Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

We are taking our first trip as a family that requires air travel. Can someone walk me through getting on and through he flight with a toddler?

Do I book a seperate seat for DC?
Pack a carseat?
What about a stroller?

Flight is 3 hours so we can manage that I am more concerned with thr prep work and making it as easy as possible on everyone. Thank you!

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

i always book my son his own ticket so i can put his carseat on the plane so he knows thats his space and he usually knocks out easily that way.....load up an iPad with videos that don't require wifi, lots of snacks and try to fly during nap time, early morning or late evening....this is what method works for us!

ETA, we gate check the stroller.

Message edited 7/9/2018 9:00:45 PM.

Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

the biggest lifesaver for us was buying an amazon firetablet and hooking it up with lots of daniel tiger and mickey mouse clubhouse episodes. We just got back from our trip with DD who will be 2 in two weeks. flight was about 2.5 hours and she sat and watched the tablet pretty much the whole ride. We did a lap seat.

What I also did was I went to dollar tree and bought random toys and things that she hadn't seen before, and I whipped them out on the plane when she was started to wiggle and not sit still.

ETA: For the stroller, we wheeled it to the gate and when we were boarding they check it and give you a claim ticket. You get it once you get off the plane

Message edited 7/9/2018 9:25:32 PM.

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

2 ways to do it:

With own ticket:
Gate check stroller
Take car seat into airplane (kid has to sit by window if in a car seat). Install car seat with belt (takes 2 seconds).

With no baby ticket:
Gate check both stroller and car seat.
Put kid in lap.

The decision for ticket vs not is financial: but a ticket if you can. When we did pricey holiday flights and had a third kid, we went without. I think it’s better with a seat (but not impossible without).

Other things:
Get snack to help them pop ears on way up and down
An iPad/tablet helps
If your kid is really bad (one of mine screamed for a straight 4 hours)... buy your neighbors a drink. This is really appreciated.

It’s a gamble. Have 3 kids. We were all fine in flights til my littlest hit 18 mo. Then we had a terrible 6 hour flight.

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

It's not bad. I recently flew with a 5yr, 3yr and 8 week old. I gate checked my car seats and stroller. We have car seat bags that have straps like a backpack from amazon. Dh and I take one each. I push the baby in the stroller and he pulls the luggage. We never bought the extra ticket when my kids were under 2. So I've always had a lap baby the last few years we've been flying. My kids are pretty good on the plane though and it's worked out. I bring almost an entire backpack full of activities and snacks.

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

18 months is hard when they don't have their own seat. They wiggle and squirm and scream at that age, so that could be a miserable flight for you (and everyone else). I wouldn't bank on there being empty seats either. We fly a lot, and there is rarely an empty seat these days so I would buy a seat and bring the carseat!

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

I’d also recommend getting their own seat with their car seat for both safety and because once they are in their car seat they (hopefully) assume car seat rules are in effect. We gave dd Tylenol before takeoff to help with ear pain. Otherwise as Pp stated, iPad loaded with non WiFi games and shows, new novelty toys, and snacks galore. I think dd ate her way down to Disney when she was 18 mos. A straw cup also helps with ear popping.

We got thr britax wheelie rack thing that the car seat attaches to to navigate through the airport with dd riding in it. Our umbrella stroller was carried in the stroller bag over dh’s shoulder and gate checked. Maybe our 4 year old rode in the stroller in the airport, I don’t remember.

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old

Just did this with a 15 month old.

Get their own seat, well worth it. They will nap and be fully secured. Good luck getting any kid to sit the whole time if on your lap.

Bring a light weight carseat to rear face on plane (Cosco Scenera Next at Walmart, light and cheap).

Gate check your stroller, carry car seat on. Bring a bag with wheels for carseat after you get off.

Bring some things to keep your child occupied.

Re: Talk to me about flying with an 18 month old