Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

We will be going away this Summer for our first vacation and dd will be 20 months by then. The flight is an hour and 15 min flight so we should bother getting her a seat since she will still be considered a lap child?

Any tips on keeping her entertained for an hour?

Also, we will check her car seat but can we carry on a stroller? We have the Summer Infant 3Dlite.

And, should i pack a ton of diapers and food or just hit the local supermarket when i get to my destination?

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

At 20 months I'd buy a seat. Bring new toys for her, snacks.

You cannot carry on a stroller, it must be checked. Gate or at reg check in.

I'd buy stuff when you're down there.

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

since its a short flight, i wouldn't bother getting her a seat. she'll probably be ok. we adopted our son from Korea when he was 21 months- and even though we could have saved a TON of money on a ticket for him... i wasn't about to have him be a lap child for that long!! LOL but i think for an hour it should be fine. snacks help keep them happy. definitely bring something for her to suck or chew on during take off and landing, to help with her ears. check out the "Water Wow" books from Melissa and Doug- those keep them busy. theres also a bunch of reusable sticker books they make that are fun, too. For the stroller you can "gate check" it- so take it with you all the way to the gate, they'll put a tag on it and take if from your right as you're getting on the plane. and it'll be right there waiting for you as you get off, too. so that way you'll have it to get through the airport. depending on where you're going- it would probably be good to only pack a few diapers for the traveling-- and then buy some when yu get there. they take up a lot of room in the suitcase

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Bring a diaper bag with a few days worth of diapers. Then, buy them at your destination.

I used to fly with my kids in their own seats, but with such a short flight, I'd just sit baby on lap and deal with it. I am about to take a longer flight with a lap child. It's not going to be fun, but the savings make it worthwhile for us.

Gate check a stroller if it is under a certain weight (look up your Airlines rules). With AA, you get one stroller and one safety seat free checked.

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

We have traveled w my son a few times
We never purchased a seat for him, he was either on my ir my DH lap.

Bring tons of snacks, books, toys etc
and Yes, jetblue is amazing when traveling with kids.

We did take our stroller, it was just easier for us to get around the airport etc. After you checked in, they will take your stroller and keep it upfront until you land- SO EASY

and as far as food and diapers, just take what you need for that day, and give or take any delays that may happen.
Make sure all liquids are sealed, including milk

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Definitely don't purchase another seat. We flew with DD at that age to Toronto, it's a 55 minute, flight and while it was certainly not the best flight we've flown with her by the time you are up in the air and get snacks and drinks you are already at your destination.

One trick I do is to book the aisle and window seat and pray that no one books a middle seat. I would say that trick has worked about 75% of the time.

I've never used a bag for stroller or car seat and we have never had any problems.

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Gate check the stroller and car seat. I don't like mine going with the luggage. That's just my personal preference plus if there is a free seat you can easily grab it back and put it in the seat. I've done that a couple of times. Snacks, drink and iPad and you should be good. The short flights are the best.

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Thank you for all the recomendations. I also see that gate checking the car seat and stroller would be better than checking it with luggage. Is there a reason why?

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

I'm sorry, I don't care how short or long the flight is (actually I think short flights have worse turbulence bc the plane doesn't go up as high), I strongly feel babies should have their own seat, with a car seat. Your child could fly out of your arms, or get crushed between your body and the seat in front of you in the event of rough weather. I think the faa should outlaw lap infants altogether.

I've always gate checked the stroller (put it ina travel bag once we got to the plane).

New toys and books work great to hold their interest.

Tylenol before takeoff helps with the ear pain.

I usually try to send a package ahead of time via diapers.com or Amazon.com with diapers, wipes, snacks, disposable bibs, and disposable baby spoons.

Have a great time!

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

I've never purchased a seat for any of my DC when they were under 2. My oldest is almost 20 and we went to Cancun when she was nearly 2 months old and was on my lap. We are flying to Florida for a cruise in a couple of months and my 18 month old (will be 21 months at the time) will be on my lap with ear Phones, books, small toys and snacks to keep him occupied. Definitely not taking a car seat even for the cruise it's not necessary.

Re: Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

We gate check our stroller. I do put it in a stroller bag to keep the stroller as clean as possible and to decrease the risk of damage. I bought it on Amazon. I would never check a car seat because I doubt it is handled with care and you may not know if there is any damage done to it. I also like to use the car seat on the plane a.) for obvious safety reasons and b.) because DD is comfortable in there and is less likely to want to get up and run around the plane when she's strapped in. If you are set on not using the seat on the plan and checking it, I would think gate checking is a better bet.

We are flying tomorrow and it will be DD's 3rd flight in 8 months. We have new blind bag toys for her, shows downloaded on the iPad incase WiFi isn't working well, backup portable battery, stickers, books, M&D Wow books, and snacks. Hoping it all goes smoothly!

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Enjoy the lap seat benefit for as long as possible. We went to Hong Kong when DS was 20 months and we bought him a seat only because I didnt want him on me for 14 hrs but all the other trips that were 5hr or less he was on my lap.

Traveling by plane with toddler..Questions

Thank you for all the suggestions. We decided to still have her on our lap. Its and hour and 15 minutes each way so it made no sense to spend $300 for her to want to be on mine or DH's lap anyway. I think the Jet Blue flight with the tv will help alot with keeping her entertained plus i will get her the toys you all recommended.