Flying with a 3 year old on a 5 hour flight..any suggestions??

Question

Flying with a 3 year old on a 5 hour flight..any suggestions??

Answer 1

......good luck

when i was 3 i was on a 6 hour flight to Canada and my dad had to take my and my twin sister into the toilets for half of it as we wouldn't stop screaming..

but now there are kids movies and games and stuff.. bring like some toys or something to play with. :)

Answer 2

I've been flying internationally & domestically with my children since they were each 2 months (now 8, 6, & 5 months). At least three trips a year are the children and I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. We do another 8-10 international and domestic flights a year as a family. I have never had any problems with my children. Here are a few tips and suggestions:

1.) Pack plenty of things to entertain your child: a few books, toys, a portable DVD player (be sure to bring extra batteries) or let him use your laptop (make sure it's fully charged) with a few movies, & one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal. I always bring a small pillow & blanket from home for my children (even now) because I know 100% that they are clean, and my children are accustomed to them.

My children bring along their own coloring books, a Doodle Pad, their Leap Pads (with a few booklets), & scrap paper that they can make their own drawings with & play games such as tic-tac-toe. My daughter used to like to bring along a doodle bear when she was younger so that she could draw on that as well, & my son likes to bring along some action figures to play with. I found that buying a Rose Art kit is great! It has crayons, markers, coloring books, coloring sheets, & stickers that they can color. It definitely keeps them entertained!

http://www.megabrands.com/en/products/de...

I take the contents of the kit out of the box & place them in something a little travel pack. Here is what my sons looks like:

http://photo.ringo.com/259/259570458O312... - outside

http://photo.ringo.com/259/259570434O294... - inside

You can also play games like pat-a-cake, or I-spy, & tell stories to your child as well. If you tell a story, try to make it an interactive one where he has a part in it so he stays interested.

You might also consider going to the store & letting your child (I let my children start this at the age of one) pick out his own carry on bag and a few inexpensive toys that will be used only once you are on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without him seeing so that he has an extra surprise when he opens his carry on.

2.) Bring Snacks! just add water packets of food, cheerios, goldfish, animal crackers, dried fruit, etc. are great. New regulations also allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz (100ml), -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food, yogurt, cheese, puddings, etc. with you also as long as they are in containers less than 3oz (100ml)

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/p...

As long as your child is with you, you are able to take as much formula, breast milk, regular milk, juice, and/or baby food that you will need for you child for the duration of the time you will spend in the airport and on the flight (as long as it is within reason).And no, you will NOT have to taste it - no matter what form you bring it in.

All that you must do is:

1. Separate the milk from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size (1 liter) zip-top bag.

2. Declare you have the items to one of the Security Officers at the security checkpoint.

3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/c...

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

3.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of wipes, ointments & other essential things. Just remember the new law regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm You can usually find travel size baby products in stores & they are wonderful for plane use. One thing I always like to carry with me is hand sanitizer! I always wipe the trays down with that (followed by a baby wipe) and use it for my kids after taking them to the bathroom (even though they wash their hands). I know that airplane bathrooms are not the cleanest, so that is why I try to be vigilant.

Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your child. You will need this in case he gets sick, spills something on himself, or in case your luggage gets lost.

Bring any medications that you might need for your child should he get sick or that he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz (100ml) rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making him sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well. I have also seen where it backfires; a parent gives their child a dose of Benedryl to make them sleep, but instead it gets the child more hyper and the parents get absolutely no rest on the flight (and neither does anyone else).

Try to change your childs diaper as close to boarding as possible. This will help to make your child feel fresh and more comfortable for take-off (which could also mean less problems).

4.) Not all children have a problem with the pressure changes in their ears. If yours does however you'll want to know how to help. For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:

*Give him something to drink (milk, water, juice - it doesn't matter)

*Give him a pacifier to suck on

*Pinch his nostrils shut, have him take a deep breath in through the mouth, then tell him to (gently) blow as if trying to blow his nose

*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears

*Gently but with some pressure, rub his neck repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

5.) If you hold your child a a "lap child", try to book a bulkhead (front) seat where you will have more room, and a bassinet. Bassinets are limited, and not available on every flight. If the bassinet is available (they can only be used in bulkhead seats) it will attach to the front wall for you to put your child in (however you can not use this during taxi, take-offs, landings, or turbulence). This is not the safest way for a child to fly and although a car seat is not mandatory, the airlines recommend children under 40lbs to have their own seat with a child safety device.

If you haven't booked a separate seat for your child, be nice on check-in & see if they can "block" the seat next to you. They will then only use it if they absolutely need it, & you get a seat for free!

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use. Almost all car seats pass this requirement. Booster seats are NOT approved for use in airplanes.

There is also a new device that is approved by the FAA for airline use ONLY. It is called CARES (Child Aviation Restraint System) and costs $75. It weighs 1 pound, is certified for all phases of flight (taxiing, take off, turbulence and landing), adjusts to fit ALL size airplane seats, and is approved for kids 22–44 lbs.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

If you choose not to use your childs car seat for the plane ride, you will be allowed to gate check it (along with a stroller). It will not count towards your checked luggage. This means that you will need to take it with you to your boarding gate, & one of the handlers will take it from you before you depart, tag it, & put it in a special compartment for you. When you exit the plane, it will be waiting for you at the door as well.

There are many products out there designed to help the traveling family. Here's a product that can attach to most car seats so that you can use it as a stroller and get it through the airport more easily. http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...

6.) Before you travel, I always suggest preparing your son for what to expect so that he is not caught off guard and scared on the day of travel. You want to make sure that you tell him what is going to happen from the time you get to the airport until the time you arrive at your destination. You don't need to go into any great detail here, but give him something that he will be able to reference when actually traveling. If you are able to, I always suggest doing a dry run of the airport. This provides you with an opportunity to explain to him what is going to happen while he can see first hand what it looks like. Here are links that talk about what to expect when flying (also includes information about what to do at the airport) that may help you out a bit:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://jamiehassen79.angelfire.com/plane...

I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules & regulations for the US, EU, UK, & Australia, offers tips & tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/f...

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 3

I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lot with my three children (usually alone with all three on 11 1/2 hour transatlantics).

Here's what has worked in the past;

-a new toy or quite frankly, just one he hasn't seen before. It doesn't have to be expensive, in fact, simple often works best. A few new trucks or plastic animals kept my son busy for ages.

-any coloring items

-stickers

-books, get a couple of new ones you know he'll like. No one will mind if you read to him.

-puzzle and game books

Make sure to bring at least one change of clothes for him, extra socks or even slippers. Bring snacks, things that aren't too salty, greasy or sugary that can be packed easily without turning to dust.

Don't worry about security. They're more interested in drinks. For those, wait till you're out of security and then buy them (overpriced but there's not many options).

Here are the U.S. security guidelines (check with the relevant air authority but most are similar);

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Bring a sippy cup of juice for him to drink during check-in. Empty it out before security and then purchase something on the other side.  

Have him pack a backpack of his favorite things and you bring the suprises to give on board. Met them out during the flight.

Make sure he knows what to expect in security, especially if it's been awhile since he's flown. They forget easily or rather, interpret things differently at different ages. This is a good page from the TSA website;

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/c...

Tell him that he has to put all his things on the belt and may have to remove his shoes too.

I do recommend that you bring his carseat along. Try to get an extra seat next to you if the flight isn't full.

I find my children were much calmer and more settled in their own familiar seat. Not only is your toddler safer but it virtually guarentees that your seat will make it in good shape to your destination. On my last trip, three of our four bags didn't make it but since we had used the seat on board, my daughter was safe on the 2 hour drive home.

First check that your seat is approved for flying. If it's a U.S. company, here is the site to consult;

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_childr...

If it's a non-U.S. company, check the information on the relevant airlines' website.

I will say that my toddlers were much more settled and much easier when they were in their familar seat. Not to scare you but some parents haven't been able to keep a hold of their little ones and have been "off loaded" as a result.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2...

I will admit that I've strapped down an unhappy little one more than once. Toddlers hate to be confined and simply don't understand that they have to be seated sometimes. Firmly anchored in, I could then consol them while we landed.

To get through the airport, they sell all sorts of gizmos like these;

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_k...

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-...

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/...



I simply use a small metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it works great. I skip on the stroller and she could even ride in it at your son's age. She usually prefers to walk and then I load the carry-ons abord.

I actually don't recommend a portable DVD player *unless* he can watch it without sound. Will he wear the headphones? Try it at home first. I wouldn't go out and purchase it unless you think it'll serve other purposes. Perhaps you can buy or rent one.

Just some other small tips;

-Bring a change of clothes

-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need (if he's still in them)

-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on those tiny babychangers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)

-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones

-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you

-Bring slippers, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!

Quick note if he's recently potty trained. I have put diapers on a child who normally doesn't wear them during the day. The risk was if they slept. This did not upset the whole process and children understand this "special situation".

I have also never used any sort of medication to get my children to sleep. It can work but then again, children can get the opposite reaction. Also, these medicines aren't entirely innocent. For a flight this length, I don't see the need.

It's actually a myth that children need to suck on something for take-off and landing. I rarely saw it in my 13 years as a Flight Attendant and I have never, ever done anything special with them for take-offs and landings in all the flights we've taken and it's never been a problem.

ENT specialists simply recommend that the child is awake for landing;

http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandalt...

The delicate time is not during take-off or landing/touchdown but at the *top of descent*. This is usually 40 minutes to an hour before landing and everyone's ears have to reverse the pressurization. I can confirm that when I worked, if any passengers had ear problems, this was the time. Not just children either! They actualy felt *better* as we got closer to landing.

The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.

For more information, I wrote an article on this subject about 8 years ago. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with kids and parents from around the world have contributed. It's totally non-commercial;

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

He's actually a pretty good age. Three year olds are easier to keep occupied and can understand a lot.

Have a good flight!

Answer 4

Only one...Benadryl. The other passengers will thank you.

Answer 5

Never drug any child.

Answer 6

buy them a video game like nintendo ds,psp,gameboy, bring him some travel size games and snacks. :-]

Answer 7

Gameboy Advance with a Super Mario Bros game in it.