Traveling with a One Year Old

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They have earplanes for 6.95. They are to help with the altitude of flying. They also have other travel gear to help.

Have fun...and let me know if you need Disneyland tips. We have passes and live near Anaheim. I'd be happy to tell you where to stay...or not stay rather and what to plan and expect.

I have traveled to L.A with my daughter. She is a little over a year. I find it best to travel at night. If you leave around midnight or so... you will get there around 8:00am. It's kinda perfect actually. My daughter never realy had ear problems because she sleeped right threw it. Are you driving or flying?

I would suggest bringing things like coloring books, play dough, books and snacks to keep him occupied. We bought a portable DVD player and that is very handy if you can afford it. They run about $100 and nothing entertains a little one like Elmo! Does he still take a bottle? Try to have him drink milk in a bottle or out of a sippy cup when the plane takes off and lands, that seemed to help with the ear aches for my daughter. Good luck!

I will assume you are travelling on a plane?

Bring 2-3 favorite toys...bring too many and you'll regret having to carry so much stuff. If your child likes books, those are great and quite. Snacks & drinks! Some moms keep benadryl to help the child to sleep during the flight. You may want to board last if your child tends to be a mover to let them get as much energy out as possible...otherwise they end up sitting in the small area for quite a while. Even adults get antsy waiting for the plane to take off and it can add atleast 20 minutes to your plane sitting time (god forbid there are any delays!).
If you are carrying your child in your lap, check at the gate to see if you can get a seat that doesn't have someone sitting in the seat next to you. I know they like to fill up the planes these days, but you can get lucky and there is no harm in asking. The extra room can come in handy when they get a little fidgety.
Looking out the window was pretty facinating for my son and he loved to open and close the window shade. The would keep him fairly occupied. You will be surprised how helpful people can be when a baby is around (there are the mean people too, but I thought there would be more of them).
Good Luck at Disney.

well we had to move from missouri to san diego and we have a 2 year old.. some of the in laws dvd got her a portable dvd player and that worked wonderfully!

Can't add much more to what everyone else said other than maybe having her drink on take off and landing. My son traveled many times before 1 year (even having bad ears and tubes and all) and he did fine! Try not to worry too much or she might pick up on it and be scared. You'll be fine!!! :-)

Like most everyone else, I have done a lot of traveling with my daughter.. Her first flight was at 6 weeks... I have never given her medication when we fly. The cup or bottle for take off and landing works best. Coloring books, reading books, a puzzle or picture search book works good too... I usually buy her something new in the gift shop.. new = more interest. Also, walking on the plane is usually okay.. Find out about early boarding with children, get a window seat, they like to look out... Also if your not assigned seating, have your child sit in a seat while others board.. they will sit elsewhere and your child will have a little more room. If the plaine gets full teh stewardess will let you know..

All of the tips that have been listed have been really good, but one more that will help is to get an isle seat and if your son/daughter is starting to walk, let him/her walk up and down the isle. My daughter has been flying since she was only 4 months, but we flew several times the summer she turned one and she was just learning to walk. She would walkk up and down the isle, holding onto the arm rests. People were happy to let her use their arm rest and would just look down and smile at her and talk to her. I would only let her get 3-4 seats ahead of me and then tell her to come back. This way she got excercise and didn't get so fidgety. Also, on one of the trips we were at the very back of the plane and went into the galley and she was able to walk around and play with stuff back there. She couldn't open anything, because its an airplane and it all has to be secured. Of course, you may run into grumpy, anti-children passengers and/or flight attendants, but most people will be happy to let him/her do that than have him/her cry. Good luck.
A.

I have traveled a lot with my son, many times on airplanes. Make sure to bring a favorite toy or book and don't bring any toys that would roll away from you or you'll be on your knees looking for them after landing. A few toys would be good with a seperate bag for them to keep things organized. Just make sure you have snacks and a drink handy. The swallowing helps relieve pressure in the ears. I wouldn't worry about the ears really, unless your baby has a cold or sinus infection.

I started flying with one of my sons when he was 8 weeks old. I had to travel for work and was able to take him with me. If he likes a pacifier, take a few with you to keep on hand. At least one or two is bound to end up on the dirty floor, so extras are great. Also take bottles full of water or light colored juices (if he does end up throwing up milk or dark colored juice would be bad). I would also advise taking at least one extra set of clothes - but really try to pack as light as you can. It's much easier managing things if you have less items to worry about.

If you get really stressed - your baby will be stressed. Just take it in stride and you will both do really well. Most flight attendents are really helpful when you need an extra arm and ask to pre-board. When they see people traveling with young children they are good about giving you the extra time to get settled.

I just flew with my month old and it really is nothing. The whold ear thing didnt bother her just make sure you give her/him a bottle or a sippy cup on the way up and your baby will be fine. I have flown a lot. Maybe buy a small portable dvd player and bring you kids favorite movies. That will keep them entertained they are coming down in price walmart has a few inexpensive ones. Hope all is well. Have fun at disneyland. It is great.

Hi H.. I traveled with my son when he was 3 months old and I was scared about the ear thing too. I talked to my docter and to the pharmacist and they recommended a small dose of Sudafed. They only make it for children and it's available behind the counter but if you give your child a little less then a half of a tsp just before you go onto the plane then this will help keep his/her ears from plugging on the way up or on the way down.

We flew from Seattle to San Diego and back while making one layover with each flight. It was a little hecktick at times becuase my son started getting bored at times but he loved looking out the window when the plane took off or when he could see the ground. So I definantly recommend a window seat if you can get one. Also bring lots of entertainment but not to too much. You want to make sure that he/she is kept busy so theres less fussing but too many toys can be hard to keep track of on a plane.

Also I noticed that when he was drinking a bottle it seems to help calm him down when the airplane was taking off or getting ready to land. He was too young for juice at the time but since your child is 11 months, juice might be a good idea... it's kinda like chewing gum for adults.

Well, I hope this helps you. Have a great trip! DisneyLand is ALOT of fun, but be sure to bring a stroller.

When your at DisneyLand... be sure to use Fast Pass instead of waiting in those long lines. You can walk to the front of the line and there will be a fast pass machine... print out a ticket and then work your way to the next ride that you want to go to and do the same thing.
Those tickets will print a time frame for you to come back in about 2 hours. Then when you come back you can get in the fasst pass lane and it is sooooooooooo much faster. It's been probably 3 years or so since I've been there but I'm sure this system is still in place. Use it, you'll love it.

My family traveled alot by plane when I was a child, and we always had ear pain (as well as all the other children on our planes) - but there IS a solution that truly works, 100% guarenteed! Ask your pediatrician to prescribe you a bottle of eardrops that contains lidocaine: these are the eardrops he would normally give you if your child was suffering from an ear infection with pain. It numbs the eardrum for a short period of time - a few hours - just long enough to make it through a potentially horrible flight. In fact, even after myself and siblings were older and no longer had problems with our ears at altitude, we still took the eardrops along and often dosed them out on plane trips to desperate mommas with screaming babies. The medication is not strong at all and basically harmless, but will get rid of ear pain instantly.
Its going to be very hard to entertain your 1y/o (I have one myself) - regardless of the number of toys, blankies, or activites you bring a 1 y/o will be a 1 y/o. Their attention span is short: my best advice is to go and get a few NEW and special toys and activities to give the baby when you first begin your trip so that he/she will be engaged longer with something new, different, and special.
Good luck!

I took my daughter with me to Vegas for my sisters wedding when she was only 4 months old. I would suggest packing extra food and drinks with you in the diaper bag just in case of plane delays (I made this mistake). I would also suggest to bring your own carseat and get a seat for your child, I know that they let you hold the child if you want to, but if they have there own seat they seem more comfortable. Maybe because it is more like a car ride then. My daughter did just fine on the plane and we all enjoyed the trip. Have a great time and I hope this helps!

We did a pretty long trip with our son when he was 1 as well. If your child uses a pacifier that is a good thing to have for the ear, otherwise a bottle or sippy cup or just a snack so the jaw is moving. We bought new toys to keep him occupied and that worked for awhile. His most difficult times were taking off and landing.

Are you flying? If so are you getting a seat for the 1 yr old or doing the lap? I was flying every 3 weeks from Iowa to California with my son up until he was 11 months so I have lots of tips and advice. He has already done 10 round trips. :) Let me know and I can give you all the things I do to help the flight go smoother.

Rae

Hi H.,

We travel A LOT with our now 13 month old. She sometimes falls asleep on the plane, which is nice. I would say bring snacks, toys, maybe books. If your child would watch a DVD, then you could bring that too. It all depends on the child though. Several things help with the ears. We gave her a bottle when she was younger. However, now she would use a sippy cup to suck on. If your child still takes a pacifier, you could try that as well. One thing I can say is, new experiences for kids can cause apprenhension. It is about calming their fears. You have to remain patient and calm, even if the child begins to act up. If you don't, I have seen with other parents and children, the experience is not nearly as pleasant. Also, explain about the plane and what the purpose is. Knowledge about something makes us all less fearful. Hope this helps...

Blessings,

K

I'm not sure where you are traveling from but one thing that worked for me was benadryl. I gave them a little bit while waiting at the airport (about an hour before take off) and they took naps through at least half of the flight. Take a binky, or bottle or sippy cup and let them drink during take off. My kids are a little older so I actually let them chew gum and they didn't seem to be bothered at all! I wish you luck!

It's really not that bad at all. If your baby is sitting on your lap they'll be happy to cuddle and possibly sleep through the whole thing. The ear thing, give them their binky or a bottle during take off and landing so that they're sucking on something with the altitude change. That will help keep their ears from popping. It's just like us chewing gum,keeps the jaw moving. I flew when my daughter was 2 months, 6 months and 3 years old and have never had a problem. Make sure the airlines knows you have a child on your lap and they'll let you pre-board. You may want to wait to exit the plane too. That way people aren't pushing into you. Have fun!

Hello, I have a 17 month, we have done ALOT of traveling. her first flights were when she was only 5 months, we did get to go to DL when she was 1. th flights are not that bad, especially since it is a short one, bottle or sippy cup or breast going up and coming down, she/he might sleep the whole way like mine because of the noise from the plane. At DL my daughter went on about 14 rides and had a blast, there are alot of things for her to do. she/he will sit on your lap during the rides. good luck and ENJOY, there are a few fruit stands there, one is by splash mountian if you are having trouble finding healthy things for the baby