Flying with a 2 year old.

We are flying with Ds who just turned 2, next week. I'm so nervous I'm freaking out, and I'm not sure why, bc he's really a good boy!
Do you bring the car seat on the plane with you? If not, do you check it at the gate? Or with your luggage? If you do bring it, how the heck do you carry it through security and to the gate. I just can't picture lugging it around. I know that they sell the seat carriers, but we def don't travel enough for us to invest in that.
Any tips on keeping a little one entertained during the flight? He's really a nosy kid, so I'm just hoping that all the people watching keeps him occupied. Lol.
Thanks in advance!!!

Flying with a 2 year old.

I haven't yet, but my inlaws took their 2 year old on a flight to Turkey... they doped him up with benadryl for the flight, hahahaha. Lots of people bring the carseat with them, you just carry it like any other carry on... THOUGH, I wouldn't, I'd probably check it. What airline are you flying?

Flying with a 2 year old.

We are flying delta. Which I've never flown before, and that's making me more nervous!

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

I've flown MANY times with my DD. Just about every six months from the time she was 4 months old to now (she's 4yrs). I've never brought a car seat because there was always one waiting for me when I got to my destination (I was visiting family). I had brought her as a lap child until she was 2 and then she just sat in the seat beside me. I never felt that the car seat was as necessary in an airplane as they are in a car. And I just carried her the whole time at the airport, making sure to check my bags so that the only carry-on I had was her diaperbag. When she was around 2, the way I kept her entertained was with a few things. Firstly, before EVERY flight, I always buy her a small gift that she gets to open ON the airplane. A new toy is a great, great distraction. Sometimes it's a baby doll, sometimes it's one of those color-me toys, when she was older it was a few me-readers. I also always make sure to pick up food too (after we get through security) so that she can snack while in flight. When she was old enough too, we made sure to bring the ipad and let her play some games and watch videos. Crayons and paper is always a must as well. I've never had an issue. When she gets bored with one thing, I just pull out another until the 3-4hr flight is through. The only thing that IS a PITA is diaper changing, as not all flights actually provide you with a changing table in the bathroom. And since the bathrooms are a foot wide, it's VERY difficult, but I've managed.

And of course, with the take off and landing ear problems, I just make sure that she's eating a snack or drinking water during that and it's never been a problem.

Flying with a 2 year old.

I started flying with DS at 4 months. Many times by myself. Never bring a car seat. We have rented or used my parents. Oops we brought it once. Got a bag for it with wheels checked it. He has never used it on the plane. Bring small toys, snacks and I usually fly jet blue so the tv entertains him but if not I have my iPad. It's actually pretty easy imo.

Flying with a 2 year old.

Thanks everyone so much!

Flying with a 2 year old.

We did a redeye to the UK and did not bring the car seat. Are you bringing a stroller too? I would check the car seat and gate check the stroller.

Flying with a 2 year old.

Personally I would never check a car seat at the gate or otherwise because I don't trust that the handlers won't damage it.

Flying with a 2 year old.

I have a carseat backpack I got from amazon and the cosco scenara carseat for travel all together I think it was $80. I pack the iPad with some shows and movies, coloring book and crayons, lots of snacks and a bottle of water, a small stuffed animal, a light blanket as planes are often chilly. Don't worry its actually pretty easy dd is 2 and has flown over 8x, 2x only with me and her.

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

Car seat: I've done it all: installed in plane (benefit is kid may nap), check it (no lugging & they do treat it specially at least with jet blue), gate check it (some lugging, but you watch it go on & off with minimum chance of damage). I like the car seat carrier (but got an old one hand me down).

Entertainment: we bring an iPad. We rent movies for the littles, though DD ends up sleeping usually.

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

We have always brought our own car seats. When they were young we brought them in board. Yes it's safer, but it's also a PITA and makes it a lot easier for them to kick the seat in front of them. You also need to be booked in. Window seat in order to install the car seat. Then we used to gate check them to keep them a little safer. Now we only need one booster seat and we check it. Traveling has become so much easier :)

Re: Flying with a 2 year old.

When DS1 was 20 months old, we flew to CA. Since it was a long flight and I didn't want to rent a car seat, we took the car seat with us and brought it on the plan. It was a little tough for DH to install and take out, but it was a good idea to have it. DS was comfortable in the seat and fell asleep for a while in it. We just carried it on top of the stroller when we went through the airport.

Just before DS2 turned 2, we flew to Disney. We didn't need the car seat in FL so we didn't take it with us. He sat in his seat occasionally, but mostly wanted to sit in my lap.

I'd bring a portable DVD player or other electronics, coloring book with crayons, new toys to open and play with on the plane, books and plenty of snacks.

Flying with a 2 year old.

Just came back from Barbados With my 2 year old. Brought crayons and coloring books and my ipad to keep him busy. He was great during the flight.