First Time on an Airplane

When my kids were barely 3 yrs and a 3 month old we flew from Denver to Palm Springs and it was fine. Talk to the airlines about any special requirements, they should be able advise you about specific car seats and drinks. If you don't want your son drinking juices that have sweetener added you may be out of luck. At that age they shouldn't be drinking undiluted juices anyway. How about apple slices? Put them in a ziplock bag along with a little "fruit fresh" or a crushed vitC disolved in a little water and they won't turn brown. You could also prepare little baggies of grapes, melons, banana slices, cheerios, crackers. It's only a couple of hours - you don't need much. Bring things to keep him busy, have him help prepare his bag with a couple of books, a paper pad to color, a ziplock with some crayons. I made my kids some little hand puppets as a surpise for traveling.
There are some good books about traveling to help prepare kids to know what to expect and to build some excitement about it. Visit the library. Kids take their cues from you, if you are calm and positive, generally they will be too. If you are nervous or ambivalent they will pick up the feeling that something is wrong no matter what you say. Relax and enjoy yourselves, you'll have fun! It's an adventure.

Hi!

I am not sure about the carseat, but I would try and if it doesn't work, then the flight attendants can take it and have it stowed with the luggage. The carseat will HAVE to sit in the window seat. The airline will not allow it in aany other seat.

As for drinks...bring an EMPTY sippy cup or more than one. They offer drinks on the plane, but there are stores and restaurants past the security. Once you are past the security, fill the cup(s). You can take them on the plane, once tou pass security, they don't take drinks away.

Bring snacks, dry snacks and fruit, not yogurt or applesauce (can't get that past security) No ice packs (got mine taken away 2 weeks ago when we went to Disneyland!)

Books to read to her, a "My first Leap Pad" that will keep her busy. Play doh...little containers...the mini ones. Magnet activity books, coloring books and crayons, the Crayola magic coloring books and magic finger paint.

Give each item one at a time and time them out...like one new thing every 20 minutes or what ever amount of time you decide.

When you are going up in the air and then again when you are going down for the landing, have her drink or chew. This will help her ears. Very important! My 8 year old had trouble with her ears and she was chewing gum, I had her blow her nose while holding it closed to releive pressure.

I hope that helps. Good luck and don't get stressed. Ask questions when you are there.

A.

My son was 3 the first time we flew, and my daughter was 6 weeks. And I was by myself, my husband didn't go. The airlines have eased up a bit on bringing juice and stuff on. But when we flew, you couldn't bring anything, so I bought juice after we got thru security. You can also get as many refills as you want while in flight. I would also not use the carseat. If you need to bring it with you, you can check it at baggage claim and it doesn't count as 1 of your bags, so it's all good. If you bring plenty of books and snacks and things, she should sit all right. Just make sure she knows it's like riding in the car, you have to stay sitting down. I would also recommend buying a few new toys that she can have on the plane and don't show them to her until you're in your seats. My son was so facinated with the plane and looking out the window that he was very entertained the whole 2 hours we were in flight. Most kids do really well. Oh, and give her a sucker or something to help with her ears as your taking off and landing.

Hi H.,
I am mom to a 1yr. old and a 9yr. old and we have flown about 6 times from Denver to the east coast over the course of the last year. I have mastered the airport, so here is my advice:
Pack a carryon 'diaper' bag for your toddler with a sippy cup of beverage. As long as you specify that the bag is for your child, security will allow this 'liquid' to go through. In a 1 qt ziploc freezer back, pack tylenol/motrin liquid, or any other meds she may be on that you will need during the flight or while on your trip (i also pack hand sanitizer in this). Take this baggie out of the diaperbag when you are filling your 'bin' in the security line.
Pack snack/finger foods that are dry and can be easily picked up. I have a 'travel' set of compact toys to entertain my child while in flight, which include small toddler friendly cars to push on the tray, crayons and paper, and books.
I dont take a car seat, as we have a travel stroller that is basically a car seat with wheels that pop out of the bottom.
And i check that at the airplane door. I find that my kids have more room to move around and adjust themselves or play in the seat if we leave that out of the equation. The airline staff can provide a pillow and blanket to make your little one more comfie in the seat, and I put my toddler in the middle seat.
I also have given a dose of benedryl prior to a flight if I think she will be fussy, or if she has congestion. Your pediatrician can advise you of the appropriate dose of childrens bendryl for your toddler. Mine sleeps though most of the flight with that under her belt.

Hi H.,
I am not sure about the car seat, but for ideas for keeping your daughter busy I have a few...
When traveling with my son starting at age 8 mo. I would purchase a few small toys ( I shopped the dollar store or Walmart / Target for inexpensive items ) and when we got on the plane I would give him them one at a time. It kept him entertained with something new, and I didn't have to worry about him being bored and borthering the other passengers on the airplane.
As he got older, I found a flip the page letter book that had pictures of animals and helped him learn his ABCs. He really enjoyed this and having something new makes it so much more fun!
Good luck to you!

Good luck on your flight. I travel with my kids all the time. The oldest is 8 yrs now but she's been flying since she was 3 months old. I found if your daughter will take a pacifier or bottle make sure she is sucking on it on take off and landing. It helps with the ear pressure.

As for car seat. If you can take it USE it. I find it a lot easier to keep the kid still if they are in their own seat. I have one son that if I hold him he wants to be all over the place. Having their own seat really helps keeping them in one place. Just bring activities she might be able to do in her seat to keep her busy. If you have a small portable dvd player she might enjoy watching her favorite movie/s.

You would have to buy drinks after you get through security. I think you would be fine with snacks but as far as liquids you need to buy after security. Just bring her cup and fill it as you need. I would get enough that you can keep filling her cup on the plane with out having to wait for drinks to come by.

I hope you have a good trip. I took that trip with 3 kids at the time. I have 4 now. It was a LONG trip. I hope you are going strait through without stopping anywhere. Thats just another hassle.

GOOD LUCK :)

I fly all the time. I have a 3yr old and take my nieces and nephews with me from Colorado to Puerto Rico... so trust I have been through it all!

Juice boxes are ok. **NO water bottles.** If you want water purchase them after you get through security. I always bring a little carry on suitcase full of books and toys they can play with. I never take a car seat unless the child is and infant and cannot sit on their own. You can bring a stroller with car seat attached if you wish and they will store it under for you. Also remember to tag all of your belongings! Its funny when you travel you notice other parents with the exact same equipment, lol.

First I would not bring the carseat on the plane, that is more of a pain than anything else. If you need the carseat while you are there just check it. I would say put her in a stroller and do a gate check with that. We use a portable DVD player and some planes now have plugs for electronics. But coloring books or a few small books, keep in mind since you have paid for her seat she also gets her own carry-on, and zip lock baggy too. You can bring unopened juice boxes as long as they are under 3oz and as many snacks as you can handle. But even though the airport convience stores are more expensive I would just get a few juice containers there and avoid the hassle. One other thing you hear of people drugging their kids with Benedryl, I have given my daughter a half of a Dramamine pill just to keep her mellow and she usually falls asleep once on the plane for about an hour sometimes a little longer.

Yes...just take a sippie cup. I don't know about your carseat, but I've always used a carseat for a baby or toddler on flights because they are under control! Plus peace of mind for safety. Anyway, they can fill the sippie cup for you. Just a tip, we actually bought a portable dvd player for our 2 year old. I had it on hand just in case. I wasn't going to bring it out unless neccessary. Our flight home was fine, no probs. On the flight back, though, which was about the same amount of time as yours, she fell asleep only to wake up and start tantruming to get out of her seat. I nothing I'd brought with me helped...but then out came Barney on dvd and she was perfect for the rest of the flight.

We have always flown without a carseat. She'll probably spend most of her time in your lap or walking around. You can take a sippy cup usually. I have had no issue at DIA. The airline will help you with refills. You can even get them before leaving, so you don't have to pay high airport prices. I always bring a new toy for each flight, there and back. Our kids love the leapster or leap pad. The leap pad is considered a computer by security. We don't use apple juice when we fly since the excitement usually speeds the digestion anyway. If she's potty trained, let her see the bathroom before you leave and try it out while you're still on the ground. Denver to Chicago is a long time to hold because she's scared of the bathroom. Our son has done it. Flying isn't as bad as you might think. If your daughter is prone to ear problems, you might consider getting a script for ear number. Our doctor always lets us have some. We've never had to use it, but it's great to have if you need it. GL Have fun!

When we fly with our daughter, we try to bring on board one new toy so there is something to surprise her with. Another tip someone gave me is to wrap small familiar toys in aluminum foil. It takes up time with her unwrapping the toys and it makes into a game.

As far as drinks, we buy them after security or we bring along empty water bottles and fill them with water after we get through security.