I might be on an 7-8 hours flight with my 8 month old and my 3 years old, any advice?

Patience.

@Val123 patience, check!!

The flying with kids site has some great tips.

this is terrible but you might want to bring a child’s antihistamine in case it gets bad, I used fly back and forth to australia with twin babies, by myself, I was given this by their paediatrician. It can get bad with real little kids. The flight crew will help you with snacks and stuff.

No advice, just wanted to wish you well.

I don’t have children, but I fly a lot. Know that I have only once been on a flight where a baby cried for a long time, and it still was not that long. Everyone understands that some of it is out of your control. This is not a store where you can just walk out with your kid, so if you are concerned about disturbing others, let go of the guilt.

Young babies typically sleep a lot, which helps I think. The worst time is when the plane is decending, as you get close to your destination. Their little eustachian tubes and ears get blocked and hurt. Be sure to have plenty of formula if you are bottle feeding. Usually they can microwave it for you if you need I think? You can call ahead an find out.

Make sure the older one goes to the bathroom before boarding the plane. If you wait on a long line to take off once already boarded no one will be allowed to get out of their seat.

Sorry to hear things are difficult right now, hope all goes well for you.

Best of luck to you, hope all works out for the best. I second patience.

@pinkparaluies You have to stop doing that.

@JLeslie lol. Doing what?

@pinkparaluies Being obnoxious when people are in pain and worried. It is simply mean.

@JLeslie its a joke.

Don’t!

@Mat74UK don’t what?

@2late2be I really don’t have any flying advise for you since I’ve never had to fly with little kids. I’m just wishing you the best & hoping that you find peace & freedom.

Sit in first class. The kids will be fine in coach.

@2late2be Don’t do it alone! Can you not have someone go with you?

ok.. @2late2be please for the love of God do NOT give your child an antihistamine for being rowdy… bring an extra bottle, warm blankets and maybe load some soothing music onto your iphone (if you have large headphones not earbuds this is very helpful).. also if you have acces to a laptop i would suggest a children’s DVD. (I sometimes take those on flights even though i don’t have kids… just in case there is a rowdy one near me.. works every time).

Buy her a game boy with a few games, or maybe some cards to build a card house.

Something digital or entertaining would probably keep her quiet.

@pinkparaluies: Yeah, your comments get annoying.

@Samurai that’s a great sentiment.. but i don’t think a game boy is the thing for an 8 month old baby girl…

She is worried about the infant people, she feels confident about entertaining the older one. Read the Original Question.

Like @loser I just want to wish you safe journey and let you know we are thinking of you if you go.

@2late2be, I wish you luck and a safe trip. Make sure you take advantage of early boarding, and ask for transportation assistance between gates (golf cart thingie.) A bottle when ready to take off should help the little one’s ears, and give your 3 year old a sucker or something to suck on. For the 3 year old, I would take several paper bags and put small distractions in each one and dole them out on regular intervals. Have benadryl with you for the 8 month old. (Our family practitioner recommends Claritin before long flights, to help keep ears clear.)

If you take your car seat as carryon, then perhaps you can be seated three across without anyone with you. That will enable you to put your daughter down instead of having to hold her for the entire flight. Changing diapers on a plane can be a bit of a challenge.

@pinkparaluies: Yeah, your comments get annoying.

@Samurai Thank you. My sentiments exactly.

I’m so sorry you are going through this. Remember that the attendants deal with babies travelling all the time and will help you if they can. It’s just a period of time to get through and the flight will eventually pass. If you can fly at a time that the baby normally sleeps, that may help. Best of luck with all of it!

Ah I see, fool on me. I thought it said 8 year old or something.

Maybe some calm music with head phones.

@2late2be on the off chance you don’t know what a sucker is, used by @PandoraBoxx she means a lollipop/paleta.

If you haven’t tried an antihistamine like Benadryl with your child before, please do so before getting on the plane and trying it there.

There are two reasons. One is a potential bad reaction (though I’ve never heard of one, anything is possible). The other reason is because it makes some children HYPER. God forbid you get on a plane and try this for the first time and either of these things happen.

can’t you get your mum to come and make the flight with you?

Wow, I don’t know the situation, but it sounds like you’re doing something really good for yourself. I remember my little brother when he was eight months old. He wasn’t really walking yet but liked to scootch around on a blanket on the floor and loved to be bounced. Everything he did was in short bursts, and putting him in the car was a great way to calm him down. Maybe your 8-month-old will like the slight constant vibration of the plane, or sleep most of the time. Is there a way you can schedule your flight in advance so it’s not a straight shot? I know airports aren’t really much better than airplanes, and most people hate layovers, but it might be good to have a break or two from being stuck in one small space. Good luck!

Benadryl. I’m serious. Not for the 8 month old though. I’d nurse or bottle feed (whichever you do) as much as possible. I’d be more worried about the 3 year old. And I would give Benedryl, as long as you know how he’ll react before hand (some children get hyper from it)

Good for you for getting out!
If you are strong enough to leave that situation, then you can do this without someone traveling with you. I know it.

Do you have a portable dvd player? I’m not sure what your little girl likes, but if she is entertained by tv.. that might be something to keep her attention for a while.

If she can crawl and starts getting antsy, let her crawl around the aisle near you when people aren’t wandering around.

Oh, and cheerios.
Lots of cheerios.

I disagree with the idea of splitting up the flight into two legs. Take off and landing are the worst times, the fewer the better. The worst thing is to get your ear blocked on the first descent, and then have to do another one. If you can take an evening flight, your younger one will likely fall asleep and you can be more focused on the baby if he/she needs you.

Oh yeah, don’t split up the flights! Transferring plans with a child is hell. We flew with our son at 13 months…it was alright because I had my husband..but the time in between flights was exhausting!

@avvooooooo is right! Both my daughter and me have a paradoxical reaction to the active ingredient in Benadryl. We become restless and hyper.

I have flown with my daughter twice. Once when she was about 10 months and once when she was two. The time she was two was much more difficult – and that was the time that I had my husband to help. The worst part for me was all of the nasty looks people give you in anticipation of your child acting up. You should have seen this one guy’s face when he realized I was sitting beside him with a baby on my lap!

Pack some of their favorite toys in your carry on and rotate them regularly. Let her move around – even having her stand on your lap and look over the seats will be entertaining. Is it possible to also have your 3 y/o “hold” her with your help? It will be something “new” to break up the boredom. I actually think she will sleep a lot.

Just remember this: It may turn out to be difficult and frustrating, but it will be over in 7–8 hours.

I don’t know your situation, but I wish you the best.

Hmm. I don’t have advice, but have a safe flight! And good luck. if you believe in prayers, good, because you’re in mine.

I’ve never flown with a baby that young, but think of what she likes to do with her hands and plan accordingly. When my son was 13 months old, we flew halfway across the country and I worried that he’d drive everyone crazy by being unable to sit still on the plane. What kept him busy for most of the flight? Cheerios and a small box. He’d stuff some Cheerios in, fish them out, eat a couple, stuff them back in, fish them out, over and over. As long as he had Cheerios, he was happy.

Try to pack some small toys that your baby has never seen before. The novelty will keep her attention longer. Also, you can get some of that “mess free” art stuff, like Crayola’s Color Wonder (I think that’s what it’s called). The markers only work on certain paper and don’t make a mess. Even an 8 month old can scribble with a marker, and your three year old will keep busy with that as well. If you have room in your carryon for some small picture books, that’ll be great. I recently flew with my 4 year old, and had him bring a backpack of toys, Maybe your son could wear a backpack, and also carry a few fun things for his baby sister. That way you aren’t stuck hauling around a huge bag and two small children.

If you have a layover, find a place where your kids can move around a lot between flights. I took my son outside the airport during a layover and had him run in circles, jump around, and basically use up some energy.The downside was we had to go through security again. If you can find a spot for the baby to crawl or scoot around (if she’s doing that), she might be happier to sit when you’re back on the plane. I second the suggestion about bottles, and I really believe that children on planes can never have too many snacks. Not sugary, bad things, but crackers or cereal.

Just as an FYI, in case you haven’t flown for a while, the airline may not provide snacks unless you pay for them. We flew United, and the snacks were $3 each. You could get a snack box for several dollars more. I was so glad I’d packed snacks for my son instead of planning on having them provided on the plane.

why so serious?

@pinkparaluies Because its not a funny question. Its a serious question. There’s a difference.

Just thought of another one, make sure you have an aisle seat so you can get up and walk around with the baby.

Another one, ask the flight attendants or someone sitting next to you to help you, or keep an eye on the children, when you need to go to the bathroom, don’t try to juggle the infant in one of those little bathrooms.

they’ll seat you at the bulkhead where there will be a cot for your baby. you might have to just cry along with your baby for the whole flight. just remember, it’ll be over with and then you can start your new life.

@MissAusten – yeah, their snacks aren’t really… edible. I miss the peanuts. D;

@troubleinharlem Delta still has peanuts.

Oh, the seat near the door, while chilly, has a lot of space in front of it.

I froze my butt off from Jacksonville to San Juan sitting next to the door, but there was a LOT of leg room. If I had a little one, I might see if I could get those seats and dress them warmly in light sweaters and socks and such.

@avvooooooo Depends on the how big the Jet is and how the seats are configured.

@avvooooooo I believe you have to be at least 15 to sit in an exit row. There are other rules too since people sitting there are expected to be able to help others out of the plane in case of emergency. Definitely more room, though.

It does depend on the plane. If its a bigger one (with more than a 3 and 3 configuration) she might be able to get middle seats up front that aren’t next to the door. Whatever @2late2be does, she might be able to call the airline and get seat suggestions and assignments that make sense for her situation.

They will not let you sit next to the door if you’re traveling with small children.

I heard that the smell of lavender can help people to relax as it has a calming effect . Maybe you can bring some up to the plane (= For yourself and the two kids !

We are all with you ! (=

I saw several people suggest Benedryl. I understand the reluctance of some to actually medicate a child when they aren’t sick, but I’d have Benedryl on hand just in case. My youngest daughter was such a fuss bucket that I actually got happy when she came down with a cold and I had a reason to give her Benedryl! It was the only time I’d get a full night of sleep!
Also, you might call the Doctor and see if he has any suggestions? We had to fly with my Mom once, and she had Alzheimer’s. No one was sure how she’d handle the flight, and the Doctor gave us a motion sickness drug that also induces calmness. But she didn’t need it.