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

Distract with snacks as much as possible and just pray people aren't dicks about it.

So yes OP as the PP says I think we’re in agreement!!

As I say I can’t comprehend that, my children weren’t like that (just lucky I guess!) But then maybe it never got to that because we didn’t put ourselves in those kinds of situations. My eldest was a fuss pot who couldn’t sit still so we didn’t go near an aeroplane, we avoided restaurants like the plague until he was 3 also. If I had toddlers that tandrummed and were erratic, I would absolutely not be on a plane for even stronger reasons!

That’s why the OP is saying she won’t be flying with her kids I think! Because she does have a gauge of her child’s temperament and knows she wouldn’t be able to control her.
Thankfully I have kids who know that no means no!

DS is just 2 and we’ve flown with him a few times (one return trip was just me and him on connecting flights there and back) without issue. Lots of little toys and snacks, lots of engaging, reading, talking about what we can see, he LOVES aeroplanes so that’s definitely helpful. I have an ‘emergency’ Kids Kindle but have never had to use it on a flight. We did have to crack it out on a ferry trip recently though! He won’t really sit and watch anything on it because he doesn’t like headphones but also doesn’t understand not being able to hear it, but we have some age-appropriate apps (colouring with Hey Duggee, Duplo Trains etc) that we play with him, kept him quiet for a good while.

I just can’t comprehend not being able to control a child kicking a seat in front of them (consistently, after being told not to). If my child’s behaviour is really that uncontrollable, we wouldn’t be on a plane. I’m sure you have a good gauge of your child’s temperament.

The PP was talking about taking children on a plane at all though.

You bring ALL the snacks
You have bluey on your phone.
You pray.

Our flight was boarded and pulled to taxi then sat around for over an hour .by the tike they.decided we cpuld tale off... My 2 yr old had eaten everything... he would not wear a seat belt so was forced and screamed to high heaven.
I got filthy looks from the 20somethings in front of us...

It was hideous but we survived

I would not judge how she will be on a plane compared to how she was at the cinema. At the cinema there is only one form of entertainment, watching the film. On a plane you have a tonne of options to keep her entertained.

It just means you may have to be in full on entertainment mode the entire flight. If she won’t watch screens for long you need to come prepared with lots of other forms of entertainment and lower your expectations.

If she doesn’t want to watch a screen read a book. If she doesn’t want the book sing songs together, draw together, take sticker books, small toys etc.

If she doesn’t like screens for long, a cinema trip was never going to be successful. But a flight with a child who loves books toys and full on mummy attention is totally different.

Frankly I just wouldn’t travel if I had a child like that. Mine never tantrummed and was easy with these sorts of things, but if he was that type of kid I wouldn’t put anyone through that- including him! I don’t like making my life stressful, I’d just wait a couple of years.

Distractions on rotation. At that age (3-ish) my kid was facilitated by water. We were on a 9hr flight and that’s what worked:

• buy colour tablets from Amazon (the ones when you put in water turn certain color)
• ask the crew for few plastic cups and a bit of wayer

It is inconsiderate if the parent doesn't try to calm their child, and especially inconsiderate if they don't stop their child from kicking my seat.

Having my seat back kicked gives me the rage.

Euro star or else a short flight? Somewhere like Spain is literally up, have a drink and a game in something and down. It can be quite exciting.

Don’t forget other people are just perfect parents who “just wouldn’t accept” difficult behaviour! 🙄

My DD2 is neurodiverse and finds sitting still really difficult. She’s nearly 6 and very excited to go on a plane in the summer. We’ll make sure to sit her in the row behind so she’s kicking our seats instead of anyone else’s. She’ll have a bag of toys to keep her going and plenty of sweets when she needs a reset.

You have to parent the child you’ve got and it sounds like you are and are doing a great job!

Between the ages of 3 and 7 things have worsened with his temper and tantrums.

We are getting support with how best to manage his outbursts etc so in our case I really am not sure that a flight would be in anyone's best interest.

Uuurgh. Nothing's easy is it ?
X

It's usually not as bad as you think. I flew on my own with DD1 - 4 and DD2 6 months for a family wedding, I was dreading it but was actually fine - was only 90 mins though. And a 4 hour when DD1 was 3, with DH. As others have said, plenty of snacks, tablet with programmes downloaded, a couple small toys they have never seen before, ideally wrapped so there is the excitement of unwrapping.
Ultimately if they cry, they cry, most people are sympathetic as long as they can see you are trying your best.

The only time I ever got annoyed was when a 5/6 year old kicked my seat for the entire flight, with no attempts from parents to try to stop. After 2 hours I cracked and asked them politely if they could please try to stop her as i had a bad back, and I got an earful.

I wouldn't do more than 4 hours until youngest is 9/10 though. That seems to be the limit for my 2.

We used to wrap up a few small things as presents eg crayons, stickers. Then when they are struggling you can get one out and that fills 10 minutes and resets things. Would also recommend CBeebies mag or similar for filling time.

Would he still do that aged 7?!

I avoided it by never taking a toddler on a plane 🤣 they’re not that age for long. It just never appealed to me to go abroad with children that age, and never had any other reason to need to do it. We’ve had lots of amazing holidays abroad since, when they were 3 and 6 onwards.

Had a screaming DD who was 2 on our first holiday. Screamed for 30 minutes coming to land. On the floor couldn’t get her in her seat. They gave me an extender in the end and I strapped her to me. It was awful and I got really upset. I really empathise now and don’t judge. I was sat on my own with her too and couldn’t get any help

I don’t take mine on planes for holidays (although that’s absolutely fine too), I take them so that they can have a relationship with their family. We don’t all live in the same country as our families!