Seeking Advice for Traveling with a One Year Old

Lots of yummy snacks, little board books, a hankie to play peak-a-boo with (and to clean up unexpected messes) and other quite toys. We just traveled with out little one and these kept him busy, we actually got some great complements on his behavor. He loved to stand between my legs and dig things out of my bag, so try to get a window seat so you only have to keep track of one direction.

Have fun!

I would take books, snacks, toys (a toy that she has never seen) and if at all possible, a portable DVD player, if she watches baby einsteins at all.

Maggie,

I have a 2 yr old son and we just traveled from Boise, Idaho to North Carolina for a vacation and it went pretty smooth because I followed the advice I found on this web site: http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/flying_children.html
You can bring as much food as you need on the flight but make sure you have water/apple juice in sealed containers less than 100ml!!!!! We had to throw a lot of stuff away because we didn't listen. Just listen to what she says, it worked for us! Good Luck!

Hi Maggie! I see you've already gone, but for future trips (aiplane, car,etc) you may want to consider getting a Take-Along Tether. It hold virtually any child item and attches to any seating device so when she drops or throws something it doesn't fall and get dirty or lost (or roll under the seat :). In addition, it converts to a child tether (parent hip to child hip) via belt loops and/or waistbands so kids can walk without wandering off, and you don't use a leash or harness! Anyway, I would've sent this before, but missed your request. It's a great product to use everyday for ordinary things like keeping sippy cups or toys from droppping when your child is in a highchair, stroller, car seat or shopping cart as well. www.TakeAlongTether.com . Good luck!

My best tip is to take her car seat with you when you go to the gate. Ask the workers at the gate if there are any open seats on the flight. If there is an open seat & they can arrange for you to sit next to it, you can have the open seat for your daughter even if you have not purchased a ticket. If there are no open seats, they will check the car seat for you right at the gate. My kids always did better on flights when I kept them strapped in their car seats for most of the flight. Good luck!

Hi Maggie, we just took our 14 month old to SC for a week, so it was a 3 1/2 hour plane ride. It actually went pretty well. My son had his own seat, so we had to carry the car seat through the airport, which wasn't too bad, we just attached it to a small suitcase that had wheels and used that as our carry-on. I also bought some new toys and books that he had never seen before and gave those to him once we were on the plane, but he really didn't care about them :) The best thing we had, and that helped us survive our trip, were the Earth's Best snack bars and Gerber also makes some, they are called cereal bars for toddlers. I carried a box with us wherever we went and they were great for snacking-my son also really likes to eat :) The pacifier will probably help her ears and you can also make sure she has a sippy cup to drink from when you take-off/land. Are you flying Frontier? Just wondering because they have tv's with kids programs if your daughter likes to watch tv. Again, my son didn't care about that either :) Good luck and have a great trip! S.

When I traveled with my dd I went and got those color wonders that have the markers that color on the paper. she loved them. I would pack her some drinks but don't do water the TSA guys will toss it at security. The doctors recommended that you have her drink her bottle often when in the air to help with the ears. The pacifier will also help. Bring small snacks for when hungry. I would pack the wagon wheels,puffs and fruit snacks by graduates.I hope this helps and gl

I dont really have a whole lot of advice but a few years back when I took a trip I saw a mom on the plane with a toddler and that poor baby couldnt get her ears to pop from the altitude change, most people were annoyed that the baby was crying but I just felt bad and wished I could help. They gave her water to sip on to help the process of getting the ears to equilize. That is something I would keep in mind as a potential problem that could come up. I'm sure the flight staff will help the best they can but I would take a sippy cup with you and just ask for water if you need it. I dont know if the rules are still you cant bring liquid on with you or not? Otherwise I would also bring more than enough spare clothes, more than enough diapers and more than enough wipes on the plane with you. You never know what could happen. Spills, motion sickness... prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Hope you have a safe trip and a enjoy your visit.
Best wishes.

I traveled a lot with my oldest, now 3, when he was in his first 2 years. He loved baby einstein videos, so I got a portable dvd player (even borrow one if you don't have one) and took a couple of the videos. I also bought a couple of cheap toys he had never seen and I didn't let him see them until we were on the plane and I needed them...I ended up being able to take some back b/c I never needed them. Oh, a magnadoodle works well..and snacks. They always do the trick. She probably will fall asleep, in fact I even kept mine awake until the flight but you always need backup just in case. Make sure she has a sippy cup or a bottle or whatever, I know how much my ears pop so I always ensure my kiddos are drinking so pop theirs. Have fun, she'll be great!

think of what helps your dd in the car. do you have a dvd player that keeps her entertained? does she have certain toys? or music? try to keep some consistancy between your car travels and your plane travels. that helps. I have not ever used benadryl or dramamine everyone keeps telling me to but I always feel too guilty...my dd actually travels well. her first flight was alone with me at 11 months. we flew to FL and back...on the way home we had a 7 hour delay at one airport and an overnight delay in another. she handled it really well until the last hour she was a little cranky. She had her fav. blanket and a stuffed bear from the airport (which has started a tradition of buying her those bears now) and I got her the color wonder pad with the markers that only color on that paper...she loved that. her regular snacks, I didn't introduce anything I wasn't sure she already loved. And they will let you take breast milk or formula in a bottle for your baby onboard if you need that for her. I take an extra sippy in case we lose one and I buy her juice and mix it with water to help keep her hydrated. don't forget lots of wipes in your purse or easy access carryon. they do wonders for all kinds of things that can come up. at one I didn't introduce much "new" stuff because the traveling was all new. Even though you are feeling anxious, try to relax because your baby will take her ques from you, if you get flustered she will be more likely to be anxious as well. we also had a build a bear tiger that had her daddy's voice recorded on it for her and she really responded to that not just on the flight but on the trip while we were away from him. Good luck and have fun!

I just returned from a trip to Ghana with my 18 mo. old daugter and I had to fly alone with her on the way there. Our total travel time was about 16 hours. I chose not to use anything to "drug" her and she actually did pretty well. If I were you I would plan on her taking a good nap during the flight, but just in case pack some of her favorite toys, maybe a portable dvd player with her favorite movie. Another thing that really worked for us was afield trip to the lavatory. We would just look in the mirror, splash in the water (my daughter LOVES to wash her hands) and over all it was a nice little break. Just remember that even if your child has a hard time on the flight, everyone around you understands and probably isn't as bugged as you think they are. It'll be fine. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

M.

If possible see if you can get on the row where they have the bassinet that hooks on the wall. Then if she gets tired you can put her in that. Make sure you have snacks and her favorite toy. Good luck!

I have never traveled with my little one who just turned one. But this weekend we are flying to Nebraska. I was told to take a few of her favorite toys and books. I bought one book that is a collection of about 30 books. I am also taking some of her loud electronic toys but taping the speakers to cut down on the noise. Good luck and have fun!!!

Be sure to take something to feed her during take-off and landing to help stablize her ears. She needs to have something to suck on during those times. Relax and your baby will too.

I flew a lot by myself with my daughter between 9 months and 2 years. Good responses so far - if you can, time her nap for during the flight, but remember flights are often delayed, so if it's nap time on the terminal, go ahead and let her sleep. Take some new toys that she has never seen (remember you have 2 trips). My dd was always captivated longer with new toys.

If she does cry and scream, remember you are not the first mom to go through this and the flight WILL end! Have fun with your family and good luck!

Bring her lovey BUT hide it until you are settled on the plane. In fact if she isn't nervous and is just fine, don't bring it out. Only bring it out if she gets nervous or it is time for a nap. Also, Mc donald's sie toys are great as you don't care if lost. I also liked the curious George board book series. We only read them on the plane and since we had like four, we could then talk about what George would do now...etc. once the books were done.

If the flight is at bed time you should be ok. All three of my daughters have lots of flier miles :) Just make sure that you have the pacifier or a sippy cup or bottle for take off and landing to relieve the pressure in her ears or you may have an unhappy girl on your hands. Bring along a portable DVD player with her favorite movie or her most favorite books. She will surprise you with how well she does. She will have a captive audience for her own enjoyment. Good luck!!!

I traveled with my daughter at 1 to Hawaii - 6 hour flight. We brought a bag with all kinds of things that we would pull out one at a time when she needed a distraction - cheerios, other snacks, little books like "hand hand fingers thumb" The secret was to have a variety of things, a bring them out one at a time to keep her entertained - even the ice in the cup was a great distraction.

Good luck

Get a couple of new toys and some sugar free suckers. The suckers will help with the pressure changes of taking off and landing, and will help keep her calm as well. Other snacks that she likes also will help.

I travel a lot, and one thing that I wish someone had told me was that the FAA has regulations on which car seats can be used on a plane. If you are planning on purchasing a seat for your child, you need to turn your car seat over and check it to see if it is FAA approved or you could get a nasty shock when trying to board the plane.

Have fun on your trip!

I am not sure how you have your flight arangged but get a window seat for her. My daughter loved the window shade and looking out the window at the wings. :) You relax because I was worried when I went and it was soooo smooth. For the most part my daughter fell asleep within 1/2 hour of going up. Take a sippy cup of juice or milk and have her drink it while you are taking off and landing. (it will help with her ears popping) Also if she is sleeping when you land if she has her pacifier than that works too so no need to wake her. Take snacks... a variety. While we waited in the terminal it was very helpful. Take a stoller and check it at the gate before you get on. Then it will be there when you get off. It is very hard to carry a one year old thru lines and hecktic airports so I highly suggest it! Really it went well and your daughter seems like she is interested in things so you will be fine. THere was so much action going on, my daughter was just quiet and watching everyone. Good Luck!

Hi Maggie,

I'm with Deb K - we have traveled a lot since our now 2-year-old was born and he (nearly) always falls asleep on the plane and sleeps the whole time. I do tend to book flights that are at nap-time, if possible, so you could keep that in mind for future plans. Just be sure to give your daughter her pacifier on take-off and landing, so her ears will adjust - especially on the way down. Or make sure she's drinking or eating something. Because if they don't equalize, you'll be in trouble all the way down, there's nothing you can do. On our longest flight, to and from Hawaii, I took some small, new toys, wrapped in gift wrap for when the going got really tough. Then, he was distracted for a while in not only the new toy, but I bought some extra time by making him unwrap it! Food and any of her favorite toys are a must, of course. Just relax - I bet the trip will go very smoothly.

I just flew twice with my 4 year old and 22 month old. It was not very fun the first time, but I learned some lessons. My 4 year old was fine, but my 22 month old son didn't have his own seat, and did NOT want to stay in my lap! He squirmed the entire time. And cried. The next time I flew (a couple weeks later) I did the following things:

I brought TONS of snacks (particularly things that we don't usually give our kids--we brought fruit snacks, Yogos, and Cereal and Milk bars = junkfood), crayons, paper, and a series of new toys that my son hadn't ever seen. Luckily, he loves Hotwheels cars, so I was able to stock up on plenty of them cheaply. Every time he was about to lose it, I opened up another Hotwheels for him. It helped a lot. Also, if you have a portable DVD player, they are very helpful, too. GOOD LUCK!

I can place a bet she will fall asleep. I travelled with my daughter at 10 mos and again at 18 mos, both times I loaded up with supplies only to have her crash out with the sound of the engine and sleep the whole flight. Make sure she has a sippy or strawed cup to drink with take off and landing so her ears don't get full of pressure. You can rent at the airport DVD players so if she has a favorite movie. Try even those portable aqua doodle pads if she likes to scribble, but I am betting she will sleep. Maybe have her be tired, skip a nap or get up earlier then usual. If you are travelling during naptime, she has a clean diaper and has a full belly she will probably just sleep. Have fun.

I know you've already traveled but maybe it will help those travelers reading this now. My husband works for the airlines so we've traveled frequently since our daughter was born. Once the infant car seat was no longer used, we purchased a GoGo Babyz Travelmate to attach to the car seat we used for traveling. http://www.gogobabyz.com/ It attaches and turns the car seat into a stroller. LUVED IT! It keeps you from toting a car seat and using a stroller for the little one while waiting around the airport. You can find them at Baby's R Us and a few other locations along with purchasing it online.

I know medication isn't always the answer, but I welcomed any advise for traveling with two boys 3 and under. We had a jet set baby as were lived out of state and traveled home 4 times a year. Try Benedryl. It can be a lifesaver! Just be sure if he hasn't had it before that it doesn't make him have the opposite effect and make him hyper! Pack lots of snacks and take him on walks about the cabin when possible.

I wouldn't worry about it. Bring some benedryl but make sure you know how much to give her because it's not usually on the label for that young of a child. Bring books to read and she'll probably just sleep who knows it probably won't be as difficult as you think! As far as you going alone if you only have the one child you'll be fine especially one that young.