Worried 2 year old won’t stay in seat for take off and landing

[Fliss689]

Like the title says really. We’re going on a short haul flight and my child has just turned two so has her own seat. She’s definitely going through the “terrible twos” and I have visions of her kicking off and not seating in her own seat when she has too. It’s too late for me to get a FFA approved car seat and I’m worried what will I do. Any reassures out there for me.

We have flown a lot with a 2-2.5 yo and he always sits on our lap with infant belt for take off and landing (despite having his own seat). He’s a cuddly Toddler so that’s what works best for him.

Love the fairy idea Franberry!
Legally children over two MUST sit in their own seats for take off and landing. Any crew member telling you otherwise is risking being in trouble if there was a CAA inspector onboard.

Don’t worry. A heck of a lot of two year olds hate being strapped into their own seat. Lots of them scream the place down. If you tell the crew that you’re worried the child may panic they may let you fasten the seatbelt at the last minute. Bribing or holding them down is the only way. Toys and treats sometimes work.

Crikey, this thread is like reading about about another universe! Bribery, rewards, telling her she has no option... I couldn’t do a single one of those with my two year olds because they simply don’t understand. I don’t know how people with developmentally disabled kids are ever able to fly.

OP, on the off chance that your child is going to struggle to understand any of this, I’d be prepared to have to pin her down as awful as that will be. Is there anything that works as a distraction for her?

She'll do it because she has to and because the flight won't leave if she doesn't

I’m sure that makes the OP feel much better 🙄

I flew alone with a 2 year 4 months old and a 4 month old, and the 2 year old did indeed stay in her seat - as others say you bring a bag of rarely available treats and activities and produce them strategically. Obviously not all 2 year olds are the same, but unless they have a language processing delay they do understand and can be distracted/ bribed/ explained to (combination of) at 2.

Obviously talk to your 2 year old about what happens on the plane in advance too. If you've left it late you can probably still buy a picture book and sticker books in a bookshop actually inside the airport. All my kids had picture books, lift the flaps books, sticker books and colouring books about flying and airports and it helps to set expectations so they know in advance what will be happening and expectations.

You are overthinking this. This is what iPads were invented for.

I once took my 2yo on a longhaul, overnight flight. She just would not go to sleep and the seatbelt sign was on most of the time. I worked out that by the time we'd got to our destination, she'd watched 9 hours of Peppa Pig But, it was just once and not the end of the world! As far as I am concerned, all rules go out of the window on planes. I go for most quiet and least stress!

Haha

Ok, my kids were 2 pre smartphone... Actually the youngest wasn't, but I guess I was used to doing things with the bag of tricks.
A 2 second Google produces:

Peppa Pig goes on a plane

My DS was 3 when we flew back from Europe last year. He threw a massive fit about 30 mins before we were about to begin our descent. It was quite obvious that there was no reasoning with him so crew member got permission from captain for him to be strapped onto DH's lap for descent and landing. That incidentally calmed him down so win win.

We always took something new on flights - usually a book and a small toy for each direction. Something new always holds her interest. The recommendations for snacks and screen time should also work.

Kinder Eggs are good for this as they take a little time to unwrap and put the toy together and there’s chocolate as well.

I did this pre smartphone, just take bribes. Flying alone with 2 was particularly fun. The American carriers let us bring a car seat on board whereas the U.K. carriers (ba and virgin) would not let us.

Having seen the apoplectic reaction of the cabin crew to the family who let their spirited little darling stand up in his seat during descent (this was the child allowed roam freely under seats from front to back of the plane during the flight) you’ll do what it takes believe me. I’ve never seen cabin crew so angry.

@HelloYouTwo ooh what did they do?!

Flying into Boston once, maybe 2008/2009 (pre kids), the captain refused to land, we just went around in the holding pattern till a 5 year old who had spent the entire flight running riot was strapped in.

Honestly, until DC1 was three and a bit more capable of reasoning I kept up a steady stream of snacks until he was allowed up, with a dollop of TV on the tablet. In pre-smarttech days I guess it would have been colouring/a kids magazine/cheapy new toys/anything distracting.

You’ve had plenty of suggestions, but I echo the PP who said try and leave it until the last minute until you buckle up. I never bother boarding early as they often let families do because it can be half an hour before the flight takes off. Run around the airport for as long as you can, board last, tv/device on/toys/books/whatever then buckle up and off you go! Have a great trip.

Oh this brings back memories of one horrific flight when DS was 2. All strapped in and ready to go when there was a delay of about a year an hour. The seatbelt sign stayed on. DH and I had to physically pin down a screaming DS.

Sounds like an actual nightmare hortz! The worst flight I remember had a 1 hour initial delay on board but at least DS could walk around. That extra hour at the end of the journey was all too much though and if we had landed on time the persistent screaming would have been avoided!