Flying with a toddler

[migirl]

We're going on a Hawaiian cruise in October with my parents and taking DS with us. We've purchased 4 plane tickets to/from Honolulu, and have decided to fly with DS on our laps. (We figured between the 4 adults, no one person would get stuck holding DS for too long.) Tickets are expensive, and my mom pointed out that DS might not even want to sit in his own seat if we paid for it.

BUT, it's a total of about 10 hours flying time (1 layover each way) AND our return flight is a redeye (do we *really* want him sleeping ON us in our teeny coach seats? ) so now I'm wondering if it might be worth it to pay for the extra seat for DS. I believe children under 2 (he'll be 22 months at the time) qualify for reduced plane fare...?

So, I guess my question for you BTDTs is, do you think I should buy DS his own seat? And if so, I assume I'll have to bring his car seat; we own a Britax Marathon which I think is FAA-approved. But ... it's a big seat! How do you lug a car seat through the airport with all of your other luggage and a toddler? Especially during the layover, when we'll have to change planes?

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions, we've never flown with the little guy before and I'm kind of nervous.

I have no idea about your original question, but I bet your Hawaiian cruise is going to be awesome!!!! I've read a lot about them (I love cruises). The fall should be great weather too. Have a great time!

We flew with our older 2 boys when the youngest was about that age. We were flying from Canada to LA...I think it was a 7 or 8 hour flight??? I didn't get DS2 a seat and figured the same as you...it was horrible! It was also a red eye flight..one that ended up (after a longgg struggle) with him sleeping in my seat and me walking around the plane getting a ton of dirty looks from people. I personally will NEVER do that again! We are moving to Australia in June and will fly from here to Hawaii and then after few days to recover we will go on to Australia...we are going to buy him his own seat! Dragging the car seat is a total pain, but you can check it in and then they puti ti out a side door (usually) to pick it up. If you can possibly afford to pay for the seat my advice would be to do so...part of it too might be the type of child. Mark has always been pretty "jiggy" and never stops moving. Good luck and have a great trip in October.

I haven't done it recently but did get a discounted fare (1/2 price?) for an under 2 seat.

Arguements not to buy an extra seat -- he will probably be on your lap anyway, if you have 4 people flying together, you will have a row of seats and not be sharing your row with a stranger and a wiggly almost 2.

In favor of buying the seat -- it is nice to have some extra room to manuever, an extra tray for him to use for playing or eating.

[PrincessFiona]

Personally, I would say buy him a seat if you can afford it. We've flown back and forth to europe with children that age and were very lucky to have an empty seat sitting next to us (we hadn't bought a seat). My bet is...he'll use it...also, hopefully he will sleep and you will be able to set him in his seat with a pillow/blanket and get some rest yourselves. DH and I divvied up the work when it was Andrew/Amanda and one thing that struck me was just HOW busy a 22 month old can be...we don't realize it when they're toddling about through the house getting into things...but when they are on a plane and there isn't much to do? ugh.

Also...you might consider a videonow JR. They're inexpensive now and you can get Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer etc....

kris

[houseelf]

Yes, if you can only afford either an additional seat or a small portable DVD player, go with the DVD player. Seriously. DS was a champion flyer. DD has more limitations. We would have been thrown off some flights if it wasn't for the portable DVD player.

Kelly

[MissCrabette]

No parenting experience, but I had a recent experience with the all too cramped economy seats on a transatlantic flight. I couldn't imagine holding a baby for any period of time in those seats. Something else to think about is meal time. One of you probably won't get to eat with the rest since there may not be enough space to lower the tray while holding a baby. I'd say buy another seat.

[Cumberland]

We got the bulkhead window seat on an international flight and I made DD a little bed out of airplane blankets and pillows on the floor. She slept pretty decently but no matter what, it is a long flight and they do get tired.

I too am in favor of buying him a ticket if you can afford it, but it is certainly doable if you dont.

[alison]

The flight from Chicago to Honolulu is loooooong! And on United, they only come around with food one time (for purchase). We were starving. For an 8+ hour flight, that's unreasonable! So, be sure to buy food once you get past security to bring on board with you.

As far as the traveling with a toddler on the flight: :thud:

[ellie]

Jane, we have lots of family in Hawaii, so we've made the trek there many times. If you can manage it, the extra seat is definitely worth it. Mealtimes/snacktimes/naptimes are much, much easier with the extra room. I've flown once with DD as a lap child, and it was miserable for all.

We also have the Britax Marathon and it BARELY squeezes into the economy seats. After a couple of times trying to jam it in, we either did without the car seat or borrowed a smaller one for the trip. You can take the car seat with your stroller and check them in at the gate...the airline will bring it up to the gateway when you get off for your layover. Then you can gate check it again for your plane change.

[Deebs]

If you do decide to go with the extra seat, The Right Start now carries an adaptor for your carseat (it does fit the Britax convertible seats) to basically turn it into a Stroll N Go. I'm sure it won't be the ideal stroller, but might save some juggling in trying to bring a stroller and car seat. Even if you decide to check it at the gate, it might make getting through the airport easier and then you'll have your seat ready to go to get you to your hotel.
-Deb

[diggitydot]

We've flown several times with our three kids and here's what I've found that helped us a ton.

1.) Make sure to pack things for them to play with/read/chew on/etc. Keeping them occupied will make the trip much more pleasant for you, your child, and for those around you.

2.) Pack your own snacks/drinks, if possible. Depending on the airline, they may not be that great about helping out with the kids. Although, once on Southwest when I was traveling with all three kids by myself, the flight attendants were spectacular at helping out and giving the three stooges extra snacks and drinks. Kudos to SWAir.

3.) Give your child a decongestant about 30 minutes before boarding. It will help with the cabin pressure changes. Also, make sure to redose as necessary throughout the flight to be sure that they're okay for the descent, too.

4.) Pay for the extra seat. Yeah, kids tend to become cuddle-bugs when their routines are goofy, but you'll likely appreciate the extra room for the adults, even if your child ends up in someone's lap the whole way.

5.) Take suckers/sippy cups/bottles or something for your child to suck on and have them use it during take-off and landing. This helps with the ear issues. (Our son had bi-lateral tympanic membrane perforations once because we didn't think about this one ahead of time.)

6.) Take a DVD player or a GameBoy, if the child is old enough to appreciate it. You can now get Nickelodeon cartoons for the Gameboy, and they're really not that expensive.

7.) Download some of their favorites stories onto your iPod and get some comfy headphones for them to use.

8.) Sit near the rear of the plane, by the restrooms. Seriously. I don't know why people don't do this more often, especially with kids. It's closer to the bathroom (in case of emergencies), is closer to the flight attendant's station where you can get some help if needed, and is usually a noisier place anyway so a slightly higher noise level won't be much noticed. Yeah, the seats don't recline. That's a definite issue for some. But sitting behind the bulkhead is nice, too. Get lost of legroom.

Good luck! I love traveling with our kids now that they're a little older!

~Wendy

Wow, Hawaii......I'm jealous!

I agree with everyone else.....get the extra seat if at all possible. You'll be glad you did. Tara brought up a good point about the safety. I once heard a flight attendant talk about the lap babies who didn't make it in the Iowa plane crash several years ago...how she remembered the parents trying to hold onto them right before impact.....

We have flown with a Decathalon (same size as a Marathon) and it was a tight fit, so we ended up getting a Roundabout to take on plane trips. It's only a few inches narrower, but those few inches make a huge difference. We have a carseat carrier that DH used to carry on his back through the airport. The carseat only weighs a few pounds so it's not difficult to carry, but the carrier is just one more thing you have to store while the carseat is in use. Now, he just lets the carseat straps all the way out, puts his arms through them and carries it on his back that way.

Andrew usually doesn't have a problem staying in his carseat during flights. He's used to sitting in his carseat on long car rides and the plane isn't any different. I'd think it would be harder to keep him still if he were on our laps.

[alison]

2.) Pack your own snacks/drinks, if possible. Depending on the airline, they may not be that great about helping out with the kids. Although, once on Southwest when I was traveling with all three kids by myself, the flight attendants were spectacular at helping out and giving the three stooges extra snacks and drinks. Kudos to SWAir.

All good suggestions, Wendy, but just remember that you can't bring on more than one ziploc bag full of gells/liquids.

[migirl]

Now, he just lets the carseat straps all the way out, puts his arms through them and carries it on his back that way.

Ohhh, thank you Erica!! I've been racking my brain, trying to figure out how we're going to wrestle the car seat through the airport and your idea is such a good one! I was just talking to DH about this, we've decided to buy him his own seat (thanks, everyone!). I was even saying that the only PITA thing is lugging the car seat through the airport, but strapping it to DH's back is perfect!

DS has never been in a car without his car seat so he knows that he's supposed to stay in it, hopefully he'll make the conection when he's on the plane and it won't be an issue!