To wonder what you do if your toddler kicks off on a plane?

I did long haul a few times when mine was a toddler. No issues at all despite my concerns.

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You get creative, somehow!

We were massively delayed the first time we flew with a toddler, who was sleep deprived and cranky by the time we landed and they then kept us on the plane for another 40 minutes! By this point I was down to 1 satsuma, which somehow I made last until the plane doors opened by switching the segments between my hands and letting him prize my fingers open etc. Was so grateful that it kept him quiet!

We did a lot of long flights with little ones, the trick is to have lots of little distractions. We packed a ziplock bag per hr per flight per child so 2 kids, a 13 hr flight we had 26 bags. Little toys, a sweet, a sticker. They look forward to it and anticipate it and it shuts them up 😂

What do you do? TBH if it is a full blown tantrum there probably isn't much you can do.

DD had her first ever, and probably worst ever, full-blown toddler tantrum on a plane just before her 2nd birthday. It has gone down in family legend.

It wasn't the first time she had been on a plane. When she was 10 months I flew to Sydney with her single-handed (we were joining DH who was working there for a month.) That flight had a huge delay and we ended up arriving 24 hours late, so it should have been a nightmare. However, DD behaved like an angel and was no trouble at all.

Perhaps because of this I was a bit blasé a year later when we planned to fly to Jersey. The flight was only one hour and at a time of day when she normally had a nap so I assumed she would sleep on the flight. No problem. What a naive fool I was. The difference between flying with a baby and a toddler - oh dear.

It might have been OK if it hadn't been the day of Princess Diana's funeral. We boarded the plane on time only to be told that the flight would be delayed by 40 minutes - something to do with limiting air traffic over London during the funeral procession. Well the trouble started as soon as I tried to put the lap strap seat belt around DD, she really didn't want to be still. Then the screaming started. She screamed and screamed and I simply couldn't calm her. It was so bad that in the end the cabin crew asked for the steps to be brought back and I was allowed to take her off the plane back in to a quiet bit of the terminal building where I managed to walk about with her and get her off to sleep.

However, when I got back on the plane with sleeping DD she unfortunately woke up as I was trying to put the lap strap back on her and the screaming started again. It continued most of the way to Jersey and only finally simmered down when she was offered biscuits.

I am sure I was the most hated person on that plane but there was literally nothing I could do at the time. DH and I were both pretty shell shocked. We did fly again while she was small but it was never that bad as we waited until she was turned 3 and old enough to have her own seat. We also made sure of things to entertain her.

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You get on the flight prepared to the gills to give yourself the best chance of it not happening. I used to have a bag packed with the following:

• Calpol (or generic equivalent). Sometimes the pressure or the temperature in the cabin can cause pain or discomfort. A dose of liquid paracetamol just before boarding helps minimise it. If they use a dummy, a bottle or breastfeed attach them for take off and landing. The sucking helps reduce ear pain and popping.
• Toys and games they have never seen before. I took trips to Poundland and stocked up on some activities they might like
• A few favourite picture books
• A food pack in a lunch box. My go to snacks were marmite sandwiches, cucumber and carrot sticks, marshmallows, Pom bears and some other treats they wouldn’t get at home. Extra snacks - strawberries, chopped grapes, some sweets can be presented as needed depending on length of flight. Make sure you buy drinks or get water once you get through security.
• An iPad and headphones with some downloaded programmes they might like.

Importantly, you need to actively engage with them. Talk about the trip, where you’re going, what they might want to do when they get there.

All this sounds like overkill and to a certain extent it is and hopefully most of the time you won’t need half of it, but I remember travelling alone with my two when they were 2.5 and 1.5 years old. We had a 4 hour delay and then we had to go to a different airport - and then we had to go on a 2 hour coach back to the original airport. I used every bit of my arsenal, and to their credit they were as good as gold.

Prevention! Snacks, movies, lots of talks about planes and expectations. Books about planes. Once they’ve actually kicked off I’m not sure how you reign them back in to be honest.

No pandering once you are on there - extremely clear about expectations. Of course - I’m talking about a 2 year old not a 1 year old. Would never travel with a child 9-18 months old. No reasoning with them!!!

Travelled widely with mine from 18 months. Including long haul. Literally never had an issue.

Hi, nrtft. I'm sure sweets, screens, games, toys etc have been recommended. I'm ex crew and all of these are great but you need something like karvol too. I'm not sure if they still make it but I think they still make Albus oil. Ask the crew to put a paper towel in some hot water with a few drops. Childrens ears are still developing and the change in pressure can cause pain. This helps relieve it and they don't always understand why they are in pain. I used to work in a time when most crew carried them for this reason to make life easier.

You may be able to order something to boots airside too.

Get them to chew or suck something on take off and landing too.

I’m not sure what you mean? If you’ve got a child who cannot be controlled when they kick off then you’re right not to take them on a plane at the moment. What is controversial about that? I’m agreeing with you! You said you don’t think you should do it yet, I agree!

Honestly they will not be able to run around and start kicking people. You are right - I just wouldn’t fly for a few years.

Last year I was on a flight and the child a few rows behind me decided to get up and stand in the aisle just as we were about to land. The crew couldn’t see and in the end the Mum held onto her child’s t shirt whist she was standing in the aisle!

We did a 2 hour flight when he was almost 3. Timed so he would sleep. He didn't sleep a wink! Was fine with snacks, stickers and a screen.
On our way back from holiday last year it was a late flight. A little one kicked off and screamed for an hour. He was asleep and rolled off the chair and scared himself. Parents were beside themselves because he'd never screamed like that in his life. The family in front (who'd been at our hotel and our kids had played together) was amazing and distracted him with her kids toys. The whole plane had a collective sigh of relief when he finally stopped......until another passenger projectile vomited down the aisle hitting DH, Ds, my mum and my niece 🙈

Oh I really hope the journey goes well for you and you have a lovely holiday.

Interestingly the Isle of Wight ferry was a real success and that journey was a dream.

Xx

Then the point still stands. You’re right not to take them on a plane in these circumstances.

No, just pragmatic. If you don’t feel you can control their behaviour in that environment, it’s not worth the risk.
I was essentially agreeing with you!

Im not sure it matters whether the poster is criticising you or not. They are just suggesting to you that the family dynamic probably won’t allow for a good holiday abroad. Mine didn’t and I was fine with it. I was very aware of my kids’ limits - and my own limits as a parent! When they started to travel, they appreciated it and it was unstressful.

We went to Lanzarote when DD2 was age 15 months. She screamed the whole way there. She was matched scream for scream by a boy of the same age in the row behind us. It was horrible but we all survived. I have no idea what the other passengers thought. We were too busy trying to deal with the situation in hand. She is a perfectly well behaved 28 year old now!

We went to Lanzarote when DD2 was age 15 months. She screamed the whole way there. She was matched scream for scream by a boy of the same age in the row behind us. It was horrible but we all survived. I have no idea what the other passengers thought. We were too busy trying to deal with the situation in hand. She is a perfectly well behaved 28 year old now!

I can’t lie to you. Our first trip abroad was 11 years and a half years after giving birth to the youngest. Many more capable parents than me manage holidays abroad with little ones. I wouldn’t have found it a ‘holiday’ in any way. We are all different!

To be honest based on this it is probably a good decision not to take them on a plane any time soon.