Flying with an 18 month old....

momma924
momma924 Posts: 26
edited December 2024 in Chit-Chat
Hello,

I've flown a few times with my son before but he was under 12 months and it was easy!

But, now he's 18 months old, and likes to squirm around and play!

I am flying alone with him in 3 days...

Any suggestions to help calm this momma? Or tips on keeping his attention? We have like a 2-2.5 hour layover as well.

Ay yi yi! Thanks!

Replies

  • clydethecat
    clydethecat Posts: 1,087 Member
    oh i dont envy you. i dont have kids but i was a nanny for a number of years. when i took my charge out somewhere where we would have to wait for a while, i would bring him a bunch of toys, so when he gets sick of one, theres another one waiting. also books.. reading can be very calming to kids.

    if he gets fussy on the plane, walk him up and down the aisles, but stay with him, the other passengers are not going to like a 18mos old running the aisles alone.

    theres some debate about using cough medicine to knock him out, i wouldnt do this, over medicating is not a good idea.

    his ears will probably hurt once you get to altitude, thats why most kids on planes are fussy. i'm sure theres something you can do for that, i just dont know what it is.

    good luck! it will all be over before you know it :)
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    This is an easy one. My mother was a stewardess and had to take my brother and I on planes since the time we were born. She had a very simple solution that kept us quiet, well behaved infants.

    Half a valium.


    I wish I were joking.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    Brett and I are monsters, apparently.....I was thinking....Benadryl is safe....and effective :)
  • p0pr0cksnc0ke
    p0pr0cksnc0ke Posts: 1,283 Member
    Klonopin for you
    portable DVD player, ipad with games, and when he gets restless, a walk up and down the aisle.. Make sure you have a "lovie" if he has one (my kids both have star blanket lovies)
  • tig_ol_bitties
    tig_ol_bitties Posts: 561 Member
    Private jet, so you don't have to worry about bothering others ;-)
  • pinuplove
    pinuplove Posts: 12,871 Member
    I've flown with mine when they were little quite a bit. Did you buy a seat for him? I always highly recommend flying with young ones in their carseat. If you didn't, and the flight isn't full, see if you can sit next to an empty seat and install his carseat in it. That makes it much more like a car ride for them; they are more comfortable in a familiar surrounding and more likely to nap. It is also much safer! I am not a fan of littles flying unrestrained. Turbulence can be sudden, and devastating for an unbelted lap child.

    Bring plenty of snacks and brand new toys he has never seen before. He will probably fuss some, but in my experience as long as you are actively trying to engage him, most passengers are quite understanding of a fussy baby. Take advantage of the layover to let him run around a bit. Some airports even have play areas for kids.
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    cover.jpg

    puzzles, crayons, duplos, storybooks

    Keep them entertained. It's your duty to your fellow passengers. Use your layover to RUN RUN RUN and PLAY.

    It's not that bad... people used to compliment me on how pleasant my daughter was on plane rides - but I worked my butt off to make sure she didn't bother any one.
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    I don't know but if I was on that plane I'd be sure to hate you.
    -wtk
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    I don't know but if I was on that plane I'd be sure to hate you.
    -wtk

    :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

    You are kind of a Dbag..but I like you.
  • happyjoyousfree1
    happyjoyousfree1 Posts: 124 Member
    Please tell me it's not this Saturday and you are not going to Miami! just kidding.
    I used Benadryl too, just a smidge and I read to my son.
    Sorry but it worked and personally, no one likes a screaming kid on a plane or parents that think the rest of the world has to suffer through your kids growing up..
    Not saying your that type, but ther'e's too many out there too count.
    Good luck!
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    I've never flown with a bebe but I *do* know that if said bebe isn't sitting in their seat in a somewhat calm fashion prior to take off, you can be removed from the flight should the Captain deem the situation to be unsafe...so plan carefully!
  • macpatti
    macpatti Posts: 4,280 Member
    Benadryl, DVD player, favorite movies, snacks!
  • recriger
    recriger Posts: 245 Member
    If you are "Child in arms" you can hold the child during take off and landing, or any other time. they don't get their own seat so you have to share. As someone above mentioned, new toys is the secret. We took 3 new puzzles on the plane. She was so distracted by those that she didn't even get to the coloring books, but make sure to take those books and smacks as well. Plus being in the seat with mamma is, to a point, enough to keep them calm.

    Our problem is that now she is nearly 3. All the young trip were great. We flew this year at Christmas time, and it was HELL (2-1/2 years old). She is just old enough that she doesn't care to stay in her seat, she wants to wander. It didn't matter that we "RAN" her through the Cincinnati airport for 2-1/2 hours prior to the flight. The excitement of something new was like Crack! just wound her up more. She had her own seat, but fought impressively hard to be allowed into teh isle to wander. So we will be renting a van and driving for the next few years.

    OH...Benadryl doesn't work for everyone. We gave the travel dose (recommended in magazines) and it made her even crazier. It gives my wife "Jumpy leg" as well, so that may be where she gets it. I believe that there is a warning on the label about making some people more hyper.
  • happyjoyousfree1
    happyjoyousfree1 Posts: 124 Member
    wow either switch to valium or birth control lol
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    You are kind of a Dbag..but I like you.
    I'd be more surprised if you didn't.
    -wtk
  • PepeGreggerton
    PepeGreggerton Posts: 986 Member
    Hello,

    I've flown a few times with my son before but he was under 12 months and it was easy!

    But, now he's 18 months old, and likes to squirm around and play!

    I am flying alone with him in 3 days...

    Any suggestions to help calm this momma? Or tips on keeping his attention? We have like a 2-2.5 hour layover as well.

    Ay yi yi! Thanks!

    Fly at night.
  • Jeff92se
    Jeff92se Posts: 3,369 Member
    iPad movies.
  • StephL0711
    StephL0711 Posts: 141 Member
    i flew with a 3 year old and a 3 month old(this was almost 5 months ago) from LAX to Germany!! it was a 10 hour non stop flight but thankfully we made it and a lady even came up to me when we landed to tell me that i had such well behaved kids, i was so proud. haha back to your question, i made my son a goodies backpack, i put in his favorite snacks, toys, books. i went to target beforehand and got him stuff from the dollar aisle like little coloring book with crayons, a sticker book. also it was a lifesaver that they played the cars movie on the plane but if you have a portable dvd player that helps. if you have an iphone or smartphone download fun kid friendly apps. The main thing is to keep them entertained! also during takeoff and landing have him suck on a lollipop so his ears wont bother him. Also if your little one is in diapers make sure to take extra changes of clothes in your diaper bag and lots of diapers and baby wipes, i also took ziplock bags and grocery store bags to put the soiled diapers in so it would smell since we were in a confined space. Good luck with your flight! i know how nerve wracking it can be flying with a little one
  • DebzD07
    DebzD07 Posts: 3
    New toys, new books and a portable dvd player.

    Been abroad with my eldest daughter twice now (at 7 months and 14 months), you'll be fine :)
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    No problem. Flew halfway around the earth 7 months pregnant with a 13 month old.

    Hella snacks and games. If the games make noise, duct tape the speaker area to silence them. The toys, not the kid. My kids are too fascinated with the ride to watch DVDs. So I make sure they get a new toy plane for the rides and a window seat. Sometimes, that is all they use for the entire ride.

    Let the kid run like hell if you have any layovers. Don't just keep him/her in the stroller.

    Give them a drink at takeoff to help with the ears popping. Not scotch...that's for you.

    Let the airline know as much as possible in advance, because they will help you if they can. Japan Airlines is great with kids, for example.

    Good luck, and have fun.

    ETA: I don't give my kids refined sugar typically, and especially before a trip. They will wear me out. They alternate between squirrelly and whiney on juice. You know your kid best, you already know what to do!
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