Tips / Recommendations for Flying with a 15Mo Old?

Updated on October 27, 2005
S. asks from Frisco, TX
10 answers

We are a week away from taking our 15 month old on a 6 hour flight. Are we crazy or what? Any tips, tricks, recommendations, suitable toys you'd suggest?

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L.H.

answers from Sacramento on

Hello!
We did the same thing. I found his favorite thing to play with was a SpongeBob toothbrush. It kept him really busy. Hey, whatever works. Also, I gave him Robotusin or whatever the cough medicine that makes them drousy. I also had a lot of books.

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M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S.,

I apologize about the advice I gave to you. I got it in my head that you were taking a 6 mo-old on an airplane, not a 15 mo old. But difference! I don't have experience with that. I will this Christmas, so I'll be asking the same question in a month or so!

M.

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L.C.

answers from Dallas on

Well hello there S.! My advice 2 you is to make sure uput cotton in the babies ears and have plenty of snacks for the baby to eat on. I traveled with my daughter plenty of times at a young age. She is now 4. HOpe your trip goes well.

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S.

answers from Dallas on

Don't worry be happy!
You guys will be just fine!!! I flew with my daughter when she was almost 18 months old and she did just fine! I took coloring books and crayons and she stayed quit to the whole time.;) Good luck and enjoy your flight!

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A.

answers from Dallas on

I have traveled with my daughter (now about to be 3) several times. We flew to Canada when she was younger than yours. EVERYONE, including her pediatrician, said to give her Benadryl for the plane ride. On the first leg of the trip she was a nightmare. Crying and scared and it was so stressful. On the way back home for the 2nd leg of the trip I gave her more Benadryl than the last time (like twice as much as you're supposed to give - doctors said it would be really hard to OD on Benadryl or do any harm) and she slept the whole way home and woke up just as we were landing. It was a lifesaver!!! She felt good when she woke up - ate and was ready to go!

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B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi S., Sorry for taking so long to respond - I hope this reaches you in time. I used to fly A LOT with my first, but the most significant flights were when I flew on 2 seperate occasions to Hawaii. First with my 2-1/2 yr old years ago (husband stayed home), then in April with my 11 mo. old & 6 yr old (again, husband stayed home and I met my family out there). I tried giving her Benadryl (ok'd by pediatrician, but you should probably check with yours) because so many advised me to us it, but it didn't seem to affect my child. I carried a bottle of milk and sippie-cup of milk, and kept it cold by freezing bottles of water, which when thawed, became drinking water for me. At the time, I was breastfeeding. I planned it so that I were nursing her upon takeoff (I learned if you start too early while the plane is still taxi-ing, the baby finishes before actual liftoff, so I've timed it better now to start right before we take off). And I nursed her upon descension. The suckling helps keep her ears equalized as the pressure changes. This works with bottle/sippie cup as well. Here's something to keep in mind. While they give you minimum snacks on board, pack enough snacks/drinks/diapers/wipees just in case you get stuck on plane for 18 hrs as contingency. This likely won't happen, but it has happened, and it's good to be prepared. I also carried the infants' tylenol/motrin just in case. I brought crayons/paper, books, her favorite toys that were small enough and not too loud, a laptop that plays DVD movies, and a blanket. Always have 1 or 2 change of clothes for baby, and it isn't a bad idea for yourself, too. It came in handy for me on my 1st trip to Hawaii, when my daughter spilled juice all over my lap. My umbrella stroller has been handy for transporting her through airport, but they're required to be checked in (via gate-check is recommended) I also brought carseat and did gate-check for that, too if you child doesn't have own seat. Good luck!

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C.

answers from Dallas on

Hello,
We just took at 3 hour plan ride with our 16 month old son. He did greatwe took snacks and meals. We brought our laptop for a DVD to watch however that did not work out since the battery died a couple hours into the flight. I am going to go buy one of the portable DVD players at Walmart for $150.00 for next time. The toys we brought were slightly bigger than blocks since the blocks rolled under our seat and the people behind us had to get them for us. We brought a thin sheet because we could not get a blanket on the trip to California. Plus it was great for PEEK-a-BOO. A pacifier really came in handy for liftoff, there was a baby behind us that cried when the cabin pressure increased so I think the pacifier eased the ear popping for our son.
Well good luck,
C.

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A.R.

answers from Dallas on

Hi there, I have two boys, 6 & 2, and my 2 year old is practically ADHD!!!! Anyway, I am the queen of entertainment, let's just put it that way! lol I would suggest the VideoNow player, because you can get headphones, and all of his/her favorite cartoons on disk to be played on this. Another good recommendation is the LeapFrog My First LeapPad. This would be good for the age of your child, and is educational and very entertaining, plus it has volume control:) Another good idea is a MagnaDoodle. My kids love these, they are fun for an hour at least, and don't make any noise! All of these toys are unisex.
Hope this helped!!
A.

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C.

answers from Dallas on

We took our then 15 month old son and 3 year old daughter on a 3 hr then 6 and half hour flight. I'll have to admit it was very tiring. I would make sure you buy him a seat and take his car seat. I gave my son children's benadryl to make him a little drowsy. He was crying alot and I was pretty desperate. We walked up and down the aisles alot. I also took alot of "special" treats I wouldn't ordinarily give him. I believe I gave him m&m's and a sucker at one point. I brought crayons and paper so he could scribble. I also brought a bunch of those little party favor toys from Target. they were cheap and I would take one at a time out when he would get bored or antsy. Good Luck!!

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C.

answers from Dallas on

we just did a 5 1/2 hour flight with 3 kids (9 years old, 4 years old and 2 years old). A must for the younger ones was a portable DVD player and a couple of new DVD of Dora (their favorite), cayons, playdoh, and new story books.

Good luck, also don't forget a sippy cup for landing and take off (or something to suck on) to help their ears pop.

Cyn

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