Child Harness & Traveling

A stroller would help contain her, keep her safe and help you tote some of your stuff through the airport. You can gate-check it, so you'll have it with you the whole time. If she's restless in the stroller before the flight, you can just walk through the terminal pushing the stoller with one hand and holding her hand with the other. I have to say I'm not a fan of harnesses for children. Whatever they're called, they're still basically a leash for your kid, and I think interaction and a parent's hand does the same job in a much better way. Good luck!

We flew to Jamaica with out 18 month old and 3 year olds. I bought one of those small backpacks that your child sits in. I got it at REI cost me $90.00 it can hold a child up to 30 lds plus 10lbs of stuff. My daughter loved it she rode on my back the whole time through customs and out sight seeing and it was a small backpack so it was very comfy for me. I stuffed it with food and toys so she had all of her stuff right there. In fact we are going to florida and she is now 3 but still under the 30lb mark so I am taking it again it made things just so easy and she liked it. Don't know what I will do when she is to big for it oh well. Good luck.

As far as keeping them busy on the plane, I would take a portable DVD player if you have one. Some airlines actually have a place to plug them in now. We went to FL not too long ago and that kept my son busy for most of the trip. Also things like bubbles, stickers, crayons, etc. that they may not have seen before or too often were very popular for us. My son just stuck stickers for almost an hour! He was about 18 months when we flew too. Good luck!

For my son, we did not have a portable DVD player at the time, but that is a great idea if you have one. I made up several zip-lock bags that had something "fun" in them for him to play with: stickers (be sure to include a piece of paper for her to stick them on), Band-Aids (with a favorite character on them). I also took along some of his favorite small toys as well as a favorite stuffed animal and some of his books. Something else that was very helpful was that I bought my son his own ticket and therefore took his carseat with me. Since he was used to being contained in it in the car, he never balked at staying in it while on the plane. Favorite treats help, too - M&Ms, Starburst, lollipops, etc.