Our recent trip from San Francisco to New York City with our 18-month-old was a great experience, and I learned a lot along the way.
Traveling with an 18-month-old can be an adventure, but with a bit of planning, it can be smooth and enjoyable for everyone. Here are some tried-and-true tips and tricks to make your journey easier:
Toys and Entertainment
- Compact Toys: Bring small, lightweight toys that your child loves. Think of things like stacking cups, board books, and interactive toys.
- New Toys: A couple of new toys can hold their interest longer as they explore something unfamiliar.
- Personal Experience: My baby loved water books and toys that stick to the window and rotate. These kept her entertained for quite some time. I also brought the Amazon fire tablet for kids. When nothing sooth her I put a balloon popping game that kept her busy.
Choosing the Right Seat
- The WayB Pico: This is a fantastic, compact car seat that’s airplane-friendly. It ensures your little one is safe and comfortable.
- Own Seat: If your toddler is energetic and needs space to move, getting their own seat is highly recommended. It provides extra room and makes the journey more comfortable for everyone.
- Personal Experience: We used the WayB Pico chair, which is air-approved and can be carried as a backpack. To make it more comfortable for sleeping, we tilted it by adding her backpack under the lower part. It can also be used in an Uber very easily once you arrive at your destination.
Timing Your Flight
- Nap Time: Try to schedule your flight around your toddler’s nap time. A sleeping baby means a quieter, more relaxed flight.
- Personal Experience: Our flight from San Francisco to New York City went smoothly without any delays. My baby napped for 1-2 hours right after takeoff.
Ear discomfort at takeoff and landing
Giving your baby a bottle, breastfeeding, or offering a pacifier during takeoff and no landing can help ease ear discomfort caused by pressure changes.
Food
- Bottle or Breastfeeding: Bring more bottles than you you think you need, because babies drink more at high altitude.
- Snacks: Pack plenty of their favorite snacks. A variety of snacks can be a great distraction and keep them content.
- Personal Experience: On our flight, we packed only two milk bottles for a five-hour journey. However, we quickly realized that babies tend to drink more at high altitudes. My little one finished both bottles and screamed for more, but there was no milk on the plane. Thankfully, a flight attendant had the brilliant idea to mix cream powder with water and put it in her bottle. It worked like magic! On the return flight, we packed four 8oz bottles of milk, and she drank three of them. In addition to milk, my baby enjoyed yogurt melts, Cheez-It crackers, Trader Joe’s mini cheese crackers, and fruit pouches. Having a sippy cup with water was also very helpful.
Managing Motion Sickness
- Personal Experience: My baby has motion sickness, so I give her 1/4 of a Zofran pill before boarding. This has made a huge difference, as she used to throw up frequently before we discovered Zofran. Note that you need a doctor’s prescription for it.
General Tips
- Extra Clothes: Pack an extra set of clothes for both you and your baby in your carry-on, just in case of spills or accidents. At high altitude babies might have more blowouts than usual. I find that is true especially with infants. Here is a zip-log with 2 extra outfits for my daughter. Also I have extra ziplogs for dirty clothes.
- Wipes and Diapers: Bring more than you think you’ll need. Travel delays can happen, and it’s better to be over-prepared.
Traveling with an 18-month-old might require a bit more planning, but with these tips and personal experiences, you can make the journey smoother and more enjoyable. Safe travels! ✈️🍼🍎