Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Our trip is coming up and I'm getting nervous, lol!

Our seats were moved up to Row 1 on both of our flights because I'm injured - so now I'm really not sure if there's any chance of an extra seat for DS to use his carseat (we didn't pay for a seat for him). And since my leg is injured, it will be much harder for me to really hold him for too long etc. So I NEED to keep him entertained, lol.

I bought the aquadoodle for the flight. We're taking JetBlue so we should have TVs etc. I was going to try to get some little toys for the flight, but I don't think I'll make it to the stores with this bum foot. Any other tips?

What about for their ears popping? Anything we can do to try to prevent that?

Would love any advice!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

lots and lots of snacks (and a good variety) I bought animal crackers, gold fish, gummie bears, lollipop (good for sucking if you have ear problems..but I never did) pretzels, yogurt, cheese sticks, M&Ms...etc...

new toys, interactive books with flip tops/tabs to keep them busy since they are young to fully understand books just yet, coloring book with a few crayons

I would bring a dvd player just in case...we went over water on Jetblue and the tvs were out for a bit..it is good for a back up and to have their fav show/movie that will keep them occupied

honestly...the food kept my kiddies more occupied than anything else

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

If you can or someone can get to the store, buy some new toys he's never seen. Does he have a mr. potato head? If not get that, it was very entertaining for DD the last time we flew with her at 16 months.

DD was still getting bottles at that age so we gave her one at take off to help with her ears and I think she slept through landing.

Bring lots of snacks too in case he doesn't want to drink on take off or landing, it's good for them to just be swallowing to pop their ears.

She hasn't been interested in the jetblue TV's at all any of the times we've flown, I guess b/c she can't hear them without the earphones.

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Ok so snacks are a must. I can try to get him some new little toys to entertain him if DH can take me to the store.

Oh and good point about the jetblue tvs - I don't think he'd use the ear buds at all so that probably won't work! Eek! I'm getting more worried!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

bottle or sippy when departing and landing for the ears
snacks
paci if he uses one
put him in an overnight a little b4 getting on the plane b/c sometimes it's a while b4 you can get up and in case of any accidents
movies
plastic bags for poopy diapers or garbage (they won't take diapers)
any small remotes or phones they like to play with that makes sounds and lights up. It's never too loud and planes are so noisy that no one can hear it
extra clothes
lots of wipes (and the antibacteria wipes) we wiped down the seats and everything b/c DS touches everything

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

We took Lucas to Disney when he was almost 16 months old and I found the following to be helpful on both the flight to and from Orlando....

- Washable Crayons (the regular ones don't wash off the tray very easily - sometimes not at all!)
- Coloring book
- A few books to read (I read to him as quietly as I could but still had an audience who seemed to want to sit on my lap next to Lucas and listen too )
- Wheel Pals (Lucas was obsessed with cars and trucks and these don't hurt as much when they are hurled at you!)
- Snacks!!! Snacks!! Snacks!!!
- Extra ear phones (we put them on super low and let him use them from time to time...great distraction)
- Extra baby wipes!


For take-off we made sure he had a sippy cup (if he were still on bottles I would have given him one) with a straw that had a little more resistance so that he had to make an effort to use it. Never complained about his ears so I guess between the suction of the straw and the act of drinking itself he was fine.


Have fun!!!

Message edited 6/1/2011 1:12:57 PM.

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Posted by brownie

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by brownie

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Ugh, we HAD a window seat, but when they moved us to row 1, we got the aisle and a middle seat. Hoping that window seat stays empty though!!!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

We are flying next week for the 1st time with DD who is 19 mos old. I plan on having some snacks, milk and water for the flight to give her throughout the flight and to hopefully help her ears during takeoff and landing. I also picked up a few small new toys and plan on bringing a coloring book and crayons. We're still going back and forth about a portable DVD player . We are flying JetBlue and know they have the TVs but as another poster mentioned, w/o the sound I'm not sure how much it will grab her attention.

Good luck!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

*Def a portable DVD player with a fav shows
*Snacks
*Binky for take or and landing...if he doesn't use a binky, make sure he is drinking/swallowing to help with his ears
*Coloring book
*New toys

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by brownie

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Ugh, we HAD a window seat, but when they moved us to row 1, we got the aisle and a middle seat. Hoping that window seat stays empty though!!!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Posted by CaMacho

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by brownie

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Ugh, we HAD a window seat, but when they moved us to row 1, we got the aisle and a middle seat. Hoping that window seat stays empty though!!!

We always get aisle and middle... usually end up needing to get up a few times so it's better not to have to bother someone to get up!

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

DS really enjoyed plugging and unplugging headphones from the armrest and watching animal planet (well - he wouldn't wear headphones but, the animals kept him occupied for a little bit).

Two of his favorite activities while flying are buckling the seatbelt and putting a cap on my waterbottle.

He also really likes those Little People books with all of the flaps - those kept him entertained for awhile.

Snacks are a must - I brought a huge variety for him.

Re: Any tips for traveling with 15 month old for the first time on a plane???

Posted by ReiRei13

Posted by CaMacho

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by brownie

All I have to say is that near the window is much better than near the aisle for toddlers.... At least IMO

Ugh, we HAD a window seat, but when they moved us to row 1, we got the aisle and a middle seat. Hoping that window seat stays empty though!!!

We always get aisle and middle... usually end up needing to get up a few times so it's better not to have to bother someone to get up!

Aisle might be better- at 15 months, all Frankie wanted to do was slam the window shade up and down- he threw a fit when he couldn't!!