I was asked by the lovely Pink Flamingo to help her navigate the stress of toddler travel. I have written about this before, but let me boil it down for everyone.
1) Never underestimate the power of snacks- grapes, cookies, goldfish and raisins can be doled out just as your little one is about to explode.
2) Dollar Tree- This idea was shared by Memoirs of the shoe obsessed. Go to the dollar store, get a bunch of throw away yet entertaining toys to give out through the flight. Bonus, wrap each one so they can reveal their prize!
3) Either sit and stroll or belt it in! If you can rent a car with a car seat on the other end of your trip then fly with the Cares restraint system pictured above. I got it on Amazon. It is the greatest thing ever made, weighs nothing and is easy to use. FAA approved! Otherwise get one of these deals.
A combo stroller and car seat!
4) Movie time! Bring a million dvd's and your computer or DVD player. Now's not the time to be anti TV when your child is having an on board melt down.
5) New books- make sure you have a few new books to blow baby's mind. A new Elmo book helps me out sooo much.
6) Isn't everything a toy? Air sick bag, plane diagram, all are fair game. Let them play!
7) Keep em strapped in as long as possible. Once they're out of the seat...they're OUT! That means you up and down the aisle for hours.
8) Stewardesses are not nannies but they're close. Don't be afraid to ask for help, more milk, a blanket, help with a seat belt...I make friends right away!
9) Dress them up! You had better dress you kids as cute as you can. That way they will be cute screamers not ratty looking ones. It really helps boost plane morale!
and finally....
10) Crying game. Sometimes it just all goes to hell. Just remember we've all been there!!!!
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16 comments:
This is very good! You should write a self-help book!! :-)
#9 is my favorite! I think we should all follow that rule in case we misbehave!LOL
Great tips! I don't have kids but these are great tips for all mothers!
the fisher price little people books with the open up flaps with pictures under the flaps are good too. I agree, with food or drink in mouth it is not likely they will be screaming or crying. A bagel seems to take a while to gnaw on. I bought an extra battery for my dvd player and charged it so I'd have two for long flights. Bring charger with you so you can recharge the battery during layovers. That's all I got.
We've ditched the DVD player for Ipods. Each kid gets to watch one so it works if the family gets split up. We bought cheap BIG earphones at the drugstore so they are easy for our younger son.
Great traveling tips!!! Since my kids are a little older and we were on a 14 hour trip last week, I surprised them with new video cartridges for their leapster consoles. I also picked up some new DVDs for them. It was amazing how good the 3 of them were on our trip down to and back from Disney World.
I love your last two tips!!
This blog made me laugh out loud!! Not sure if it was because it brought back a flood of memories of trips with our kids, or if it has more to do with the payback my own children are now getting from my grandkids.
I also have to highly advocate the Go Go Babyz Travelmate as another option for getting you car seat "easily" through an airport as a stroller. You can buy it here
http://www.amazon.com/Go-Kidz-TravelMate-Black-Orange/dp/B000JJK9EY
I like it better than the Sit and Stroll, mostly because I don't find the Sit and Stroll to be exceptional as a car seat.
The nice thing, is that you can wheel your seat to the door of the plane, and leave it to gate check, or use it on the flight. Ours has a LOT of miles on it!
You are such a good mom :)
My mom always used to wrap up little things for us to open on the plane. I think I got a box of crayons once and I was thrilled :) I do the same thing with the kids I sit for. The dollar bins at Target are gold!
Glad to see you also dress them up! And for the same reason as me! ha!
I loved this, I totally feel for parents who are travelling with kids and having trouble, I'm never sure how to help...what kind of support could we offer??? I always try a smile but I know that it must be weird to have a stranger offer assisstance.
i love all of your suggestions, TV is a lifesaver for sure:)
I love all of your ideas - but especially #2 and #4. Those are right out of my playbook!!
Love the dress them up comment!! I must do that subconciously because I am always planning the airplane outfit!! And it really works! The boys automatically get the "oh how cute" comments as soon as they get on the plane. I think it puts everyone in a better mood. Somehow dressing cuter makes people think they will act better!! :)
Great tips and #9 made me laugh out loud - love it!
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