First Time Flying - Tucson,AZ

There was a mom that my sister told me about, that prepared simple art projects for her kids ahead of time, and they stayed occupied the whole flight. I know with my kids in the twos class and even with my one year olds at the daycare, once I pull out art projects for them, they will sit for the longest time. So, if you want more ideas on what you could do for that, let me know and I'll email you some things you can do for that.

Good Luck!!!

A.

J.,
I have been on many flights with my 4 year old and soon to be 2 year old. The movies are a good thing. Get something like a magna doodle, they have little ones, or a coloring book, but don't give it to him until you are on the plane. I don't give my kids sugar that much but when I am desperate and have to bribe them especially on a plane when they are kicking the seats in front of them, I give them smarties. Good luck!

When I took my son on his first Flight I took him to a store and let him pick out his own backpack (the small action figure ones. I think put all sorts of stuff in it from the store, crayons, coloring books, juice boxes, animal cookies, etc. It was like a present to him. I still to that to the day it has always made the flights much more comfortable.

You can now take milk in sippy cups and snacks. No juice yet. I take a small shoulder cooler with 2 milks in it an done choclate milk. (My daughter is 3 & she has just discovered choc. milk... so it is a "special treat" in our house. I also pack her computer so she can watch shows but TAKE HEADPHONES so you don't drive the people around you crazy with the shows our children watch. If you son has never had to wear headphones start him wearing them down so he will not get frustrated.

I also will let my daughter walk up & down the aisle every hour with me to keep the wiggles under control. Don't forget his favorite toy/ stuff animal and a few small board books that you can carry in a bag. Good luck.

hijessica, my daughter was 2 in november...we have flown many times. i really tried to wiat for snacks and drink until we got seated, because the ear thing, if you get them to swallow as you are leveling in altitude, more than likely they will pop their ears. dvds are great. we are flyng again in may, this is the first time she will have her own seat, i am taking her carseat, so it should make things easier, she'll think we are "riding"somewhere. good luck!

Make sre that his ears are clear. If he has any kind of a stuffyu nose/ cold / allergy I would give him a decongestant before you fly. Give him a sippy cup as you are taking off and landing. The swallowing will help to clear his ears.
For fun snacks make him a cheerios necklace or two before you go. Thread the cheerios on yarn and hang it around his neck. He can munch off the cheerios without them spilling all over the plane.
I like to get to the airport really early and get through the security line with pleanty of time to spare. Then we sit and watch the planes take off and have a treat at the airport. It helps to relax the kids when you are relaxed.

Hi J.,

Just a note, actually. You might want to find a way to keep his ears from popping. Though I'm not really sure how you'd do that for a 2 year-old. My son was six on his first flight and it was very painful for him because I did not expect it and hadn't prepared. On the next flight I gave him chewing gum and prompted him to yawn every once in a while during the flight. Hope this helps!

Eva

Read him a book about flying from your local library. Take fun snacks and drinks that he can munch on during the flight. Looking at a movie might make him a little dizzy, maybe he can look out the window at the beautiful clouds instead. It will be a fun experienced for him.

I work for UsAirways, and I travel alot with my 19 month old, 18 trips to date! I recommend having your little one drink something for take-offs and landings. Very Important, as their ear canals are very small. You hear lots of children on planes crying because their ears hurt them, so drinking and swallowing is important. Walking him up and down the aisle a few times, when the seatbelt sign is off, is also a way to keep him busy. Watching his shows on a DVD player will also help out alot! Good Luck!

Be sure to have everything organized and easily excessible. Knowing where everything is and having it easy to get to helps so much! I have flown several times with my son, and just added another traveler to the family in August. It helps a lot to have a stroller when navigating the airports. I prefer one with a basket so you can put your carry-ons in it, also those hooks you can put on the stroller to hold bags are a life saver. You can check the stroller at the gate so that when you change planes they'll have it for you on your way off the plane. Once you get your system down everything should be pretty easy.

He's a little old to shoot up with Benadryl (LOL - Kidding),but just be sure to bring lots of snacks, lots of his favorite "comfy" things (a favorite blanket, a binky, a favorite stuffed animal, etc) and he'll do great. My son has been flying since he was 4 months old and he's been on at least 10 flights since. He always did great as long as he was comforted and some what entertained.

I traveled quite a bit with my daughter when she was that age, and the DVD player was a godsend. Also, they won't let you go through security with liquids, so take an empty sippy cup or bottle or whatever he uses, then buy something to fill it with in the airport. I used to pack a lollipop or something, to make sure her ears didn't pop on take-off or landing. (Too young for gum) Basically, you'll spend the whole trip hovering over him, making sure he's happy--it's exhausting! But, take the obvious entertainment: snacks, colors, books, leapster, whatever you have that is portable. I don't know how far into the 2's he is, but once I took a little alarm clock and set it to go off every 30 minutes, then brought something new out and 'checked off' that there would be 4 alarms so she knew the end was near. (I think she was 3 before that was effective, but it's worth a try!)

S.

Chewing gum (if he's old enough)!! It really helps with the ears popping!!

Hugs,
Tam

I just flew in Feb with both mine, at the time 11 months and 2 years, my son loved it (the 2 year old) and the baby didn't mind either. We went to the airport a few times before we flew so that he could see the planes and then the airport wasn't foreign to him either. He was extatic, I had my video ipod ready for him and never needed it. I'm sure he'll be fine, if you are fine flying. Don't say anything that would make him think flying is scary.

Hello J.,

The other suggestions are great. My daughter is 30 months old, she has been in a lot of flights since she was 4 months old, we went last year to Europe with her and she did great. If he is busy, he'll do great. Bring a lot of activities, little books, his favorites programs and a new DVD or a new small toy (they love that). Give him a lot of fluids especially during take off and land off (that will help him with his ears). Enjoy your trip.

Sylvia

The computer is a great thing to have. When we flew with our son the last time, he was 14 months. In addition to our laptop, I took along a bag of small, quiet toys that he had never seen before, like small wind up toys that we could use on the lap tray, one of those small magna-doodles, and one of those cushie spikey balls that Target has. I think I maybe spent about $20.00 or so and it worked like a charm. The ball alone was worth 45 minutes of quiet playtime, and we still use the wind up toys for restaurant visits. He only sees them when we go out, so he isn't bored with them. A good bag of tricks makes the trip good for you, the kids and all the people around you!

My girls have flown several times - some trips were better than others - you can only do your best. My biggest success was kids band-aids - my daughters loved all the cartoon characters and sticking them all over. Just remember the TSA ban on liquids and gels before you pack - it knocks some kids toys and foods out (yogurts, puddings, juice boxes etc.)Also make sure you have plenty of clothing changes - some kids suffer from motion sickness. Good Luck!

Wrap up little "surprises" in tissue paper. Every once in awhile give him one to open. The latest thing with little boys are Disney cars. Wrap up a few for the trip and get the Cars movie. Costco also has a huge sticker book that my boys love! This occupies my boys for a long while. (My boys are 3 and 23 months and started flying a couple of years ago.) Also, my ped said Benadryl is OK to give them. Not sure if it is allowed on the plane now, but I know alot of the meds come in chewable form. One more thing that may be more of a pain for you, but good for your son is bringing his car seat on the plane for him to sit in. Mine fits in the carrier under the stroller for easier transportation. Good luck!

We took my oldest child on a fight just a month or so before she turned 2 (she's 6 now). For a kid that age, here are my suggestions:
1) bring sancks that your son likes. Things he's had before.
2) Bring something for him to drink.
3) bring a toy or 2 he likes.

My daughter slept thru most of the flight. For some reason, the drone of the engines tends to knock her out!

Good luck!

Make sure he has something to drink during take off and during landing. It will help keep his ears from clogging up! Also, don't be embarrassed to sing songs, and play games. People may look at you funny, but it's much better then having a screaming child! Have fun and good luck!

Bring snacks, entertainment and things to keep him occupied. Make sure however, that you don't over load yourself with too much baggage so that you can still chase after him in the airport when your trying to catch your connecting flight.

I've taken my daughter 2-3 times already and it always goes a lot better than I expect it to. With kids most of the times the airlines will put you in the back of the plane or in an row alone, if they can manage. Believe it or not that actually helps a lot. Takes off the pressure of keeping your kiddo from kicking the person next to you.