I’ve been feeling a bit rundown this week 😦 being away from my babies last week wasn’t as restful as I had imagined it would be. I was in Sproutland working. I really thought that staying at a hotel would mean hours of peace and quiet and sleep! Alas, my girls were all I could think about and I woke up 3-4 times every night. Then, I got hit with some sort of upper respiratory infection this week (I think Gia brought it home from school and passed it off to me. Of course she’s fine – Strong as an ox that one is!) And now that I’m feeling better I get to open the flood gates of stress – here comes that overwhelming feeling of angst as I prepare us to travel to Spain next week.
I am excited! It will really be fantastic to see family and friends I haven’t seen in years. …it’s just that how the heck are we gonna survive this 9 hour flight with an 8 month old in my arms and a toddler who would rather run up and down the aisle than sleep! How does anybody do it?! We’ve flown many, many times with the girls. Seriously, they both had their first flights at 2 months old! But we’ve never gone more than 3-4 hours.
So I need your help (and your prayers!!). What has worked for you? What hasn’t? I will take the obligatory fully-charged iPad obviously 😉 but what happens when that battery dies? My husband bought this baby carrier/hammock looking thing that helps you hold the baby in flight. Anybody try one before? Oh, and I’ve already checked with the airline and there is not a bassinet option on this flight.
Thanks again for your wonderful words of advice! I can’t wait to tell you all about our trip and share some photos too.
Michele Lepe 
Hi michele. To start off, my kids and I watch you everyday at sprout. As yiu mentioned, the ipad is a very handy tool to entertain toddlers. Tried and tested. Bring along your child’s favorite book with crayons too. Buy the crayola one that doesn’t stain on fabrics so she can use it on the plane without you worrying she would leave her work of art on the seat. I am using the baby bjorn carrier and it works wondrs too. When my oldest son was 2, we took a 13hour flight. We were just lucky that it was night time so he slept all the way until the time we got off the plane. Sing them your soothing songs. You can do it. Good luck and my family and I wish that you and your family will enjoy the trip.
Aw thanks! Great advice too! I’ve got the bjorn packed 😉
Hello Michele,
Hoping you feel better and have a safe trip! That iPad doesn’t have to die, I was watching qvc the other night and this nifty gadget caught my eye. It was a portable charger that you don’t have to plug in. You charge it overnight before the trip. It fits in your pocket and it will hold a full charge + a half.I ordered two lol.
Lori
That sounds amazing. I wish I had heard of it sooner! We leave tomorrow. I’ve got extra crayons and coloring books though
Haven’t flown with a toddler, but have driven two days with one. Cut felt strips into shapes and let them make things (random geometric shapes, foods {pizza, cupcakes, etc.], or unusual shapes mixed in {squiggles, funny car or leaf shapes}). Stickers and sticker pages/books. Sewing cards. Wooden beads (non swallowing size) and shoe string. Of course the obvious, books, small toys and snacks. Depending on age, my son loved little eraser cars you could get a the dollar store. A small cookie sheet with the edge on it works great for a table, if you don’t use the airline tray. If you bring the cookie sheet – then you open the door to magnets as well! (and coloring) When my son got older I would get little cheap puzzles and cut apart old flat advertising magnets that we got in the mail as junk and glue them to the back to play with the cookie sheet.
Wow those are amazing ideas!!!!! I love the felt shapes. Reminds me of felt toys my mom used to make me when I was little. Thank you so much for sharing!
But….but…who’s gonna watch Star? 🙂 (I kid, I kid.) Have fun out there!
Assuming that you survived the flight– and I’m sure you did– I’m curious what you learned, what went well, what you would do differently next time? As a parent of a child with Down syndrome, Jacob has taught me over and over to be less self-conscious and to just “go with the flow” with the attitude that this too shall pass. At the same time, there is always wisdom to be learned as we move through things. So… what did you learn?