BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

Ok, we are leaving for Hawaii to visit SIL & BIL on Wed morning. First flight leaves at 6AM from Newark and lasts 6 hours. Second flight leaves phoenix an hour after the first flight lands which leave zero time to get food, We will just have enough time for a bathroom stop and the walk to the other end of the airport. Second flight is 6.5 hours to kona. All in all 12.5 hours in the air and an hour layover.

I am bringing empty sippy cups, jarred baby food, snacks (cherrios, goldfish, carrots, apples, yogurt) in a soft cooler bag that is small. Questions:

1) What are the restrictions? Can I bring snacks if I out them in ziplock bags?

2) Can I bring her milk in a sippy cup? CAn I bring yogurt if it is unopened (like yobaby) for the first flight?

3) can I bring wipes (like 2 packages unopened)? can I bring vasaline? aveeno diaper cream?

I am concerned about all of my stuff for Grace being confiscated. I need to pack a TON of stuff b/c of our one hour layover and that the airport NEVER has this stuff. I want to be super prepared. We were last year, but all I took was formula, bottles and some baby food b/c Grace was 9 months old. The flight attendants gave us water for the formula, so we were set.

Toddlers are a whole other story! I need to have snacks at the ready, and it needs to be stuff that is healthy and that she will actually eat. The thought of Grace eating airplane food or pre-packaged stuff from the airport... DH and I usually get a bagel for the fist flight and share a sandwich at the layover (which we will have to bring on board this time).

BTDT moms, Please help! TIA!

ETA: Grace will be a lap child. We are that the flights are not full so she can have her own seat. WE are bringing Dh's laptop to play DVD disney movies for her.

Message edited 1/11/2008 1:10:27 PM.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

1) What are the restrictions? Can I bring snacks if I out them in ziplock bags? As long as it's not a liquid or gel like substance I dont think there are any special restrictions

2) Can I bring her milk in a sippy cup? CAn I bring yogurt if it is unopened (like yobaby) for the first flight? No you aren't allowed milk in a sippy... but you can buy one after security and put it in there. If it's under 3oz then yes, yogurt but if its over I dont think it qualifies... unless of course you buy it after security.

3) can I bring wipes (like 2 packages unopened)? can I bring vasaline? aveeno diaper cream? Yes, wipes are fine. Vas. I think also is the 3oz rule as well as the diaper cream.

You should call the airline have a list of all the things you want to bring and ask them. They can tell you for sure.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

I just went to Florida in Dec and I took Yobaby yogurt in a cooler with the ice packs I had a sippy cup full of juice for her too and they said to just let them know ahead of time whats in it, before you put it through the security camera I would buy the milk once your past the security its just easier. I had snacks up the wazoo, little packs of pretzels cookies ya know the individual pack ones the variety pack so she had choices. I would get a portable DVD player it was the BEST thing I could have had for the flight and maybe some benadryl, I know it sounds horrible to think of drugging your child but its a LONG flight.. If you do that make sure you try it out first DD had an adverse reaction it made her hyper.. I had little puzzles from Babies r us that came in handy.. Good luck Yes wipes are fine too, diaper creme yes vasaline yes Any chance of buying her a ticket?

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

I recently flew with my 1-yr old by myself on our return trip home. I brought snacks and milk through with no problem.

I would bring everything you mentioned but keep it all in a separate ziploc bag. (Food in one bag and diaper creams in another.) Take them out and put them through the machine in a bin separate from your bags, etc.

Take the smallest size diaper cream with you. I brought my tube of Aquaphor (4-5oz?) and had no problem, probably because I put it all out in the open with ziploc bags. I did see a mother with a large-sized tub of Aquaphor in her bag get pulled out and brought to a separate room for examining. They wanted her to give it up but she protested since it was so expensive so she had to be escorted to a separate room.

As far as keeping DC busy, it's no easy feat. I had enough trouble keeping DD busy on our 2.5 hour flight. This is what we did:
- read a book (animated reading)
- tore up a magazine
- slept for 30 minutes
- ate snacks and food
- let her push the tray table up with her feet for about 15 minutes (no one was in front of us)
- stood her up on my lap to look at all the people on the plane and make googly eyes at them
- sang songs and cuddled
- peek a boo with her blanket
- let her brush her hair with mommy's brush
- make seizure-like movements for a half-hour (while holding her) because it made her laugh hysterically waiting for the next movement

Our plane was half-full so we had a whole row to ourselves, that was nice because I could have all her toys within reach in the seat next to me.

Good luck!

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

WOW! Thanks for the great tips ladies! Keep them coming!

I did look at the airline website and call before I posted but they were no help. When I asked about the diaper cream they referred me to the website again. I understand the whole 4oz thing, but what if I need more than 4oz on a long trip? Can I bring two or three tubes 4oz each? KWIM? The folks at United were zero help and the web site does not say anything about this, unless I missed it.

So much has changed since we flew last year.

I am so thankful we are going and that we paid for everything before all of my medical bills rolled in.

Thanks ladies!

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

sorry it posted twice for some reason

Message edited 1/11/2008 5:07:44 PM.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

Message edited 1/11/2008 5:14:39 PM.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

I just flew with DD at age 1 and it was not fun. She doesn't watch tv or ever sit still so it was torture for her and us after the two hour mark. We were even upgraded to first class and it was still a nightmare. I would bring PLENTY of things to do- like the previous poster did and kind of let rules go out the window. Ripping up my magazine occupied her for about a half hour, so did playing with my keys.

As for food, there is no restriction. I would put her diaper cream(buy the smallest one) and the yogurt in seperate plastic bags and just show security. They are very easy going if you have kids, as long as you show them everything.

They don't allow you to bring milk through but you could even get that on the plane no problem if you don't have time on your layover. Another idea would be to bring a sealed container of paramlat- they might let you through with that if you show them.

Snacks were not a problem- I had cheerios, goldfish, cheese, granola bars, chicken breast, and crackers all in a smaller cooler bag and that was not a problem going through security.

Just bring plenty of toys. I can't wait until she watches tv so I can bring a portable dvd player along.

Edited to add- Our flight to NY was so bad that we decided to try the benadryl. BIG mistake- it had the opposite effect and made her even MORE hyper. Just an FYI...

Message edited 1/11/2008 5:24:18 PM.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

Posted by dandr10199

Posted by babymakes3

I recently flew with my 1-yr old by myself on our return trip home. I brought snacks and milk through with no problem.

I would bring everything you mentioned but keep it all in a separate ziploc bag. (Food in one bag and diaper creams in another.) Take them out and put them through the machine in a bin separate from your bags, etc.

Take the smallest size diaper cream with you. I brought my tube of Aquaphor (4-5oz?) and had no problem, probably because I put it all out in the open with ziploc bags. I did see a mother with a large-sized tub of Aquaphor in her bag get pulled out and brought to a separate room for examining. They wanted her to give it up but she protested since it was so expensive so she had to be escorted to a separate room.

As far as keeping DC busy, it's no easy feat. I had enough trouble keeping DD busy on our 2.5 hour flight. This is what we did:
- read a book (animated reading)
- tore up a magazine
- slept for 30 minutes
- ate snacks and food
- let her push the tray table up with her feet for about 15 minutes (no one was in front of us)
- stood her up on my lap to look at all the people on the plane and make googly eyes at them
- sang songs and cuddled
- peek a boo with her blanket
- let her brush her hair with mommy's brush
- make seizure-like movements for a half-hour (while holding her) because it made her laugh hysterically waiting for the next movement

Our plane was half-full so we had a whole row to ourselves, that was nice because I could have all her toys within reach in the seat next to me.

Good luck!

Is your DD walking? Did she want to run all around the plane?

DH said he would take her on his lap the whole time (b/c I am a terrible flier) if I do ALL the diaper changes.


I am really worried that she is going to be so squirmy during a diaper change (like she is at home) and run down the aisle half naked (b/c there is no changing table on board and I have to change her in the aisle like last year ), or scream that she wants to run all around.

She's almost two, so I do not know what to expect on a long flight w/a one and a half year old. What should I expect?

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

Posted by dandr10199

Posted by CkGm

Posted by dandr10199

She's almost two, so I do not know what to expect on a long flight w/a one and a half year old. What should I expect?

DD was very squirmy- we allowed her to walk up and down the aisles a lot. Diaper changes were tough- the plane on was on (757) DOES not have a changing table in the bathroom so I had to do it on the toilet with her diaper pad. It was not easy I tell you. Luckily she was so scared, she didn't get up and move with poop all over her!

I tied the diaper change on the toilet seat and last year Grace was NOT having it. She is tall for her age and there was no room in there.

Christine, thanks for the advice. My SIL better have a bottle of wine chilling at her house when we get there.

Re: BTDT moms...Traveling on a LONG flight w/a toddler (long post sorry)

When I flew last year with DS( 16 months) by myself I paid for a seat for him so he would be in his carseat. There is no way I could have kept him contained in a regular seat or on my lap. He would have been squirming the whole time. It cost me a fortune b/c it was Feb break from school but it was the best thing I did!!!