Flying solo with 16month old - extremely nervous! | ExpatWoman.com
 

Flying solo with 16month old - extremely nervous!

6
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 13:39

have any of you done this and do you have any tips for survival? it's a long flight and ds is not one to sit still really. recently started walking as well so still finds it extremely exciting and want to do it all the time.
i've booked night flights as much as i could but there will be one leg where he'll spend a whole morning on the flight before we land.
i'm so stressed out at the prospect of being stuck in seat with an overactive toddler screaming to be let loose ;-)

any tips would be most welcome!

1848
Posts
EW EXPERT
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 14:46
Get some play dough. The two of you can make shapes on the tray table. Dont worry so much about other passengers. Some people will always be unhappy whether your child is well behaved or not. Some people just complain for the sake of it. You can only control your child's behaviour to a certain point. He is at an age where he wants to explore and not sit down. Take him for walks. A plane is public transport at the end of the day. I used to stress so much about other people and then later realised its really not worth it. Fortunately havent had any problems so far. I'm sure your flight will be okay.
668
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 14:40
Thanks for the replies ladies. @LuLee - my son isn't really interested in books, still tries to chew on it if i bring it out but i'll try and change that before we fly, it's a good time spender. Will definitely finda bulkhead seat, just praying the flights not too full so if there's someone sat next to me they'll have the opportunity to move as I'm sure it won't be a peaceful flight for them ;-) i'll try take as many toys he likes as i can, normally he ignores his toys and plays with everyday things. will just have to get through it! If you can, buy some new ones that way he can play with it for a while. And don't show him before the flight. If you take old ones, he'll probably won't be interested. I'm only buying new books for him because I'm the one sick of the ones he has now. If I read Goodnight Moon again, I will die.
6
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 14:33
Thanks for the replies ladies. @LuLee - my son isn't really interested in books, still tries to chew on it if i bring it out but i'll try and change that before we fly, it's a good time spender. Will definitely finda bulkhead seat, just praying the flights not too full so if there's someone sat next to me they'll have the opportunity to move as I'm sure it won't be a peaceful flight for them ;-) i'll try take as many toys he likes as i can, normally he ignores his toys and plays with everyday things. will just have to get through it!
668
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 14:25
I'm also flying solo with an 18 month old, a 16 hour flight :O. The first leg to Germany is a night flight so I'm hoping he sleeps most if it not all. Will try really hard to sleep as well. Then the other leg is close to 9hours, I'm pretty sure he'll be awake for most of it. I'm not looking forward to it. Just bring lots of healthy snacks with you, new small toys, my son loves books, so I'm going to buy a few new ones. He can sit for hours literally if I read it to him.
225
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 14:20
Danel, I found it handy having a seat booked for DD. She did not spend much time sitting anyway, but at least it was used to keep all her toys :) finger puppets, stickies, entertainment system remote control - these were the best toys. Wrapping toys in sparkly paper will keep him busy for 5 more minutes - every little helps. Have a safe flight!
5499
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 24 August 2011 - 13:46
Depends on the seat configuration of the aircraft but if it's 2 seats to the side try and get the aisel seat with an empty window seat if at all possible (even better still if it's bulkhead). I found it easier to sit in the aisle seat and let DS have his seat plus the floor space to play in while I was blocking his exit to the aisle.
 
 

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