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Original poster

First time on a plane single parent with 1 yo

33 replies

NikKai · 19/06/2024 13:01

Hi all! Me and my son are going to Paris early July, it's just me as his dad is a shit and never met him (tho reading other threads about permission etc, I'm really relieved he isn't on the birth cert)
And I'm super nervous! What if my son hates the flight? Goes mad the whole time and other travellers hate me? What if it hurts his ears? He won't stay in my lap the whole time (two seats not an option and he wouldn't stay in the other seat anyway) I'm so so so nervous! Luckily Paris isn't too long,I really want to make his early years before school all about the travel, so this is a good tester trip.
But I'm so so scared! Have anxiety anyway and me and my son have been through a LOT to get where we are (not that my son has any idea cos I work damn hard to make him secure and happy) anyway my point being this means a lot to me, a fresh new start after all the issues. I really need it to go well, or as well as possible!
Does anyone have any tips? I plan to bribe my arse off with treats if need be- it won't be the first time! (Thank you vaccines)
Thanks all!

OP posts:
Original poster
NikKai · 19/06/2024 17:21

Marlaysydney12 · 19/06/2024 16:29

Around 12 months is really good age to travel. Let him drink out of a bottle or sippy cup on take off and landing to help with the ears. With the vibration and noise, he might snooze a bit. He'll probably make friends with your neighbours and the plane staff too.
I'd think through how you are travelling through the airport. We used a baby carrier and yoyo buggy, which you can take all the way to the plane. Some buggies you have to check in.

According to easyJet, you can take the buggy right up to the plane. Thank god!

OP posts:
Original poster
NikKai · 19/06/2024 17:22

Koko83 · 19/06/2024 16:29

Aw how lovely hope you have an amazing trip.
I can’t afford to take my LO away yet, but will one day.
my mum took us from super young too, and on long haul flights (10+ hrs) as family far away, and didn’t take long for us to get used to it.

so I’m sure if you’re travelling with him often he’ll love it!
good luck X

I hope he enjoys it! I think he will. There may be some teething issues but he will get over it I should imagine. I think his curiosity will win out haha. Home from the passport office now. So excited!

OP posts:
whatsagoodusername · 19/06/2024 17:24

Get him used to the headphones before you get to the plane and make the headphones non-negotiable for watching things. Sometimes they hate them to begin with, but if you establish that there's no sound without, they get used to it! But that's not a battle you want on the plane.

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Original poster
NikKai · 19/06/2024 17:28

whatsagoodusername · 19/06/2024 17:24

Get him used to the headphones before you get to the plane and make the headphones non-negotiable for watching things. Sometimes they hate them to begin with, but if you establish that there's no sound without, they get used to it! But that's not a battle you want on the plane.

Ooh I like this! He only watches TV at home but maybe some stuff on my phone if I can download some amazon prime for the plane. Otherwise its expensive date roaming or whatever it is. Good idea to get him used to it!

OP posts:
Original poster
NikKai · 16/07/2024 19:06

Hi all! Thank you for all your tips, an update. All that prep and worry and he was less bothered than me! We were given the whole row as it was free, I was feeling funny as haven't flown in a while while he was happily playing! We fly back tomorrow. It went fab! Didn't need the bribery chocolate, nor screens. I got toys out and he didn't need those either! Was fab. Excited to go back home for some routine and normality now though! Thanks again, was nicely prepared for all eventualities thanks to the advice here

OP posts:
NC10125 · 16/07/2024 20:03

Hurrah! Well done you! First time is the hardest so it gets easier from here on in….

mitogoshi · 16/07/2024 20:07

Well done op. I hope some of the other nervous parents read this too. Safe travels

Josie234 · 16/07/2024 20:14

Such a great achievement for you and your DS and sets great expectations of behaviour for the future.

I travelled alone with two under three’s and found the less fuss the better.

From being tiny the expectation was set that they stayed still in their seat (or at first one on my lap), with their belt on. They never faltered because ‘that's just how we sit when we are on an aeroplane’ - they were the rules!

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