[jimanddarla]

We'll be bringing Abe home sometime in the next several weeks and are obviously very excited about this. But we are worried about the flight home. You see, Abe doesn't like to sit in somebody's lap for more than about 2 minutes!

His foster family does regular calls with their web cam for us and he just hates sitting in his FM's (or anybody else's) lap! He struggles and reaches for people who are standing nearby. If they take him and sit down he again struggles to get loose! The only time he sits still is when they give him his pachita (bottle.) The last web cam call consisted of him zooming past the camera several times in his walker! (Please don't get me wrong we LOVE his web cam calls!!!!!!)

So, short of taking a 5 gallon pachita onto the plane, how are we going to deal with a one-year-old boy who doesn't want to sit still for a 3 1/2 hour flight? We have already had the suggestion of keeping a new toy until the flight. We'll also have books and stickers for him.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

[robandjulie]

A laptop or ipod with some kids cartoons may help. You'll want some kid-friendly headphones, too; not the earbuds.

books with flaps and touch and such always work for my DD. Interesting snacks he might not have seen before (teddy grahams, alphabits, puffs, etc). And a stash of lightweight toys, perhaps wrapped up loosely in some wrapping paper to make it more fun (not sure how security would feel about that).

Safe travels!

[4boyssofar]

Kids his age usually love the small magnadoodles. Also lots of picture books and if you can find one with pics of babies in it-babies love to look at pics of other babies!
Good luck and congrats!!

Maybe you be blessed and he will sleep through most of the flight. You never know what they will do until you are in the air!!

[susy...patience]

And he sounds like a kid who definitely needs his own seat.........I know that it costs more but it will make the ride easier. I also recently found that just playing with the ice in the cup kept my little girl entertained for a while on the plane ride home. Also paging through the magazines was a big hit.

[mildredjohn]

At the counter of the airline ask if the flight is full or not and if is not ask them to accomodate you in one row with empty spaces.

[mediate24]

You just described our little guy! I was a little worried about the flight home, but it went well. We scheduled a very early flight and kept him awake until the plane took off. We then gave him his bottle and he slept about half of the flight. We were lucky on our first flight to have a row to ourselves so he got to climb around when he woke up. Definitely request an empty row, if possible. Gerber puffs and cheerios really helped and he loved looking at the magazines. We just made sure we had plenty of different toys to keep him occupied. We did the same trick on the second flight. Kept him awake until the flight took off and brought out the bottle. Unfortunately, that flight was full, but we were lucky to be seated by two lovely ladies that he charmed the rest of the way home. Good luck! He will be fine. Oh, we also bought those baby earplugs for airplanes and he did not have any problems with the pressure change. You can purchase them at the airport.

Stephanie

[marriedgal]

We are hoping to bring home our 3, and 4 year old boys in a couple of weeks -- and they have some SERIOUS energy! So we're kind of in the same boat. I'll tell you, if it's possible you should try to get seats right between first/business class and reg. class because there's some extra room on the plane near the bathrooms. Also, you won't have a row in front of you to worry about.

We got some "Color Works" books where (I think) you put water in the marker and instead of using ink, it reveals the color on the page -- mess free and way fun. We've got some LeapPad things and I found on Amazon a My First LeapPad in Spanish!

Also, you could probably bring a thing of play dough and use it on the little tables they have.

And we got a little animal/buddy harness/backpack so that in the airports our little guys can't get away from us. (I could see them just wanting to run and burn some energy and heading to Concourse A instead of E!)

Anyway, I know it's not the same age, but maybe these ideas will help.

[JustBarbara]

As others have suggested - it might be worth the cost of an extra seat. However, you might want to wait until you are taxiing down for take-off to give him his bottle. It will help him fall asleep but don't give it too early as you might sit on the tarmac. Also - try to let him keep himself occupied with things you give him. There will be other children on the flight but I would try to keep your voice(s) quiet, low and you might just be surprised and he'll fall asleep. Wishful thinking on my part - but it will be over before you know it. Have a great trip.

[Lulumom]

I recommend a portable DVD player with some Elmo or Baby Einstein videos. Our daughter does very well with traveling via plane or car and this really helps when she starts getting bored. Good luck!

[brink]

Not sure how this would go with security now, but with our 2nd son (though he was four years) we had a little animal flashlight (looked like a fish with a light in it's mouth) that he enjoyed. You could "hide" under his blanket and have some fun with turning it on and off. Silliest little thing I used to do with our toddlers in church when they got wrestless was to draw a smiley face on their pointer finger and then show them how we could "print" it by pressing their little finger on a paper. They always thought this was neat and would have me draw over it again and again so they could print again. Never ceased to keep them occupied for some minutes, anyway. Crayola makes some "invisible" markers that only write on special paper that comes in the kit, and not on clothing, plane cushions, etc. Or even some fat, chunky crayons and color pages. How are you at folding paper hats or paper boats?? I would think he would even like to play with the plastic cups from your drinks, dropping paper scraps or small toys in to retrieve or shake around. Kids find the littlest things pretty fascinating. Or decorate your cups with stickers. There are lots of squishy, tactile toys that should keep him occupied, maybe, for a moment? Have lots of options! Best wishes.

[beverlyanderic]

our little guy was quite active and vocal during our flight home. he also didn't like to sit on anyone's lap for more than 3 minutes. luckily, the seat next to my wife was the only open seat on the plane- that helped out a lot. we were hoping he would fall asleep since the flight departed at 800pm; however, he didn't really fall asleep until 2+ hours- then he would wake up every once in a while upset and pretty cranky. he finally fell asleep soundly when there was about an hour or so left- then he slept right through the landing- figures, right?

be prepared for anything and take the advice given to you about new toys, snacks, etc; however, even if its a horrible experience, it's only a 3.5 hour flight and that's not bad at all. it will be over quickly and you'll be home.

enjoy!!
eric

[linda512]

How old is he? Ice was a big hit with my son. Anything that he can handle and move and put in his mouth he will like. Stickers can work if he is old enough. I have heard people suggest tape, haven't tried that yet. All kinds of different snacks, he can play with them if he doesn't eat them. IF you have a container and some non-choking hazard things he can put in and out- you can use cheerios or puffs or soemthing like that.
And finally, if he screams all the way, just apologize to people and be happy when it's over!

[TeeTee]

I second the idea of a portable DVD player and headphones for him. Also the colorwonder paper with the markers that ONLY write on that specific paper...no mess. I like the black paper that shows bright rainbow colors when drawn on with the special markers. I brought those on our recent plane ride to FL and my dd (16months) loved them. She is high energy as well but surprisingly slept on both flights for the most part....enjoy your trip!!

[jimanddarla]

Wow thanks for all the suggestions everybody! We'll make sure that Abe has as many activities as our carry-on luggage will allow LOL. I really like the suggestions of the invisible markers, snacks, books with flaps, and the magna doodles.

Our FIRST flight is 3.5 hours and the second is about an hour or a little more. We're hoping that the white noise helps with him sleeping through the flights. We're also seriously considering staying the night between connecting flights instead of flying all day. If we can get to Atlanta and stay the night, he might be better the next day with the short flight home. Plus we want to get to our airport at a reasonable time for friends and family to meet us (before we go home and do some serious cocooning.)

Thanks again for the wonderful suggestions!

[DeeVee]

I second the magna doodle and DVD suggestions. I also think you'd be wise to purchase him a seat. My DS always flew on our laps, no prolems. But DD -- woohoo another story -- she is little miss fidgets! Even with her own seat, she climbs up on our laps, then back in her seat, then on her brother, then back in her seat.

He may be too little for stickers and play-doh (I'm thinking he might put them in his mouth -- but that depends on the kid. I have one who still puts everything in her mouth, and another who never ever did). Crayola Color Wonder markers and paper are very cool. And my DS still loves to get a couple new hot wheels cars on a plane ride-- will play with them for hours.

Have a great trip!