Hi Moms!
I am going to be traveling by plane by myself with my 16 month old son next week. I was just wondering if you all have any advice for me as this is my first time traveling with him alone. He has been on a plane twice before but he was 4mos, and 6mos old so that was a long time ago in baby time! I am planning to check the car seat and another bag and just carry on the diaper bag. We did not purchase a seat for my son so he will be sitting on my lap. I bought some books and a little puzzle, crayons for him to keep him occupied. Is there anything else I should think about bringing? It's only a two and a half hour trip and in the morning so i am hoping he also naps a little.
Thanks in advance!
S.
Hi :) I have a niece in Spain with 4 children and they fly to the US and back to Spain. I will see if she can send an answer. Sounds like you are doing good. Sometimes a little bag of food helps, like apple slices, crackers, and maybe a little blanket would help. God bless.
I just traveled with my son at Christmas when he was 14 months old...and by myself, it certainly was a handful! I can tell you that the workers at the airport will take a bit of 'pity' on the "poor mom who is handling this all by herself"...so use it! :)
Definitely take a stroller. Those airport terminals are long, and you don't want to be carrying your little pack of potatoes for that length of time. I didn't do the umbrella stroller, I just took my regular Graco stroller. I felt that it was better because I could recline it if my son needed to sleep, and had the storage area for the diaper bag. It does fit through the x-ray machine, albeit very tightly. Ask someone back there to help, they'll come around and do it for you.
Snacks: I got through before and after the Christmas Eve terrorism thing with a small package of Juicy Juice...and both airports I traveled through didn't even look at it. I also took biter biscuits, Cheerios, crackers, cookies...whatever I could think of! Have a sippy cup or bottle ready for take off and landing, the change in air pressure will effect your son's ears and make him really uncomfortable. My son had a cold when we left the first time, and he virtually screamed when we were landing (taking off didn't phase him!). On the way back, he was completely fine both times...but I had that sippy of juice ready and waiting for him!
Toys: take into account anything that your son might throw. I was on a commuter plane, one that only has 2 seats across one row and the other side of the plane only has one seat. Very close quarters! I only took a few stuffed animals and manipulatives like that, becuase it was something I could easily grab if he chose to throw it. Things like crayons might actually go everywhere...thus really irritating the person sitting next to you.
Naps: I was counting on the nap too...and I think the excitement of traveling made my son force himself NOT to sleep! It was a 2.5 hour flight as well, and he basically slept about 20 minutes on the way there and 30 minutes on the way back. So be prepared in case he chooses not to sleep. I brought his favorite blanket so I could try to cuddle him up and induce sleep, but the blanket adding to the body heat of being pushed up against me made us both REALLY uncomfortable. Poor kid was covered in sweat when he woke up from the 20 minute power nap!
I hope your travels are great!
1. Consider the upgrade to 1st class at airport...usually 50$ extra but worth EVERY penny when traveling with kid.
2.Bring portable DVD player (yes I know...supposed to have no t.v. b/4 2yrs old but this is an exception that is well worth it.)
3. Lots of different SNACKS! Puffs, fruit chews etc., a bottle for him to suck on during departure and landing.
4. I know a lot of people might disagree with the next one but it is really really really helpful to have one of those little monkey/puppy backpacks that is also has a lead so that your baby doesn't wander off in the blink of an eye. I had one and I only used it in the airport and at the fair and on the boardwalk in Mexico. (lots of parents asked where I bought it so they could get one) It is a great way to keep baby from running off in crowded place where they could quickly get abducted.
5. an umbrella stroller...great for pushing kid through airport. and they can take it for you at the gate.
One great thing we took with us for our son was a pack of flash cards. They don't take up a lot of space and entertain them for hours. We got the alphabet ones with pictures that correspond to the letter - well worth the $2.39 at Target.
I'd also recommend taking a stroller to gate check and lots of snacks. You should visit TSA.gov to understand what you can and can't take (e.g. milk) - especially with stepped-up screenings following the Christmas Day terrorism attempt.
tsa.gov
One thing I did is made a trip to the dollar store and got some inexpenisve, new toys and books that my daughter had never seen before. If things got to where I could tell she was antsy, I'd pull one of those out. Don't forget snacks either. Again, get something that he hasn't seen in a while or really likes but doesn't get often. And remember, it may only be a 2 1/2 hour trip, but delays could happen - both at the airport and possibly in the air. Good luck!
