flying with toddler

Posted by xox (130 days ago)

I'm flying to Sydney with my 17 month old baby next week. She's very restless and wants to run around all the time.

I remember reading about others advising about giving benadryl or some other medication to settle them through the flight. Does anyone have any recommendations?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by ldsllvn (130 days ago)

have a search on this forum - but be careful, can have adverse effect - so try it before you fly. We went to NZ over xmas when ours two were 17 months - yes, they did want to run around a bit, so just let them - where are they going go,hehe!
they run around for about 1-2 hours and then dropped dead completelly for the rest of the flight!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Wheelymate (130 days ago)

i have no experience with meds and flights but i do have a very active toddler...
the flight to sydney isn't that long, i would invest in a portable dvd and a bag of toys instead of meds because as idsllvn says, sometimes the meds might have an adverse effect, give your kid such a high she wouldn't settle.

(I am based in Singapore)

Posted by PDNS (130 days ago)

Try the benadryl at home b4 u fly to see what is the effect on your little girl. Some gets very hyper and some went to sleep within 2 hours. Flew with 10 months and 3 years old from NY to NZ, give benadryl had dinner and they slept all the way and woke up upon landing. Hubby is Dr. very happy with his on his 2 kids. Going to fly to Singapore with my 13 months, so may ask his Dr. again for benadryl as i wil be alone handling him - very active boy!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by crj (130 days ago)

We just came back from NY (BJ - NY is a 13 hours flight (plus 6 hour delay!).
a 25 month old and a 10 month old.

It isn't sooooo bad when they are awake. Ours loves looking at the magazines, walking with us up and down the aisle smiling at everyone...

We bring a car seat for our toddler, it is great as it is much more comfortable for him. We also rig up a blanket, like a tent, to give a dark boring place to sleep.

We do not watch TV at home, so we don't watch it on the plane.

We bring some favourite snacks - whole grain crackers, cheese, whole grain pancakes, whole wheat bagel, hard boiled eggs. Milk, water.

We bring 2 books and one soft toy.

Just be sure you and hubby take turns so you each get a break.

We have them run around as much as possible in the airport to tire them out.

We really wanted them to sleep on the way back... they had had benadryl before at home when they were sick and it put them to sleep... so we tried it on flight... it so DID NOT WORK... never will we do that again... so even if it works at home, it might not work on the flight...

Night flights are waaaay better, ours was a day flight... isn't sydney a night flight?

good luck!!

(I am based in Beijing)

Posted by axptguy38 (130 days ago)

- Share duties. Slap your husband if needed so he does his bit.
- Portable DVD player.
- Favorite toy.
- Favorite foods.
- Let them run in the terminal.
- Tell them what's going to happen ahead of time. Tell them several times.
- If child is over 15 months or so, buy them a small bag and have them pack it with some toys. We bought our 23 month old a little roll-aboard. She was so proud and happy.
- Your toddler may well cry. Be kinder than usual for tantrums, but do accept that they're going to happen. If you normally let tantrums run their course at home, you need to do it on the plane (you might want to take him/her into the lav). If you try to "bribe" your way out of a tantrum with candy or whatnot he/she will soon figure that one out.
- Some people will glare when you come on board. Some will glare when your child cries. Some will huff and puff. Some may even complain. Ignore those unflexible, boorish people. If anyone is really obnoxious, call the F/A and let them deal with it.

"but be careful, can have adverse effect - so try it before you fly. "

True. Benadryl can also have no effect at all if your child is very excited.

"the flight to sydney isn't that long,"

It's over 9 hours. That's pretty long. From experience, I know it's a lot of work with one child and 3½ hours. Of course, we had to really push it with 18 hours non-stop, 1 23 month old and one 5 month old. The other passengers really loved it when our oldest cried off and on for three hours. ;)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by abby78 (128 days ago)

wrap some small gifts he can open, then he will be busy on it for the next few hours, after that you can do things in between. the portable TV is very helpful, bring his favorite movie.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by kiwimmc (127 days ago)

take a little bottle of bubbles (I get those ones that they do in party packets). You have to put them in the plastic bag for additional check at security, but they are great for at the airport while you are waiting - kids get to chase the bubbles, they make no noise, no mess and you get to sit in one spot.
I second the try the benedryl a couple of nights before idea - it worked once with our daughter and then next time made her hyper!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by MumBee (125 days ago)

I have been trying to find a portable DVD player for an upcoming 16 hour flight for my baby's DVDs, but cannot find one that has a longer battery life than 2 hours. Do I need to buy the extra batteries, or can I charge the battery on the plane?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by disco babe (125 days ago)

I have just bought a Philips one from Fortress World. They have assured me it will last for 6 hours.
Let's hope so!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by axptguy38 (125 days ago)

"I have been trying to find a portable DVD player for an upcoming 16 hour flight for my baby's DVDs, but cannot find one that has a longer battery life than 2 hours. Do I need to buy the extra batteries, or can I charge the battery on the plane?"

2 hours?!? Ouch. You should be able to find one with longer battery life without problems.

As for power on the plane, it depends on the carrier and the aircraft. www.seatguru.com indicates which seats on aircraft have powerports. These can be one of three types: normal 110 or 220 plugs, car type 12v plugs or Empower plugs. Seatguru will also tell you which type is mounted on the specific aircraft. You can get adapters that will work with all of them. Typically empower and car adapter are one plug that can be taken apart for empower.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by MayC (124 days ago)

Hi, I've taken my daughter to Sydney twice so far - once when she was 4 months old and another time when she was 18 months old.

She's always been very active. I didn't give her any meds but I made sure we were on the night flight. Meaning flying out late at night. She slept through it both times.

I remember one of the return journeys being a day flight and that was awful. She was restless throughout. I'd say go for the night flights, and during the day, make sure she naps in the early afternoon, meaning she has to be up by 3.30-4pm latest and she'll sleep really well during the night flight.

I'm taking my daughter to Sydney again in 1.5 weeks time. She's now 3.5 years old and I'm still choosing the night flight. She's of course a lot easier to handle now... in theory. Hope I'm right.

(I am based in Hong Kong)