Quick!! Plane travel advice

[prairiemama]

I need to book flights for my sister's wedding and I was wondering if you guys think I should get a seat for Robin, too. If I don't buy a seat for her, she flies free. But it seems like she may be too big for lap sitting for the 3-4 hours we'll be on a plane.

Also, what do I do about the car seat??

HELP!

Comments

[sarahinajar.livejournal.com]

Check the car seat and bring lots of snacks!

[sandokai.livejournal.com]

Maybe it depends on her personality. Sat next to a 2 year old on his mother's lap for a 2-hour flight. It was okay but the kid looked a little bored, and eventually he fell asleep.

I've seen people check their car seats like they would check luggage.

[babycatcher33.livejournal.com]

buy a few small toys/small board books from the dollar store and stash them until you're on the plane. She can sit on your lap and check out her new toys without getting too bored. small juice boxes, wipes, non-sticky snacks - should be good to go. And definitely check the car seat. Some airlines have big plastic bags to put them in, but you can bring one of your own (clear) plastic bags to keep it from getting dusty or dirty in the luggage area.

[mosscollection.livejournal.com]

I second the dollar store things. We bought 25 toys from the dollar store for the flight to Europe so Penny would have NEW things that she wouldn't be sick of and we brought them out one by one as she grew bored with each. It was a great technique!

[need4cognition.livejournal.com]

If it's 3-4 hours on a plane, I would buy her a seat, bring the carseat on the plane and strap her into the seat. She'll be more comfortable that way and will probably sleep better too. It worked well for us on those long international flights.

[tesslouise.livejournal.com]

On our way home there was a woman across the aisle with her two kids, who were 4 or 5 and 2-ish (in fact I would have thought 2+, but she was on mom's lap, which means mom didn't buy her a seat, which means she must be <2). Anyway, the younger girl did fine with apple juice, Fruit Loops, and cuddles in mom's lap. (The older one was bored bored bored.)

[cathrynapple.livejournal.com]

The car seat can be installed in the plane seat if you buy a ticket for her. Otherwise, the flight attendants usually do that pseudo check thing witht eh car seats and strollers, where you give it to them at the plane door, and it's waiting for you when you disembark.

I think whether or not you buy a ticket depends on how wiggly she usually is? Do you think she'll sleep most of the time? Snacks are a great idea, I agree.

[jubee33.livejournal.com]

Hi! Just passing by, had to comment. They don't advise taking carseats on the plane, take small snacks, books, washable makers, she can colour in the tray and then wipe up with wipes. worked for me, flew 6 hours when my daughter was 18 months, she was happy to read and colour and sleep. I have travelled a few times with less than 2 year olds and they generally fall asleep with the motion and noise. Good luck.

[http://users.livejournal.com/___evagination/]

Most airlines let you check the carseat for free at the gate...

Also, in June I flew 3 hours to Ohio and nursed Gaia into a coma. When she wasn't sleeping she found the window to be fascinating and kept her occupied for hours!

[bluepapermate.livejournal.com]

I've flown with Suzannah when she was 11 months, 19 months, and just shy of three years. 19 months was by far the hardest. We brought her carseat on the plane, but she did NOT want to sit in it and wound up kicking the seat in front of her a lot. But we really did appreciate HAVING the extra seat, because she was so wiggly and busy and, honestly, upset for much of the time (she had a cold).

Last spring she wound up sleeping on me for most of the flight, which was nice, although we HAD to buy her a seat by then...still, the space is nice. I'd recommend buying it if you can swing it.

Also, checking the carseat is a piece of cake -- I'd do that.