We will be traveling for 3 hours with our 23-month-old on the airplane across country. She will be sitting on our lap. What should I make sure to pack in my travel bag that day? Any creative activities? Help with ears? I'm so nervous about it! She's a squirmy little one!!
Thanks for your help.
Food, Toys, something to suck on for take off and landing, a movie. These are somethings that worked for my 11 month old!!!!
I actually just got back last night from a trip to hawaii with my 15 month old. I suggest lollipops for take offs and landings... that keeps them sucking. We didn't have any problems with ear pressure and there were even a few times we didn't use the lollipops because he fell asleep during the taxi to the runway (we had 3 planes each way!). Take along plenty of snacks, toys, small books, and our safety was a portable dvd player to play his baby Einsteins. It will probably go better than you expect. Good luck!
I actually just read the other day that one of the best things you can do to prevent pressure on the ears is hold a styrofoam cup firmly over each ear. That is supposed to absorb the pressure and prevent the pain. I'm not sure how easy that would be on a squirmy toddler but worth a try. Also, giving them Benedryl before takeoff can reduce the inflammation caused by the pressure.
Hi,
When we did the trip with our 23 month old, my babysitter gave us a little bag of wrapped presents. The wrapping was nothing fancy and they weren't in boxes so they made it through security. They were little figurines, books, etc. Giving Alexandra something to open every so often kept her excited and interested since she had never played with the toys.
Alexandra also liked the "I Spy" pictures so we took a book of those for her to examine. I also suggest lots of little snacks that your son can munch on.
Good luck!!
A.
Portable DVD player
Box of Kleenex (endless fun pulling them out one at a time and giving them to you, just don't leave the mess for someone else to clean up)
Roll of masking tape (fun to peel it off in strips)
Stickers
Coloring book/crayons
Books
Ask to sit at the back of the plane and be nice to the flight attendant. We too a flight where the attended took our 15-mo-old son and played with him, paraded him up and down the aisle to meet passengers and other attendants, gave him extra crakers, cups, and spoons to play with. Something I didn't know: there's a changing station in that tiny bathroom, ask how it works!
We just got back from a trip to Walt Disney World. We took our 1yr old on the plane in our laps too. Go to the dollar store and by a bunch of little toys, keep them hidden till you are on the plane. The kid will have something new, and each toy will keep them busy for 10-15 min. A new book, with flaps that open up is also great, anything they haven't seen before. Bring lots of snacks, they can really make a long trip a little more enjoyable.
My daughter took her laptop and some of my grandsons favorite movies that really helped!
My brother traveled with my nephew when he was the same age to Haiwai, 13 hours! THey took a portable dvd player with tond os movies, snacks, books, little toys that were not noisy. He did very well considering he was on a plan for 13 hours 1 way.
We are taking our 27 month old on an airplane for the first time as well and our audiologist recommended gummy bears for take off to help her ears adjust. Because they are too young for gum still, gummy bears give the same effect. I agree a protable DVD player would be great to have and just some books, crayons, a purse with play make-up, toy phone, toy camera so she can take her own pictures (I found a cute one at Wal-mart that was Disney for $5-6 that talks and has princess pictures), favorite stuffed animal and some snacks. My neice has a doodle pro that my daughter just became interested in. It's a mini magna doodle where you write on the screen and then pull the lever and it wipes it off. I am going to get one of those for our trip. Good luck and have fun!!
You might try getting one of those little coloring books that use a pen of water instead of crayons. My kids loved those. take some gum and let her chew it that should help with the ears. She will probably be so amazed at least for a little bit about seeing the clouds out the window. Maybe some paper dolls. Make sure what every you take you don't let her see it until you are on the plane and that way it is brand new and very entertaining.
Good luck.
I recommend books of course, and small toys.
Nothing that makes noise!
And, it would be good if you figured out a way to tether each toy to a cord or string in case she would drop them.
Much easier to retrieve in a crowded space if you can just pull on the string.
Make sure she does NOT kick the seat in front at all costs.
Be prepared to let her stand on your lap and jump up and down as you hold her under her arms.
Looking out the window is good.
I would take things she has not seen before for maximum interest value.
One thing every half hour might work well.
As to the ear thing...I am clueless so maybe you will hear from others on that.
If there are 2 of you you should do well...just be prepared to entertain her the whole time unless by some miracle she falls asleep.
Bon Voyage!
Hi M.,
You might try keeping your daughter active (read "tiring her out") right up until boarding time so she will be ready to rest in your lap. though if she might get cranky, then maybe not....
Bring drinks and a blanket too. Airplane air is dry and (to me, anyway) cold. You can always play peek-a-boo or "tent" with the blanket.
Will you have a window seat? Let her look out.
Just some thoughts. Have a good trip!
K. Z.
You and I are in the same boat. I am planning on taking my 2 year old on a 9 hr plane ride in a month... One of the things I did was talk to our pediatrician who has just last month taken her 2 year old son on a trip to Fl (2 hr plane ride). She said that they did not anticipate him getting air sick. He puked the entire trip to Florida. Once there, they went to Walgreens and got him acupuncture bracelets. She also said that on the way back, they gave him a little benadryl which allowed him to sleep... So, besides the DVD player and toys, I would suggest you get the bracelets for her and bring some benadryl just in case. However, try out the benadryl at home first b/c it has the opposite effect on some kids and makes them hyper. To prepare for our trip, I have been going to a local thrift store to look for "mini" toys. I have a small see 'n say, small books, small stuffed animals, small doodle-pro, etc. I have a small backpack that holds all of the small toys. I have also packed away some of my son's favorite small toys already so that he will be delighted when he sees them again on the plane. :-)
Hi M., take a minute and relax! Don't dread what you know will happen. 1. You can give tylenol or Motrin before you hop on the plane to decrease any comfort that she may get. 2. let her suck on a bottle as you take off and then let her suck on a pacifier the rest of the way. Make sure you have a snack, a few fun toys and books, and maybe a little gift from the dollar store for her to open. If you have a layover, hang out at gate that is empty and let her run around. And, get on to the plane last so she can be free the longest time possible.
