Advice on Traveling W/ a 15 Month on a Plane for First Time..

There's plenty info about flying with kids in these websites:
http://www.flyingwithkids.com
http://www.travelwithyourkids.com/
http://www.tinytravelers.net
http://www.worldtraveler.com

Good luck!

L.

Hi there:

Although some of the advice I've read so far is good, keep in mind that getting through security with all these things are a complete hassle and dependent upon the security personnel's mood, some of it may not wind up on the same side of the security fence as you are. Especially opened bottles of water - go figure.

Since its only a 3 hours flight, you may want to book it around the baby's body rhythm. For example, if the baby naps at say 2:00, then book that flight for 1:30ish if possible, this you're nearing nap time.

Then, once you guys are comfortably seated in the loading area, play, play, play. It will tire your baby out and dependent upon how many hours he/she sleeps, this may cover the flight time.

Of course, bring snack crackers, and extra supplies, but not too many toys, games etc. remember, you'll have to carry them. AND the airlines are now charging for the right to breath air, so be mindful of this. ;)

This worked well for my 3 year old when we travelled from NJ to Los Cabos, Mexico and this is a nearly 4 hour flight.

Good luck and enjoy.

My baby been traveling 6 mos etc...
at 1yrs. out of the country
1. breastfeeding ( use jacket or light blanket to cover you) or give bottle ears will pop
2.carry on bag with diapers or pull ups,snacks,,,
3.Smell good bags until you get bathroom or trash toss away
4.You want to seat near bathroom or outer seat
5.Return flight maybe you may want to seat window keep busy
6.lap seat-maybe cranky or need busy work crayons...
7.Maybe you seat near another baby or child make friends..
8.My baby likes to run in airport as long she safe ...(she always find other children play with)
9.Baby car seat portable
10.Baby carrier
11.Baby leash...

Most important do not worry about passengers give you evil look...The people loves babies however do not want to sit near our bundle of joy......

Portable DVD player with her favorite DVD's, snack, books, maybe a new toy to hold her interest. If she is walking, walking up and down the aisle will surely entertain her for awhile(and other passengers as well).....I have flown 7 times with my 15 month old since she was born, and it is not as bad as u think it will be. There is so much going on in the plane itself that they self entertain!! Good Luck!!

Hi Barbara,

We have been on 5 plane trips with our 2 1/2 yr. old twins so we've traveled at the age of your 15 month old. Bring lots of snacks, it is a good distraction. Familiar items as well as 1 or 2 small "new things" to spark an interest. Walk up and down the aisle. Make sure once you have passed through security, you have her cup filled to drink during take off so her ears don't pop or use the pacifier if she uses one. Also, scheduling the flight during naptime sometimes works. Until our most recent flight, they were so stimulated by everything going on around them it was hard for them to nap. Bottom line...you can plan and plan and re-check your plans but traveling with babies or toddlers is unpredictable at best! Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Traveled with my daughter when she was 16 months old. If she is still on the bottle, make sure to time the bottle for take off and landing (or pacifier or sippy cup). We were fortunate enough to have a portable DVD player which was a nice distraction. Make sure to have a familiar toy/stuffed animal - her lovey or blankie is a must. Also a favorite toy and book is great for the familiarity. But a new toy and book was a really nice surprise. Easy snacks are necessary because you never know what they'll give you on he plane.

Good luck!!!!!

My daughter first traveled on a plane when she was about this age - load up a backpack w/lots of stuff - drinks, snacks, colorforms were the biggest lifesaver or any type of keeping busy kinda things. While the plane is descending be sure to have a sippy cup or something your daughter can take some sips out of to keep the pressure out of her ears. If she cries, like my youngest did quite a ways from NJ on our way back to AZ just walk her up & down the aisle or let her lead the way. Try your hardest not to pay attention to the death glares or comments from the other passengers - some people forget what it's like to be that poor mom who's trying to calm down their bored little person. Good luck!

well it would probably depend on what your child is in to!

First off- you should bring plenty of extras in case your flight is delayed. LOTS of diapers, bottles/breastmilk,sippy cups, snacks, and pacifier if she takes one so she can clear her ears. If she doesn't take one plan on giving her a bottle at take off and landing to help her swallow to relieve pressure on her ears.
Don't forget a change of clothes, you never know!

Now- entertainment. Some great ideas I had is to get a small cookie sheet/pan and magnets, coloring books, etc- the pan acts as a board to color on and now they have those triangle crayons that don't roll and are easy to hold. The big letter and shape magnets are usually a hit too. You will probably want to bring a couple of familiar toys, but make sure they aren't loud ones- no one wants that! Then you might either purchase a couple new cheap toys or set a side a few that she hasn't played with in a while and wrap them up like presents. They let her open and play with them on the plane. A couple books that she really likes are a good idea too.

Hope that helps and good luck!

Snacks, drinks, new small non noisy toys, 3 crayons and a small coloring book, 2 changes of clothes for her and 1 change of clothes for you! (or at least a shirt!!!)
This is my plane packing list!!!! Fruit snacks, Cherrios or Kix work best. 3 crayons so they are easily picked up and found! and a couple new non noisy toys for something interesting that she hasn't seen before. The change of clothes for her, self explanitory!!! For you.... my daughter had a diaper blow out and I had to wash my shirt in the airport sink, put it back on WET and get on the next plane to finish our journey!!!! My pants were wet tooo since I had to wash the whole front of those too!!! I learned the gross way!!!! Enjoy!!! A.

My 6 year old is a veteran airplane traveler. I always bring something familiar, like a favorite small stuffed animal, and a surprise--new (quiet) toy, a new book, coloring book, something you know she will love. Bring snacks, you are probably not allowed to bring drinks from home but buy some after going through security. If you find her bored with what you've got to keep her occupied, be prepared to create games! I once spent almost an entire 3 hour flight with my son looking through the Skymall magazine and having him find all the pictures of the cats and dogs in it (amazingly, there are TONS of products for pets in that catalog!) Now, he brings a small case with Legos in his own backpack and we hear every single flight what a good kid he was. Have a great flight!

Hi,
Paper with new washable markers, a new toy and plenty of goodies has worked for me. Good luck

The first thing is to relax and enjoy the time. If you are stressed then the baby will be. I've travelled all over the world with both my kids since they were infants - the first time bringing my 6 week old baby home from Guatemala on a 15 hour odyssey two days after she was given to us. It is so wonderful and simple traveling with kids.

First - if you are still breastfeeding then you are in luck. Just wait and nurse the baby as soon as you start to take off and as soon as you start to descend. I've watched many other moms struggle with small kids at this time and my kids have always been really happy to latch on and cuddle. Take lots of fun snacks. Buy a surprise that you give your daughter on the plane. Something that will delight and engage her. Take workbooks - connect the dots, coloring, whatever she is really into. My kids are 6 and 8 now and on Wed. I'm taking the 8 year old to Greece. She is already planning which workbook to take that will keep her the most busy. Take her favourite toy with you. Be prepared to walk the aisles as it sounds like you have a new walker. You'll meet lots of great friends. Allow your child as much freedom as possible without bothering other people. Remember, everyone is bored on a plane and a child who is happy and comfortable can be a great gift for all those seated close. My kids spent hours playing hide and seek between the seats with very happy strangers. If your child needs to cry, then don't get too stressed. Allow her the time to take in her new surroundings. Also, plan to allow yourself twice as much time for everything that you normally do when traveling - getting to the airport, checking in, going to the bathroom, getting to the gate....I was in an airport the day after my daughter started walking and it took us an hour to get to the gate because she insisted on walking....and falling down. Again she was great entertainment for many, many people.... now this is one of my favourite family stories.

My kids and I haven't travelled as much in the last year and 1/2 as we used to. Both my kids love traveling and ask repeatedly when they get to go on a plane again and stay in a hotel. If you relax and enjoy the adventure with them, it can be such a wonderful and easy experience. Have a great time!!

While it is a great help to have your daughter drink on take-off (and as the plane decreases altitude in preparation for landing - not usually the landing itself), if the plane is delayed or she just can't wait, give her that bottle/sippy/breast whatever she normally drinks from when she needs it!!!! A happy baby is much easier to soothe than one that is tantruming before the plane even takes off.

Because your daughter is so young, you will be able to bring limited quantities of drinks (probably just milk or formula, but maybe juice too) onto the plane. I would bring them in containers you aren't worried about throwing away in case you get an over-zealous security agent.

Bring snacks, an assortment of toys (preferably ones that don't roll or they may end up at the other end of the plane), paper and crayons or markers, and a couple of books.
Make sure you have her favorite "security item" (blankie, stuffed animal, etc.)

Hopefully your daughter is not too big or you bought her her own seat. It's great that they let kids under 2 fly in your lap, but by the time my daughter was 15 months, she wasn't really comfortable in my lap for a long flight anymore. (Three hours isn't too bad).

As a last tip, flight attendants will make or break your flight (not that you get to choose them). Appear calm and confident and try to work with the flight attendant and hopefully she/he will be helpful and supportive. A word of warning, if you bought your daughter a seat and she is not in it and refuses to get in it, they can throw you all off the plane because everyone must be in their seats prior to take off.

And also, Diapers do strange things during changes in cabin pressure (or maybe babies bodies do). Bring extra clothes for your daughter and an old blankie or some cloth diapers to layer between her and you (and maybe extra clothes for you too). Have fun!!