Another toddler travel amusement question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m the PP who traveled recently. I didn’t get the sense that Op felt guilty or had to feel engaged with her kid. I think she is asking for the same reason I was anxious about traveling - I just want to keep my kid quiet and not disturb other passengers. And at this age, the iPad may not work. Mine was not terribly interested for long stretches and was way more into quietly organizing or “counting” things.

[Anonymous]

small container of play dough
coding dot stickers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Uggg. I hate it when parents book overnight flights with kids. How selfish...you know the kid isn't going to sleep.

Learn how to use ear plugs if this bothers you so much. I have taken plenty of long haul flights and kids are almost never the most annoying passengers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DH is right, that's a bit over the top. Half that stuff would still be plenty. At that age there was a lot of walking around to the back of the plane to look at stuff and distract them (9 hr flights). And iPad / learning pad with age appropriate games always pack melatonin to help them fall asleep at nap time. It's tiring, have your DH take turns.

You advise drugs more than you advise activities? Really?

Yes, I am a terrible mother who drugs my kids instead of doing play dough and pipe cleaners.
Honestly now, melatonin is totally fine occasionally. It does NOT put them to sleep, just helps them a bit. What's your problem with it?

Nothing at all wrong with some melatonin to help them calm down. It's not like you're giving it to them every day.

We've traveled a lot with DD and relied a lot on sticker books. We also relaxed all screen time restrictions (except when we wanted her to go to sleep, since it kept her up). We also gave almost constant snacks. Being on a plane with a toddler is all about surviving.

I'm the melatonin poster. I agree it's about surviving. My kids can go into full tantrums as they get tired and are fighting sleep. It's a nightmare situation on a plane as nothing will sooth them (overtired). The high point was when I was flying back alone with a baby and a toddler. All was well until I had to go change the baby poop diaper and my 2 year old was having the worst tantrum. I literally had to drag him on the floor to walk down the aile to the bathroom. Most embarrassing moment.

PP here. That's horrible, I'm so sorry. Our worst flight was Phoenix to DC when DD was around 18 months old. All 3 of us had a horrible stomach bug, complete with diarrhea and vomiting. Super fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DH is right, that's a bit over the top. Half that stuff would still be plenty. At that age there was a lot of walking around to the back of the plane to look at stuff and distract them (9 hr flights). And iPad / learning pad with age appropriate games always pack melatonin to help them fall asleep at nap time. It's tiring, have your DH take turns.

You advise drugs more than you advise activities? Really?

Yes, I am a terrible mother who drugs my kids instead of doing play dough and pipe cleaners.
Honestly now, melatonin is totally fine occasionally. It does NOT put them to sleep, just helps them a bit. What's your problem with it?

Nothing at all wrong with some melatonin to help them calm down. It's not like you're giving it to them every day.

We've traveled a lot with DD and relied a lot on sticker books. We also relaxed all screen time restrictions (except when we wanted her to go to sleep, since it kept her up). We also gave almost constant snacks. Being on a plane with a toddler is all about surviving.

I'm the melatonin poster. I agree it's about surviving. My kids can go into full tantrums as they get tired and are fighting sleep. It's a nightmare situation on a plane as nothing will sooth them (overtired). The high point was when I was flying back alone with a baby and a toddler. All was well until I had to go change the baby poop diaper and my 2 year old was having the worst tantrum. I literally had to drag him on the floor to walk down the aile to the bathroom. Most embarrassing moment.

PP here. That's horrible, I'm so sorry. Our worst flight was Phoenix to DC when DD was around 18 months old. All 3 of us had a horrible stomach bug, complete with diarrhea and vomiting. Super fun!

Arg, that is my nightmare. We moved across the country with our 6 month old when all of us had the flu (not flying though). We just laid in our new place with unopened boxes and ordered Pho for 2 weeks. Horrible horrible time. The baby somehow got over it quicker than us. Those times are really tough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate the title of this thread. "Amusement" isn't the goal when travelling with a toddler on a long flight. The goal is peace and quiet and an iPad with headphones is the best solution. Turning your row into a playroom is a horrible idea.

Interesting, because most of the threads on DCUM disagree with you.

Aside from that, if you had any literacy skills, you would see that it is not just flight time being considered. But thanks for being a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DH is right, that's a bit over the top. Half that stuff would still be plenty. At that age there was a lot of walking around to the back of the plane to look at stuff and distract them (9 hr flights). And iPad / learning pad with age appropriate games always pack melatonin to help them fall asleep at nap time. It's tiring, have your DH take turns.

You advise drugs more than you advise activities? Really?

Yes, I am a terrible mother who drugs my kids instead of doing play dough and pipe cleaners.
Honestly now, melatonin is totally fine occasionally. It does NOT put them to sleep, just helps them a bit. What's your problem with it?

Nothing at all wrong with some melatonin to help them calm down. It's not like you're giving it to them every day.

We've traveled a lot with DD and relied a lot on sticker books. We also relaxed all screen time restrictions (except when we wanted her to go to sleep, since it kept her up). We also gave almost constant snacks. Being on a plane with a toddler is all about surviving.

I'm the melatonin poster. I agree it's about surviving. My kids can go into full tantrums as they get tired and are fighting sleep. It's a nightmare situation on a plane as nothing will sooth them (overtired). The high point was when I was flying back alone with a baby and a toddler. All was well until I had to go change the baby poop diaper and my 2 year old was having the worst tantrum. I literally had to drag him on the floor to walk down the aile to the bathroom. Most embarrassing moment.

PP here. That's horrible, I'm so sorry. Our worst flight was Phoenix to DC when DD was around 18 months old. All 3 of us had a horrible stomach bug, complete with diarrhea and vomiting. Super fun!

OP here.. did you post a thread or detailed post about a year ago (keeping in mind I still think half the 80s happened 20 years ago)?

I remember reading your post and just dreading every moment for you!

[Anonymous]

Wrap everything in wrapping paper. It's a gift! It's an activty! It makes whatever is inside more exciting. Use the ugly paper that you could only use for that one gift and don't know when you'll use again. They don't care.

And whole, uncut apples. They are hard for little ones to eat but they want to eat them. You may need to start the first bite for them, but it takes a really long time for them to eat. I swear it occupied my 1.5 year old on a flight for at least 30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m the PP who traveled recently. I didn’t get the sense that Op felt guilty or had to feel engaged with her kid. I think she is asking for the same reason I was anxious about traveling - I just want to keep my kid quiet and not disturb other passengers. And at this age, the iPad may not work. Mine was not terribly interested for long stretches and was way more into quietly organizing or “counting” things.

This thread has exposed several very strange ideas about being a person in public. Yes, we must be mindful of others when in a public space - that's politeness 101. But it's sad to think that a parent has to silence themselves in public to appease a bunch of strangers that they'll 1) never see again and 2) tbh can take care of themselves. Want to hear something other than a random talking to their kid? Earphones! It's ludicrous to expect parents (who are having the toughest time on the plane) to act like they're not there.

Do what you have to do to get through the flight, while exercising basic common sense about manners Your fellow passengers can have their needs met at the destination.

[Anonymous]

My only advice is not to pack so many duplicates - like 5 water wows plus crayola wonder. When my kid is done with water wow, a different one isn’t going to entertain them.

My kids are entertained for a long time with playdoh/a couple of cookie cutters and scratch art.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m sorry. Sad as it is, I agree with this pp totally. The performative parents are grating. I don’t mind kid sounds or even tantrums.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m sorry. Sad as it is, I agree with this pp totally. The performative parents are grating. I don’t mind kid sounds or even tantrums.

Yes, this. Also, our 2.5 year old boy loves the treat of watching tv, eating whatever snacks he wants etc. He also desperately wanted to sleep on the overnight flight after a bit. We did not bring more than a couple new toys and he wasn’t interested in the ipad games. He’s normally really active but we just got him excited about his “special” tv time and snack time and he was an angel on our flights to and from Europe (and the connecting flights). Less of an angel waiting in the airport but you pick your battles!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your DH is right, that's a bit over the top. Half that stuff would still be plenty. At that age there was a lot of walking around to the back of the plane to look at stuff and distract them (9 hr flights). And iPad / learning pad with age appropriate games always pack melatonin to help them fall asleep at nap time. It's tiring, have your DH take turns.

You advise drugs more than you advise activities? Really?

Yes, I am a terrible mother who drugs my kids instead of doing play dough and pipe cleaners.
Honestly now, melatonin is totally fine occasionally. It does NOT put them to sleep, just helps them a bit. What's your problem with it?

Nothing at all wrong with some melatonin to help them calm down. It's not like you're giving it to them every day.

We've traveled a lot with DD and relied a lot on sticker books. We also relaxed all screen time restrictions (except when we wanted her to go to sleep, since it kept her up). We also gave almost constant snacks. Being on a plane with a toddler is all about surviving.

+1 this. Plenty of parents give melatonin to kids regularly. There was a NY Times article this weekend about how pediatricians are recommending it for regular use. There is no problem to give a kid a melatonin gummy occasionally for something like a flight. Your kid will definitely be happier sleeping than doing his 4th water wow book on an overnight flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m sorry. Sad as it is, I agree with this pp totally. The performative parents are grating. I don’t mind kid sounds or even tantrums.

Yes, this. Also, our 2.5 year old boy loves the treat of watching tv, eating whatever snacks he wants etc. He also desperately wanted to sleep on the overnight flight after a bit. We did not bring more than a couple new toys and he wasn’t interested in the ipad games. He’s normally really active but we just got him excited about his “special” tv time and snack time and he was an angel on our flights to and from Europe (and the connecting flights). Less of an angel waiting in the airport but you pick your battles!

Yup. Our kids like flying a lot because it’s the only time they get unlimited screen time. (And before you call me out for being a bad parent, my kids get zero screen time on school days.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the honest answer:

Use the iPad and headphones, and don't engage vocally with him too much. It's not the kid that's annoying to the other passengers, it's the grinding constant "mom voice" that pisses everyone off.

Don't feel that you have to be overly interactive with him to impress the other parents. Nobody gives a crap if he is on the iPad all flight as long as they don't have to hear you. Noise from the kid is expected...you, on the other hand, shouldn't be heard.

I’m sorry. Sad as it is, I agree with this pp totally. The performative parents are grating. I don’t mind kid sounds or even tantrums.

Yes, this. Also, our 2.5 year old boy loves the treat of watching tv, eating whatever snacks he wants etc. He also desperately wanted to sleep on the overnight flight after a bit. We did not bring more than a couple new toys and he wasn’t interested in the ipad games. He’s normally really active but we just got him excited about his “special” tv time and snack time and he was an angel on our flights to and from Europe (and the connecting flights). Less of an angel waiting in the airport but you pick your battles!

Yup. Our kids like flying a lot because it’s the only time they get unlimited screen time. (And before you call me out for being a bad parent, my kids get zero screen time on school days.)

Same. My 2.5yo's tablet "only works on airplanes." Also, my ped endorsed melatonin, so y'all harping about "drugs" can calm down.