Traveling with Young Children

Hi J., That is so funny, I just booked my family a trip to disney. We are going may 3rd. Where are you staying? We are staying at the carribean beach resort inside disney. I have a 3 yr old, and I too am a little concerned with her on the plane. We have been talking with her about it, and she seems excited!!! Hope you have a great time!!! Let us all know!!!

Hey There
I happen to have a lot of experience traveling with children, Last year I took 4 children under 2 years old on vacation. We purchased each of them a seat and brought their car seats on so they were strapped in at all times. They know they need to be strapped in while in a car and on the airplane it seemed as they just understood that too. To transport the car seat there is an AWESOME system called gogokidz. You can purchase this at gogobabyz.com they are wheels that connect to your car seat easily, and the child can sit in their seat buckled and oyu can manuever them thruout the airport. THe wheels can stay on on the plane, and you can take them off for the car. We wrapped items for them to open so that took some time, new books, mini etch a sketches, and the BEST item of all was a big sticker book. You can get it at amazon http://www.amazon.com/Giant-Sticker-Activity-Learning-Pap... This cost about 10$ but it is the best item i have ever come across, I had a 6 hour delay and this was used for most of the time. It has all the animals, foods, cars, etc in it, My daughter has used it for over a year, and uses it at least three times a week. Lollipops keep them busy and are great for take off and landing for their ears.. Besides that definately snacks, you can wrap those also gives them something to do to unwrap, juice boxes are always a hit!!

I'd try to get a seat for each child, use the carseats to strap them in.. bring a new toy that you can give them on the plane, you can also try to give them Benedryl to help with their ears and to make them drowsy so they will sleep. Lots of snacks, crayons, small toys.. it's not a long flight, but it can feel it if they are screaming!

When you check in you can ask if the flight is full. If not, you can bring your daughter's carseat to the gate and if there is room they will let you have an extra seat for free.

I am also travelling by airplane to Disney on the 19th with 2 of my teens and my 1 year old. I am getting ear plugs for everyone for the air pressure, I am bringing the Gerber Graduate fruit treats for the baby to chew on, and a portable dvd player so he can watch sponge bob on the way. It works in the car. I hope it works on the plane.

I just traveled to Arizona with my 2 1/2 year old son, but we did travel to Florida when he was 18 months. I found that packing a bag full of inexpensive toys that he's never used before helped a lot. I went to the dollar store and got stickers and coloring books. I also brought some playdoh and books. It seemed to keep him very busy. We also brough our portable DVD player and a new movie. Don't feel bad if you have to take a few trips up and down the aisle either. People would rather see a happy toddler walking around then listen to a crying one.
Hope this helped.

I definately agree with trying to get a seat, not buying one, but if one is available taking it :) We fly with our kids, aged 2 and 4 now, all of the time. I would suggest getting a portable DVD player if you don't already have one. My kids also like to bring their own personal bookbags filled with goodies. I let them pack what they bring, usually crayons, coloring books, Magnadoodles work great too. And stack up on juice boxes or sippy cups and snacks.

Hi J.,
We were just in the same predicament. My son was 3.5 & my very active daughter was 16 months at travel time. The one thing that saved us was popcorn. My daughter loves popcorn. I just made three or four gallon bags of popcorn & let her dig in. I received some pretty dirty looks from the flight attendants after they saw the mess, but oh well. I also filled an old pocketbook with little things for her to pick up & play with: blocks, an old cell phone, little plastic animals, etc. That kept her entertained for about 20 minutes or so. Don't stress out too much over the flight. I think the calmer you are, the calmer your daughter will be. Also, just ask the gate attendants if there are an unoccupied seats so you can stretch out.
Good luck!

Last year I took my son to Florida and on the plane ride we gave him a sippy cup that required him to suck a little harder and that help his ears popping. He sipped throughout the entire take off and landing and off & on during the flight. I also pack a carry on devoted to him with coloring books (the crayola books that have a clear magic maker is great you don't have to worry about him getting it on the seats or walls)a mini photo album of family and friends back home and toys that don't make any noise.

I took little snacks to the parks to give while standing in lines. I also put him in his bathing suit for the parks and packed a change of clothes for the ride back to the hotel. Once he saw the water activities it was hard to get him to wait in the long lines at the bathroom to be changed.

I also found he was so excited at the parks that getting him to eat was difficult. So I would buy myself lunch and he would eat part of that instead of wasting money on a meal for him and then the snacks in line helped tye him over until dinner at the hotel.

I hope this helps have fun!

Good luck with that! I would strongly suggest next time to buy a ticket for your kids. I also have a 3 year old and have traveled to FLA wit her. She had her own seat, and we brought her car seat. That way she is strapped to her seat, just like a car ride. They are used to being buckled in, and you would probably not get many complaints. I could not imagine traveling with my daughter on my lap, she would not stay and it would be a big problem. It would also turn into a game, ging back and forth between parents. Being on your lap is an excuse to be up and about. It is also a lot safer for the kids to be strapped in. Would you brng your kid in your car on your lap?? A plane is like a big car... I know you were probably just trying to save money, but you will save a lot of hassle by getting the kids a ticket. Also, a handy thing to have is a portable dvd player.