Travelling for the First Time with 18 Month Old

You can bring baby food/drinks through security. Just keep them within reason and declare them all as baby food (even if it's juice boxes and what looks like adult food), when you put your bag on the security belt. In my experience, food and drinks are your best friend when traveling with a toddler.

I have flown a LOT with my kids (I have a 2 year old and a 13 month old, I have mostly flown by myself with them). You will probably want your 18 month old to have his/her own seat for a 4 hour flight, and you will be best off if you use a carseat. We have flown with the Britax Marathon, and found it best to install rear facing so your child doesn't kick the seat in front of him/her. Talk to your child about the flight in advance, what the expectations are and stuff, even if you don't think s/he will understand.

Here's the other lessons I've learned:
Don't take an enormous amount of stuff on the plane.
Bring a few small toys and a few board books.
Bring a few "kryptonite items" (for us this includes a new hotwheel in the package, a super special treat like licorice or cookies, chocolate milk - I only take out the krypto items in a moment of desperation)
Don't worry if your child cries on the plane. It happens all the time and you paid for the flight just like everyone else!
Don't be afraid to ask for help from other passengers or flight attendants (you may not need help traveling with one child, but I constantly ask for help or take help that's offered)

Good luck! You can always msg me if you want more...like I said, I've done this a lot because my family lives far away.

Hi C.,

You'll do great! Don't underestimate the power of the newness of going on an airplane. My two-year old son has traveled extensively since he was four months old (he already has free tickets on two different airlines), and he STILL gets excited when we get on an airplane. He has to look out the window, turn on the lights above him, play with the seatbelts, and look at the magazines. I still bring his car seat on the plane because he does so much better when he's in his seat.

As far as bringing things on the plane, you can bring food and a sippy cup of milk/juice through security. Be sure to pull it out of your carry-on and show it to the TSA agents. I've also had to go through secondary security at a few airports so they could check the milk in the sippy cup to make sure it was indeed milk. I always bring lots of little snacks (Cheerios, raisins, cereal bars, cut up strawberries/grapes, goldfish crackers, etc.) because food is a great distraction.

Go out and buy a few new little toys or books before you leave and bring them out one by one during the flight. I always bring some Band-aids (fun to stick on to places and it is not permanent), a Magna-doodle (drawing without the mess), a bandanna or large piece of fabric (game of peekaboo), and a flashlight.

Like another person recommended, bring a change of clothes for both you and your little one. Bring plenty of diapers because you never know when you may need one. Don't forget to bring along a lovie or special stuffed animal. Ask the flight attendants to help if you need help. Most importantly, relax and don't stress! =)

Have a great trip!

you'll be fine. Bring an extra set of clothes for the baby and yourself. If your child watches any TV, then I would bring a DVD player with a couple of great DVDs, this has always been my sanity moment when traveling and even when we had to eat out. I'd bring some healthy snacks, the last thing you want is a sugared up baby on the plane :) try cheerios (at 3 my son still loves this snack), bananas, apples and grapes, some crackers or pretzels... Small books are always good, and what my son has grown to expect on the plane ride is playdo... I usually get a new small set. Some stickers and paper is great time killer. If all else fails trips to the bathroom will keep the little one occupied for a bit. bring extra diapers, and wipes. In the past I've brought milk and food through security, but not juice. As a matter of fact they made me dump out the water out of his sippy cup once, so I'm not sure about the juice thing, you can always buy it after security check too. If you buy a seat for your child, at 18 months, your child must sit on a car seat, so if you buy a seat bring your car seat. I use a travel one that opens into a stroller and is great for airports. Good luck, and don't be too nervous about it. As long as you are prepared, things will go fine. If your child cries, that is OK too. Bring something for take off and landing to either eat for sip or suck on to help with the pressure in the ear.

I'm about to do this too. I'm pretty nervous, so I look forward to hearing the responses! She'll have her own seat, right?