Flying With Toddlers: Tips For Distraction, Tips For Tantrums
Flying with toddlers is far more difficult than flying with an infant in my opinion. It’s the need to get up, run the aisles, move around, have another snack, read a different book, take an abbreviated nap, go pee, and that minute-attention span that makes it not only exhausting but nerve-racking for most of us. Although the challenge is real, success comes with having a good plan, allowing extra time, and packing the right snacks, toys, and books to keep your toddler occupied. That 3,000 mile flight at 30,000 feet can be a ton of fun! The above tip came from a friend years ago. Prepare for the worst and expect the best when flying with toddlers–hopefully this blue tape idea sticks. (ha)
Now dealing with tantrums while up in the air is another challenge in and of itself. Many of us heard about the toddler kicked off an airplane, and have also heard about the opinion for commercial airline children-free flights. Although I wholeheartedly disagree that we should segregate flights by age, I do think these stories in the news media elevate our anxiety for flying with our children. Don’t let it. You’re always the best one to support and help your child on the ground or up in the air. Don’t let the public shake that truth. My tips for dealing with tantrums at 35,000 feet aren’t very different from those on the ground: provide consistency, provide distraction, and provide comfort. But more, set yourself up for success by clearing the tension with passengers sitting next to you ahead of time. Acknowledge the challenge. I’ve found it not only decreases my own anxiety, it allows for a much better reception when things don’t go as planned. Click to read full post for my additional 1-minute video explanation and a few ideas. What are yours?
Renee B says
How timely this post is!!! I received it in my email just as my husband, 19 month old and I were landing. I am not a fan of distracting our daughter with our smart phones, but downloading two episodes of Sesame Street was a life saver! Just my little add on (although I admit it with a twinge of guilt).
Oh and just a request, what info should a patent bring when having to seek urgent care out of town (from a Dr’s view point)? What about having to travel with a sick kiddo?
Heather says
My 3.5 year old has flown 14 times in his life and napped exactly once.
Our gameplan
1. Narrating the entire way, it is a strange, chaotic, and oddly rigid set of circumstances even for adults so there is no reason to think that it won’t be for kids.
2. Leave them on their feet as long as possible in most circumstances. My thought is that little bodies need to move so even though it takes a lot longer we walk as long as he is well behaved. He can stand up and look around as much as he wants until the seatbelt light comes on.
3. The magical seatbelt light. Happily, needing the seatbelt isn’t his parents fault – we taught him the light at about 2 years old so he can check if he needs his seatbelt on his own. We are doing enough minor corrections during the flight to be happy to pass yapping about a seatbelt off onto the light.
4. Snacks aren’t sweet. Either by excitement or sugar sweet snacks effect his behavior, he is fed and watered in a way that support is best attributes.
5. We don’t fly during sleeping times – when we believed that every child would conk out on a plane we tried it. We had an exhausted, excited tornado on our hands. Now that we know that he doesn’t sleep we fly at times that support his best attributes.
6. We let him know that getting off the plane isn’t the end of it, that there is luggage, the bus to the rental car, getting and setting up the rental. That way we can still be a team and he doesn’t expect that his engagement ends when we say thank you to the pilot.
7. When we find an empty hallway, we run without holding hands. Because it is fun.
8. I don’t bring books and magazines with me, flying with him is a chance to be 100% engaged in him and if I have brought my own distractions then I am dissapointed that I don’t get that quiet time to think my own thoughts and I struggle to stay light-hearted and nimble.
9. Backyardigans on the iPod — because I’m not magical. 🙂