https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 15:17:23 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661672 Wed, 28 May 2014 06:24:34 +0000 looch 1661672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing that has changed recently is that you don't have to have kids remove their shoes, right? I think that is a huge timesaver! </p> <p>I also pack my entire carry on in clear ziplock gallon bags, so I can see what I am digging through without taking everything. I also bring an additional bag for a garbage bag (you will have tons) and another soft shopping bag to throw whatever I have taken out during the flight into so I am not puzzling back together my carryon, my goal is to get off the plane as soon as possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661551 Tue, 27 May 2014 21:55:51 +0000 winniebee 1661551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We fly a lot. Bring a bag that's easy for you to access (like a duffel bag with diapers etc on one side, books and toys in the middle, snacks on the other side) and bring lots of snacks (preferably new stuff or stuff that is not allowed at home) and books and load up the iPad. We try to save the iPad for last resort but now he knows he gets it on the plane. It will be fine! If he's used to a lovey or paci bring it. My suggestion would be not to try to keep him up before the flight. Whenever I do that it backfires and he doesn't sleep in the plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661542 Tue, 27 May 2014 21:52:48 +0000 lovehoneybee 1661542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the feedback, I'm definitely taking notes and reconsidering some things. </p> <p>@78h2o: Unfortunately, his nap will be at the normal time (at daycare). D will be picking him up from there, we'll meet at my ILs to drop off my car after I get off work, and we're heading straight to BWI from there. We'll likely try to keep him awake for the trip to BWI, though, and in the airport. (It'll be super awesome because we won't get to the hotel until around 2, and then on Saturday he'll be surrounded by tons of family members he's never met...) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661523 Tue, 27 May 2014 21:40:03 +0000 78h2o 1661523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Good luck! I've had horrible flying experiences so far, so I don't have a lot to offer. :( I tried everything, but LO just screamed. I am planning a 3.5 flight next month and it is looking like we are going to take a flight that leaves a few hours after LOs bedtime. I have tried flying with her before nap, during nap, after nap, etc. and it's all been a disaster...she's never slept a wink on a plane (except for when she was 2 &amp; 3 months oldd). Late night flights are the only ones I have enough miles for... so it is what it is, but also, I figure after bedtime can't be any worse than it has been, and maybe there's a chance she'll sleep?? I'm very curious to hear how your LO does at that time. Will you try to get him to take a nap later in the day so he can stay awake until the plane takes off? I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do..</p> <p>@yoursilverlining: You are giving me some hope.</p> <p>For anyone flying Southwest during the day, I recommend boarding during family boarding and sitting next to other families with young children. They are more likely to be sympathetic if your child is wailing and their kids may help to entertain yours. </p> <p>Plus everything everyone has already said... snacks (I am going to bring the big guns too, like lollipops....just in case), ipad with shows, ipad with apps, her sleep sack and lovies, stickers (they did keep her quiet for about an hour last time we flew), books, crayons, etc. </p> <p>You CAN bring packaged milk/ready-to-drink formula (Horizon, Emfamil) through secruity; however, I do not recommend it. In some airports, it's a nonissue, but in others (Houston is one), it will trigger a second wave of security, including a pat-down. Not really worth the hassle IMO.</p> <p>Oh, I recommend Huggies slip-on diapers (like pull-ups, but regular absorbancy). I've found it's easier to change diapers that way if you have a tall kid that is too long for the bathroom changing table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661499 Tue, 27 May 2014 21:15:36 +0000 MamaCate 1661499@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: I was so nervous before our first flight and it really went fine! We have now flown 3 round trips and I feel more comfortable every time. </p> <p>You got a lot of great advice already but I wanted to add that I recommend using the plane and it's novel surroundings as entertainment as long as possible before breaking out your stuff. We spent a lot of time looking out the window, playing with the stuff in the seat pocket etc. </p> <p>I hope your LO sleeps! Mine is not a great sleeper but we have never flown at night so hopefully that will help! I am sure it will be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661468 Tue, 27 May 2014 20:49:42 +0000 yoursilverlining 1661468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We fly regularly, and after bedtime flights have so far gone two ways: LO is wide awake until the flight begins, then falls asleep, or she falls asleep before we board and mostly stays asleep. Here's hoping the flight time works in your favor.</p> <p>I would board early, so you can settle in without the plane getting crowded, get your luggage in, etc. much less stressful than getting into your seats on a full plane.</p> <p>Make sure the apps you're planning to use don't need wifi. </p> <p>Paci at takeoff or landing (although it's a little less necessary now than as infants); but it will help their ears.</p> <p>We've never had an issue packing ziplocks of snacks (cereal mostly) and buy water/milk once past security. Hopefully the TSA will put you in the family/precheck line as a courtesy; much nicer than the regular line! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661435 Tue, 27 May 2014 20:20:53 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1661435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would think there would be drink service on the plane so you can always ask for some apple juice if needed. Or even water in a cup. Southwest even had lids for theirs so she had fun drinking from the straw. She also liked the mini pretzels they served. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661429 Tue, 27 May 2014 20:19:06 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1661429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: we just flew southwest. Family gets to Baird after group A but before boarding group B. I would definitely board then to get seats together. </p> <p>She is two so we just used her sippy cup of milk for take off. She has to suck hard enough that it cleared her ears. I wouldn't count on him sleeping. There would have been no way we got her to sleep without a huge fight. </p> <p>Clorox wipes were great to wipe the seat and window down when we first sat down because kids touch everything!! She was pretty happy with our phones and some small toys like color wonder coloring books, silly putty, and stickers. All cheap stuff that was easy to pack. For fun I even wrapped them in tissue paper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661407 Tue, 27 May 2014 20:06:55 +0000 brownie 1661407@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food! Puff and melts and anything that is a treat. If their mouth is full, it is difficult to scream. We have a nexus and games and movies he can watch. I assume he is a lap infant but if he has a seat, you can put the carseat in the window seat. Just flew with my son at nap time and the instant he was in his carseat on the plane he went to sleep.</p> <p>It will be just fine even if he screams, just try your best. </p> <p>You can take formula on the plane and nursery water. You can also buy a bottle of water after the security. I took an empty sippy cup and filled it up after we went through security. You can bring pouches as well. If you bring more than the required amount they will swab it and you will have to do a pat down. It was never an issue for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661388 Tue, 27 May 2014 19:52:40 +0000 jmarionsmith 1661388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>On southwest families with young children get to board after the "A" group. Since it's so late I doubt it will be full but you never know! Row was so interested in everything around him that it wasn't a problem at all being on the plane early (and we actually got to preboard since I'm pregnant.)</p> <p>The white noise from the plane running put him to sleep almost instantly so hopefully E will respond the same way! Definitely think the paci is the way to go and, of course, snacks. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661318 Tue, 27 May 2014 19:08:17 +0000 sorrycharlie 1661318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: it might very well be dead! You may be able to call SW customer service tomorrow and ask if flight is full. Their CS is normally really helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661316 Tue, 27 May 2014 19:07:21 +0000 sorrycharlie 1661316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lovehoneybee: You can try but some people still try to sit if plane is getting full. I've seen families boarding in C get split up :( make sure you preboard 24h in advance to the minute. As in, if your flight is at 8 pm, sit on the computer 7:55 pm the night before with your confirmation number in and just start clicking and back spacing. I've had luck preboard ing a min before my computer showed the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661291 Tue, 27 May 2014 18:53:49 +0000 lovehoneybee 1661291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunshineandsushi: Oh, good point. I have Endless Alphabet on my phone now, I'll find another couple to add on as well. </p> <p>@sorrycharlie: Shoot, forgot about that, too. Southwest, so yeah...maybe one of us can board first and save the other seat? I'll wait and see how crowded it is, being a 10pm flight to Missouri....so hoping he'll sleep through it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661278 Tue, 27 May 2014 18:48:47 +0000 sorrycharlie 1661278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would only board last if you have assigned seating! If it's first come, like southwest, get on board ASAP to get seats together. </p> <p>Yes you can bring snacks. Pacifier, juice or water (straw, or sippy - you want them swallowing), or bottle during take off and landing. You can buy drinks once you're through security, just bring his empty cup :)</p> <p>Olivia slept like a rock through both take off AND landing during our evening flight. She was young but I bet if he's tired he will sleep.. Plane is like white noise </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661277 Tue, 27 May 2014 18:48:12 +0000 sunshineandsushi 1661277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just got back from our first flying trip with my 16 mo twins. We gave pacis for takeoff and really the duration of the flight, haha. Although we did hold off giving the packs until takeoff. They didn't seem to have any problems with ear pressure. We also had plenty of snacks on hand (no problem taking those through security). I would also recommend tons of baby friendly apps in addition to any movies. My boys will not sit still long enough to pay attention to a movie but they love touching the phone screen for app games. GL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/best-tips-for-flying-with-a-toddler#post-1661272 Tue, 27 May 2014 18:41:15 +0000 lovehoneybee 1661272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Because we're taking E on his first flight this weekend, and I'm getting increasingly nervous about it! </p> <p>It's a late flight--almost 3 hours past his bedtime, but that couldn't be helped. I'm guessing we'll want to try to board last? Will a pacifier help his ears during take-off and landing? I'll pack some snacks (I can bring snacks on board, right? I haven't flown myself since like...2008 I think?), and put a movie or two on my phone. </p> <p>Anything else I should/shouldn't do? Any other tips or advice? Please reassure me that we'll get through this, ha! </p>