Flying with 2.5yo for first time and anxious!

[PurpleRayne89]

We are having our first family vacation abroad this weekend, our son is 2.5 years old and never flown before. The flight is 3.5 hours. I’m super anxious of how’s he’s going to be. I guess I need some positive encouragement honestly stories from you.

How is he on car journeys? My son always sleeps in the car and then also does on the plane.

I hope I'm not sitting anywhere near you!

I've taken my son on a few trans Atlantic flights (longest 14 hours) and it was absolutely fine! He loved the excitement of the airport.
Just take loads of snacks, toys, games and an iPad!

My son is the same age

It'll either be absolutely fine and you'll wonder why you were worried or a shit show. There's no in-between in my experience. Take plenty of snacks.

Helpful…

best of luck op. Bring snacks, games/toys, a tablet with headphones etc. Hopefully he’ll have a nice doze.

What time is the flight?

Plan out the flight in 20 minute increments. And try to include a couple of snack times. I.e. sticker book, reading book, colouring.

TBH we've been flying since DD was 6 months old as my parents live abroad. For the first year she'd have her bottle and then go to sleep. Once she hit two we used to fill up an ipad with her favourite shows and pop some headphones on. I'm all for screen time on a flight.

Get an iPad, download plenty of favourite cartoons, make sure who have headphones and do plenty of practice with these before you go so he accepts them. Take lots of snacks, a no spill sippy cup (empty through security, top up afterwards) and allow plenty of time to get through the airport so he can walk and tire himself out. If he uses a dummy still give it for take off and landing as the sucking can help ears. Pack a change of clothes for everyone in hand luggage in case of toileting accident, vomit, drink spill or delays. If he’s newly potty trained consider using a pull up. If you have stuff that needs to go into the overhead bin (e.g. yoyo stroller or carry on suitcase) board first as most airlines allow you to with kids to ensure you get the space but if you don’t have anything to go up then board last as it’ll 30 minutes less on the plane. If the airport offers a family security lane, avoid avoid avoid, they take longer and I’m sure they’re designed to keep the faffing away from
the masses. If your airport offer a fast track security for £5 pp I’d do it (Gatwick does) and see if the airport has a soft play (Heathrows are really good). Good luck, it’ll be fine, honestly.

We are doing a first flight next week with a 3 year old. Off to Australia. 30 hours doorto door. LOTS of snacks, Calpol just in case, iPad, heaps of new little toys to fiddle with, new books, colouring and definitely a iPad!

What a strange response?! Are you currently going through some trauma like infertility and need to avoid kids? Or do you just think all small children are an issue even past babyhood. It's such a short flight as well I'm honestly baffled by what you're thinking

We fly with our toddler and it's totally fine. Always get them their own seat and bring games and snacks etc

It's a short flight and a plane seat is quite big for a small child. My son at a little older just sat on the floor and played with his toy cars on the seat, as well as having some books etc.

It was a shit show with my 2.5 year old. I was pregnant at the time as well. It was a 4 hour flight but one hour delay on the runway. Luckily we didn’t need to fly to visit family so we just didn’t bother for many years. Ferries were better for us. She was a particularly difficult toddler though.

We did a 14 hour flight with DTs at that age and it was frankly, fucking horrific.

3.5 hours should be fine just keep giving food / screens and get on the plane as late as possible. Boarding early with small kids just makes the pain longer.

Take a drink with a straw to help prevent bad ears on take off/landing, offer it at these times to encourage lots of swallowing

I think the rule of thumb was something new for every 10-15 mins so whether it's a little toy, a snack, a little game with you, bit of tv [iplayer is great to download CBeebies from but beware stuff expires so if you are holidaying for long, you need stuff for the return trip] . Snacks that don't melt, collapse are handy too. Little box of smarties as a special treat.

A tablet is your friend here too especially if you have to drive somewhere at the other end. Toca Boca have some games that are very small child friendly - Hair salon [shave a head, drag and grow some hair - sounds bizarre but is very intuitive and amusing], a medical one [drag and drop body parts to the right location]. There's all sorts including interactive fairy stories.

Pull ups and a change of clothes essential. Clean t-shirt for you is often sensible too.

We've just got back from visiting my son in Australia... including dgs aged 2 yrs 9 months.
It was fine... snacks, ipad, story books and some playdough. That was nearly 24 hours flying in total. 3.5 hours is nothing..just a moderate car journey!

Honestly this all depends on your toddlers temperament. My son has been going on planes since 18 months and he LOVES travelling. He finds the airport, security, seeing all the planes and everything really exciting. He knows he gets a special lunch on board (it's a meal deal but he's three so it's exciting to him haha) and we read him books, he gets to use his special plane headphones and has extra tablet time for cartoons and games etc.

The worst time we had was when we got stuck on the tarmac for an extra hour and it was hard to keep him corralled but we managed it.

Good luck! :D

@Daphnis156 ignorant and horrid.

You'll be fine OP, 3.5 hours really isn't long, I promise it won't be as bad as you think. The flight attendants are often great with little ones. Take him on a trip to the bathroom. Couple of little toys, games, snacks.

Lots of great tips here! Can’t add anything to that.

I will say I’ve flown with my 2 year old many times (family overseas) and he’s by and large been fine, but even when he’s been an absolute car crash of a toddler when we’ve been stuck on tarmac or something, airline staff and fellow passengers have always been kind, understanding and helpful. Most people, besides from the odd outlier like the nasty person upthread, understand that small children behave like small children and will have nothing but sympathetic smiles for you.

Enjoy your holiday!

This is the right approach (from someone who started flying with kids when they were 3 months old)!!! A drink for takeoff and landing to keep ears popping will help too! Its not as traumatic as many will say!

It can be a tricky age, not going to lie. Suppose it depends on the child though! We've flown at that age and it was very tough but that's because my DS wouldn't sleep in the car/plane/any journey really so he would be an overtired mess so it's just about getting through it. And remembering you're never going to see these people again. Things that help are kiddy headphones and ALL THE SCREEN TIME. No screen time rules whilst traveling! Also an LCD tablet thingy to draw was a hit. And stickers. And lots of snacks! Good luck.

I fly often with my 5 year old, and we started flying regularly when they were 2. The first flight ended up with 4 hours on the runway after landing and 2 hours in the terminal (in flight security alert) ! Take lots of snacks, and I go on toysforapound beforehand and get a few little bits to give throughout the flights. Pens and paper, sticker book, gel window clings and a little bag of duplo should see you through it. And a change of clothes just in case! We also normally spend half an hour looking through family photos and videos on my phone.

We did lots of role play beforehand, explaining security and seat belts , and began a little ritual of a pancake breakfast at the airport, and the chance to choose some snacks in whsmith before boarding. there's a couple of peppa pig episodes where they go on holiday that are good to watch beforehand - and we like to look at airport books too. I always take a pack of ziploc bags, wetwipes and a tupperwear tub onboard and end up using them all at some point for all sorts of reasons!

You'll be fine - I'm so proud of my little explorer and how relaxed they are about travelling after so many adventures.

My son is nearly three and travels often. They pick up on your emotions so please check yourself and realise it'll be totally fine.

Pack lots of snacks in a bento box. Let him graze as much as he likes. Will the flight be over nap time? If so, come prepared with a blanket and his comforter (if he has one).

Download shows on your phone/tablet and bring headphones. My son loves the Bandou headbands as they're more comfortable.

Things like stickers, LED drawing tablet and cars with black tape to make a road are always good toys.

Above all, have fun and realise you'll likely not see the other passengers on the flight again so who cares if he (or you) have a little melt down. It's all fine.

Thank you so much. I guess it’s natural to have anxiety. My son’s temperament is hit and miss. Hopefully the other passengers and decent I supposed.

You just need to be prepared to amuse him the whole time. Stickers are always a safe bet. The more you do it, the more used to it he will get