Flying with a toddler

[Stoof]

Just take your trip. Like others have said take plenty of snacks and entertainment. I've flown solo with two kids under the age of three (one a toddler) several times. Fussy kids will be fussy and chill kids will be chill.

[johnpaul]

Also for anybody annoyed by a crying kid can just get the hell over it. You’re grown you should be prepared and have noise canceling headphones on a long flight anyway. Those parents are generally embarrassed as it is

I don't mind a crying kid as long as the parent attempts to stop it. I've been on way too many flights where parents just put their head phones on and let their kid wail away...

[bphillips]

I don't mind a crying kid as long as the parent attempts to stop it. I've been on way too many flights where parents just put their head phones on and let their kid wail away...

True I feel their pain when they’re trying to make it better

[BrianL]

Grab one of those big bottles of earplugs for those around you, but hope you don't need to hand any out. I just flew back from Maui with a lady holding a 7-month-old. Never heard that kid cry one time. I was really dreading 7 hours of screaming kid when I sat down.

[JBT]

as others have said just put in the preparation and you will survive - we fly with our now 3 year old all the time and although i wouldnt describe it as relaxing he does great BECAUSE my wife PLANS - here is her punch list:

- meal (healthy normal breakfast/lunch) in a bento style lunchbox
-juice and water
-grab bag of special treats/candy (suckers, m&m's, etc. for bribery if he starts to get antsy)
-ipad and headphones with DOWNLOADED content so you don't need wifi
-assorted toys
-coloring book and colored PENCILS (so he doesnt get marker on seats/himself/us)
-mini bottles of booze (for US )

with all that said 15+ hours is about triple anything we have attempted - as the bad guy in Taken said............ Good Luck

Ps: if it's in the budget buy the extra seat, you will not regret having the extra space on that long of a flight

[Micahbo]

I have made the flight from Dallas to Sydney and it is a brutal flight. I could not imagine having a kid in my lap, even if you have multiple family members to pass around. There will be a time after dinner to "sleep" and that will be rough if there is a kid in the lap. The sleep is something to strongly consider because the jet lag will be worst if you aren't able to get half decent sleep.

[equyst]

have never done but it seems to be so much fun

[ramrod]

Everyone will be more comfortable with the extra seat. We brought the car seat on the plane so she could sleep better.

[Ginja Ninja]

I agree with buying him a seat. Flew with my 1 year old in July, but it was only 4 hours. She did great without the extra seat, but was definitely a ticking time bomb by the time we landed.
That being said, asking a little one to fly that long, and not expecting a meltdown at some point is setting yourself up for failure.
But you gotta get there right? You won't ever see those people again.

If you need more justification, tell your wife it adds a free checked bag, and allows for another carry on...

[Robertt]

I saw a flight attendant put a napkin in the bottom of one of the plastic cups and wet it with hot water. She made sure it didn't drip or run and laid a toddlers head over and covered his ear for a few minutes. Did they same thing on his other ear. It helped with the popping during take off.

[175gr7.62]

I bottle with some OJ and a heavy dose of rum should fix them right up.

[yaqui]

My kids cried and screamed all the way to Hawaii and back. It was terrible, what is worse, they were 21 and 23 years old.