Help - unexpected flight tomorrow with an 11 month old

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm sorry for your loss.

I flew a bunch when my kid was this little. Snacks are great--actually, at this time of day, you can even do dinner, which kills a bunch of time. Get on the plane, read a couple books at take off, then when you are in the air, set up the tray table with dinner. Bring dry foods that won't make a huge mess; if your kid hasn't tried a snack trap, it's a nice new toy for the flight. Crackers, blueberries, grapes, cheese cubes, bunnies or small cookies, soft fruit slices--all are good for the plane. Those squeezy pouches always make a mess, IMO.

Phone apps are good. A blanket to play peekaboo. The sick bag (put stuff in! take it out!). A couple more books, and you'll be there.

[Anonymous]

Bring a book of nursery rhymes so your child can learn your favorites. Sucking should relieve ear pressure during takeoff and landing.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. Are you going go be going to the Boston area? If so, it might be our friend who passed away today. We have a 4 month old,but if you need to borrow anything while here that you may forget, let me know

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the helpful advice! I have some time before the flight tomorrow so I will be able to do some running around to put together a plane survival kit for us. And we will definitely do dinner - great idea.

PP - no we are going to Tennessee but thank you for the offer.

[Anonymous]

Snacks and a few small books (the ones where you can lift/slide flaps) and looking out the window got our 13 month old to Florida and back earlier this year. The novelty of the plane goes a long way with little ones! Good luck to you, OP!

[Anonymous]

My ten month old got a good amount of amusement out of the sky mall catalog (and no one cares if you rip it up). She also great enjoyed dropping things down the side of the seat-so don't bring too much small stuff.

Also be sure to look at the aircraft installation instructions for your car seat. Mine were different than for a car install, and I felt more prepared having figured it out in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really surprised at all these people who are suggesting an iPad. Really? You can't entertain your 11 month old for an hour and a half? A few books and a couple of loveys, my boobs for take off and landing, and we're good to go.

+1,000. Who seriously entertains an 11 month old with an iPad? I wouldn't even do that for my 3 year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really surprised at all these people who are suggesting an iPad. Really? You can't entertain your 11 month old for an hour and a half? A few books and a couple of loveys, my boobs for take off and landing, and we're good to go.

Sorry to go off topic here, but this kind of snarky sanctimommy response is why DCUM can drive me nuts. Of course I'm capable of entertaining my 12 mo, and one of the ways I do it is to play on the iPad with him. He loves the peekaboo barn app, and it's enjoyable to play with him. Maybe OP has the same stick up her ass that you do and will scorn the friendly, helpful advice offered by people who use electronics, but if not, now she has some ideas. She sounded a bit stressed in her post, so I would think any ideas would be welcome.

Hijack over. OP, lots of good advice here, and I'm sorry about your family member's death .

But there are peekaboo barn BOOKS. Screens are recommended against for the under 2 set. I wasn't being snarky or a sanctimommy. I included what I bring when I take my toddler on planes. If I had been sanctimonious I would have said "Oh, I would NEVER let MY baby see a screen, because while obviously you don't, but I value my child's brain!" I genuinely AM surprised, so I said that. I've flown 12+ hours with my 17 month old numerous times throughout her life, so I'm not speaking without experience on this. Sorry if it came across in a negative way though; that wasn't my intent.

Your point was well taken. I can't contemplate showing a kid that age a screen. It beggars belief. I am absolutely stunned that several people would suggest it. There are many easy ways to entertain a kid that age. Just reading the in flight magazines or safety card are enough to get them interested.

[Anonymous]

Sorry about the death in the family.
Great suggestions.
Remember a binky for taking and landoff, to alleviate air pressure.
As for iPads, isn't the recommendation to introduce screens later?