https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 12:40:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1039112 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 09:17:48 +0000 irene 1039112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>wow kudos to you. While we flew many times already I don't think I have the courage to fly solo with LO. No No No! hahahaha. I would wait until a lot later when I can reason with him and he can entertain himself.</p> <p>Otherwise, he's pretty good in flights but again, I always fly with the husband so we have two clowns (DH and me) to entertain him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038686 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 06:21:29 +0000 chopsuey 1038686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@keiki_mama: no headphones when she was younger. I think images were entertainment enough. (Under 18 months)<br /> When we flew when she was 27 months old she wanted to hear what was going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038457 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 23:12:06 +0000 MamaCate 1038457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>fwiw. i flew solo with lo at 18 months and it went pretty well. i did a lot of prep to have a lot of options for her--books, new toys, snacks--which helped. but i agree it can be luck of the draw. i am doing it again at christmas but this time she will have her own seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038454 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 23:09:49 +0000 sarac 1038454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I flew round trip to new orleans from Oregon with my toddler, and we were along on the way out. I just kept the Curious George on repeat on my ipad, and that made things pretty ok. We nursed a lot, too, so I'll be screwed next time when I can't do that. She had some anger when we really couldn't get up, but I kept some emergency lollipops for that. We did ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038428 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:51:56 +0000 keiki_mama 1038428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: When you give your toddler the iPad for videos and what not on the plane, do you give them headphones too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038419 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:44:08 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1038419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah 14 months was pretty much our worst flight! Too old to sit on your lap for any period of time; too young to be occupied by "secret weapons" such as the iPad....If it makes you feel any better, it does get easier when they're a little older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038409 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:36:32 +0000 googly-eyes 1038409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not solo and a tantruming 11 mo old, but yep. 5+ hrs. We got bulkhead seats and put down a blanket and toys.. Only one screaming episode but I imagine flying when she's a toddler will suck!<br /> Glad your flight is over though! Go you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1038395 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:28:27 +0000 BeachMama 1038395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl - i've read that flying during nap time is good, but I know that DD wouldn't nap. She'd be too interested in everything around her. I've considered giving her some Benadryl but I think it would just make her more tired and cranky. But maybe it would take the edge off??</p> <p>Unfortunately DD isn't really into videos and shows. They only hold her attention for 5 minutes....like everything else. I'm hoping a bag with some new toys and activities might be exciting enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037832 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:38:34 +0000 MamaBehr 1037832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl I will by myself..... it will be rough. It's the kind of thing I wish I could at least look forward to a glass of wine when we land.... but I can't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037709 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 19:03:39 +0000 mrsjazz 1037709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: The flight there was so bad we bought a tablet while we were away specifically for the return trip. The return trip was much better (still not the greatest) but at least she was distracted by Caillou. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037361 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:49:28 +0000 chopsuey 1037361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awww. Lol yeah. I flew alone with M when she was 17 months old. While I was 20 weeks pregnant!<br /> She sat on my lap! </p> <p>Thankfully she was good. Food + drawing + books + ipad saved me. The flight was 4-5 hours long. I thought my back was going to break. Especially while she napped on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037353 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:47:00 +0000 betsyboop 1037353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, I've flown quite a bit with my LO (14 mos) and we've endured a few meltdowns. Every meltdown happened on evening flights around her bedtime. Lesson(s) learned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037328 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:42:40 +0000 mediagirl 1037328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I must have missed your post. Ugggghhhhh. Even an extra seat on our flight back wouldn't have helped. </p> <p>@BeachMama: I don't wonder if nap time would have been a better time to fly. I have no idea. I'm just so glad it's over now. Until October when we fly to Florida... </p> <p>@BabyBoecksMom: oh yeah. Kicking the seat. And the tantrums. While I love this age, I hate it, too. </p> <p>@dookie32: sadly, I didn't even get 2 minutes of peace with videos. I guess she isn't used to them so she didn't know how entertaining it should be? </p> <p>@MamaBehr: you'll have 2 and be pregnant?? Are you flying alone or with your husband? Either way, God speed. :-) </p> <p>@Freckles: definitely that, a crapshoot. </p> <p>@looch: haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037080 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:56:31 +0000 mrsjazz 1037080@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I posted on HB after flying with LO when she was 14 months in June. It sucked horribly! We both said, "Oh well, guess we aren't taking advantage of her flying for free anymore." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037076 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:53:33 +0000 BeachMama 1037076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl, oh lord do I feel for you. Our first flight with DD (15 months) is coming on Saturday. At least I won't be alone, but honestly I don't think DH will be much help. I am DREADING it. Like pit of my stomach is nauseous, lay awake at night, dreading it. My only saving grace is that the flight is only an hour. But it's at naptime and I know there's no way she'll be sleeping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037062 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:46:41 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1037062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mediagirl: I feel for you. I did that last weekend and you summed it up - it SUCKS! What kept her the most content was kicking the seat in front of us. If I made her stop, cue tantrum. She wanted to walk up and down the plan, touching everyone's stuff. If I made her stop, cue tantrum. Oh I never want to do that alone again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037049 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:39:44 +0000 dookie32 1037049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm flying in a few months with my 18 month old and I'm already dreading it. I myself am a terrible flyer as it is so that doesn't help. I've actually looked into renting an iPad because I figure that might buy us 10-20 minutes before he starts whining about not being able to get out of his seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037043 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:35:02 +0000 KayKay 1037043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles agree that you just never know what you're going to get. We took the exact same flight (during her naptime) 2 weeks in a row. One week she played quietly and then slept, the next she made the executive decision to skip her nap and ended up in full meltdown mode 20 minutes from landing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037037 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:32:49 +0000 MamaBehr 1037037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have found that 14 months is about the worst age to fly. We flew with DD when she was 14 months and again at 15 months, and it was rough. I flew with her by myself when she was 21 months and she was fantastic. It's all about the age, it gets easier. </p> <p>I'm flying next month with a 3.5 year old and a 18 month old, by myself. Hopefully they behave well and I get sympathy, not nasty looks. (Did I mention I'll be 23 weeks pregnant, too?) But, if they don't I'll shoot nasty looks back hahaha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1037017 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 15:24:52 +0000 Freckles 1037017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry to hear you had a rough time! My worst flight was when we chose to fly during her bedtime at 10 months old, and she only slept 1 hour during the 7 hour flight. Cue meltdown galore.</p> <p>She is actually pretty good on flights. Food is a great distraction for her, and once the seatbelt sign goes off, i let her stand on my seat and i scuffle over to the edge so she can move around and play. I have flown a total of 10 times with her at different stages, and it's a crapshoot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1036869 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:35:22 +0000 looch 1036869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww, friend, sorry about that experience. I think it just comes down to temprament on that day, it's a crapshoot.</p> <p>I've flown alone with my son and he's done great, but he rewards me with crap behaviour at our destination, so it all cancels out in the end, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1036863 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:34:02 +0000 lamariniere 1036863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry to hear you had a rough time! I flew alone a few times with DS before he turned one, but not with him as a toddler. I agree, food is not a great answer, but that is generally what works when nothing else does. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-toddlers#post-1034370 Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:30:00 +0000 mediagirl 1034370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sucks. I flew with a 14 month old, by myself, this past weekend. We had short flights - an hour long on each leg (4 legs - 2 there, 2 back). She wanted to do what she wanted to do and if she couldn't do it, commence tantrum. </p> <p>Toys take up a lot of space and just get thrown around during, before and after tantrums. Food gets dropped, messes get made, strangers don't make eye contact, old ladies say things like, "Oh, a CHILD, I don't want to sit THERE..." and shoes of strangers are fair game.</p> <p>No one mentioned this in ANY of the blogs about flying with toddlers I read so, I thought I would just let you all know. Flying with toddlers is not fun. </p> <p>The only thing I had that saved us was the snack catcher full of goldfish, graham crackers and pouches. Food, while not always the answer, did occupy some time. </p> <p>The best thing I did was to stay calm and not make eye contact with other passengers during the nastiest of meltdowns (because of a poopy diaper while we were descending and we couldn't get up to change it). </p> <p>Anyone else flown solo with a toddler? Did you have a better experience than I did? :) </p>