Flying with an active 14 month old

Posts: 48
7/25/11 3:28 P

A few people are suggesting things like crayons and duplos. I tried to avoid anything that could get dropped on the floor, because it is just so hard to pick stuff up in the cramped seating, plus things roll under other seats. Maybe paper and stickers, and you can hand him one sticker at a time. Or I liked the magnadoodle suggestion. Think about what kinds of things he likes to do during quieter times, and maybe get him a few new toys or books that he hasn't seen before.

Posts: 174
7/23/11 4:10 A

Everyone else gave the ideas that I would have. I would get him his own seat. He's old enough. And I would only agree with the carseat IF you aren't taking a small plane. I flew from Hawaii to Arkansas with my son when he was 14 months and back again when he was 17 months. VERY long flights. Three different planes each time with lots of layover time. During layovers I would find us an empty seating area and tell him to run around the row of chairs and each time he would come by I would play with him and entice him to continue. No one was in that particular terminal so we didn't bother anyone and it helped to wear him down and get energy out before we boarded again.

We took a couple of quiet toys, books and some ear phones so he could watch the in flight movie. He also REALLY enjoyed listening to the music stations more than anything though which surprised me. I also took crayons and a small coloring book.

As for the carseat. We were told it was required for children under 3 to be in a carseat if they have their own seat. That is NOT true. In fact, on one of the planes we were on no carseat could fit in the seats so they had to hold it for us up front.

Edited by: BJACOBS84 at: 7/23/2011 (04:11)

Posts: 2,699
7/22/11 10:12 A

If he's really that active, even though he could fly free, I thnk Id'd suck it up and get him his own seat and use a carseat to keep him contained. Buy new toys that he won't get until the trip. Maybe let him pick one or two out. New things tend to hold interest longer than the same old stuff. Definitely don't do noisy toys, though, as it will annoy the other passengers. Books, crayons & paper/coloring books, maybe a small kit of Duplo blocks? My 2 year old likes her little magnadoodle thing a lot, too. She's also a fan of stickers. If it's possible, you may consider booking the flight for naptime, and it's possible he'll sleep.

Posts: 783
7/21/11 2:22 P

My son has flown many times. Crayons and paper are great and a couple new books. I know you said the things about the tv, but if you have a computer you can bring along to watch a movie, as I have found that my son thinks it's a fun treat to watch a movie on an airplane since it's not like at home. Also lots of snacks, as flying just seems to make kids hungrier.

Edited by: AHENRY30 at: 7/21/2011 (14:23)

SparkPoints: (10,999)
Fitness Minutes: (7,303)
Posts: 545
7/21/11 1:58 P

Books would work with mine, until he eats them and rips them apart (even board books). I would try to keep the flight time and his usual nap schedule correlated so he would be likely to fall asleep. Crayons are also my best friend with my almost 3 year old and 18 month old. The little guy is happy to scribble and my 3 year old is content to try to make letters and numbers or identify the letters/numbers that I write for her to read to me.

Posts: 23
7/21/11 1:29 P

I am looking for suggestions to keep my 14 month old occupied on a flight. We flew with him at 9 months and it was fine because he was content with being held. Now he is 14 months and doesn't like to sit still. I needs stuff to occupy him on 2-3 hour flights, something that won't tick off the person sitting next to me. He doesn't even like to watch TV, which is normally great, but means even a portable dvd player might not work.

Any thoughts or suggestions?