High-pitched screaming "for fun"? Hitting and pinching you?

You're a tool. Your kids' future teachers are just going to LOVE you, and your brat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have travelled a lot since my kids were born (including international trips) and my kids (6 and 4) are great travelers. We have had some bad flights and also a couple of VERY bad ones. Discipline would probably work with my kids now, but at 3 discipline can backfire. In my opinion, in those instances it's time to stop thinking long-term about your child's development and just get through the flight. Yes, it's better to read books than watch Dora, but that's probably not going to score you any points. After you've shuffled through books, toys, etc. It's time to bring out the potato chips, large cookie, and videos. Silently admit to yourself that in a crowded plane, your child will win the battle. A friend suggested I bring a box of Band-Aids for my then two YO to rip through. (Messy and somewhat wasteful but easy to pick up.). I've also bought my kids a new, small toy for a particularly long flight. Don't break it out until you need to. Actually, that's another cardinal rule- don't break out food or other high value items until the usual stuff is exhausted. Good luck!

You know what, this is funny for me. Before I had a child, if I were to see a mom on a plane giving her toddler potato chips and cookies, and allowing the kid to waste an entire box of band aids (and make such a mess), I'd have thought she was an awful, clueless, parent with a bratty child. Now that I have a 2 year old son I'm thinking "brilliant ideas for a long plane flight!"

I recently took an early AM flight with my 2 year old. He saw potato chips when we were getting a bagel and went nuts to have them. I bought them thinking he could have them on the flight. Nope. He wanted them IMMEDIATELY. I caved for expediency and handed over the bag. He boarded the plane peacefully eating his bag of chips and walked all the way to his seat at the back of the plane without asking once for me to pick him up, which was huge. I am sure we got a few judgemental looks along the way, but I didn't care. Whatever works became my new motto!

We have taken lots of flights, but usually shorter durations. This time, I brought a few of his favorite books in my bag and we read them multiple times each. I got him diluted apple juice when they did drink service and that was a real treat. He also got cookies (Delta ones) and took a long time eating them with his "juice." I also like when they give pretzels, as I break them in half and DS takes forever to eat them. New toys are always a treat and buy some time. I would try games or videos on the iPad for a longer flight.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read the other responses, but I am wondering if you are sure you couldn't walk around the plane a few times? I flew many times with DD at that age, and even when the seatbelt sign is on you can go to the bathroom. So we "went to the bathroom" several times in a flight, even if really all we were doing was walking down the aisle back and forth a few times between drink service (i.e. when the aisles were empty).

I hope parents didn't have the same thought on the recent Philly-Orlando flight where they hit such severe turbulence people were launched out of their seats and dented the overhead containers. I can't imagine walking w/ my child when that happens. You can't hold onto them. The seatbelt sign is on for a reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just thought of this (too late for my own recent flight) - what about those ball toys for dogs that you hide treats in but it's s challenge to get them out? Would that work for a kid?

My theory is that dog toys and baby toys are basically the same. I like the idea of a Kong for kids. It would totally keep my kid entertained--she can spend what seems like hours putting Cheerios into her snack cup and taking them back out again.

Anonymous wrote:You need to tell him no and to stop. Telling him how it makes you feel...please.

You are the kind of parent that makes me so mad at kids on planes. Some parents are doing every thing they can to keep their kids quiet and you are just exploring feelings - basically doing nothing, nada, zip.

Do anything and everything that you can to keep your child quiet for the sake of your fellow passengers. You have no right making a long flight miserable for other paying passengers and you are raising an entitled child.

I have two children and we travel a great deal especially to Europe. My kids, now 6 and 9, NEVER saw TV or movies except when they were on a flight - this made flying so enjoyable for them that they didn't get bored or restless. I also gave them treats they never got in "real life". My carry-on was filled with books, puzzles, games. Even during the terrible twos my kids understood when they could and couldn't get up and never threw any kind of a fit on a plane.

Anonymous wrote:I thought Benadryl was no longer recommended for kids.

Well it most certainly is recommended by me!

At what age is dramamine an option?

Anonymous wrote:Just say no. Sternly. "You're making bad choices"???
Why are people so afraid of discipline?

Wow, you are brilliant. Why didn't the rest of us think of that? Are you even a parent?

Ipad children's games are great especially if they have never seen them before- Toca Boca monster Kitchen, Toca Boca Train, Toca Boca Hair Salon etc.

And seriously did a PP really write that a flight with an over tired child was the time to discipline? I really wonder sometimes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just thought of this (too late for my own recent flight) - what about those ball toys for dogs that you hide treats in but it's s challenge to get them out? Would that work for a kid?

My theory is that dog toys and baby toys are basically the same. I like the idea of a Kong for kids. It would totally keep my kid entertained--she can spend what seems like hours putting Cheerios into her snack cup and taking them back out again.

PP here who put cheerios in various containers...I got this idea from a child care professional. Try putting Cheerios in an empty spice jar (lid is a challenge to flip open, and too small of an opening to fit a toddler/baby hand into) and THESE STACKING TOYS: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stack-Roll/dp/B000LSZVJQ (basically a ball with a hole at each end, exactly like some of the Kongs). Also plastic water bottles, small coffee can with a hole cut in the lid, etc. I used to sit DS in his highchair and let him work on these while I made dinner.

You can also get one of those weekly pill containers -- the jumbo ones with S/M/T/W/T/F/S on them? -- and fill each compartment with a different little treat (cheerios, gerber puffs, whatever) -- my daughter LOVED those.

Just say no. Sternly. "You're making bad choices"???
Why are people so afraid of discipline?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Second bendaryl

Some kids hype up on Benadryl.

Whoa, I am so NOT a fan of using drugs (even benadryl) to modify kid behavior. Unless a child is super anxious or fearful of flying or something extreme, it seems like a BAD idea to think in terms of drugging kids to keep them quieter/more docile on flights.

I didn't read the other responses, but I am wondering if you are sure you couldn't walk around the plane a few times? I flew many times with DD at that age, and even when the seatbelt sign is on you can go to the bathroom. So we "went to the bathroom" several times in a flight, even if really all we were doing was walking down the aisle back and forth a few times between drink service (i.e. when the aisles were empty).

I also think you probably could diversify what you bring for your child to do. I made a point of always saving a couple of videos or games that usually DD didn't get to see/play, or coloring books she didn't usually get to play with, and break them out on long flights so it was like a special treat and it kept her occupied. It did kind of get to the point though where she expected new/exciting things and would barely play with one thing before asking "What else do you have??" but we got through it.

Lastly, you probably need to work on your sense of how you handle your DS's screaming, since most likely that's what you were really worried about (that and crying or kicking are the only things anyone else on the plane is even going to notice). You may not do much to curb it when you're at home because it's normal or you think it's not a big deal. You may want to try working on how you handle the screaming in "safe" environments where you can figure out which approach will help your son to understand "inside voice" and "outside voice", or at least to understand/follow that when you're in restaurants or on planes.

I think I briefly saw someone say "indulge him", that is a huge huge mistake. As soon as he realizes you will do anything he wants in certain contexts, you are asking for the worst behavior you've ever seen or the most absurd requests/demands youv'e ever seen. Consistent behavior expectations are much more effective.

Good luck on your next flight!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just thought of this (too late for my own recent flight) - what about those ball toys for dogs that you hide treats in but it's s challenge to get them out? Would that work for a kid?

My theory is that dog toys and baby toys are basically the same. I like the idea of a Kong for kids. It would totally keep my kid entertained--she can spend what seems like hours putting Cheerios into her snack cup and taking them back out again.

PP here who put cheerios in various containers...I got this idea from a child care professional. Try putting Cheerios in an empty spice jar (lid is a challenge to flip open, and too small of an opening to fit a toddler/baby hand into) and THESE STACKING TOYS: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Brilliant-Basics-Stack-Roll/dp/B000LSZVJQ (basically a ball with a hole at each end, exactly like some of the Kongs). Also plastic water bottles, small coffee can with a hole cut in the lid, etc. I used to sit DS in his highchair and let him work on these while I made dinner.

Anonymous wrote:I just thought of this (too late for my own recent flight) - what about those ball toys for dogs that you hide treats in but it's s challenge to get them out? Would that work for a kid?

Lol. When my son was around 1, I'd put Cheerios in various containers and let him work on how to get them out. Great distraction! And I did always think of it as one of those dog toys, but for babies

For long flights, go to the dollar section at Target. Buy a bunch of little things. Wrap each one. Let the kid unwrap and play with each toy for a while. Seriously works.