight. The portable DVD player is wonderful. I brought some of her Elmo and Wiggles DVD's and she had a blast. We also have a sit n stroll for our daughter as we always purchase her seat and it is a lifesaver! Make sure you have a beverage or pacifier for takeoff and landing or some snacks. The swallowing action will help prevent air pressure build up. This is worse during takeoff for my daughter. We also bought her some "EarPlanes". They are earplugs especially made to help reduce air pressure. They are available in kids and adult sizes.
I also had some new books and a coloring book and crayons handy as well.
Tip: Make sure you give yourself extra time to get to your gate, you will need it and if you are travelling alone, ask the gate agents for help. We fly AA and they are always very helpful.
Hope this helps and good luck!

WE've flown with my 23 month old 4 times and the last trip was when she was 21 months old. Books and crayons were what entertained her most on the trip. Also, not sure if your daughter has her own seat, but that helps a lot. My daughter usually falls asleep on flights if she's in her carseat. She also discovered my husband's MP3 player and was very entertained listening to music on headphones for about 30 min toward the end of our flight.

I know they're now allowing you to carry on liquids bought inside the airport, so I definitely suggest having drinks on hand!

Have fun!

We've travelled extensively with our children on planes and find that either a portable DVD player or Benedryl works the best. As your doctor or pharmacist for the proper dosage and test before flight. In some kids, Benedryl has the opposite effect. If that happens, try Dimetapp.

The one thing that has helped me and my 2 year old daughter "stay friends" on long flights or even long car rides is "new toys". Each time I have traveled ( from a 2 hour flight to 9 hours in a car with just her and I)with my daughter I have introduced new toys, something small and easily managed and it took the "excitement" of the people in front of us and took away the urge to see how loud she could get.

I even used just a new coloring book, or the travel games that are magnetic. This last time (in the car) I was able to introduce a new baby doll that she was able to brush her hair and put barrettes and it kept her occupied for about 2 hours.

Have a great time and rememeber to stay relaxed and don't worry if everythng does not work out how you imagined it, just enjoy your child and the time you have with her.