Help 18 month old on lap for 4.5 hr flight!

[Hyperquiet]

So we booked flights for our holiday and there seemed to be loads of seats available. Then we realised that the seats were sold but the actual seating isnt allocated yet!

There are only a few seats left that aren't sold on the way there and only 2 left on the return. At the mo there's no way of knowing if the seat next to us is booked as half the seating hasn't been allocated I'm guessing may be on the day?

We rang the airline to buy my child a seat but they dont let you do that on this flight annoyingly.

How will we cope?

Yes bought one of them thank you!

I also have two serious squirmers @Hyperquiet - we read lots of books, use the Montessori switch board toy, simple sticker books, snacks, lots of walking up and down, and then some cbeebies shows downloaded on iPlayer for when we run out of steam.

Tips.

Dont see it as a chunk that long if there are two of you. Do 45 mins each and swap. Even better if you’re not sitting next to each other.

Line up as much activity as possible. A meal. Drinks. Colouring. Washi tape - sticking it on and then peeling it off. Going to the toilet. More snacks. Don’t get the videos out until you’re running low on other ideas. Then cycle through the list again.

In the case of being tapped by another passenger, I tend to get up and stay up for awhile, hanging around the emergency exits where possible and trying not to be too much of a nuisance. No one likes a screaming toddler either though, so it's the lesser of two evils. X

Just pages from magazines!

It will be fine. We did a 12 hour flight with our twins at 20 months last year. We did have a crib for when they went to sleep. But did over half the flight with them on our laps. We took books, sticker books and snacks. Then had some screen time.

Will look into the switchboard thank you

Yes planning on leaving the videos till last!

Thanks!

That is true x

That's reassuring and twins too!

Maybe book an aisle seat and a window seat, but separate aisles so they’ve got new people to be around, a slight change of scenery and easy access to the aisle/window depending which person they’re with.

I thought under 2’s sit on your lap anyway?

I fly very regularly and tbh never found they'd stay in their own seat for long at that age anyway. I've done plenty of longhaul with a child on my lap. It's fine, and we're no screens before school age.

I took lots of different entertainment, books to read, loads and loads of snacks that are time consuming to eat (e.g. raisins to be picked out of a pot) etc.

At that age I seem to recall fidget toys like the rubber poppers being popular. Also we had a great cuddly toy with lots of different fastenings like zips, buckle etc. Also a soft travel busy board. A water pen doodling travel set went down well too.

I found it helped to read them books about airports and planes in advance too. The Topsy and Tim one about flying is good for that age. There's also a nice Usbourne book called something like Look Inside Airport with flaps that was good

Take yourself a change of clothes though in case of disaster.

You could also see if she'll listen to audiobooks on headphones. She might still be a bit young, although mine liked Julia Donaldson ones around that age.

You'll be fine!

This one time you’ll be fine I’m sure but I absolutely get it. My DD is not easily entertained by books and toys and snacks and the like. I’d happily give her a screen to watch but even that doesn’t keep her attention for more than five minutes. She just has A LOT of energy and will not go to sleep at the best of times, least of all in interesting places.
Plan for a tricky flight and hope you’re pleasantly surprised. Also plan for worst case scenarios like delays. One of my friends got stuck on the tarmac for over an hour and they weren’t allowed out of their seats with her nearly 2 year old on her lap. She said it was absolutely awful, but if that happened you just need to get through and not care what anyone else around you thinks. Just see it as something you need to get through and if it actually all goes fine then it will be a nice surprise. Good luck!

To be honest we have always managed to have a spare seat in our row with 1 year old or under 1. My child is tall too.

Thank you appreciate this will get some raisins too!

This is my worst nightmare honestly. I dont mind getting stuck at the airport but on the plane is awful!

I say try not to overthink it and let it ruin your trip. Plan and prepare as best as you can and then just stop thinking about it until you board and just take it moment by moment. If you are anxious about it LO will pick up on it too and then you’ll create your worst case scenarios. Everything else will make it all worth it and the pain quickly gets forgotten.

Thats true I think that is my issue. I do get quite anxious and then little one does pick up on it which makes everything worse.

When we flew with our 1 year old, it was midday and we thought great, he would sleep most of the flight. We had to sit in an aisle seat with DS on lap, all went fine, he went to sleep, but flight attendant knocked him when she passed and woke him up. He was miserable afterwards. We took simple puzzles, some easy put together type brick toys, small pot of play do, sticker packs that he could stick anywhere, snacks and drinks. I stood up a lot, so he could have the seat and took it in turns with DH.

Yes i was thinking of taking it in turns standing in between the seats when the trolley isnt going or at the front of the plane so little one can have a seat.

But my OH doesnt like annoying people and getting in the way so it will mostly be me getting up I think.