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?

As a previous poster said, we travelled by ferry with a cabin. Brittany Ferries are great. Through the tunnel and good old Center Parcs. If your child can’t sit still then these are your options.

My oldest screamed so much on one flight. She had had an ear infection which I thought she was recovered from but clearly not as she was in much more pain than she should have been from pressure changes. I tried my best to calm her but also accepted I couldn't work miracles so apologised to everyone sitting near us. Everyone was lovely though, no dirty looks or comments, just looks of sympathy.

Distraction and snacks!! We used to wrap toys up - in Christmas paper or whatever you had and had 1 for each hour of the jouney - we did long hall quite a bit when they were young.. small cheap things like a toy car /small lift the flap books etc - and when they started to get tricky - we'd make a big song and dance about getting out the "special bag" - they could reach in and choose something and then upwrao and then that bought you at least 15/20 mins while they played with it.. then another when it looked like they needed it again!;) we also used to string Cheerios and make a long necklace and they'd spend ages nibbling them
off... then short shows on the iPad like peppa pig..we travelled loads with 3 close in age - it's always worth the trip but the above helped us SO much!!

We did quite a few "walks" to the back of the plane too especially just before the seatbelt signs come on before landing when you know they have about 30 mins of them having to stay in their seats

I understand completely how you had a weird feeling. We went to Coniston water.
As soon as we arrived, I needed to leave. Felt so creepy

I travelled a lot when my kids were young, longest being a trip to Australia when they were 20 months and three, plus trips to the USA. They have always been great on planes, so I’ve been lucky I guess. The three year old discovered there were snacks left out during the 12 hour flight to Singapore (sleep? Ha you are joking), so kept himself entertained by wandering up there at regular intervals (I’m sure the whole section knew his name by the end). I remember his little face when we got there and he looked at me ‘we landed’! And I had to break it to him we had to run across the airport to catch our connecting flight - how his face fell!
Everyone always looks at you with distain when you board but my kids have always behaved much better than some obnoxious or drunk passengers!

Do Keep ‘em quiet bags still exist? I got them a couple of times when my daughter was small. They are basically bags full of small plane-friendly distractions. You could put together the same yourself (probably more cheaply) but I also had enough to deal with wrapping at work and packing so found these great.

Snacks, as others have said.

Get your child used to headphones and load up a device with Peppa Pig or whatever they will watch for a while.

Surely this depends on the child concerned - illnesses, syndromes, and the attention paid by carers? I think people's main concern is when a child has a meltdown and the parents do nothing.

I've found travel with my kids easy as anything - and I have 4 - although I never gave in to tantrums so my grumpy toddler stage didn't last long - when my 4th was born we flew 4 hours when she was 6 weeks old, with a 2 year old, 5 year old and 10 year old as well and it was easy. The sound of the plane is like white noise so keeps most kids calm.

Personally I wouldn’t take a toddler on a plane
my daughter was 4 and almost starting school when we flew to Spain… prior to that we went by ferry to france where she was free to walk about, buy snacks, watch shows and play in the soft play

Plenty of food, drinks, distraction. Pray lol

I was really worried about taking my 3 year old as he gets grumpy when he’s tired and doesn’t get his own way. Bought loads of little games and puzzles and fidget toys and put them in small bags in his carry on. It was all a surprise. As he got bored I pulled a bag with a new toy in. That kept him occupied for the whole flight although only 2.5 hrs. And he had things to play with when we got there. Done it 2 years in a row now and so far it’s worked

With a child we knew would find it very difficult to be settled until the age of about 6 we just didn't go abroad.

Very wise.

While I wouldn't enjoy a child screaming, at least I understand why a child might scream on a plane, and how difficult it is for a parent to quieten the child down

The seat kicking is another matter, however. A parent absolutely can stop a child kicking a seat. Either they physically stop them and/or they remove their shoes.

I once caught an early morning flight back from Majorca after a 3.30 am start. I had a toddler kicking my seat during the entire journey. I did ask the mum very politely if she could ask her son to stop kicking my seat. All she replied was "he can't help it. He doesn't know any better"

Well of course he doesn't if his parent doesn't tell him.

You just cope.

We flew 12 hours when my oldest was 6 months.

We then flew 4.5 hours with a 6 month old and a 2 year old.

We have since flown 5 hours with a 1& 3 year old.

Its not easy, you have to apologise a lot but you get through it.

@cucumberandlime
This is your cultural and parenting generation talking. You believe that it’s necessary to control the environment, but it’s just a belief. You control your child.

If your young child starts “kicking off” you restrain them by holding their legs and arms still till they tire themselves out and stop . Same if they don’t want their seat belt on. It stays on, you hold it in place till they the sign says it can be removed. End of.
It’s absolutely fine to physically ensure that both you child and those around them don’t get hurt when we are talking toddlers/ 3 year olds.

If your child is coming up to school age, so hitting 4 and you are worried that you can’t get her on a plane then there are 2 things to consider.

Either accept that your parenting approach, to never force your child to comply, will result in missing or postponing some activities.

Or take a good look at your child’s behaviour 360. If you feel that there may be other things going on with your child then look into SEN.

I agree. It’s not all about your toddler and their screaming. It’s horrible for the people around you. Last week I flew back from Europe and two kids screamed and shouted for most of the flight.

One toddler just kept playing peek a boo with the person behind who was clearly not interested and
the parents did very little and the Mum just looked on indulgently.