Flying with nonverbal asd/adhd preschooler - tips welcome please!

[FlyingHighwithSNkids]

As title really. Have not been able to choose seats as flight is pretty full, though we are all sat together. Will be wearing her out as much as possible prior to boarding and will bring comfort items and ALL the snacks. Just really worrying about keeping her seated for the flight duration and bothering other passengers with constant rocking/fidgeting. We'll do our best but she has limited understanding so won't be able to stop it altogether. Stressing badly tbh 😫

People are kinder than you think. That has been my experience. So try not to worry. We do lots of pushing/pulling excercises in the seat to help calm our boy, and lots of walking tha aisles on long hauls where theres space. Harder on shitty little planes.

How long is the flight? Have you got an iPad or similar to download favourite shows on?

Thanks for your replies.

4.5 hour flight. Yes, have ipad 😊its the only thing she has any interest in (other than moving constantly)

We used to take the ipad, snacks, and also some favourite toys with us. Plus some new little toy that our son hasn't seen yet. In his case, it was mini cars and Schleich elephants.
As you said, try to wear your DD out before the flight, maybe even some running before you board.
It is do-able, we visited Canada, and several places in Europe, so different length of flight.
We also used Bach rescue remedy on occasion, for both DS and me.
Wishing you a stress-free flight.

Get the sunflower lanyard. I was told this by the airport staff when we went away this year.

Glad to hear it was doable for you @SometimesNine . I think I'm most worried about other passengers complaining, but there really is a limit to what we can do 🙁

Thanks @wizzywig we have those

I give valerian to one of my dogs regarding fireworks. I believe you can buy drops for children that helps calm them without sweating them. Look on Amazon.

Yes to the sunflower lanyard, you pick these up in the special assistance area. People will be much more sympathetic if they know there is some form of disability. They are only known in UK airports so people/staff abroad aren't likely to recognize them.
Tire her out in airport and don't give ipad until seated on the plane.
My GP did prescribe a very low dose of sedative once as my ds was very anxious about flying once he got older.

Does your child have those makaton cards they can point to? Even if your DC doesnt use them, people often notice things like that and will put two and two together. People are very understanding on the whole, I wouldn't stress too much.

Also I'm sure you're aware but do request special assistance (you can do this up to 48 hours before flight). There is a non physical disabilities option, it means you can skip queues but it also alerts cabin crew.

Rocking and fidgeting isn't usually too bad for those infront/behind.
If you can limit how much knocking into the seat infront, and open /slamming shut the table, that would be ideal, but maybe not possible.
The only time I've complained about the child behind me is when the parents were encouraging the kicking, and waking my sleeping preschooler.

It's only 4 hours. You are unlikely to see the people again.
Enjoy the holiday.

If she needs a lot of movement, can you try an inflatable wobble cushion? Getting her to interlock 2 fingers at a time and then pulling apart? Also, before you board, get her to try and hold the airport walls up - push against the wall hard with her hands, then with her back (and depending on how clean the floor is, lye on her back and push hard with her feet). They all give lots of muscle feedback.

It’s only 4 hours and if she likes the ipad then that should definitely help! I’ve done long haul with 1YOs and honestly it’s always been fine. Just do whatever you can to stop kicking of the chair in front by pulling out yet another snack or taking a walk up and down to the loo. No one will notice fidgeting.

Hi, we were advised about the sunflower lanyard in the 2 European countries we visited

...until the flight home 🙈

Thank you though, I hope our fellow passengers are understanding ☝

Just bumping for the evening crowd in case anyone else has any great ideas I might have missed!

Does she like to unwrap things? Little gifts that can be unwrapped are good- books, small cuddlys etc.

Sadly not. It was a good idea though, thanks