Alright not really. We just flew from Utah to Georgia for my sister's wedding, but it was E's first trip on a plane. I was a nervous wreck, I will admit that. I would like to enjoy flying, but the truth is the airsick bag is my best friend on a plane, and I didn't know how to deal with a bored one-year-old and an upset stomach in a cramped space all at the same time. I asked the members of my mommy group what I should take along, and did some research online.
Things didn't turn out too badly. The little stinker stayed awake for the first flight, of course, and then fell asleep just as we were landing. He slept through the airport, so he didn't get lunch until we took off again, and he didn't sleep again during the flight. The good news is that, except for a few minor episodes here and there, he was actually really good. Phew!
Here he is during boarding, sitting in his Grandma's seat before takeoff:
He looks like a pro, doesn't he? And boy oh boy do I wish I could travel this way:
Unfortunately if I was that comfortable at an airport I would probably miss my flight. If you plan on travelling with your very active, very wiggly toddler any time soon, here is what worked for us.
1. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Especially on that very first flight. He munched throughout most of the flight, and it helped to keep his ears pop.
2. Buy squeezy pouches. You can get applesauce or baby food purees, but they turned out to be a lifesaver when he slept through lunch at the airport. That, along with a few snacks, not only kept him busy on the plane but helped me make sure he got something in that hungry tummy of his. Bonus: they won't give you trouble with these at security.
3. New toys. I hadn't even thought of this, so it's a good thing the ladies in my mommy group are brilliant. I bought him some of the "My First Crayola" crayons and a marker that only writes on the "magic paper." He loved the crayons. Hated the marker. I also took along a new puzzle, a few of his touch and feel books, and some bath toys, which he loves to chew on. Of the things I took, the things I've listed here were really the only things he was interested in. The puzzle was the biggest hit - it kept him entertained for about a half hour.
4. DVDs. If you have a portable DVD player, bring it. E loves the Baby Einstein DVDs, and my parents found child headphones (of course I tested the volume level before putting them on him). He sat quietly and happily, smiling at the screen for the duration of each video. He watched two on our long flight to Georgia (none on the first short leg) and one on the longer leg back home.
5. Let them walk. If you have a layover and your kiddo can walk, take some shoes, find your gate, and then follow him/her around the airport (within reason). We did this in Denver on our way home (we were ALWAYS right next to him, of course), and he wore himself out. He slept the entire flight from Denver to Salt Lake City.
