Flying with mobile baby

[britbratjf]

Hi ladies- we are going to FL next week (2.5 hour flight) and I'm terrified we will have "that kid" screaming on the flight. All F wants to do is crawl and explore so she's not going to be happy to beheld for 2.5 hours. Any tips? Any great toys I should invest in? We took Dd1 at this age but she wasn't mobile.

[junewife]

We flew cross country when ds1 was 11mo.
He did great in his car seat, probably because it felt similar to being in the car (he knew he couldn't get out and crawl around). Also, lots of snacks.

We had him in a stroller in the airport

[charliefox]

Having just complete a 10 hour flight with a mobile baby...I understand your fears

How does she do in a carrier? We would switch between carrying C and strapping him in the Ergo while bouncing or walking around the plane. A bulkhead seat really helps with a mobile baby because at least you can stand at your seat, or they can get a little mobility on the floor in front of you. I thought C would be able to crawl up and down the aisle but all he wanted to do was crawl under people's feet so that didn't work. I agree with Fearsy, that real objects were more interesting to C than toys.

Remember, it's only 2.5 hours and you will get through it, even if she screams the whole time.

[nomnom]

Backup plan: how many people on the flight and how much do bulk ear plugs cost?

I have not done this so I have nothing useful to add. But I do wish you luck.

[MrsEmuTavi]

While I haven't flown with C yet, I find that he is a completely different kid in his car seat. At church he is a wiggle worm and is constantly trying to get down while he is in our laps. In his car seat for a 2.5-3 hr car ride? He's an angel (or has been so far, this Friday we will be testing that again). If you haven't already, see if you can buy her a seat and bring her car seat for her.

[britbratjf]

Jun 22, 2016 8:58:13 GMT -5 charliefox said:

Having just complete a 10 hour flight with a mobile baby...I understand your fears

How does she do in a carrier? We would switch between carrying C and strapping him in the Ergo while bouncing or walking around the plane. A bulkhead seat really helps with a mobile baby because at least you can stand at your seat, or they can get a little mobility on the floor in front of you. I thought C would be able to crawl up and down the aisle but all he wanted to do was crawl under people's feet so that didn't work. I agree with Fearsy, that real objects were more interesting to C than toys.

Remember, it's only 2.5 hours and you will get through it, even if she screams the whole time.

She doesn't love the Ergo. Hates the car seat too ha. Basically anything that contains her is the devil ?

I'll pack away some fun objects for her. I always forget how big of a hit water bottles are.

[ProfEDD]

If you get really desperate, click here and stick it in front of her: m.youtube.com/watch?v=Nc90exlEyPI

I know, screen time. But it's like an off switch for fussing and thrashing.

[eliza040502]

We have a six plus hour flight coming up. I've taken away and purchased some new toys for the flight to keep him entertained. I've heard that they should get only one toy at a time and to replace with a new toy only when bored. Good luck!

[ugotstarbucked]

I just went to Dallas the first week of June with Elle. We got her to sleep on both flights (thank god). I brought teething keys, her wooden spoon, a quiet book, a vibrating teether thing, and her Freddie the firefly. Eloise liked standing on my lap to look at the people behind me too.

I get to fly with E solo in a few weeks to CA. Won't that be a fun 6 hours of my life.

If Freya likes puffs, bring them. My baby is broken and won't eat them.

[beane]

Cheerios and a teething necklace helped us yesterday. He was pretty meh on actual toys.

[britbratjf]

Jun 22, 2016 14:30:58 GMT -5 @aditi said:

Following. We have a flight in August with both kids and I'm dreading it.

I don't mind flying with the big at all. She does really well and loves movies so she just watches DVDs. It's the baby that'll be a pain.

[beane]

Jun 22, 2016 15:07:28 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

Jun 22, 2016 14:30:58 GMT -5 @aditi said:

Following. We have a flight in August with both kids and I'm dreading it.

I don't mind flying with the big at all. She does really well and loves movies so she just watches DVDs. It's the baby that'll be a pain.

[

Yes, buying toddler headphones was a serious game changer

[cocopuff]

Jun 22, 2016 13:10:49 GMT -5 ugotstarbucked said:

I just went to Dallas the first week of June with Elle. We got her to sleep on both flights (thank god). I brought teething keys, her wooden spoon, a quiet book, a vibrating teether thing, and her Freddie the firefly. Eloise liked standing on my lap to look at the people behind me too.

I get to fly with E solo in a few weeks to CA. Won't that be a fun 6 hours of my life.

If Freya likes puffs, bring them. My baby is broken and won't eat them.

did her potato masher not make it through security?  

[ugotstarbucked]

Jun 22, 2016 15:30:37 GMT -5 cocopuff said:

Jun 22, 2016 13:10:49 GMT -5 ugotstarbucked said:

I just went to Dallas the first week of June with Elle. We got her to sleep on both flights (thank god). I brought teething keys, her wooden spoon, a quiet book, a vibrating teether thing, and her Freddie the firefly. Eloise liked standing on my lap to look at the people behind me too.

I get to fly with E solo in a few weeks to CA. Won't that be a fun 6 hours of my life.

If Freya likes puffs, bring them. My baby is broken and won't eat them.

did her potato masher not make it through security?  

ROFL

It didn't fit in the diaper bag.

[radiantly]

I flew 6 hours twice last week and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Bring a stroller for the security and shlepping thru airport. I just had her as a lap infant. To be honest I had my mom and her friend so it was a help.

I had a whole bag of toys – she didn't play with very many of them because she kept finding other things to play with. For example, she stood for half an hour between my legs and played with my seatbelt. She opened and close the flap about 200 times with intensity. Then, she loved pulling things out of the seat pocket like the laminated instruction card. It had a lot of tiny little detailed cartoons. She loved that. Then, talking to the stewardesses and standing by the bathrooms in the back. There are also a few places you can stand. Granted, this was right before she started walking (she started walking while I hold her hands last week) so she mostly just wanted to practice standing between my legs.

Anyway all this said, I would just bring five or six items, such as two books, maybe a crinkly book, a few new toys and then rely on other things like water bottle and bag of chips. 2 1/2 hours will probably fly by. No pun intended.

By the way, even though we aren't showing her screens yet, I have no problem trying to show her things on my phone or on the screen of the TV in the seat back, but she literally had no interest. It was funny – my mom kept saying look at the TV and she wouldn't.

[britbratjf]

Jun 28, 2016 6:46:13 GMT -5 radiantly said:

I flew 6 hours twice last week and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Bring a stroller for the security and shlepping thru airport. I just had her as a lap infant. To be honest I had my mom and her friend so it was a help.

I had a whole bag of toys – she didn't play with very many of them because she kept finding other things to play with. For example, she stood for half an hour between my legs and played with my seatbelt. She opened and close the flap about 200 times with intensity. Then, she loved pulling things out of the seat pocket like the laminated instruction card. It had a lot of tiny little detailed cartoons. She loved that. Then, talking to the stewardesses and standing by the bathrooms in the back. There are also a few places you can stand. Granted, this was right before she started walking (she started walking while I hold her hands last week) so she mostly just wanted to practice standing between my legs.

Anyway all this said, I would just bring five or six items, such as two books, maybe a crinkly book, a few new toys and then rely on other things like water bottle and bag of chips. 2 1/2 hours will probably fly by. No pun intended.

By the way, even though we aren't showing her screens yet, I have no problem trying to show her things on my phone or on the screen of the TV in the seat back, but she literally had no interest. It was funny – my mom kept saying look at the TV and she wouldn't.

Thank you! This makes me feel much better!!

[uclameghan]

Jun 28, 2016 11:30:13 GMT -5 mamasue said:

Jun 28, 2016 6:46:13 GMT -5 radiantly said:

I flew 6 hours twice last week and I have to say it wasn't that bad. Bring a stroller for the security and shlepping thru airport. I just had her as a lap infant. To be honest I had my mom and her friend so it was a help.

I had a whole bag of toys – she didn't play with very many of them because she kept finding other things to play with. For example, she stood for half an hour between my legs and played with my seatbelt. She opened and close the flap about 200 times with intensity. Then, she loved pulling things out of the seat pocket like the laminated instruction card. It had a lot of tiny little detailed cartoons. She loved that. Then, talking to the stewardesses and standing by the bathrooms in the back. There are also a few places you can stand. Granted, this was right before she started walking (she started walking while I hold her hands last week) so she mostly just wanted to practice standing between my legs.

Anyway all this said, I would just bring five or six items, such as two books, maybe a crinkly book, a few new toys and then rely on other things like water bottle and bag of chips. 2 1/2 hours will probably fly by. No pun intended.

By the way, even though we aren't showing her screens yet, I have no problem trying to show her things on my phone or on the screen of the TV in the seat back, but she literally had no interest. It was funny – my mom kept saying look at the TV and she wouldn't.

Jackson's favorite toy was the seatbelt flap! 

+1 Asher loves the buckles and taking the tray up and down and up and down. Also - loved the window...