Travelling to USA with 2.5 year old next week. Any tips?

[winestein]

I am taking:

New toys/books of the kind he likes
Old toys/books that he loves
His blankie
Phenargen if it all goes horribly wrong

I have only ever flown once myself - to Glasgow in December . I hated hated hated it and the pain in my ears was incredible. I drank rather a lot of wine on the return flight and that helped, along with not sitting near a window, but my ears still hurt.

Questions are:
Am I taking the right stuff for him or is there anything else that is good to take to keep a toddler amused?
Are airline staff usually good with rambunctious toddlers?
How can I help DS with the whole painful ear thing? I think he is too young to give him something to suck (?)

Thanks!

Hi

The visa waiver forms (these are green in colour) are required to enter the USA. You'll be handed these at check in. Each member of your party will need a form to be completed - if there are just the two of you travelling you will need to complete one for your good self and one for your child. A portion of this will be stapled into your passport - it is vital that this is removed from each passport on departure from the US. Ensure that the check in staff do this on your departure.

A white customs declaration form will also need to be completed (that also asks for your passport number)- that is one form per family.

These can take some time to fill in - would certainly agree with Stealthsquiggle's warnings re such forms. I was in the US not so long ago and they were sending people with incorrectly filled out forms to the back of the line. Some are also more than happy to shout at you!!.

Would suggest you complete these when your child is (hopefully) asleep. Do not fill them in on arrival!!.

What airline are you flying with?. Would have to say that British based carriers are in my experience at least far better than American based ones.

Oh dear. That will be USairways then

USAIRWAYS - Do not fly with them people! They charged me double, which took all the money out of my account over a bank holiday. With the customer service I have received over this so far I will not be flying with them again (but that is a whole new thread!)

I have flown US Airways about 8 times over the last 2 years and they are always pretty good, on time etc. Are you flying to Philadelphia or Charlotte? I only ask because I flew into Philadelphia on Tuesday with them and (not their fault of course) there are around six European flights landing at the same time which works out at around 1500+ people to get through immigration at the airport. Be prepared for a very long wait in line if this is the case (I stood for about an hour and a half - no kids for the first time, bliss)! Of course they usher the us citizens through quicker than others. If you can get your son to cry and wail a bit they sometimes take pity and move you to the head of the line. Charlotte is much quieter, but still be prepared for at least an hour wait.

So, make sure you gate check your stroller if you are taking one (do take one) then at least he will have somewhere to sit while you are 'waiting in line'.

My son was the same age as your son the first time we did this trip. He spent a large portion of the journey closing the window blind, lying down and saying 'goodnight', then two seconds later jumping up, opening the blind and saying 'good morning' then repeating this over and over. Must have been very annoying for the people behind but at least he wasn't yelling!!!! Point is, do whatever to make him happy.

I have always found my children to be better behaved on aeroplanes than any other time, I think I should live on a plane! They have no where to go and see that everyone else is sitting down so they do the same. US airways have individual tv screens in the back of the seats with a selection of kids shows. They sell head sets for $5 or GBP 3.00, if you have headphones take your own and buy an adaptor.

Don't worry about the food thing. My son has never eaten an aeroplane meal in his life. He just snacks on the type of things that you have mentioned you are taking. Make sure he takes a nap (bribe him with whatever you need to to make him do this - not only will it give you a break but it will also mean he adapts to the time change more easily).

Also, final point I promise, check in early and try and get the bulk head row (row 6 on US Airways) this will give you a little more room and he will be able to play more freely.

Great tips Tinpot - thanks for that (we are flying to Philadelphia so will look forward to the queue - forewarned is forearmed

Take lots of variety pack cereal. My dcs loved the fact they could eat and eat dry cereal, spread it all over the seat, play with the boxes etc etc My advice is that which another Mner gave to me when I did the same thing a few weeks ago, and that is to do whatever gets you through and ignore any funny looks. Oh, and do check the children's meal, my strapping ds age nearly two definately turned his nose up at the cow and gate infant meal they provided for him, and despite repeated phone calls, they did the same on the way home. But we did end up with a lovely plate of sandwiches from first class, so it wasn't all bad (although I would have prefered a seat in first class rather than just a blardy sandwich).

winestein - long time no see! Clues regarding your horrible flight to Glasgow, DS's age, planned trip to NZ and most importantly - love of wine! tipped me off that it was you (it is you isn't it ).

Sorry for hijack, but wanted to say hellooooo. Also sorry for lack of calls, when will 'escape to the pub part 3' ever happen? Lets try and make it soon (once you return from galivanting that is).

If you fancy a chat I am currently at home avoided the footy.

I'm scrabbling round trying to find your phone number if you see this!

Moodlum - thanks for that tip! Although I have confidently predicted my DS will eat most things, what he will definitely NOT do is eat Cow and Gate toddler meals. Yack! I think I will buy sandwiches and abandon them on the plane in case of decent meals.

I think I also now hae the theoretical confidence to do whatever keeps said toddler happy despite onlookers.

Keep a look out for any threads entitled "I was on this plane to Philadelphia and this bloody woman and her toddler...."

The food restriction has nothing to do with terrorism, agriculture is key to the US economy and dairy produce, fruit and meat are all part of that. A cheese sandwich and an apple are hardly large scale imports, but just eat stuff on the plane or leave it behind, and there'll be no problems.

Other tip for completing the visa waiver form is to have something very easily to hand with the address for your first night's stay clearly written on it, and make sure you know where it is. It doesn't matter if it's a hotel or a friend/relative, but have the street address and zipcode details st I think you will also need your passport number, so don't bury the passport too deep once you've got past the relevant pre-boarding checks. Write out your exact dates of stay for your reference as well, all these things will help you fill in the forms.

Customs declaration "one form per family" - I travel to the US about once a year with my unmarried partner and we don't count as a family - won't even with newborn baby - so we have to fill in one each. I think we might even if we got married and continued to use different surnames, and I already changed my name when I was 18, don't plan to bother again (might get married).

Hmmm... wonder where that leaves me and my son then, as we have different surnames Do you think we might somehow come unstuck?

Should be ok with the address thing - I'm staying at my brothers place and he'll be sat next to me on the plane!