What is the best way to travel with a 15 month old boy on a plane for 10 hours straight, at night?

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I'm da Bomb!

Sedated?

melissa

when you board ask the stewardess if there is anywhere on the plane that is better to sit with a child, someone might want to change seats with you when they see you have a baby...take plenty of things the child likes to do, take snacks they like, also you might ask your doctor about any medications that you can give the child safely, if they get uncomfortable.....good luck,

springday

The best place is the first seat after First Class (first seat in economy). There is a wide space to place a blanket for him to sleep on the floor.
Some airlines even provide a playpen if asked.

Kari

Oh, you are so brave. Be prepared to piss everyone on the plane off. Make sure you have plenty of children's nyquil with you.

Jamester

I would say try to get the front seats so that there wont be anyone in front of you and you would also have more room, also get the isle since you may have to get up at some point and you don't want to keep asking the person in the isle to move. Take some Benadryl with you in case your son can't sleep (due to noise or just feels uncomfortable) Benadryl usually helps kids sleep. Also take things that will keep him quiet and distracted. Good luck!

An S

There are seats that are approved by the airlines as car seats on a plane. So first, look into what the airline will accept. Once you have what you need, and you may already have it, try to learn how it will work on the plane...what you need to do to fasten it etc.

Then, I would keep your child awake as much as possible during the day, or try extra hard to make it a busy day for him. So, plan on packing before then. This will make him more sleepy when the time comes. A doctor also told me to give my son a decongestant just a little bit before getting on the plane. This way they are less likely to feel any discomfort from pressure changes/altitude changes, and it will make him a little drowsy. Keep in mind how long the decongestant lasts. Some kids naturally are more congested in the morning generally. See keep this in mind too (since I don't know your child, and you do).

As for traveling in the airports, I used a Snuggly (but my child was still small enough--for a bigger child, keeping them in a umbrella stroller will keep him safer and and control his mobility more than letting him walk) This made carrying him easier and I could take him off when I needed too.

I hope this helps. Flying at night will be a real plus for your little one, and for your nerves. that was a good choice.

jesusandsoccerfreak18

Keep him up late the night before so he'll be exhausted and sleep for at least the majority of the plane ride. Bring back up snacks and small toys and coloring sheets in case. A portable DVD player helps to take at least 2 DVD's with which would take at least 4 hrs off your plane ride. Hope this helps : ) Good Luck

nsf

Have the boy get about a hour or 2 less sleep then normal. Maybe have them kick a ball around before... and they will be out like a light! But make sure you have lots of there favorite T-V shows on your ipod or laptop. and as long as you keep head-phones in their ears, they wont have any ear pains! And they will definitely make up the 2 hours of sleep on the plane! or maybe even more then 2 hours! i have never tried it with my child, but i have hear from a lot of my friends' that-that works!

Obama, the Tard

We've flown with our daughter to many places, and she's only 16 months. We found a seat only obstructs our daughter. When she's tired she'll sleep on my shoulder. They like to move around on the floor especially. If you flying from the East Coast, it's not that bad of a trip and hopefully it's more of a direct route. Bring lots of stickers too. That'll entertain them.

Brianna's Mommy

I have flown a couple of times with my daughter. We were always seated near the wing, probably to be close to an emergency exit. Whenever we have flown, we have ended up in seats where there was room for my daughter as well. I'm not sure if you had to purchase a seat for him, or if he is flying for free (different airlines have different rules).

If you are flying at night, he will probably be sleeping for most of the trip. I would suggest bringing whatever he is comfortable sleeping with. If he sleeps in the car normally, you might be in for an easy trip. You can just strap him into a seat, recline it, and let him sleep. Bring some toys and some extra food, in case he doesn't sleep very well. Flying can be tough depending on how he travels. The flight attendants should be really helpful. Good luck! :)

Eclipsepearl

I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three small children. I do recommend that he have his own seat and that you bring his carseat along. Try to get an extra seat next to you if the flight isn't full.

This is the only way to fly safely with any baby. Lap children are allowed because statistically, flying is so safe, there's very little chance of anything going wrong. If it does though, a lap child has no protection.

First check that your seat is FAA approved;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_childr...

If you are flying a foreign airline, their rules can vary dramatically. Look up this information on their website.

If you haven't booked a seat for him, call the airline and see if the flight is full. Then, at check in, ask nicely if you can have an empty seat next to you to place your carseat in. They often do this for families.

I will say that my toddlers were much more settled and much easier when they were in their familar seat. Not to scare you but some parents haven't been able to keep a hold of their little ones and have been "off loaded" as a result.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2...

I will admit that I've strapped down an unhappy little one more than once. Toddlers hate to be confined and simply don't understand that they have to be seated sometimes. Firmly anchored in, I could then consol them while we landed.

To get through the airport, they sell all sorts of gizmos like these;
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-...
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/...

I simply use a small metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it works great. I skip on the stroller and she can even ride in it (and she's 3 1/2). She usually prefers to walk and then I load the carry-ons abord.

Besides, taking your car seat onboard virtually guarentees that it'll be there at your destination. Checking them risks damage and loss. Wont you need it when you get there?

Just for your information, almost all east-bound transatlantics are overnight so booking during the day is not an option. Also, avoid using upgrades. The passengers in First and Business complained quickly about children. It's better to have two seats in Economy than one in Business for both comfort and safety.

For entertainment, get him new toys, anything and they don't have to be expensive. Keep it and give it to him once you're on the plane. My son at that age liked anything with wheels. Once, I simply had a package of plastic animals. Kept him busy for ages!

I actually don't recommend a portable DVD player *unless* he can watch it without sound. I doubt he'll wear the headphones but try it at home. It's such a short flight, I'm sure he'll be fine without.

I found that stickers, coloring stuff and books were better at occupying them at this age. No one will mind if you read to him.

I think he's far too young for a portable DVD player and this may keep him awake. Also, I have never drugged my kids for a flight. These are not harmless medications and twice I saw wired chidlren on my flights. Often it can cause the opposite effect. You want to talk to a doctor before attempting this. We have done countless transaltantics and I've never needed to do this.

Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on those tiny babychangers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places) practice this at home
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don't fret security. I've never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that's the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you
-Bring slippers, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!

It's actually a myth that children need to suck on something for take-off and landing. I rarely saw it in my 13 years as a Flight Attendant and my third child, 3 1/2, just finished her 6th round-trip transatlantic flight. That's not counting all the flights I've made with her older brother and sister before. I have never, ever done anything special with them for take-offs and landings.

ENT specialists simply recommend that the child is awake for landing;
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandalt...

The delicate time is not during take-off or landing/touchdown but at the *top of descent*. This is usually 40 minutes to an hour before landing and everyone's ears have to reverse the pressurization. I can confirm that when I worked, if any passengers had ear problems, this was the time. Not just children either! They actualy felt *better* as we got closer to landing.

The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.

Even the calmest, most placid children are not good on planes at this age. Take heart. You're not alone.

For more information, I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with kids. It's totally non-commercial and other parents have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Both of you get plenty of sleep the night before and good luck!

LynnHowell

The best seats on the plane are First Class, but they are usually double the price of the regular airfare. You may want to keep him awake as long as you can before the flight so he will sleep as much as possible while on the plane. Take snacks and toys for him.

Ryan F

sleeping pills - not really. try geting him to sleep and stuff like that and seats, get some with extra leg room

bookish

The usually suggest taking the bulkhead seats. There's a bit more legroom, this way there's nobody in front of you. You should talk to the airline. I'm sure they could offer some good advice.
And, seriously, see about a mild antihistamine that might make him a bit drowsy so he can sleep on the plane. (Of course, ask your pediatrician about this.)

Sue S

1st class you will need the space to stretch out and get another seat for the kid so that you dont have some random stranger sitting with you (because as cute as kids are, when people want sleep they dont want a random baby crying in their ear) bring a toy like a teddy and feed him before you go on the plane try bringing calming music on an ipod and some giant comfy headphones to send him to sleep we did all this with my baby brother (he was about 2 and 1/2)

Anthony R

get a cage and put him with the luggage

groverraj

go for seats all the way in the back.. so u are nearest to the bathrooms.

Been to Europe that way twice..

Tip: Take some M&Ms (minis). They are perfect for the landing and takeoff part so kids suck and swallow on it and equalizes ear pressure and reduces discomfort & pain.

All those ppl who say First Class.. have no idea what they are talking about. Business First for International is not twice but 3-4 times the coach airfare.

I fly Business Class all the time for work.. and a US-Europe airfare is more like $3000-4000 RT per person.

melissa c

Window seats are always the best for kids. The most important thing you can bring is a portable dvd player or a laptop with lots of games. Lots of activities, brand new toys and new snacks will occupy children for a while. Also, try to keep him awake as much as possible before the trip so he will fall asleep during travel Good luck!

Dr. Killabitch K.I.Aâ„¢

if it's through the evening, he should sleep. Make sure to have some pain reliever available in case his ears pop. Be fully stocked on extra bottles, and screw all the idiots around you....the fat stinky people i always get stuck next to are way bigger offenders than any baby I've ever seen.

Go first class, you'll be more comfy... :)

Adrian E.P.

if u oi

Editor

a bed

ANDYZ

I DONT KNOW

Gary K

Buy everyone on board a drink...maybe more than one. By the way, which flight will you be on so I can avoid it?

Muffins

does he like dogs?
cause you could put him in a cage
and he could ride with the pets

Jack L

Well on planes the cbin crew do these special belts for parents with todlers under 2 where he can sit on your knee and be strapped in then once airborn your son at night maybe tired so he might just go to sleep.

Good luck : )

Omegalomaniac*

not at night
people will probably be sleeping and would be aggravated if you child starts crying of just generally being noisy
i suggest you take him on a daytime flight and just bring lots for him to do like some toys

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