Well, it’s almost that time. Flying with a toddler. I figure lots of people do it and they survive… right?! (Say yes, please!) I’m off work for the summer and have been looking into a family vacation. Steve just started his new job and although he does have vacation time, I don’t know that it’s a good idea he uses it right away so unfortunately I might be taking this trip without him. That adds even more pressure to flying with a toddler!
I know I could get Ryan his own seat on the plane, which I think would make things a LOT easier, but… I can’t bring myself to pay for the seat when I know he could fly free if I just put him on my lap. He’s still nursing, so I figure that will save us in a moment of toddler-tantrum-time.
So where are we going?! I really wanted to take him to Disney World – I can just see him getting all excited. I found some cheap flights to Orlando, too. But in the end, decided against this trip because I really want that to be a family trip with Steve! Of course!
So my next choice was Colorado to visit my brother! He doesn’t get to see Ryan enough! And that plane ride is only 2.5 hours.… totally do-able, right? Can you tell I’m really nervous? My husband keeps telling me it will be a nightmare with Ryan on my lap, but we’re flying there near his afternoon nap time and we’re flying home right before his bedtime at night.… so I figure we can keep him occupied on my lap with snacks and games and books until he’s tired and he falls asleep while nursing. I can wear him in my Ergo – easy peasy.… right?!
What other tips do you have? Have you flown with a toddler on your lap? Did you make it through the airport with a stroller and a car seat AND your carry on items?! Speaking of carry-ons… I’m assuming Ryan doesn’t get his own since he’s on my lap – his will have to be one of mine. And I’ll need his toys and snacks and cloth diapers and ahhhhhhhhhhh < – getting more nervous.
We aren’t leaving until June 1st so I guess I have some time to plan and prepare lol. Suggestions are very very appreciated!!!!
I’ve flown alone with both my kids before. They were ages two and about 2 months old. One was a lap baby the other had a ticket and sat in the seat. Seeing as my lap baby was only a few months old he slept the majority of the time which was great because I got to keep my sanity. Both kids took massive poops in the air which was just great. Thankfully we had the row to ourselves they moved the man sitting next to us somewhere else so I had a third seat to just set crap in which I’m hoping for again when we fly on June 16. A sling of some sort is necessary. For sure. Because of your sons age I’m seriously thinking you get him his own seat or pray there is an empty one and they let you use it for him because unless he’s super clingy to begin with holding him for 2.5 hours trying to limit his movement and keep him off everyone else’s stuff is hard. I gave my son the window seat so he couldn’t touch anyone but me. But that’s just our experience. My youngest is now 14mo and crawling and walking with support so I’m sure it’ll be hell having him as a lap baby I plan on blogging about it and we will be tandem babywearing through the airport as well as carrying on one carseat and gate checking another as well as gate checking a stroller. I don’t use a stroller to push my kids around the stroller will be to push the carseats through I find strollers really annoying. So if you fly after us come check out my tips after we fly. Have a good trip!
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You are able to bring a diaper bag as an additional carry-on that doesn’t count
You can have liquids in it also but they may want to check them (they don’t touch the liquid they just check it with a lazer or something). Also I would check your car seat at least. (You can check it for free since it is a baby item and then you don’t have to deal with lugging it around.) You can also check your stroller or gate-check your stroller.…I would look up the airline’s policies online they usually state everything involved with flying with a lap infant. If it is a nice one I would put it in a bag so it doesn’t get scraped up. If you got an aisle seat you can also walk him up and down the aisle during the flight 
And get him a new toy he has never played with or new books. They will stay “exciting” for longer!
LAST bit of advice? Don’t forget his passport/birth certificate! You will probably have to “prove” he is under 2. I had them hound me when my son was 8 months old…a little surprising…:)
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I wish I had some advice. I’m kind of scared of flying and have only flown one time. I’ve never taken my kids with you. BUT, good luck!!!!
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Flying with a lap child is doable, but hard!! I flew with Adam when he was around Ryans age, we went to Michigan which was a 2ish hour flight. Adam didn’t want to sit still. He didn’t want to sit on my lap, he wanted to touch everything, ugh it was a headache.
I would recommend brining snacks, small toys, if he has a favorite blanket or book. You can bring your stroller all the way to the gate and they can tag it and take it from you there. You will need his birth certificate to show his age. You can bring 1 carry on plus a personal item (diaper bag or purse).
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you will not be allowed to wear him in your ergo during take off and landing.
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I flew with my son who was 2 at the time and I was 33 weeks pregnant. So he did get his own seat since my lap was pretty much occupied already. It was completely doable. I packed a ton of fruits and veggies, honey wheat pretzels, and just took empty cups for drinks once on the plane. I had hoped he would sleep on the plane but that didn’t happen. The toughest part for us was that he had been potty trained for a few months but the airplane bathroom was scary for him and at the airport he hated that the potties “flushed by themselves.” But, all in all, it wasn’t bad. Enjoy your trip!
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When I was pregnant I flew from NY to HI with the three bigger boys, alone. They were 2, 4 and 5.
Don’t be afraid to ask the flight attendants for help!
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I’ve never flown with Mason, I do the road trip thing, but I don’t think it will be as bad as you think. Although I guess he would want to be running around and doing stuff which he can’t really do…so yea good luck with that
Maybe a portable DVD player so that you can play something that he would love to watch?
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Here’s to hoping that you will have a smooth trip. I think that as long as you remain claim everything will go well. Babies, toddlers and young children are bound to have fits whether on a plane, in the grocery store or just hanging out around the house. You just have to make sure that you are ready to defuse the situation in a calm, collected and swift manner.
Take his favorite toys and snacks and download some songs and you should be good.
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No advice here, we drive LOL
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I totally agree with the portable DVD player! My son G and Ryan are a few months apart and I know that G is always mesmerized by TV, so maybe that will buy you an hour of peace? I’m excited to see how your flight turns out! I want to visit my brother in TX (I would bring G with me– without my husband…) so I’m a little nervous to wrangle him on a flight by myself. Good lucky, mama!
I’m sure it will be not as bad as you are thinking!
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You can totally do it! My biggest advice would be to be really smart about how you pack a carry-on. Remember how many hands you have and imagine carrying it all down the way-too-narrow plane aisle while wearing Ryan. Hubby and I seriously struggled with our 2 and all our carry-ons (3 backpacks, the diaper bag, and 2 car seats– what were we thinking?) on our last flight.
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