Airline flight with 4 year old - HELP!

This weekend I'm flying north with my 4 year-old son. Needless to say, 7 year old is jealous and 2 year old will be madder than a hornet when he realizes that mom has left him with dad for a week.

In any case, I don't want to lose my son in the airport during our 40 minute connection in Dulles!! And do I really have to lug the stinking car seat when he is 36 lbs (only 4 lbs under limit!) Got any tips to make this go smoother?

Thanks!

[DCJenn]

1) Check the carseat through to your destination. Nikolai has had his own seat on the plane for two years now and he's just now hitting 31 pounds.
Just keep the seatbelt strapped on tight and everything will be fine.

2) Have your son carry the toys he wants to bring in his own backpack. Consider carrying one yourself- chic? no. Practical when you need hands. I have one that took me to Russia and back and it's still going strong. Wouldn't consider air travel with out it.

3) Coloring books, crayons, reading materials- key things to occupy young hands and brains. Bring snacks. WAY more snacks than you think you will need. I usually bring cereal bars, pretzel sticks, dried fruits, cheese sticks (eh, so they get a little soft-) and occasionally snack packs of cookies or baggies of cookies. I have learned the hard way that anything with color will get all over you so no oreos, cheetos, anything frosted, no m & ms, and nothing with chocolate chips. (Usually shortbread cookies or Nilla wafers or graham crackers) Also carry an empty sippy cup or water bottle- don't bother filling it until you get through security. You can buy water or juice at the newsstands.

4) My son gets zoned out by the airplane noise and inevitably falls asleep. Usually after lots of yummy snacks and a drink.

5) Dulles has three HUGE terminals and one smaller United terminal for the United local flights. Your layover may involve having to take the people mover buses from one terminal to the other (I don't think that the underground tunnel is finished yet) It will eat up your time and your son will think it's way cool to be able to see the planes, buses and airplane equipment up close while you are bused from one place to the other. It's a great distraction.

If you're worried about him breaking free from you and running, get a kid leash. No one at Dulles will bat an eye, trust me.

Jenn

[houseelf]

one word: portable DVD player. $80-ish at Walmart. They take about 5 plus hours to charge the first time. Worth every stinking penny.

Kelly

one word: portable DVD player. $80-ish at Walmart. They take about 5 plus hours to charge the first time. Worth every stinking penny.

Kelly

Amen.

Jenn had great suggestions too. But 2 portable DVD players and 2nd hand gameboys got the boys and I to Alaska solo. (They were 3.5 and 5).

[DCJenn]

See- I am also a truly light traveller so anything that I don't need to schlep is jetisoned from the list. That and I find once the kid starts to watch TV, he won't top for anything (meals included) which sets me up for the inevitable meltdown in public because I said no. Avoiding meltdown situations is key when travelling with small people.

Anticipate, prepare and know what your bargaining chips are. Mine- McDonald's French Fries. (As in, as soon as we get through this long line of idiots who don't know to remove their laptop, take off their shoes and jacket and finish that 5 dollar starbucks BEFORE they make them dump it, we'll go get French Fries.)

Which brings me to security- easy on and off shoes for both. no jackets unless you're deplaning in Michigan in the winter in a blizzard. seriously, even when I travelled weekly, the jacket was packed in the suitcase until I needed it when exiting the airport. and you'll hardly need one in the summer.

If your son is skittish- prepare him for the security by talling him he'll have to take off his shoes and put his backpack into the grey bin and then he'll have to walk by himself like a big boy until the nice person tell him he can stop and mommy will be right behind him.

Jenn

PS- Yes, Nikolai has American, United and Southwest Frequent Flier cards.

[houseelf]

laughing hysterically at my own idiocy:

One word: portable DVD player.

Uh, which of those THREE WORDS is the one I intended.

Moron.

Kelly

[rainbabies]

[peggyfromwastate]

Stickers are also a big hit with my son. Don't bring the car seat, it's a total pain. I never have bothered, and my kids have been "secured" by the lap belts from age 2.

If you son can use the headphons, then the portable DVD is helpful. But if headphones are a problem, don't bother!

Dulles is an interesting airport- 40 min layover will fly by! Does he still use a stroller?

thanks!

thanks for the great tips! whew, good news about that car seat. thanks for the tip about taking the empty water bottle and LOTS of snacks. and for prepping him on security procedures so he's not freaked out.

i'll check back to review your tips tomorrow night when i'm finishing the packing!!

I agree with the sippy cup/water bottle idea. A spill-proof cup is a stress-saver on a bumpy flight.

WE MADE IT!!!

Thanks for all your help - we made it!('') I didn't lose my child and we had a fun time. No car seat was needed (right on!) and he made good use of his backpack full of toys - and boy, were you right about the snacks. they really helped during our extra two-hour delay in DC on the way there.

And my two-year-old didn't tear the house up too badly while I was gone, so hey, pretty good, right?

[DCJenn]

Glad it all worked out. Snacks are key!

Jenn

[peggyfromwastate]

Now wasn't that empowering?