Taking dd on plane for first time!!!!

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Hi, wasnt really sure where to post this. Dp and i have just booked a holiday to Majorca for next year. Dd will be 2 1/2 at the time we leave.

I just wanted to hear from other people ideas for keeping dd happy on the plane, things to pack in suitcase etc. Or anything else i might need to know.

I know its not till next year but i am already worrid about it lol, mainly about the plane journey, so any ideas would be great!!

Thanks x

Will be able to let you know next week-we're off on our holidays tomorrow with ds(2yr 5 months)and it's his first time on an aeroplane.....dd(5yr 11 months)can't remember her first experience which was at 2 years old.
I have(or will have by tonight)packed a small bag for each of them with a few small familiar toys and a few new ones
eg: ds-new toys-three small vehicles from tesco (68p each,a small box of fuzzy felt(mini tin from debenhams-in the sale)small pencils and colouring book,a magic painting book and paintbrush(the one that you just use water and the colour appears-that's reallyforwhen we are there.set of 4 small thomas books.
dd-new toys-a new smelling ella doll from tesco,a set of four small angelina story books,small pencils,some activity(educationalwork books,a travel frustration style game.
both have also a couple of magazines-oh and we're taking the car dvd player too.....
we're off to gran canaris btw which is a 4.5 hour flight.............

it's such a short flight - i can honestly say that mine never needed entertaining, they were fine. The food coming round is usually a big highlight, lots of packets to open.

At 2 1/2, your dd will have her own seat, which makes life easier as you can hopefully have her in between you and dp as long as you dont check in too late - very useful for tag-teaming.

All the ideas so far are great - we too have always found that our dd is just very excited especially on short flights and loves it - lots to look at and fiddle with. So our bagful of activities has usually been only part used.

Stickers always good, and how about a new book from a range your dd loves, as well as some old favourite stories too.

A drink and something to chew such as raisins are very useful for taking off and landing as it helps with popping ears.

The fact that you're asking about it now shows that you are going to be well prepared! And it's worth being prepared - the flight for us has always been ok, but we've needed all our resources when faced with delays at airports.

We live in Spain and do the hop to Britain quite a bit! Hope some of this helps:

Try to time a nap for the flight itself, even if dd has grown out of naps by then try and really wear her out in the airport so that she is knackered and wanting to sleep. Noise of the aircraft will be the final nudge hopefully.

Wear layers. Airports can be really hot and planes can be really cold with aircon.

Take a towel in handluggage. Really good for blanket when sleeping, rolled up for pillow, propping over sleeping toddler to blank out bright plane lights, making tents and playing boo, dressing up, laying down to put toys on for quick gathering up, mopping up any sudden unexpected chuckups, and if major distraction is really needed, I take ds into the bathroom (only when there are loads, I leave the door open and we make way for anyone that needs to use it!) and we play in the sink. (He's at the loving water stage) When he was really small I used to use it for a swaddle too. If all else fails you can throw it over your own head and retreat underneath it with a gin and tonic.

I always take twice as many nappies as I would usually use in the same time on a non journey day, full pack of wipes, full change of clothes for ds and a spare T shirt and his slippers. Comfier in the plane but protects feet if he wants to walk in the flight.

I take lots of little snack boxes with different things in and let him graze, and try and time a hungry moment for takeoff and landing. Take a sucking cup or drink with a straw for takeoff as the sucking will obviously help with her ears.

I always have 3 bags with me! (I often travel back to see grandparents alone with ds while dh is working so have to make sure I'm really organised!) Main in flight bag has changing things, clothes, some toys, most of snacks, water and mints for me, towel. This goes in the overhead locker. I also have a large handbag which has 1 nappy, mini pack of wipes and some nappysacks, muslin, ds's spare T shirt, 1 large drink for him, favourite snack for emergencies and a brightly coloured plastic cheapy pound shop toy that he has never seen before, wrapped up. You can get a good 15 mins of distraction from it in an emergency and it doesn't matter if it gets broken or left behind somewhere.

Then I have all my travel docs in a bumbag.

I always try and wear him out in the airport before we board, so that he will be tired and clingy for the flight and easy to get to sleep!

My god huge waffle sorry, hope some of it is useful! Have a good trip

Hi, thanks for everyones ideas. I do feel better about it now!! I am def going to use all ideas but especially like teh idea of new cheap toys wrapped up, dd will love that!!!

Thank you all.x

I fly lots with mine. Always sit at the back because it noisy so more chance of them falling asleep. I also keep chocolate for bribes for take-off and landing when they HAVE to sit in their seats.

Good point fairymum, and you're close to the loos at the back - nothing worse than needing to get to the loo with LO only to find the food trolley wedging up the aisle for the next 20 minutes!

yes, we always head for the back (much easier)

would say the a short flight like that prob won't be a problem (I would poss take a sachet of calpol/nurofen in your bag just in case her ears really hurt - also if you have an anyway up cup or a cup that requires a degree of sucking it can help pop their ears)

tbh, the worst part is the airport - I don't know where you are flying from but I was recently at Heathrow and the queues of people checking in went in a snake and nearly reached the doors so if you are flying in a main holiday, bear that in mind before you go.

I live abroad as well and have been travelling back to the UK since DS1 was a few months old. I think you could be over the worst stage as it was around the crawling age that we didn't get any peace and Dkept jumping up and down on DH's knee etc.

My advice: -

Sticker Books are brilliant.
Magazines
Jellies etc.
Story Books (Mr Men books are handy as small and light)
Wipes for spills etc.
Dress in layers
Plenty of fluids
Keep all the goodies as a surprise and use them as and when needed.
Leave plenty of time for check in.

You will be fine. If I can do it alone with 2 under 3 you can to. Remember, people with kids know exactly what its like so if you sit near other children it might also help.

All of the above and..... make sure you ask for help from the stewards and don't feel bad doing it.
They are often happy to help when you have a cute baby a few months old, but not so much when you have a wriggling, writhing toddler ( 24 hour flight for me, alone!).
You just have to collar them and ask firmly when you want to go to the loo or eat your meal.
They probably don't have kids themselves and don't really understand how tiring it can be.
Good luck, it's only 2 hours after all.

yes definitely ask for help! and try and sit next to some older people who look as though they might have grandchildren!!!!!!

My dd flew for the first time last summer, aged 2 and 5 months. She was fine, except she insisted on holding onto the seat and saying in a very loud voice, with a very cheeky grin on her face, "Hold tight" every few minutes.

She must have had a fear of flying in a previous life, because I haven't got a clue where she learnt that one

we take a bottle for landings, helps little ears to pop while the cabin pressure adjusts

and there is a book called Amazing Aeroplanes which makes it clear you have to do your seatbelt up before the plane can go - DS1 went through a phase of undoing his just because he could

The only thing I would like to add is a change of clothes for child and you. It never fails, the time that you forget it, the time they get sick/empty their drink on you etc.

Don't worry, is not that bad. I did two longhaul trips on my own when DS was 11m and 23m, and it was fine, difficult thing was to eat as there is not enough space even to open the tray. But next door passenger offered to hold him while I had my meals once they had their trays picked up. Actually, there was a woman who even offered to entertain him so I could have a nap! Both were very good experiences, I was amazed at how nice people could be!

Oh... something very important, dress them cute, they definitively get more attention (and you more help offers) if the child looks irresistibly cute

Dear anniemac
greetings from nz my advice is that if you can spot kiwis flying home sit near them we are always willing to help and ask for a sky bassinet if flying with airline that provides this service {smile}
But i'm flying in november with my 7 month little girl, only a domestic flight but in two stages with an hour in the middle any suggestions??

At 2.5 you have nothing to worry about going to Majorca. Just being on a plane will be exciting.

Spare clothes. Put in a pull up even if trained. Small non chocolatey snacks. Take a teddy so she knows which is her bed because teddy is on it.

I think one of the most important things is for you to be calm and relaxed about the flight. Arm yourself with all the great suggestions that everyone posted but make sure you are calm. If you are nervous about flying, see if your dp can take charge of your dd. Children pick up our vibes so easily!

We have flown a few times with ds and at 2.5 they are relatively easy. I got ds a great sticker book recently - Giant Sticker Activity First Words by Priddy Books (www.priddybooks.com). It has over 600 photo stickers in it and ds loves it.