Travel Advice

Adults who fly regularly know about making their ears pop; the change in air pressure often makes it uncomfortable for some of us until we can yawn, chew gum, or do something else to equalize the pressure in our inner ears. Babies and toddlers have a harder time (smaller ear canals) as the plane is ascending and descending. Having something to suck on will usually help pop their ears; however, if your little girl has tubes and/or has had ear infections, you might want to check with her pediatrician. We've all heard traveler complaints about screaming babies; usually, the poor kids are screaming because it feels like their little heads are about to explode. Sugar-free lollipops may just do the trick.

If you've got a separate ticket for your daughter, the airline will let you bring the carseat onboard to install in her seat. Otherwise, you'll have to check it. You might want to consider bringing along a big clear plastic bag to put the car seat in; the underbelly of a plane isn't the most sanitary environment. They'll let you bring the stroller onboard if you've got it broken down so that it will fit into the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you.

Chances are good that your flight will depart and arrive at least somewhere in the ballpark of the times in your itinerary. However, there is always a chance that you'll be delayed in the terminal or on the runway. Pack your baby bag with more than more than enough diapers, wipes, food, spare clothes, drinks, etc. Check with airport security to see if there is a limit to the quantity of consumables you can bring in; in many cases, you can take more food and drink if it's still in its original sealed containers.

Above all, hydrate -- both your daughter and yourself. Airports and planes blow so much recycled air around that you can easily get dried out.

Bon voyage!

I know that when my husband and I traveled with my daughter we would bring our laptop or portable DVD player to play her favorite movies, I think this helped to keep her calm since it was something familiar to her, also we got those headphones that cover the whole ear, so that the sounds of the plane would not scare her.

Good Luck!!!

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but how we react to what happens; not by what life brings us, but by the attitude we bring to life."-unknown source

The dvd player is a must in my book. Be sure to bring headphones, if she will wear them, so the movie won't disturb other passengers. Another great thing to bring along is the Leap Pad. They have interactive books for all ages and can keep a child occupied for hours.

sure, fine, whatever

We will also be traveling soon with a 19 month old and a 2 month old, so I have been doing lots of research around this. It sounds like you're pretty prepared! If you will be buying a seat for her, make sure the car seat says "for airplanes" in red on it. If the car seat is being checked, there are nice bags with and without wheels to drag it along and keep it together while in baggage. There is also a "cart" that folds flat, that the car seat can clip into so you can use it as a stroller in the airport and carry one less thing onboard. Hope this helps!

When mine were little, I did bring some infant Tylenol for ear pain. I had heard from other moms to give it before boarding the plane. (I didn't give first time, just carried, but the crying was tough, so the next trip I gave before and seem to have less crying).But some moms are against medication...so definitely bring a pacifer or lollipop to help them pop their ears. Otherwise, you'll have one cranky child.

You're smart to plan ahead. I have flow a lot with my children. Most recently, I was alone with both kids (then aged 1 and 2 1/2) but I also flew with them when they were younger. I took a lot of different toys, books, foods, cups of water, DVD and movies, and I bought a few little new things and wrapped them. Having something to open distracted them as well as having something new. Little Magnadoodles are nice for drawing and I also found some little 2 piece puzzles (not too much to lose on the floor!) that kept them busy. They main thing, be prepared to switch your tricks the whole flight! I flew for over 3 hours and constantly switched from books, to toys, to snacks, etc. I was busy, but I got a lot of compliments on how well my kids traveled. Best of luck!

Hobbymommy, 38, is a discussion leader from Mesa. She is a happy stay-at-home mommy to a 3-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son.

We flew all the time w/ our babies, toddlers, every stage/age. And mostly, on much longer flights to the East Coast. It was always a breeze.
However, mostly b/c we purchased a seat for our child, then just brought our Century or Britax car seat on board and put them in their seat. They just thought they were in the car - and never, ever, asked to get out of the seat. Happy as a clam.
Honestly, most of the time they'd fall asleep at take-off and sleep for most of the flight........because, we purposely traveled during their nap time. That way, there were tired when they boarded and did go right down to sleep.

Only once we didn't buy a seat for our baby, and it was b/c before the flight, we saw on the seat mapper, that over 1/2 the flight was still un-sold and we knew there would be empty seats on the plane. Once at the gate, we just asked to be moved to be next to an empty seat.

Stroller doesn't count as baggage b/c you take it to the gate. You gate check it and drop it in the jetway and pick it up in the jetway.

Once issue/problem you might have securing the seatbelt through the car seat to secure it - as you pre-board, ask for a seat belt extender (the thing for heavy people to big for a regular seatbelt). They often only have 1 per/flight - so be the one to get it! That'll make it infinitely easier to fasten the car seat in.

By the way - car seat MUST go into a window seat. So you need a window seat for the child.

Don't forget to sign your child up for a FFlyer card too - they'll earn miles if you buy them a ticket! :)

Happy2BMommy, is a stay-at-home mom who just turned 40 (argh!) with a 6 yr. old daughter and a 4 yr. old son, and is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com living in Scottsdale.

I've flown more than a few times with my son. Alot of the ideas that everyone has posted are good ones. I also try to get his nap time and meal time so that it fall just shortly after the plane takes off. It makes things so much easier if they sleep through most of the trip (no trying to entertain).

I flew with my daughter when she was 18 months and had to show her birth certificate at the luggage check-in. Which of course I hadn't brought becasue nobody told me to, so luckily we got there early enough for my mom to run it up to us at the airport. That was a nightmare in itself. So, take her birth certificate, although I have talked to several people that never had to show proof that the kids are under 2 if you don't purchase a seat, but I did, and it's a heart attack you don't want to incure when you're already stressed about flying.

Also, my darling daughter's little legs were just long enough to kick the seat in front of her. So, I had to think of things to keep her preoccupied the whole time so she didn't kick the seat.

The dollar store has learning cards for kids with pictures of princesses and characters on them. They are actually for older kids, but my almost 2 year old daughter has loved them for the past 6 months. She just likes to look at the pictures, and we try to match them up. She gets so excited. And for a buck, who cares is they get ripped or lost, and they are so easy to stick in a purse or diaper bag. You can put them in a zip lock baggy to avoid having to put them back in the little box every time.

Make sure you take lots of wipes so that you can hit the seat handles and whatnot at the airport when you are waiting and on the plane. And then you can wipe her hands clean when you get out of the airport. I hate airport germs.

You may also want to take the diaper baggies for stinky diapers. They sell them at Target. I always get the blue ones that go with the duck holder, but I know they have different brands. That way if she does decide to give you a gift on the plane, you are not getting dirty glances for your dirty diaper.

Good luck, I am getting ready to fly this summer with my 2 and 4 year old daughters. I have to buy them both tickets for the first time, and our flight is 3 1/2 hours. NOT looking forward to it!!!! We will definately have Dora DVDs in hand.

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