Tips for flying with a 19 month old.

[FoolOfATook]

Hi, myself, partner and ds are travelling to New York.

I'm looking for tips to keep him occupied on the flights.

We are flying from Glasgow to heathrow and then heathrow to JFK.

Ds had not been on a plane before. We have brought him is own seat.

I've got the iPad which will hopefully keep him occupied for a fair amount of time.

What foods are best to take on a plane? Should I get child earplugs for take off?

I've got one of those trunki pillow and blankets sets.

Any tips or advice welcome!

Apologies for stating the obvious but ensure that you have everyone's passports and the ESTA and API (Advance passenger information requested by the airline) for each of you has been done prior to departure day. Ensure that all tickets and such documentation is easily at hand.

(Explain to him what he is going to do. Look at pictures of airports and aeroplanes).

Take what he likes re foodstuffs and plenty of it; any uneaten fruit and meat/cheese sandwiches should be left behind on the aircraft on arrival. Do not reply on the airline to fully provide re such items. Avoid yogurt or runny type stuff. A change of clothes for him may be something you want to consider putting in the hand luggage as well in case of spills.

Would not necessarily bother with child earplugs solely for take off; he may not like wearing those at all.

If you use a buggy you can take this up to the aircraft gate whereupon it will be placed in the hold. Tie something bright and colourful around the handle for easier identification.

Re toys do not take anything small that can be all too easily dropped and lost. He may well want to walk up and down the aisles of the aircraft for part of the flight duration.

Hi, cabin crew here.

• bring plenty of food and snacks, as long as you leave any fruit/dairy/meat/veg products on the aircraft whwn you arrive at jfk.
• no earplugs, just something to suck on durung takeoff and descent before landing (bottle? Breast? Dummy?).
• if baby cries during climb or descent it will actually help the air move through ear canal, so it's ok.
• Will you be seated by a bulkhead from lhr to jfk? If so, the crew will provide a bassinet. You can use this only when seatbelt signs are turned off.
• ask the crew to help with warming up milk or food
• do not ask cabin crew to put your bags away for you; we are not supposed to do that and passengers assume it is our kob. It isn't. If you have heavy handluggage either check it in or ask a fellow passenger to help you with it.
• cabin crew usually love seeing babies/children and we often fuss over them- but please do not come to the galley with baby for chats etc as most likely we're having a well-earned bream after the service and are too polite to ask to be left alone.
• hopefully the video screen will work. If baby wants to watch something you may want to use your earphones (iphone-type ones) as the airlines ones are too big on baby's head
• bring crayons, paper, a favourite toy or a soft toy.
• from lhr to jfk the crew will give you a kids'activity bag too.
• the seat you are taki g with you will not be used for take off or landing. Baby will have to sit on your lap at those times.

Have a safe trip x

Damn typos!! *break not bream!

Thanks for the replies. I was concerned about what food I could take. Good to know I can what he'll eat and throw the rest away on the plane.

We've checked all passports and have all relevant forms to enter the us so that's all sorted. I just need one of those travel wallet things to keep everything in!

We've got ds a new little Mickey Mouse rucksack to put his bits in. I was thinking coloring, sticker book. iPad, books.

Good to have comments from a cabin crew member. You put my mind at ease a bit!

We have booked a bulkhead seat although I'm not sure if ds will fit in the bassinet seat which is why we have paid for a seat for him too. We've purchased the Cares am safe child aviation harness for his seat. The BA website says they can be used. I will print off the info from the BA website anyway!

Ds isn't too keep on strangers at the min so I can't see him wanting to wander far! Hopefully there will be another child seated close by that he can 'talk' too.

He likely will not fit into the bassinet; they tend to work better for much younger babies (you may well end up using the bassinet to put stuff in). At least you had the foresight to buy him his own seat.