Reader Questions: Keeping a Toddler Still During Takeoff

From time to time, I receive interesting questions from my readers. Here's one from Faith

I am travelling with my 19 month old to the States from London on a 9 hour flight. I am not worried about anything else except getting her to sit still during take-off and landing. Any advice?

Faith, first of all, have a great trip!

Here are my best bets for getting him to sit still:

Try to tire him out before you get on the plane. Let him run around in the airport and think of games that get him moving while you're waiting in the gate.

At 19 months, he can understand a lot (even if he's not saying a lot yet, so once you're on the plane tell him that once seatbelts are on you'll expect him to sit still, and that you will help him do it. Let him know that when the seatbelt light goes off, he'll be able to move around again.

Once the plane has left the ground, you can give him a sippy cup filled with milk to help clear his ears (or nurse him). I always sing quietly to my kids during this time too. The engine noise is so loud that I don't think it disturbs the other passengers (and it certainly disturbs them less than crying would). Often, if they're tired and well feed they'll drift off to sleep as the plane takes off.

If he's not sleepy, small crackers (e.g. goldfish) handed out one-by-one will often keep a child interested in staying on your lap. Book also work well, as does music coming from earbuds (they have to sit still to keep the earbuds from falling out)

I hope this helps!

Related Links:
Ten Tips for Keeping a Toddler Busy on a Plane
Air Travel With Babies, Toddlers, and Kids
Helping Your Toddler Sleep on a Plane

0 comments | Posted on December 11, 2007 | Save to del.icio.us

 Subscribe to our feed