Hellobee Boards

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.

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

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

@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!

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.)

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.

Good luck!

@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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Make sure the apps you're planning to use don't need wifi.

Paci at takeoff or landing (although it's a little less necessary now than as infants); but it will help their ears.

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!

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 & 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..

@yoursilverlining: You are giving me some hope.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.