2 Year Old on Air Plane

Sometime Benadryl makes kids hyper. You should try it before you get on a plane. I take lots of books, snacks, and a magna-doodle. Other people entertain them too.

Hi, I'll make this quick since you already have so much advice. Do not bother with the car seat - it has to be airline approved by the way. Also I would not give her medicine unless she is sick. If she likes to draw take a Doodle Pro - or crayons and paper. Same stuff that entertains her at home that you don't mind lugging around! Diapers - take freezer bag and dispose of in bathroom trash!

I grew up as the 3rd of 9 children, so you can imagine the long crowded car trips to Grandma's house every summer. Remember that 2-year olds are just as susceptible to motion sickness as some older children, so my parents always carried some children's chewable Dramamine (approved for children 2-12 years old and not as likely to have the counter-reaction many kids have with Benadryl). Damamine is also well known for causing drowsiness -- even more so than Benadryl, so follow the dosage directions exactly.

Hi C., I have three kids ages 3, 11, and 13. First, try not to worry about flying with young kids. The carseat is the first most important thing you are doing for your baby, and other passengers. Babies are bullets on airplanes in the event of sudden change of altitude. If your baby travels well in the car, then the plane should be ok too. Perhaps you could visit the airport in advance to see the concourses, and the planes. If moving all your baggage, the kids, the carseat is too much, ask in advance for assistance getting from checkin to the gate, and at the destination as well. You are as much in need of help as someone who requires wheelchair or golfcart assistance. Don't be afraid to ask for help, bottom line.

Be sure to have an empty sip cup or bottle with you to put milk or water in after you are through security in the airport, because she will need to swallow on take-off and landing to pop her ears as cabin pressure changes. Drinking is the best way to get her to do that, to relieve the pain. Be sure to have her special "lovey" which might help her relax and sleep.

As far as keeping her busy, purchase a few new toys to be handed out at points when Claire gets antsy on the flight. Cassie should have some new surprises as well. Maybe have Cassie help to choose toys for Claire. Look in the educational catalogs or toy stores for travel toys. No choking hazards!

Benadryl can have an opposite effect on your child, revving them up. Drugs should be avoided unless your pediatrician advises you otherwise, and it doesn't hurt to consult with those angels (the docs) as well! If your child has any physical/behavioral issues, the MD can advise.

Finally, poopy diapers are happily taken away by flight attendants (carry spare plastic bags in your diaper bag), or you can put them in the bathroom trash bins. Bon voyage!

Ask the flight attendants! I would take a plastic grocery sack with you and tie it off in that and put it back in the diaper bag if they don't have any great ideas. I took my 12 month old on a plane from UT to TX (she's now 6) and while I was in the bathroom going potty I left her with my brother and she peed all that her diaper could handle!! He got wet all over his own lap. The flight attendants had a great laugh at him and his wet pants!! Most likely they'll be very helpful! Good luck! Bring lots of things to do! Binoculars, coloring books, a FEW crayons, books to read, games to play, forget carrying anything on for yourself, that is just a dream. And I would definitely check all my bags. Only one carry-on and it needs to be kid friendly because you could end up carrying your kid! hope that helps.

My son loves to fly. He thinks it is the coolest experience ever. We flew from Anchorage to Hawaii when he was just barely 2 years old & I was terrified that he would scream the entire time or want to get up & run around. It was a 5 hour flight. He did get restless towards the end but that was only because he was fighting going to sleep for fear he would miss something. My advice is make it fun for them. Get some new toys or coloring books that they can only play with on the plane. Also get some books about planes to read with her so she will know what will be happening during the flight... finding her seat, buckling in, take off, landing ... that sort of thing. Get her excited about the experience and all will be fine. The also have in flight movies that you can rent for a few dollars now days. On a long flight .. that is an ideal way to pass the time. As for poopy diapers. Carry some empty trash bags to seal them in. After changing her .. tie the bag up tight & put it in the trash container. The rest rooms on planes stink anyway .. so no one will pick out that it was you who caused the smell. Try to get her to go potty before boarding & odds are she will last until landing. A good idea is to carry a bottle of milk or juice for take off and landing to help keep her ears from popping which may scare her. If she is off a bottle .. give her a sucker or something to suck on. The sucking action will keep her ears open.
Have fun !! Who knows .. she may sleep the entire flight !!

We have traveled twice with my kids and it went suprisingly well. Benadryl is a nice option, even if you end up not needing it. My kids love their portable DVD player. They also love our discman with their favorite CDs(even my 3 yr old). Bring fav books and snacks. Have something to chew or suck on to keep her ears more comfortable. Bring a blanket or lovey. Try to fly at nap time if possible. Bring ziploc bags for diapers, and drop in bathroom garbage.

Try using the Huggies Overnite diapers during the flight. They work really well and hold a lot more than normal diapers. They always worked for us w our 2 yr old.

I do not think it is cool to give your child medicine just to keep them calm. Medicine is for sick children not 'rowdy' ones. We invested in a mini DVD player and headphones for our little 2 year old. He loves movies so this keeps him occupied for a good portion of most flights. I bring 2 to 3 books on his subject of the moment and 2 or 3 small (silent) toys. I also bring his favorite snacks and his Nuby cup. He loves it when the flight attendant fills his cup with juice for him. Another thing we do is try to plan our flights around his nap time. He often conks out about 30 minutes into the flight and other than a stiff arm from holding him -- the flight is over before you know it. Hope all goes well for you! OH! And bring some large Ziploc baggies for those poopie diapers along with a couple of sheets of Bounce. Put a sheet of Bounce in with the poopies diaper seal up the bag and ask the flight attendant where they would like you to dispose of it. And bring a change of clothes in the diaper bag just in case -- Harrison puked all over himself during a flight once and how I wish I had thought of bringing extra clothes for him (and a clean t-shirt for me).

yea disney, that'll be so much fun! well my husband is a pilot so we have traveled a lot. i've found that the best thing is to forgo the meds and take little things that entertain her. i'm not sure how long a flight you'll be on, if it's long then i might do dimetap or something. just make sure she has a sippy cup or chewing gum or something of the like for when they start the decent to help her pop her little ears. but if she likes to color take lots of that sort of stuff or even a portable dvd player. my kids, 8yrs 5 yrs and 10 mos, have traveled all their lives. and speaking from experience it's not going to be as bad as you imagine. it's always worse in your head. good luck, have a wonderful vaca!

be aware benadryl can make some kids crazier. it's a big risk because it could go one way or another. get some lap activities and strap her into her own carseat with the carseat straps she'll be more used to that than to the seatbelt on the plane. i have traveled a ton with my under 2 daughter, so we haven't ventured out into the "own seat" thing yet, but maybe a lollypop or something to suck on for take off and landing, for her ears. . . this is the age where they begin to have trouble equalizing. . good luck!

I used benedyrl on my son for a 4 hr car trip. I thought it would keep him calm. We left at his nap time he was 3. He acted like I gave him a cup of sugar! It was the worst drive of my life! Then after the car ride he crashed for 6-8 hours. It was the worst experience. I do not recommend it to anyone. You do not know what the first experience will be like. I have traveled on a plane with 2 kids. 6yr and a 2yr old. Keep snacks handy! non-surgry ones LOL get a new non noisy toy, a book. I saw lots of moms with books to read to their kids. I did not buy a seat for mine. It was nice for him to sit on the floor and play trucks. Coloring books. We got the magic wonder markers from crayola. Great stuff! No mess! At the airport I have the kids play the "I spy" game. With the little ones I just ask them what they see. Practice colors, shapes, etc. Mine love the escalators! Let them get their energy out at the airport as they will be confined in the plane. The flight attendents will give you water, warm a bottle or give you pretzels, or what ever if you ask. They want to keep kids happy! On southwest they used to give the kids a pin.
Happy travels!

C.,

I have never travled on plane but when we go places in the car we have them bring their very own back pack filled with goodies and materials (magnadoodles, Snackies, I spy books,their favorite stuffed animal ect...) It makes them feel like they are important.

K. S.
A little about me I am a mom of three boys Ethan 6, Logan 5, Truman 3 and one girl Dannan 17 mo. Been married for 8 years come this May 18th

Unless it is for a medical purpose, Benedryl is not the way to go. It could have the opposite effect of what you are going for (wound up instead of wound down). Best thing to do, is to bring toys and books that she is familiar with and enjoys or even to bring something new that will peak her interest. As for the poopy diaper, bring along a baggie and ask the stewardess to dispose of it (happened to us during a stop, she asked if she could take it for us). I'm not sure if your daughter has a binky or still drinks from a bottle, but those are things that can help to relieve ear pressure. The greatest thing, don't panic. Many others have been in your shoes. There will always be someone to make a rude comment about a crying baby, but that's life.

We have traveled with out daughter on multiple occasions and she is not even 2. She smiles with delite as the plane goes down the runway and falls asleep shortly after. I think a stewardess said it had to do with the altitude change and she sees it happen quite frequently. She generally slept for about 2/3 of each flight. When she woke up, she played with the little bottles of water that they give you for free.

Good luck!

Well, we've done the airplane trip twice (overseas) and it can be a bit frustrating, especially on a 10-hour flight.... Just try to keep it fun for her and if she needs it, let her get out of the seat (when safe). Be sure to bring her blanket and some brand new toys. You can change her in the bathroom and bring some plastic bags for the diapers. Toss them in the garbage--it should be fine--or ask a stewardess and they'll help. I nursed a 6-month old, changed diapers etc on very long flights and it all went fine. We did use some Benedryl but only when really needed. Oh, and of couse bring suckers or some yummy juice for take-off and landing for her ears to unpop. Good luck and enjoy your trip!!

Hi C.:

We have done quite a bit of traveling both in the car and on the plane with our 2 year old. The best investment we have made is in a travel DVD player. He tends to sit better when he has something to focus on. Also I would bring her favorite books and coloring books. I like those Color Wonder markers by Crayola. They are mess free and come with coloring books that only work with those markers. Also depending on how long the flight is, you may be able to let her walk in the walkway if she gets antsy. If Claire gets stinky, you can ask the flight attendant for a plastic bag to put the diaper in. And then give it to the flight attendant to put in the garbage outside of the bathroom. They don't want you to throw it in the trash in the bathroom. Hope this helps. Hope you have a smooth a trip as possible. - H.

I flew with my two year old over Christmas. Our neighbor had given her cute little backpack with roller wheels that she could pull behind her. We made that her toy carry-on. I packed it with 8$ worth of stuff from the dollar store (cheap and never been seen so it kept her attention). I packed diapers, etc. in my bag, plus lots of snacks and an empty sippy cup. One thing I wish I'd done was bring her blanket. It stays in her bed at home, but she kept asking for it on the plane to help her fall asleep. This is definitely the kind of special occasion that I would make an exception for. Good luck!

We went to Disney this past year and I had two and a three almost 4 year old. Bring her favorite toy and her favorite blanket and something like a nuk or a bottle to suck on when taking off and landing. For the poopy diaper they do have scented bags at the store (SASSY brand) they work very well. You should not need the Benedyrl more than likely she will fall alseep shortely after take off. Schedule your flights in the early morning or late in the day she will be more apt to be tired and like I said fall asleep.

C.,
I have traveled with my son on the airplane since he was a infant.Last summer I traveled with him when he was 2.5 almost 3. I found that the color wonder books and markers were great. The markers that only color on the particular paper worked great.Also Target has a magnetic travel suitcase with figurine that was a good time killer. Put a few little surprises in your bag rather a special treat or a little car etc. I did invest in a portable dvd player as we do travel alot it came in handy in the hotel room as well. oh yeah. a new storybook too. these are just a suggestion.I would pack some friutsnacks as they came in handy as were going up in the air and coming down. It seemed to help mine with his ears.Hope this helps. Deb Winlsow

We took books, CD player with lots of music and stories, coloring books, workbooks, crayons, snacks, when I took the boys when they were that little

Hi C.,
My two year old daughter and I just came home from our trip to Disneyland. Our plane ride went very smoothly. I just talked up the fun of trying something new, and my little one was fascinated with looking out the window and seeing the clouds and tiny buildings. I also brought along several special treats like fruit roll-ups, a new book, and special crayons. When I checked in I asked if there were any bulkhead seats available, as these have more room and are usually close to the bathroom (which has a small changing station and a trash to dispose of the dirty diapers.) As far as Benadryl, I wouldn't recommend it. I used it on another flight when my daughter was younger, but it just tends to make 2 year olds (in my experience) cranky and hyper. Not a good combo on the plane. Good luck! Claire will feed off of your attitude, so keep it fun and calm. And brind along a lollypop or two for any emergency tantrums. :)
Katie

If it were me, I wouldn't give her benedryl. It has the possibility of causing the opposite effect and really she might just do great without it! My daughter has never had too much trouble. You're smart to take her carseat. They say it's safer for a small child to be in one. Take lots of quiet type toys that you know will entertain her. Maybe even get a few new ones. And take snacks. Food usually does the trick. :) She'll also like looking out the window and interacting with those around her probably. As for diapers, take good ziploc bags and you can just throw them away on the plane without a problem. Have a great time!

I flew a lot with my son at that age. The best thing is a sippy cup of some sort for her to drink when the plane is taking off and landing. The suction helps to prevent ear discomfort which if there isn't any on take off, the flight is much smoother. Also, a few toys that she likes will help her be entertained. Talk to her about the plane before you go also to get her excited. As for the diapers, ziplocs or just a plastic bag that you can tie work great. Then throw them in the lavatory. I hope this helps. Have fun.

If you are planning on uses the meds try them first to see how she will react to them. It has a different affect \on each kid sometimes it makes them hypper. I flew with my daughter when she was 2 1/2 and am about to do it with my son next week to fly to Guam. My tricks are lots of different little toys. Ones you dont care if get lost on the plane or in the airport. I buy ones and put them away so they havent seen them and that tends to keep their attention for a little while. I also love to bring playdough. They have so much fun using it on the trays.
As for the poopy diaper make sure you but it in the bathroom trash. IU found out that they are not a loud to put the dirty diapers in with the food trash.
I hope this helps and have a safe trip.

Well, sometimes benedryl has a reverse effect and can make kids hyper, plus medicating without cause makes me nervous. But I would ask your Dr. if it's okay. Otherwise, lots of toys and snacks, mabey a lollipop to suck on for her ears( or a pacifier if she uses one) also www.onestepahead.com has great products for kids air travel.
About the poopy diapers, good question! I would just put it in the airsick bag.
Have a wonderful time! -Anne

I have flown alot, and I would suggest bringing lots of things for her to do like coloring, reading her a story a doogle board etc. If she is really hyper active talk to your pediatrician about something to help her sleep on the plane or hotel etc. Benedryl is a little scarring to me.
Also, call the airline that you are flying on and ask them the question of a poopy diaper issue. That way your ready and relaxed in knowing what to do if this should happen. Also take an empty sippy cup and when you get on the plane have the stewards put some apple juice or something in it so that your daughter can suck on it while the plane is taking off and landing this helps with the pressure in the ears.
Have a great trip.

The bendryl might work, but test it first. It makes some kids hyper. Bring lots of distractions. Make up a bag of new little toys - coloring books, sticker books, etch a sketch, or doodle water pad, playdoh that are special for the trip. Avoid things that roll - balls. Also think of things to chew on take off and landing - pretzals, jelly beans, starbursts, all some of our favorites. Suckers are a nice treat too - maybe tootsie pops.

Unless your daughter is pretty highstrung, you won't need the benadryl. Flying can be pretty exciting and interesting. I don't like to take our car seat on the plane, major pain going through the airport and getting on the plane, but I also let my kids lay out a blanket and sleep on the floor when they are tired, so that may just be a personal thing.
I would recommend rehearsing the process though. there are a lot of new things that are scary:
Walking through security by your self,
putting shoes and other security items through xray
The super loud flush of the toilets
Putting seat belts on in the plane
Waiting in line, and waiting, and waiting

But We fly with kids all the time, and its mostly just tiring, but two is a good age. I don't know if you will have any layovers, but several airports have kid zones that can be fun, too.
Oh and pack a lunch, don't worry too much about Homeland security, keep it in a ziploc bag, and they let kids bring nearly anything on a plane. Juice you could probably get on the plane, and milk. We bring yogurt, applesauce, sandwhiches, etc.

I just returned from Mexico with my 25 month old daughter and the key to success for us was to give her the freedom to move. I did not bring her car seat because it was just one more thing to carry! We were lucky enough to have the window and middle seat on the way there and the whole row on the way home (since my husband flew home but drove down). When we were about half way thru the flight, my daughter was done sitting and being calm, she is a VERY active child. I let her walk up and down the aisle. As long as we were not going through turbulance, the flight crew was understanding. It does not matter how many toys/books/movies you take, she will not be satisified with the things you bring. If there is a baby nearby, see if you can trade toys or books with them. Both children will be happier since they will be playing with something that is not their's. Good luck! Hope your trip goes well! H. B

Oh YES!! the plain ride. My fam lives in NY and we're here in ID, so I know about that all too well. I did not bring my 2 yo's car seat on the plane, it's too big in the little space and more difficult to manuever around it. But you know best with your own kid.

Some kids react badly to benedryl and get hyper -so you may want to try it before the plane ride to see what she does. But without drugging to keep calm - bring pleanty of quiet toys - coloring pages and books. Other than that there is actually tons to be entertained by on a plane, take off and landing take like a half hour each and then it's all loud and mine was intrigued by the whole thing. It really wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be especially last time i went since I had her and my 6 month old.

for diapers, i thought the same thing! bring freezer ziploc bags. then you can just throw them in the garbage there and not feel bad, it doesn't smell. good luck!

We traveled about once per month when my first was born.

Only once did we try Benedryl... first it wired her, then she finally slept, then she was lathargic. Never again.

Ziplocs for dirty diapers (to contain the smell before placing in the bathroom garbage
Ziplocs for dirty clothes (some kids spit up/spill)
A change of clothes or shirt at the minimum
Travel sized etch-a-sketch or magna doodle
Books
Snacks (we would also pack pringles or other mom/dad snacks that we would usually share with the kids. This 'sharing' distracted the kids and was an extra surprise in addition to their goodies.)
Drinks - no juice boxes or sippy cups that might build up pressure when opened. (Yeah, learned the hard way)
Small toys, crayons, paper, whatever.
Hide all the treats, drinks and toys and give them to them gradually. Don't forget that you have a return flight also!

Good luck - Don't be afraid... if you're prepared then you'll do great and so Claire!

I also have a 2 year old and she has been on a plane 4 times now the first 2 times were not very good expirences and I felt terrible because I think her ears really hurt. We tried Benadryl the first time and we planned the flight around to be during her nap time . She went to sleep right away and I thought things were going well. About 1 hour into the flight she woke up from a dead sleep screaming and she continued for the next 45 minutes until we got off. The next time I tried another sleep aid same experience. So the last time we flew which was in August so she was 21 months we decided to plan the flight so she would NOT be ready for a nap. We bought a toy that she had not seen before and brought it out when we were on the plane and we gave her a tiny piece of gum. She was in heavan she chewed that gum for the whole flight never swallowed it and her ears were fine. We even were stuck on the run way for 2 hours then had a 2 hour flight and she did great for 4 hours. Also having her own seat was a huge improvemnet for her . Good luck!

When we flew with kids that age, the kids usually slept (just like when driving in a car), but we took along plenty of snacks and toys to keep them occupied. We've only had one poopy diaper on the plane and I just asked the stewardist for a bag to tie it up in tight to keep it contained and then she put it in a trash can somewhere (not in the bathroom).

Have fun on your trip!

I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 6 month old, and my husband and I have flown several times with our children. If you are interested in trying Benedyrl my advice would be to try it at home first. The first time we gave it to our older daughter it had the opposite effect. Luckily we were at home because it made her really goofy, almost like she was drunk. She was only 1 when we tried it. We tried it again when she was 2 and it worked much better that time.

To keep our 2 year old calm and busy we usually take story books, activitiy books that we can do with her, crayola wonder markers and paper, and some of her favorite little toys (like little people by fisher price). If its a really long flight, nothing beats a portable DVD player with educational cartoons (like those on the Noggin channel).

As far as stinky diapers on the plane. Munchkin brand baby products makes these blue plastic bags that come with a rubber ducky dispensor. You can put the stinkiest diaper in there and you won't be able to smell it at all. I would suggest buying some of those. On the plane, just tie the diaper off in the bag and throw it away in the bathroom.

I hope this info helps. Have a great time at Disneyland. We are planning on taking our two girls in September, and I can't wait.

You can put the diaper in the trash in the restroom. The best accessory for disney is the folding stroller. I would also suggest going to the dinosaur dig at animal kingdom. I woul forgo the benedryl it can make some kids hyper. Kid friendly snacks and new books and small toys are key to keeping her occupied.
Vickie S.

Before dosing up children with Benadryl - or any other cough/cold medicine - the FDA has recently issued new warnings regarding the use of these products in children.

http://www.fda.gov/CDER/drug/advisory/cough_cold.htm

Crayons, stickers, you name it. but please don't drug her with Benadryl. I took 15 month old twins on several flights a few years ago (w/o benadryl) and even though they were a handful, they were also excited about the whole adventure. Just explain what's going on to your daughter, give her lots of options for entertainment, and be sure to calm her if she gets a little scared of the thought of flying. Benadryl will sedate her while in the airport or on the plane but will not be any fun when she gets up groggy!

Hi C.,
I work for an airline, and I have also taken my children on several flights. There was one time that I think I was completely insane and I flew from Virginia to Utah by myself with my two year old daughter and my six week old son. By the time my daughter was four, she had been on 38 different airplanes!
Keeping them calm is always a good thing, but I wouldn't use Benedryl unless she actually needs it. What I used was Tylenol. I would give my children the Tylenol about a half an hour before the plane takes off. The pressure from the take off and landing is very hard on their ears and the Tylenol helps with the pain. If it puts them to sleep as well, that's an added bonus. If she is awake, make sure that she is sucking on something. This also helps with pressure in the ears.
Change her diaper before you get onto the plane. You have to change diapers in those tiny little bathrooms and it can be very difficult to accomplish! And where you are on such a short flight to California, she probably won't need to be changed again. But if you do have to change her on the plane, there is a place to put the diapers in the little bathrooms.
You will want to check with your specific airline about how much you are allowed to take for your child. With the airline I work for, a lap child is allowed a car seat, a diaper bag and a stroller on top of the luggage that you are allowed. If you are taking a car seat on the plane (which is not necessary) then you have to make sure that it has a sticker on it that says FAA approved.
Good luck!!

Go for it and if she is light enough she don't need a seat save some money. plus hauling around a car seat (heavy)plus her well its up to you but I found it to be a mess trying to carry our lil one and the car seat at the same time thru the airport and for the poopy diapers tell the attendant she can usually give you a spot to change the baby on the plane and a disposable bag as well have fun and good luck

There isn't really anywhere. And there usually isn't anywhere to change them either. I would take a plastic bag to put the diaper in. Then you can dispose of it when you get there. Good luck!

Our little guy was about a year & 1/2 when we took him to Paris. My sis also took her almost 2 year old as well. It was not bad at all. I did use benedyrl for the overnight portion of the flight. If you do that make sure to try it out before because some kids are pepped up by it instead of made sleepy. Try to change before and right after if you can (all plane bathrooms are not exactly roomy). Otherwise there are garbages in the restrooms to use. If you are that worried about it take some ziploc bags to put the diaper in. Also, try calling ahead and requesting bulkhead seats. They allow for a little more leg room, then our kids could walk back and forth. Take her for walks in the aisle so she can see where she is and move. Don't expect her to sit the whole time. We also found that a few cheap new toys that had not been seen before were helpful as well as some new books. Visit your local dollar store. I would also recommend a portable DVD player.
The flight with the kids wasn't bad at all, I would do it again in a flash.

I have traveled with three children under 7 on a 10 hour flight and they did wonderful. It's not as hard as you think. I always take snacks, incase they don't like airline food and who does. I let them get settled and then give the snack at take off. This helps with thhe ear pressure problem they'll have unless they are constantly swallowing. Have lots of drinks available as well. You will need the car seat when you get to your destination, however I always checked them and let the children use the room in the seat to move. Take new activity books, stickers, crayons and paper, small lego containers or Polly Pockets worked best. I had my kids pack their own "activity" bag. I usually have too much, but lots of options. I keep the "snack back" separate. I small kids suitcase on wheels works and the two year old has her own carry on bag. My kids always say it's like a long car ride, but with lots of people to watch. Also set the expectation so she know what to expect that always helps. Tell her there will be lots of interesting people, a small bathroom, and how the take off and landing works.

Bringing along a few toys is very helpful, but be sure they are ones that are not irreplaceable, because some will no doubt end up on the floor or lost between seats. A few new little items are good, especially if you wrap them up as a gift for the plane ride. A small ball of clay or playdoh is great because you can make things out of it for her, or she can play with it. It can entertain a lot longer than some toys. Also, my young kids loved the special treat of bubble gum when we were landing. . . I would try to blow the biggest bubbles I could and they would pop them. It distracted them enough, and they could chew their own gum to help with ear issues.

Hi--This is about the same age my son was the first time we went to Disney. I used to have a pediatrician who believed in using a little Benedryl to make traveling a little easier on everybody. What I did was hit the dollar store, Target, and the like a few different times prior to going. For each kid I made a little goodie bag over which I had control. I had things like small coloring books, a little Ziploc baggie of crayons, small stories that I could quietly read to him, baggies of favorite snacks, plain paper so he could draw pictures, Silly Putty, and things like that for the younger one. For my older one I had some cheap books or Disney magazines that could just be tossed when it had been read enough. You could also Google "car games" or something like that and find some guessing games, silly jokes, and such. I can only speak for me, but I would rather hear silly jokes and laughter than some of the other options, lol!! If you happen to have an iPod that can play video, you can download age-appropriate shows and bring that along. As for the diaper, you might want to bring one or two plastic grocery bags to put the diaper in and then tie it up to minimize *ahem* the aroma. There are trash receptacles in the plane, and people are just going to have to deal. They chose mass transit, and sometimes there are small inconveniences. Have a great time...my kids loved the whole experience!! Our younger child loved Ariel's Grotto :)
A.

We just got back from Orlando with a 2.5 year old, this was his second time flying and he was fine. You can bring along a DVD player. We brought books and a few small toys, played silly face games and made a couple of trips to the bathroom just to get up and stretch. He slept most of the time, on the way there he watched a movie on my laptop.

Hi C.,

I have a 2 1/2 year old little boy and I have traveled with him quite a few times. All the times we have traveled he was under the age of 2. I would always explain to him what we were going to do to get him prepared. I think taking the benedyrl is a great idea. The one time that I didn't give it to him he was awake most of the ride and the plane ride ended up being really bumpy and he ended up getting sick. If your daughter hasn't had benedyrl before I suggest you give it to her once to make sure she doesn't have a reaction to it. Sometimes with benedyrl it makes kids hyper. I never took the car seat along with me on my trips but where I was going always had an extra seat for my child. It is a lot of stress traveling with kids and I never wanted to responsible for the seat. But you could always check your car seat and they put it with your luggage. Make sure to pack alot of different toys, maybe some she hasn't ever seen before or played with for a while. I also packed a handful of different snack options. I would always make sure to have everything pretty easily to get to - like in a backpack. As you know you don't have much room on those airplanes. Good luck to you!!

I traveled out of the country with my 2 year old (a 12 hour trip, total). I had the Benadryl fast melts on hand, but I only used them twice. I got new toys to intrigue my child and brought along favorite toys for comfort. You can still take snacks through security, just not liquids, so I had some of the favorite snacks available. We also purchased our portable DVD player for the trip and took some of the favorite movies. We just kept the activities rotating. The plane was pretty cool,too.

Me: 28 year old mom of 2 (6 year old boy, 8 month old girl).

We lived overseas for many years and all of our children were born there. Consequently, we did a lot of travelling to see grandparents Stateside. Distraction is the key to happy travelling! Get a few new small toys that she gets once on the plane and bring snacks. If she uses a sippy cup, bring an empty one and you will be able to get milk and juice on the plane. We always have our laptop with so that the kids can watch movies, but a small portable DVD player is good, too and can be used in the hotel as well. As for diapers, the quart size ziploc bags that you use to take liquids through security work great for sealing them up and throwing in the trash. Hope you have a great trip!