You should never neglect to bring in your watercolor paints. This is especially true when rain storms are on the horizon.
Yesterday was a bad day. I haven’t said anything, but my sore throat never officially left. I’ve been pretty miserable the last month or so, especially at night. Yesterday morning, say, around 2:00 am when I was doing a salt gargle and feeling hopeless about the dull ache in my ear, it occurred to me that I will be on a plane this time next week. And if I thought my ear hurt now…
I went to the doctor first thing. Sinus infection. He taught me a new way to pop my ears which felt so good. I haven’t been able to do it the same way since, but wow. I wish I could. For five seconds (before they plugged up again) I had the hearing of a bat. He said to practice, and to do it several times and hour on the plane if I start to feel uncomfortable.
Speaking of planes. Yeah. I don’t love them. But we will be on one next week, heading to Pensacola, Florida for a wedding. The flight is, roughly, 6.5 hours. I’m a little worried about keeping the boys entertained for that long a stretch. Does anyone have any tips for keeping a 3 and 5 year old amused?� I know to pack snacks, games, and activities, but I’m anxious to hear specific ideas that really worked for you.
Also, what’s the deal with car seats? I thought they were required, and when we flew to Cancun when Mikey was 2, we had him in a car seat. Now I hear my inlaws, who fly to Hawaii every year, never use a car seat on flight. I looked it up, and it seems that airlines don’t require car seats on board. The FAA recommends it, though. I guess I thought it was more than a recommendation.
Thoughts?
I have a 2 1/2 year old boy, we let him watch his favorite movie on our Ipod and that kept him pretty busy. I also let him stand up next to his seat when he was getting antsy and he played with his cars on the seat. We took a booster seat with us on the flight and the flight attendant said they weren’t authorized. I am not sure she really knew what she was talking about…
You probably already know this, but sitting in the bulk head is an absolute life saver if only because you don’t feel like you are going to be suffocated by all of their stuff. My 5 year old daughter enjoys dvds, her Leapster, books, and card games on long flights. Of course saying a quick prayer that they are going to behave and maybe even nap on the flight doesn’t hurt.
we wrap a couple of cheapy gifts and let them open them along the way. You know, stuff from the dollar bin at Target. We pack them in their backpacks and at say hour 2 and 4, they open them up. It keeps them occupied for quite a while. It has worked every time. We have never used car seats when flying. My thought is if the plane crashes, I really don’t think a carseat is going to save any of us (gosh I can’t believe I actually wrote such a morbid thought). A few friends of mine have used the Cares safety harness though and have liked it: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/
I’ve also heard good things about the cares harness and you can actually “rent” them on ebay if you want to give it a try before investing in one. We did that once when we were on the cusp of lap child vs own seat and our daughter ended up riding lapchild so we never used it but the process was really easy for renting and returning.
I would use the carseat just because the kids know that if they are in them they have to sit still, kwim? They will feel a (not good for you) sense of freedom if they are simply in that little lapbelt. Plus, it might contain them from coming into contact with some germs.
Bring some candies (like say m&ms w/ dark chocolate or something) but also bring HEALTHY food. I know when I flew with Haley we ended up at Dulles (DC) late at night and there were NO FOOD PLACES open. Really??? It was actually only 9pm but nothing was open. We had had m&ms on the plane and juice. We were about to vomit.
You’ll do fine. Just DO NOT bring a magazine or book for yourself! ;)
Our family uses the the gift method that Andrea mentioned in a previous comment. I was terrified of flying with my sister and 2 nephews when they were little — over seas!! Hours and hours of entertainment was needed…the gifts worked wonders! oh the excitement of a new toy — even if a junky one from the dollar store. How fabulous for them — and for us!
sorrry you aren’t feeling better by now Jules!
I wish I wasn’t busy next weekend…Pensacola is not too far from me…we could have met up!
I have to know the “right” way to pop your ears!! I feel like that super secret knowledge will change my life for the better!
I just flew with our 2yo last week, and it was hectic but do-able. I second the suggestions to pack new toys/ activities. Just don’t do as my husband did, and leave 19 dvd’s on the plane – that will bum you out for the rest of the week.
As for car seats: they are NOT required on the plane. We’ve travelled with & without & I can say unequivocally that without is the way to go. Our seat is pretty big & it actually puts his feet almost touching the seat in front of him – how could he not kick with that kind of temptation? Just know that when you check the car seats (at least there is no baggage charge!), they no longer put them in a giant protective bag – they pretty much just throw them into the cargo hold as-is.
Hope you feel better soon.
My parents used to take us on trips that required 20+ hours in the car (my dad’s from Niagara Falls and we had family in Florida). We’d each get to pick one new travel game before we went. I really like the present idea! Or you could even make a grab bag that they have to pull the present from so then it is even more of a surprise.
When my daughter was little I was allowed to bring her carseat on board. However, booster seats are not allowed. They will gate-check it for you or you can put it in the overhead compartment. Have fun in Pensacola! I have family there and just returned from a visit. If you have time the National Museum of Naval Aviation (think Top Gun) is really cool and free. Also the beaches are wonderful.
car seats and boosters need to be FAA certified, it will say it on the back of your car seat if it is.
In February we checked our brand new car seat through, and it got lost and STILL hasn’t been found. rrrggggh. New markers worked well for my daughter, who is an avid colorer. My son was happy with a new game on his gameboy. We also used “Queasy Pops” because my son gets car sick. They worked! We got stuck in Chicago due to bad weather and had to stay the night in the airport and we froze. Bring a blankie just in case!
Have a great trip.
I’d leave the carseats at home; they are cumbersome to tote around and kids get tired of being in them for so long in such a tight space. As far as keeping the kiddos occupied, in addition to what you’ve already planned, a portable DVD player can be a lifesaver. Or the kids can watch movies on your laptop, just don’t forget earphones for them. I’m not sure how messy your kids are with playdough, but if they’re fairly neat with it (ie, not flinging it and smearing into stuff), those miniature cans of playdough can keep kids occupied for hours. Good luck and have fun!
ps – if you get a meal on the plane, call ahead and request kid’s meals. Chicken tenders and applesauce will keep your kids so much happier than mystery meat and salad.
We travel with our guys a lot. Everyone had chimed in most of my suggestions already.. did anyone say pipe cleaners?- they are quiet!
What about books on tape/mp3? My fellas love those. If you can get away without the car seats do it, but what about seats when you get there? Do they rent them?
*Remember never apologize for your children. * Even if the going gets bad.. adults can deal.
Oh and imagine yourself moving slowly, then you will feel calmer : )
Ms. Amy is righ about car seats placing your children closer to the seat in front of them. I would not suggest it. The likelihood that a plane will crash is 1 in 11 million, but the likelihood that you’ll have to lug the seats around the airport is 1 in 1.
Regarding entertainment, I’ve traveled quite a bit with my little guys and here are some additions to the great suggestions that others posted:
– Coloring and activity books: they sell a very thick preeschool activity book at Target for about $9.
– Books and DVDs that are new to them
– If you bring a new DVD, getting the character toys to go along with it and giving it to them after the movie is done will keep them playing with them a lot longer
I hope this helps. You will do great. If anyone gives you “the look” about your children’s behavior, just remember that they were little at one point also and they would have behaved the same way. Kids are supposed to behave like kids!
I flew 10 hours with my 18 month old last year, no car seat, and it worked out fine. Waaaaay better than I feared, but then I only had one to deal with. We took stickers which were a big hit, she was decorating the seat, my face, her arms, her paperbook, etc. and then peeling them all back off which was wonderfully time-consuming. Also do not underestimate the value of snacks and candies, small portions but big variety. We had a mini tin of Pringles that kept her busy for a looong time, and then become a fun container to drop little toys in and shake. Do you have any of those week-long pill dispenser thingys? One little box for each day of the week? They work great for gummy bears, and can be refilled from the parent stash as needed.We had a mini doodle-board (those magnetic erasable things) that was great too…. hmmm…. some favourite books, a comfort item, blankie. Basically anything novel (new toys, coloring books) will help you out, but stay away from the noisy electronic doo-hickeys that will drive the non-parent passengers who are not accustomed to such crap CRAZY. My girl had a little play cellphone but the continual “Hello! It’s me!” in that chipper electronic voice got old really fast and we had to hide it. Finally, we took a mini album of her baby pictures and told her drawn-out dramatic stories about herself which she loved.
Good luck! (At least if it’s complete and utter chaos it will make a great blog post when you return.)
We just got back from a trip this afternoon. But it was without any girlies. Such a different way to travel, I almost forgot what it felt like.
As for keeping them entertained, I usually do a dvd or something on the iphone/ipod. But remember headphones. Also we like to do new things – a new coloring book and crayons, a pack of stickers, some special snacks, etc. Anything small and put it in a special bag just for each individual child.
As far as car seats, I’m not sure. I think it’s good to take them because they can be strapped in but it’s a pain to drag seats across the airport and you can rent them when you get there if you are getting a car.
good luck!
Because my husband is in the Navy, we travel a LOT to visit family and friends. My daughter had a dozen flights racked up before she was a year old, and now that she’s almost six she’s a veteran traveler. I have my daughter pick out a small backpack’s worth of books, sketchpads, crayons, small quiet toys, etc. to entertain herself with on the plane. I usually try to bring along a NEW movie for her to watch on my laptop or the portable DVD player (headphones required); for the longer flight you’ll be on, I’d bring at least two new movies. I also bring snacks, many snacks, a great variety of snacks including some kind of gum or lollipops or a sippy cup (which you have to take through security empty, but you can fill with water once you’re at the gate) for her to have during takeoff/landing. When she was littler I always used to bring post-it notes and encourage her to plaster the area with them, because they’re easy to clean up. Bring plenty of baby wipes for sticky faces, spills, and potential stains on clothing. Hand sanitizer is extremely handy too.
Car seats: We used to take her toddler 5-point-harness seat on planes, because we had to take it anyway to our destination, and we found having her strapped in made it easier for all of us, plus she could see out the window easier. Now that she’s in a booster, we always gate-check it because you can’t use it during takeoff and landing anyway.
For YOU and your stuffed-up self, I cannot recommend nasal decongestant spray enough!!! I had never used one, avoiding them because I’d heard they can be addictive, but once when I had a horrid sinus infection and HAD to fly, I had a doctor explain to me that if I used them only for 2-3 days at a time and then took a 2-day break, they’re extremely effective. So if I have to fly when I’m stuffed up, I always take nasal decongestant spray with me and use it right when I get on the plane. And my mom always carries either Puffs with Vicks or one of those little tube Vicks inhalers to use when she’s stuffed up.
And the MOST IMPORTANT thing of all: make sure you take your sense of humor. :-) Know that whatever the flight is like, it’ll be over eventually!
I’ve heard that a good trick for long flights or any kind of travel is to bring a new small toy or activity for every hour during the trip. That way they are surprised by the new shiny, glorious toy. My sister recently did this on a flight with her 2 year old and it worked perfectly. She went to Target and bought some stuff out of the dollar bins, since she didn’t want to be spending a fortune, and her daughter loved it all. That’s all the advice I’ve got. I have yet to put my little one on a plane. Good luck!
Yeah, I’ve got nothin’ for you in regard to kids on a plane or carseat suggestions (although, I just finished reading the fabulous comments–I’m totally taking notes!). However, I’m sorry to hear you’ve been feeling miserable. Wretched sinus infection! I’ll be praying for a quick recovery … so you can mark it off your list of things to worry–I mean, think about next week.
I am a flight attendant and suggest no car seat. You will have so much to carry and deal with. Also, you can’t use a booster seat on the airplane.
I agree with the other comments… DVDs, books and snacks. Space out your activities so you don’t run out of things to keep the kids occupied.
If you are still having sinus issues even close to your travel date take a decongestant. I can’t explain enough how painful it can be if you have congestion.
I would always rather NOT use a car seat, but I would check with the airline to make sure.
When my kids were small we tried to travel Jet Blue because of the TV at every seat. If that’s not possible I would take a small DVD player, or iPod with movies. It is especially useful when you have a long flight because it kills at least a couple of hours for them. Other than that, I have tried card games, color books, and plain paper for doodling. My kids tend to get motion sickness so they always had Dramamine, which made them somewhat sleepy. If that’s the case that burns a couple hours too.
I will be flying the same time to the east coast to look at colleges for my daughter. I have to say, I am actually looking forward to traveling with her and she was my worst traveler as a child. It will be here one day for you… before you know it! Enjoy your trip!
That’s funny..
While you are on a plane going to the east coast from SoCal, I’ll be on a plane going from GA to LA…
Flights that long, and at that altitude always bother me.. I used to scuba dive, and so I pop my ears constantly the entire time we ascend and descend.. I’ve found this helps alot. If not, once you get to a certain altitude, it makes it impossible to pop your ears almost….
For the boys.. my only suggestion would be a movie.. But, do any batteries last that long?
I hope you feel better soon, Jules.
We are flying to Cali this summer, Troy’s first plane ride. I’m dreading it. DREADING. I flew with Zoe when she was two and I didn’t use a carseat. And she was a nightmare. Like I apologized to everyone on that flight multiple times.
I wish you would have turned this into a survey, I was looking forward to it. :)
Flight tip: Nyquil.
My husband works for an airline and we fly as a family a lot. Some tricks I’ve learned:
Request the bulkhead. So much more room. And you’re one of the first to deplane.
I’m sure everyone has already suggested new movies, new toys, snacks. I always keep a stash of DumDums as a last resort.
Don’t board until the last possible moment. If you are one of the first to board your boys will be contained for almost an hour before you finally take off.
For you, use nasal spray right before take off. It will clear out your sinuses and keep your ears from hurting. Our pediatrician recommended this for our five year old daughter a couple years ago. I’ve taken the spray on every flight since. It’s great to have just in case.
I’d skip the carseat. There are pros to having it but lots of cons as well. The worst is having to lug those things through the airport. Not fun.
Hope this helps and I hope y’all have a fun trip!