to now be freaked out travelling on plane?

[ninenicknames]

So, just read the thread about OP's 2.5 year old having a tantrum on the plane & everyone being awful.

I am due to take my 2.9 DS on a 2.5hr flight next month on my own, lone parent so no back up.

I am now totally SHITTING myself (no offence to the original OP)

I don't handle confrontation well at all & the thought of my DS going nuclear & everyone having a go at me is now giving me a panic attack.

Seriously considering not going if this is how public react? Or do I strap him down physically & then get reported to SS!?!?!!

Literally. Don't know what to do?

If he's got a special cuddly toy take it for comfort but make sure he knows about security!! The only issue I've had in the years I've been travelling long haul with my DDs is when my eldest was 2. Was happily cuddling her "pet" and then had to put him in a box on the X-ray belt at Heathrow. Major tears as I think she thought he was going to be gobbled up by the X-ray machine!!!! Not a good way to start a holiday with a toddler distraught for an hour and a baby crying because her sister was. They were both fine on the plane though. We have 3 plane rules - no running up and down, no kicking the seat in front of them, no messing with the tray in front of them - putting it up and down, up and down etc. To me that's disrespectful of other passengers and bad manners and IMO causes more upset to other passengers than a genuinely upset or worried child. We have found the things other posters have suggested - plasticine, stickers, colouring etc -are great and mine loved their leap pads and games when they were little. Please go OP, things are never as bad in practice as they seem in theory and you will have a lovely time

My mil used to fly long haul a lot with my dp and his brother. She used to drug them. Well, it was the 1980s.

It will be two and a half hours out of your whole life.

You can do it!

If I can travel from Oz with my 2 dd's aged 2.9 and 13 months on my own, I'm sure you can handle on for a 2 hour flight.

I buy mine magazines with the crappy toys attached. We have their favourite toys and blanket, DVDs player and iPad. Snacks and drinks.

You never know, the motion of the aircraft might send him to sleep

I've never had comments or judgement from anyone on any plane journey I've had with my dc - and we did a ten hour flight last year with 1 and 3 year old, who weren't exactly sitting peacefully, although we tried our best! Honestly, I think as long as people are aware you're trying to keep them calm and entertained there's a different response than the parents you see disengaging from their child's behaviour. PP have given lots of good advice, and only you know your dc well enough to know what might entertain them for ages - even if it bores you to tears! E.g. dd1 will listen to the same story over and over, and dd2 will play 'beep the nose' for what seems like hours!!! Also make a trip to the toilet take a while, slow walk up the aisle followed by a likely queue wait (go when they don't need changed/to go/you're not desperate) and play eye spy while holding them in the queue, same on the way back etc.
I'm sure you will be fine, I wish you a flight full of empathetic and friendly people!

My DD cried for the whole descent because her little ears hurt - until the kind stranger next to me started entertaining her.

Don't let it put you off, OP. Most people are understanding.

Probably going to get crucified here but hey ho. I have 4 kids two in my arms and two in my heart and my bulls**t tolerance seemed to die with my twins. The problem on planes, buses and even roads, and footpaths (joggers and cyclists!) isn't children and toddlers who are screaming because they are scared tired or in pain in an unfamiliar situation and just simply can't process anything more. It's an increasing amount of selfish, entititled adults who now seem to have the attitude that they personally are the only one who matters and if a screaming toddler annoys them (which it can my own included!) they can't think there's a reason that little person is having a meltdown and their mum looks close to one too maybe I should help or at least mind my own business. They go all woe is me angry beaver and make it worse. It used to embarrass my husband when I told them what I thought now he says he can't believe how rude and uncaring some people are. Go see your mum and just take some juice, fruit chews or sweets for take off, snacks and games and loads of stickers and hope there's loads of lovely people like who have posted here

I'm away with DS 2.5 at the mo: was dreading the flight out (4h) and was shitting myself as I was on my own, too.

It was fine. He's usually "spirited" and doesn't stop talking. The worst was take-off as he couldn't sit on my lap but a dummy (which he only gets at night time) solved it.

Do you have an iPad? I loaded ours with tons of his favourites and apart from a battle about headphones, it kept him occupied. We then read and did stickers.

Honestly, some people are just dicks. It doesn't matter where they are, they'll be dicks irrespective. Don't give them a moments thought and enjoy your holiday.

You really should go.

It's worth reminding that yourself that you cannot control other peoples behaviour, so it is possible that your child will kick off and that people will be unkind about it. However, what you can control is your reaction to it.

It is a bit extreme to be reduced to tears because someone confronts you about a noisy toddler. Big Girl Pants On. Tell yourself you will not let the bastards get you down.

Have a lovely time.

nags my aunt and uncle used to fly to and from Hong Kong a lot from London, they used to dip my counsins dummy in whiskey, this was early 90s!