Overseas Travel with 14 Month Old

i would give my daughter some sprite (sortof watered down) for lift off (and landing if possible)... this is something she NEVER gets, so she drank it and i think it helped with the pressure. also, i sat in a window seat which i think helped with distractions when it was time for her to rest.

i read somewhere to take scotch tape, because they can play with it on the plane tray and it comes off very easy... maybe that and some magazine pictures cut up to tape around. also, i got a mini-aqua-doodle that dd liked. this eliminates mess, cuz it just uses water. take little books and some "new" toys. if you can't buy new toys... put some of her favorite small toys up a week or so before the trip, so they seem new to her when you bring them out on the plane. (ideas, match box cars, little dolls, figurines (elmo?).

if you do a google search for traveling or flying with a toddler, i'm sure you'll find a long list of tips.

GOOD LUCK! HTH

I don't know if I'd skip the nap, since kids tend to be more nervous and moody when they're tired and there is a big change in their daily routine . Also, from my experience, morning or a late night flight if possible is better since the child is either well rested after a whole night of sleep or ready to sleep again, hopefully for a longer period. Whatever you do, definitely stock up on fun stuff for your baby,like favorite toys and some new ones, maybe a portable dvd player, play dough,crayons... Also, have her favorite snacks and drinks since the plane stuff is not always that great.
Maybe pacifier will work for ear pressure or maybe just something to munch on.
Hope some of this helps.

I traveled to california, hawaii and then back to nj when my son was just a bit older than that. we brought the car seat. i definately recommend bringing the car seat on the plane. even if she won't sleep in it, it's still her own thing. and for the ear pressure, i would just bring a lot of snacks and have her eat them on the way up and down. also, i bought a whole bunch of little things for him to unwrap (ie, a book, a coloring book, a little toy guy) slowly throughout the trip. to be honest, it wasn't the most fun i've ever had on a plane but you just do the best you can. good luck! and have a great trip :)

Is she nursing? Breastfeeding worked well for me with my son for take off and landing. And when he got a little older, lollipops worked well after he was done sipping the sippy cup. Good luck!

Hi! We travelled with our daughter a great deal between the ages of 11 months and 17 months. Several international flights of 8-10 hours were managed without a car seat. She preferred sleeping on us! I always nursed her to manage ear pressure discomfort on take off and landing.

I have traveled overseas with my kids several times now. At 1 year old I definitely recommend the car seat. If she is as active as my 3 this will be a blessing. Also, I have used European carseats at our destination & we were told they were the best. They were NOT! There was no 5 point harness system. SCARY.

I always brought lollipops for my kids to suck on when they were too young for gum. Just don't give it to them too early or it will disappear before take-off! Also those gerber gummies work well. They need to be chewed and chewed & less of a choking hazzard.

Don't overpack your carry-on. You will spend more time trying to find things. The plane is noisy so hand held dvd/movie players are worthless as is any other toy that requires listening. I suggest small items she is not usually allowed to have crayons, markers, etc. but be prepared to lose them as they will fall or get thrown on the floor and roll away forever. Have a safe flight.

Have fun!
A.

I traveled w/ my daughter when she was about 18 months old and did not bring her carseat on the plane. She wasn't happy in it for too long in the car, so I didn't think it would be good on the plane. She just sat on our laps or stretched out in the empty seats. However, if your daughter is content and naps in the seat in the car, then bring it on board!!! A lollipop is great for ear pressure, so have them ready (I think it was the first time mine had one, but she loved it). Get lots of new things to keep her occupied- toys/etc that she hasn't seen before plus all of her loveys, of course. If you plan on bringing a stroller, it must collapse and be put through the xray machine so be prepared for that. Also, I'm sure you know, but they'll check it for you at the gate and will have it ready for you by the gate. Good luck and have fun!

Hi Carolyn,
I have 15 month old and we are also going to travel for Christmas, we did before in summer and it is 8 hours trip, so i have some experiences. If she doesn't suck on bottle, than give a pacifier or just some rubber toy or food (even the sips from sippy cup should help), the trick is to make her swallow and reduce the pressure in her ears that way. We always get the seats in the first row (our airlines actually have it even like a must have for kids under 2) it is right in front of the wall (behind the first class), so you have much more space and most importantly you'll get the bassinet which they hook on the wall, so your baby can sleep or sit and play in her own area (not that it would be that big, but it was huge help for us, that we didn't have to hold him whole time and he slept in there very comfortably) i don't know how you feel about plane blankets, i just brought everything, his blanket and sheets, so he didn't have to suck or even touch the bassinet, not that it would be that dirty, but i am just picky and even thought that he might feel also better to be with his own stuff which smell familiar and are his. I am going to bring him this time also couple of books, he loves them and they make him occupied for long time. Don't forget plenty of diapers (one of the moms who i know thought that she would buy them on the airport, and than was shocked that they didn't have them and her baby girl peed on her and it just wasn't fun, i wouldn't really expect diapers on the airport but obviously some people are...so from this my other advise is, whatever you want to have bring your own!) Another thing..i don't know what stroller you have, but we always check it at the plane, that way, your baby could be the whole time comfortable in the stroller and you don't have to carry her around with your carry-ons and other stuff - huge help also. We always wrap it and tape it before we will give it to them, that way it doesn't get dirty. Some strollers have their own bags but i heard that they are too big and because of that you actually have to check it with your luggages - so not really helpful. And thats probably all what just pop in my head, if i will think about something else, i'll let you know! Have a good and safe trip and lots of fun.
L.

THe plane is usually very soothing and puts kids to sleep. I would definitely bring her car seat. And maybe skip her nap so she is tired. My kids always zonked on the plans. how long is your plane ride?

Good luck!

Jenn Smith
www.stayinhomeandlovinit.com