I am pleading for some advise from the moms out there who have traveled successfully with a 19 month old lap child. My flight is a 5 hour non-stop on a packed late afternoon flight. What started as a sweet easy baby has now morphed into a wild toddler.
I am still re-living the nightmare of dinner the other night with three spilled drinks... two on me, and a wild child strutting all over the restaurant eating ice cubes from the spilled drinks off the floor.
Oh how I wished I would have followed my motherly intuition and bought Tate her own seat. I guess the cheap inter-voice spoke louder.
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18 comments:
Oh I feel for you. I have avoided flying with my 2 yr old, but will have to at some point this year. Other than own seat WITH her car seat. All I can suggest, is keep that special belt they give you ON.
Lots of activities on the tray table. But 5 hours is long, and she is gonna want to walk around at some point. Good Luck!
My Advice, fly southwest...because there is no advanced seating. Go to the back of the plane Put Tate in the middle seat (i know she's a lap ticket) and you on the end. and give her a favorite toy. When the rest are boarding...take the toy away. She will start crying and people will avoid that third seat like the plague. The flight attendant might be snotty and ask if she's a lap ticket...just say that you were getting her situated and she'll be on your lap momentarily! SIT ON THE END incase you have to get up and overload on SNACKS and STICKERS!!! Oh, and lollipops or bottle for take off and landing. But I'm sure you know that one. Good luck. Stephe
Sticker, stickers and more stickers! And a big glass of wine for you and the lucky souls sitting around you ;-)
Stephe is brilliant. And stickers DO work. Also lots and lots of healthy snacks.
I love Southwest for all the reasons Stephe listed. And our family is so large we can commandeer a whole section of the plane.
Hopefully the flight won't be so full that they can't help you get a little extra space :)
Kim
Don't underestimate the power of electronics. Do you have an I-pod? Load some of her favorites for her, or maybe even a movie or two. The novelty of it will get you a little way at least. When Libi was that little we used to pull out something about once every 30 minutes, just to keep it fresh - we even wrapped some of her gifts, again, just for novelty, the dollar store could be your best friend right now.
A little DVD player is good - we bought season of Seseme Street and sing alongs. Snacks and beverages. We travel a lot - only once did we use a small abount of Benyd. for a 6-hour flight - was almost worse because she fought the tiredness but finally slept (3-hours). We love SW and do the same as Stephe - back of plane and plop her down as if she were in purchased seat. Good luck! Megi
I'm a huge fan of the back of plane, closer to the bathrooms, louder engines.
But, since you are locked in at this point make sure you have stickers they are good for sticking everywhere and will keep her busy for quite a while. DVD or Ipod is a must I refuse to travel without them at this point.
snacks but nothing with sugar if you can.
Oh, and practice smiling and saying your sorry. Really there isn't much more you can do.
Stephe is cracking me up! I love it! My trick is wrapping lots of tiny new activity toys in wrapping paper. Pace yourself and let her unwrap one activity every fifteen minutes. Last time I did this, however, my back was sore the next day from bending over to get stuff out of my carryon, which was under the seat, every few minutes!
She will do great, and everyone will survive! Just be insanely nice and friendly to the neighbors! :)
I had a girlfriend with the same delima. What she ended up doing was apologizing and then warning people as she walked down the isle to her seat saying that the first person to complain about her child would get the first shift of entertaining her. A lot of people laughed and ended up helping her out. People changed seats so her daughter could have one and a grandma type lady even walked her up and down the isle. Other than that, I suggest gravel for the child, hit the bar cart as much as you can for yourself. Let us know what happens.
Laughing at Stephe's fabulous idea!
Wow, sounds like you're in for a challenge, and then your reward will be some time off in Florida!
Make friends with the flight attendants. I find with regards to flight attendants there are two kinds - those who really like kids and those who are annoyed by them. I can usually tell when I am boarding the plane. The ones who like kids will comment on their clothes, shoes or how cute the kid is. That is the flight attendant you seek out when you need help. Be very nice to them and they will help you!
Bring lots of snacks. Bring toys that she hasn't played with before. Don't be afraid to use that extra space by the restroom or in the back of the plane to walk around. Mini DVD player if you can swing it.
Good luck, and enjoy!
Hey, did someone say you are headed to FL? I'm going the week of easter to Key West!!!
I have taken Mason to Hawaii 4 times and when he was 18 months he was actually better than I thought. Is she flying around nap time? There is absolutely no way she could ever be worse than my son was last May when we flew to Rome-he was 3.5 and the lady that sat next to us drank the entire flight. Toys, snacks, DVD player are some distractions that work. Good luck and try not to worry about it.
Oh man- I am not looking forward to our long flight to Hawaii in May. I almost didn't want to go but since I'm turning 40 - I figured I deserved it but may be paying for it like you are mentioning.
I don't mind walking the aisles with Mila. I always try to sit by "baby" friendly folks (I ask and- if they are not I say "well- you may want to trade- not sure how she'll do) We've been lucky and had some good helpers.
careful of wrapping- they may not let you take it through security.
Hang in there. Or- are you back already?
Lisa! Are you in town? I didn't send you an invite to Xanthe's party because I thought you were on a trip, but if you're here, it's Saturday at 4. We would love to see you! Love, Circe
Make her sleep deprived so when she gets on that plane she is ready to nap.
Just remember if by chance it gets ugly you will probably NEVER see your fellow passengers again in your life! ~snort~
Beware of making them too sleep deprived!!! G's nap is usually between 11:30 and 12. I kept her up til our flight at 1:50 and she bounced off the wall the ENTIRE FLIGHT! Ugh. No one else was in our row...of course. Coming home our flight was at Noon and she slept for the whole thing!!!
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