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

[cucumberandlime]

Just thinking about this as had a horrible cinema trip with my toddler. And wondered how on earth you’d manage with running around, screaming etc on a plane?

We took my daughter aged 2 1/2 on a 91/2 hour flight to Orlando, she napped thank goodness so that helped but I also had enough activities for the whole plane to be entertained, if needed. She watched old Mickey mouse shows and was a pleasure to have. I also had snacks galore too. They might surprise you if you explain to them what is expected on a flight. 🥰

None of mine were allowed on a plane until they could behave 😂 so 4/5 and above. I can't be arsed listening to it so wouldn't subject a plane load of folk to it 🤣

That's what I did and never had an issue. Easier than entertaining sh on a flight!😀

My 2yr old kicked off when we got on a plane earlier this year. He got really scared. Initially he was excited and we’d gone to watch planes take off and land, watched shows about it and bought toys. He lost his little mind the moment we walked on. A woman in the row behind kept trying to make eye contact with me so I would know she was pissed off. I’m not a wallflower so I met her stare with one of my own. I wasn’t exactly vibing at that moment either.

Calmed him down by just talking calmly and lots of cuddles. Brought out some new toy cars that we’d saved for the journey and the ‘good’ snacks. He sat in his seat the whole 8hrs, only getting up to change his nappy. He didn’t want to move. After the first ten mins he didn’t get upset again. Eventually fell asleep after he was stuffed full of crisps. My youngest loved the plane. It was a battle to keep him from partying 😂

On a plane all my usual plans go out the window, distraction, fuss, bribery, whatever works

Happily past this stage now. I bought a cheap toy or two for both fights. I wrapped them up with a bit more cell tape than I really needed. Got one out part way through and they always found it more exciting that it had been wrapped up.
I also hid some well liked small toys for a while before the trip and they magically appeared on the plane!
Good luck.

*dh not sh

We flew to New Zealand with an 18month and a 3 yr old. Lots of toys they haven’t seen before brought out at intervals, snacks and screens. Only problem was that the youngest slept lying across my lap for 8 hours and I nearly lost the use of my legs!
Stewards were superb offering fruit snacks and toys.
Worst flight was coming home from Menorca with 3rd child who screamed and clawed my face as we got on the plane a constantly tried to get the attention of other passengers all through the flight. Not an experience I’d like to repeat!
So I suppose it depends dry much on the child and what sort of mood they are in.

I think you just step up to it when you are in situation like a plane. Sometimes it’s at your own expense by physically restraining them, sometimes you have to be a lot sterner than you’d like to be.

Plan well for distractions - new toys, sticker books, TV programmes etc.

I travelled on my own from US to UK about three times a year with DD from about 9 months. Toddler years were hard but sometimes a fellow passenger helps you out, or a flight attendant.

I used to map out each hour of the seven hour flight - first hour the plane is new and distracting - a second hour interactive toy like a sticker book, third hour meal which is fun on a plane for kids, fourth hour a TV show, fifth hour loo trip and a little walk around etc etc

Yes, we had that with both of mine many years ago. Tried distraction, placation, food etc., wouldn't stop screaming long enough to engage. In the end, we apologised to the people around us for what was coming and let them scream it out together with kicks, punches and attempting to scratch and bite when they couldn't take the lap belt off. After 30 minutes of sounding like we were killing them they ran out of steam. We had an hour of intermittent sobs and they eventually wore themselves out and fell asleep. Not ideal and hard work so don't go too far on your first plane journey would be my advice.

From what I've witnessed,parents with a toddler kicking off on a plane don't do anything. They just sit looking at their phones while their offspring pisses everyone else off. This isn't just on planes though. Seems to be everywhere nowadays.

You try your best and you are honest and upfront with your fellow passengers
nothing worse than parents doing nothing and thinking everyone else should enjoy their offspring expressing themselves

We did Florida with a 3 year old and a 13month old - had to due to family wedding! Thought it would be horrendous but actually we did as other have suggested - bag full of surprises, screen time and lots of laps of the plane! Must say the bigger planes are easier as you can literally do laps and lots of others were doing the same!

Wow, you’ve been extremely unlucky. Even before I had kids I was thankful that people around me seemed to be doing their best for their children not to disrupt others on flights. Not that it really bothers me for the sake of 2 hours or so if a toddler is whingy, I used to just put my earplugs in.

I don’t think anyone has mentioned before boarding or after disembarking…. Surprised as there are so many issues at the moment. First flight at 2.5 security outbound shut down - yup just stopped- and we waited 1.5 hours during which time a kind security guy tried to get ahead of the game by stashing all the buggies ready to go through. My child lost the plot and launched himself at the buggy line and refused to let go of his own buggy. This was just a rehearsal for the way back where he failed to comprehend you can’t just get on any old plane and attempted to part the locked doors of the nearest gate with a plane on. I physically restrained him and ended up thanking the lord I wore a vest as my entire shirt became unbuttoned in the tussle. Oh yeah and then otherside the queue for passport control was 1.5 hours and he screamed so loud we were removed from the queue and fast tracked. You know what people hate more than screaming kids? Queuejumpers. And yes, I googled the heck out of tips and had snacks, little toys, books. None of it worked. I’m afraid we just holidayed in the UK for many years thereafter.

You just simply grin and bare it and try your hardest to get them through it. We have two and the first one was always fine flying, second one has been generally pretty fine also but last year on the way home from spain he screamed, kicked, cried and fought me for approximately 2 entire hours. He was over tired and we were sat at the back of the plane. I just had to hold on to him for dear life to stop him kicking chairs and try and calm him down. He eventually fell asleep 20 minutes before we were due to begin our descent and I swore that was the last he would fly, but then we went again 3 months later and he was calm and happy. You just get on with it as you have no choice. My daughter sat happily while he lost the plot!

Done a few plane journeys with our two kids and had a mixed bag, you just HAVE to prepare. My biggest tips is activities. I printed drawings about things they like specifically. I wrapped up lollies in old wrapping paper so it took them ages to open, same with snacks. The BEST one was actually rolls of colourful masking tape. He was being noisey so had a game of sticking tape over our mouths and pretending to talk. Found it hilarious. Tape moustaches, tape jewellery, tape the window closed, tape our feet together anything really did that most of the way!!

I relax all my rules for a flight. We have a tablet just for travel. Unlimited Peppa and Zog and snacks galore. Soon as we get back home the tablet goes away again. Or that doesn’t work you just grin and bear it and hope never to see those people again haha

I hear you, my 2 year old is lovely but a big handful. We had to fly last year to France and we managed by downloading stuff to watch the flight wasn't too long. he's gotten worse since he turned 2 and I don't plan to fly again until he calms down abit more. He currently kicks and flails if you try pick him up when tantrumming and head butts. He really is lovely but not when he kicks off. You get the child you get so don't set them up to fail, and is it worth the battle. which is your call. Agree with other posters, they can't run around so it's restraining them whilst they scream, try to distract and just get through if you want to fly...

Some parents actually drug their children believe it or not!

Lots of snacks and entertainment and screens, if it all goes pear shaped at least make sure the people around you can see you are trying really hard.

but ideally just don't do it (we did, loads, as family was a continent away but really it's better to wait until they're a little older and solid wall to wall iPad is a reliable solution)

Do you know the root of why they kick off?
I am going to sound very preachy here and I don’t mean to.
i have boys of 17,15 and 8. We have ADHD and Autism as hereditary conditions in our family.
my older two never saw an iPad screen until they were about 9 and 7. Apps for kids on parents phones weren’t really a thing. They didn’t own an Xbox until they were 13 and 11. (Christmas 2021)
all kids are different so I shouldn’t compare them but I do.
my 8 year old could be more severe simply because we were older parents and it is known that mental health issues are more prevailant as kids get older.

but I also know that we have allowed our 8 year old more screen time than he should’ve had. Sometimes I think we have caused the behavioural problems because screens are addictive. A week where I spend loads of time doing the stuff he loves ( word games, drawing games, treasure hunts in the forest, reading together, made-up games) his behaviour is completely different. When he engages with others and not the screen he is less whingey and more open to listening to instructions.

when we fly long and short haul he is much better behaved when I have engaged with him properly in the days prior and on the flight.

we had a long haul flight with a 4 hour delay on the tarmac once whilst the eldest two were little. When we landed in Europe the lady behind said, “ oh my goodness you have two. I thought you only had one.” They were ages 2 and 4.

we are not quite there with our youngest but we are close when I build the quality time.

i am not being preachy or judging, I am offering an honest example of my homelife and nothing else. Every child and family are different.

Have travelled long haul with my kids since they were 3 months old. The key is carry enough formula or if you are breast feeding like I was that is covered. Then as they get bigger, lots of snacks and some meal options. We usually always pick up mc donalds from the airport as our kids love nuggets and fries. Buy some surprise toys, activity books etc for the kids and ensure they don’t see it till you are on the plane. Also be prepared to entertain them and engage with them so they behave. On a long haul flight they do eventually fall asleep. We have had the odd flight where we walked around a lot when the seat belt sign was off. This was the toddler phase, as they hit 4 years it all gets better. Goodluck!

Alllll the distraction techniques. We've flown to Mauritius, St Lucia, California and Vancouver while our DS is 2/3. I think we're really lucky that DD is 4 years older than him and she is really well behaved so there's a good example! But we have books, colouring, sweets, decent headphones so he can actually hear the films, more snacks, maybe a few more snacks, also, snacks. 😂 Everything needs to be short chunks of time, so watch the movie for 20 minutes, have a snack and a chat for 5 minutes, go for a walk for 5 minutes, do some colouring or stickers for 20 minutes, then watch a bit more of the movie.

We tend to find sitting 3 + 1 so we have a window seat they can take turns looking out helps, also means one of us is sat across the aisle "on break" while the other one deals with the kids helps.

He's never had a full bore meltdown, I remain eternally grateful for that!

Moat parents time it so they would be napping, but you said yours dont really nap.

Parents also use snacks, lots of them as a distraction, but you said yours isnt fussed about food or sugary snacks.

Parents also use screens, unlimited, but you said yours dont like them for very long.

Not sure what your other options would be tbh! Cornwall it is then....