First plane trip

We are traveling too at the end of may for the 1st time with my daughter. She will be 19 months when we go.

Check out the TSA website for what you can and cannot bring through security checkpoints.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-i...

just~me

You can't bring any liquids on the plane, even sealed bottles of water or pop . . they make you drink it or throw it out BEFORE you pass through checkpoints! I traveled a lot (even to Europe & back with two small children) they slept a lot, luckily, but the worst is take off and landing because of the ear pressure. If they can chew gum, let them, i've also heard sucking on a bottle helps if the little one still has a bottle. Even when one of mine was asleep, you could still see the pain in their face from their ears on the landing! We had a 3 hour flight in Europe once and Alitalia wouldn't let us use the carseat. Try sitting a 18 month old on your lap for 3 hours, he probably opened and closed the tray 500 times on that flight, luckily there was nobody in front of us!

My 18 mo daughter has trouble sitting still though I've seen many other parents with quiet children on the plane sitting in their laps. I've found for me & my daughter, we only have a good (non-screaming) trip if I bring the carseat along and scrape up the extra travel miles or $$ for a 2nd seat. Since it's usually just the two of us that fly, I've found this is a really good travel thing that works on the plane for me instead of trying to pack in a stroller and carseat somehow. Expensive though.

http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html

Seat kicking was an issue on our last trip so I'd love to book one of those seats in front... DVD player helps quite a bit and I've found if I fly really early in the morning, she doesn't complain much at all but if we fly later in the day we have lots of temper tantrums...

How old do kids have to be to fly by themselves? My 11yo nephew wants to come visit this summer.

Stacy Sullivan is an editor for arizonamoms.com, pets.azcentral.com and The Republic whose single mom sister is constantly asking for advice as she raises two great kids.

I have travelled every year with my daughters (now ages 7, 5, and 2). I highly recommend taking your carseat on the plane with you. Check on the carseat to see if they are approved for planes, and if they are, take them. Your children will sit better and more comfortably in their own chairs. You can also gate check several items. I always take a stroller (and a backpack carrier if I am taking it on the trip) all the way to the gate. If anything, the stroller is useful for wheeling the carseats after the flight.

While you can't take liquid through security, you can take their sippy cups empty. Just fill them with water from the drinking fountain when you get past security. The flight attendents are always willing to fill up sippy cups as soon as you get on the plane (they know that kids need to drink to keep their ears clear). I always pack lots of healthy snacks and food for the trip. Lunchables are easy to eat on the plane. Don't forget to pack food for yourself and husband (or parents).

If you have a DVD player, they are very useful for a plane trip. My older daughters watched movies all the way to Seattle and home this last time. The 2 year old had a harder time with the movies, but we took playdoh for her and that was entertaining. A variety of small activities for the younger ones is helpful. Washable markers and paper, playdoh, favorite toys, books, etc. all help to pass the time.

Okay, that is my two bits. Have fun and don't worry about it too much. It is a vacation and should be a fun adventure for everyone.

Thanks for all the responses......after reading the comments I was able to take a deep breath and say we can do it. We thought about taking our stroller but it is so huge that we may have to opt for a much smaller one, like the one suggested earlier. The DVD player was already on the list, I just wish the battery had a longer battery life. I have even thought about downloading my children's favorite music on my MP3. That way "the wheels on the bus" can keep her occupied for a few hours. My hubby just laughed at the idea but he thought hey that sounds like a great idea. Guess we will hit up the dollar store and see what little activites we can find. Thanks again!! Can't wait!!

I fly a lot and see a lot.

There is a product called the sit and stroll. It is not the best in car seat or stroller, but it works great for traveling. The wheels retract inside to use as a car seat and then you extend them to use as a stroller. They do NOT fit down an airplane aisle though.

Carry on luggage that has wheels works good for hauling children on top. I would recommend they are older so they understand they need to hold on. Backpacks for children that you can put their activities and snacks in. They can go under the seat in front of them and it makes it handy to get things in and out.

Although bulkhead seats can work well, you might not have a place to put your items other than the overhead bin. This can be a problem.

Also remember that car seats must go by the window so the seat does not impede the window seat person from exiting in an emergency.

We took our girls to Hawaii when they were 2 and 5. I was able to pack all their clothes, snacks, things to do on the plane in backpacks. Although my husband and I had to carry them, it was their carry on. You are able to have one carry on bag and a personal bag, i.e. purse, briefcase. So, we had 2 carry on bags with our things (clothes) the girls had their backpacks with their things, a dvd player, a backpack for me and one for my husband.

Have a great time and enjoy your trip. Let us know what you would do again, what didn't work and things you thought of after the fact.

Oh one more thing - talk with your children about what to expect at the security check points. Nothing to be afraid of, but explain what is happening while you are standing there so they understand what is expected of them.

KarilouMomof2 is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Tempe. Her daughters are 9 and 6.

I flew when my son was 16 months old and took an extra outfit for me and for my child in case of accidents. We did not take a DVD player; however, I did bring some of his favorite toys and I wrapped them in wrapping paper. He enjoyed opening the gifts and the flight attendants were amused as they had not seen anyone else do this before. Some of the airlines offer tips on their websites. Additionally, I purchased my little boy an airplane from the gift shop at the airport and gave it to him on the flight. The Southwest airplane kept him entertained for half of the flight. Plenty of fun snacks and books helped him so much.

You can also go to the Arizona Science Center and sit in a real airplane. My children did this on Saturday and loved it.

arizona_mom is a stay-at-home mother of two boys and loves MOPS.

For entertainment, I would recommend a sticker book. That should take up at least 30 min. You could also try a number of zoo animals, dinos, cars or anything new to play with. Sometime ear pressure is a problem, have the 2 yr. old drink during take off and as you near the landing. The older one may suck on a candy or gum to help the pressure.

soccermom