From yesterday (to answer questions); my kids and I are all moving together which is going to be really entertaining because one is 18 months and one is nearly 3 - try that on a plane! Yes, I do make them behave but I still feel bad, so I end up apologizing until my face turns blue.
@ejcapulet - You can do it! Just take it 30 minutes at a time. I’ve done it with a 13 month old and a 2 1/2 year old on a 9 hour trip to Europe with a 8 hour drive after that. Not the same as flying from China, but I can relate. Eventually they’ll sleep and eat, and be slightly entertained by whatever you bring. You’ll get through it (but let us know how it goes)!
re: ejcapulet. You may already know about this, but just in case it helps…kids get gas on planes, the hurting kind. Ask around for some anti-gas drops appropriate for both kids to relieve the tummy pressure, also ask about decongestants in case of inner-ear pressure if either gets a cold around then. If the 18 month old takes a pacifier, it’ll help. See if you can find those screw-on lids with the sports-bottle type pulls that can go on the bottles you can get past security. Since the 3 yr old will have a carry-on allowance, encourage responsibility for a particular luggage now, and have that help in the airport. If 18 month old has Bjorn, or other body-pack carrier, use to get through airport with less difficulty. If it’s a long flight, check into using Benadryl to encourage drowsiness. I hated to drug them, but the benefit was worth it. My kids have been on 13 hour flights at 12mnths, 18 months 1, 2 & 3 years old. Then there was that 20 hour train ride with 2 transfers. We survived with minimum screaming and stress. Hope this helps.
Reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon I saw once – a woman with a quart container of ice cream and a spoon, snapping at her husband: “I’m not eating! I’m self-medicating.”
Isn’t Elly a stay-at-home mom? I can understand with a toddler at home to take care of that the Christmas shopping isn’t done yet but can’t she at least get the cards done?!? Lizzie has to go down for a nap sometime!
Burgandy2, Thanks! The major problem for children traveling is inner-ear pressure. Then there’s boredom and excess energy. The pacifier or sucking action on a water bottle helps to ease the inner-ear pressure.
Another aid is those “Color Wonder” Crayola kits. They can draw without getting ink on everything. Then there’s portable DVD players with headphones. That’s what really helped on the train ride.
BooksLover over 13 years ago
Oh well, not the best, but probably better than get pills …. And you can always remedy with a post Christmas detox diet :-D
gofinsc over 13 years ago
Why Christmas is so joyous.
voltige over 13 years ago
Good solution, works for me.
ejcapulet over 13 years ago
From yesterday (to answer questions); my kids and I are all moving together which is going to be really entertaining because one is 18 months and one is nearly 3 - try that on a plane! Yes, I do make them behave but I still feel bad, so I end up apologizing until my face turns blue.
lightenup Premium Member over 13 years ago
Christmas just means eating better food.
@ejcapulet - You can do it! Just take it 30 minutes at a time. I’ve done it with a 13 month old and a 2 1/2 year old on a 9 hour trip to Europe with a 8 hour drive after that. Not the same as flying from China, but I can relate. Eventually they’ll sleep and eat, and be slightly entertained by whatever you bring. You’ll get through it (but let us know how it goes)!
sydtaki over 13 years ago
re: ejcapulet. You may already know about this, but just in case it helps…kids get gas on planes, the hurting kind. Ask around for some anti-gas drops appropriate for both kids to relieve the tummy pressure, also ask about decongestants in case of inner-ear pressure if either gets a cold around then. If the 18 month old takes a pacifier, it’ll help. See if you can find those screw-on lids with the sports-bottle type pulls that can go on the bottles you can get past security. Since the 3 yr old will have a carry-on allowance, encourage responsibility for a particular luggage now, and have that help in the airport. If 18 month old has Bjorn, or other body-pack carrier, use to get through airport with less difficulty. If it’s a long flight, check into using Benadryl to encourage drowsiness. I hated to drug them, but the benefit was worth it. My kids have been on 13 hour flights at 12mnths, 18 months 1, 2 & 3 years old. Then there was that 20 hour train ride with 2 transfers. We survived with minimum screaming and stress. Hope this helps.
peter0423 over 13 years ago
Reminds me of a New Yorker cartoon I saw once – a woman with a quart container of ice cream and a spoon, snapping at her husband: “I’m not eating! I’m self-medicating.”
Wildmustang1262 over 13 years ago
Enjoy collecting in the midst of chaos for Christmas! And of course, New Year, too!
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
Isn’t Elly a stay-at-home mom? I can understand with a toddler at home to take care of that the Christmas shopping isn’t done yet but can’t she at least get the cards done?!? Lizzie has to go down for a nap sometime!
sydtaki over 13 years ago
Burgandy2, Thanks! The major problem for children traveling is inner-ear pressure. Then there’s boredom and excess energy. The pacifier or sucking action on a water bottle helps to ease the inner-ear pressure.
Another aid is those “Color Wonder” Crayola kits. They can draw without getting ink on everything. Then there’s portable DVD players with headphones. That’s what really helped on the train ride.