I'm leavin on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again...

Now this was the first time traveling by flight with little miss RaeRae, and let's just face it.... I was TERRIFIED!!! She is a very happy girl, but confining her in any way (she sat on my lap) for 2.5 hours turns her into the HULK! She is a very curious, adventurous, independent girl. So I was really nervous to how she would react; and I was very much prepared to be kicked off the plane for disturbing the peace. :)

So to prepare myself; I read blogs, asked friends, studied flight regulations on traveling with children and packed my suitcase like a BOSS! This is where all those hours wasted playing dr mario in college paid off! Taking only 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag for 2 people, was a challenge. Diapers for 4 days alone took up a good portion of my beloved space.

These were some of the items I packed in my purse to keep the tot busy: 

School toolbox (because I hate random loose items) containing: Crayons, coloring pad, sticker booklet, and gel window stickers.

 I don't think we would have survived without the stickers! Especially when we had a window seat!!! I tried to save the stickers for when her patients had run out, save the best for last! It totally worked!

Take & Toss sippy cup with straw hole. Cut ordinary straws in 1/3's . This is a great fine motor activity that requires focus... aka sitting still and quiet!

Pom Poms and plastic container with a hole cut in the top of the lid. Another great fine motor activity!

 All of these were homemade and/or found at the $ store!

I let her go crazy with the stickers! Putting them on the window, tray, herself, myself, anywhere that entertained her!

I brought along her puppy blanket, her lovey, so that she would have familiarity and something to comfort her when she was tired or upset. She never slept on the plane, but it did keep her company.

I also packed a variety of snacks that she loves and that would otherwise be somewhat of a novelty. I had chocolate covered raisins & teddy grahams. I also packed her a lunch (my child eats ALOT, snacks are never enough for her..... I'm afraid she gets that from me!) containing a pb&j, string cheese and oyster crackers. I brought her a sippy cup of milk and had apple juice in my purse to refill. And the

TOP SECRET WEAPON

used in controlling the happiness of my child?! 

Dum Dum suckers!!!! 

They were my saving grace! For several reasons:

#1 Cabin air pressure. The constant swallowing eased the pressure in her ears. 

#2 Mouth full = quiet child.

#3 It was a novelty! I don't give her candy very often so she was thrilled to have a sucker! 

*Just make sure you bring plenty of wipes on the plane.... 

I hate sticky fingers.... Unless they are served on a platter at Wingers. MMMmmmmmm..............

Things to do before getting on the Plane? 

These will depend on you and your tot. Every situation is different. 

•  Make sure you put a fresh diaper on right before boarding. It is ridiculous to try and change a diaper in the claustrophobic bathrooms on the plane. 
• Let your child run around as much as possible once you get to the gate. Let them get their wiggles out! 
• Show them the airplanes outside and explain to them what is about to happen. And also explain what they should expect on the airplane i.e. sitting nicely on mommy's lap, no screaming, flying high in the sky...
• When boarding the plane stop in the outside gap between airplane and tunnel, so that they can see the body of the airplane, this helps them realize that what they see in the sky and on the tarmac is what they about to go on. 
• Breathe!

And if all this fails you..... Pray that you sit near a dear old lady that will put on a barf-bag puppet show for your little one!

Now this was the first time traveling by flight with little miss RaeRae, and let's just face it.... I was TERRIFIED!!! She is a very happy girl, but confining her in any way (she sat on my lap) for 2.5 hours turns her into the HULK! She is a very curious, adventurous, independent girl. So I was really nervous to how she would react; and I was very much prepared to be kicked off the plane for disturbing the peace. :)

So to prepare myself; I read blogs, asked friends, studied flight regulations on traveling with children and packed my suitcase like a BOSS! This is where all those hours wasted playing dr mario in college paid off! Taking only 1 carry-on and 1 personal bag for 2 people, was a challenge. Diapers for 4 days alone took up a good portion of my beloved space.

These were some of the items I packed in my purse to keep the tot busy: 

School toolbox (because I hate random loose items) containing: Crayons, coloring pad, sticker booklet, and gel window stickers.

 I don't think we would have survived without the stickers! Especially when we had a window seat!!! I tried to save the stickers for when her patients had run out, save the best for last! It totally worked!

Take & Toss sippy cup with straw hole. Cut ordinary straws in 1/3's . This is a great fine motor activity that requires focus... aka sitting still and quiet!

Pom Poms and plastic container with a hole cut in the top of the lid. Another great fine motor activity!

 All of these were homemade and/or found at the $ store!

I let her go crazy with the stickers! Putting them on the window, tray, herself, myself, anywhere that entertained her!

I brought along her puppy blanket, her lovey, so that she would have familiarity and something to comfort her when she was tired or upset. She never slept on the plane, but it did keep her company.

I also packed a variety of snacks that she loves and that would otherwise be somewhat of a novelty. I had chocolate covered raisins & teddy grahams. I also packed her a lunch (my child eats ALOT, snacks are never enough for her..... I'm afraid she gets that from me!) containing a pb&j, string cheese and oyster crackers. I brought her a sippy cup of milk and had apple juice in my purse to refill. And the

TOP SECRET WEAPON

used in controlling the happiness of my child?! 

Dum Dum suckers!!!! 

They were my saving grace! For several reasons:

#1 Cabin air pressure. The constant swallowing eased the pressure in her ears. 

#2 Mouth full = quiet child.

#3 It was a novelty! I don't give her candy very often so she was thrilled to have a sucker! 

*Just make sure you bring plenty of wipes on the plane.... 

I hate sticky fingers.... Unless they are served on a platter at Wingers. MMMmmmmmm..............

Things to do before getting on the Plane? 

These will depend on you and your tot. Every situation is different. 

•  Make sure you put a fresh diaper on right before boarding. It is ridiculous to try and change a diaper in the claustrophobic bathrooms on the plane. 
• Let your child run around as much as possible once you get to the gate. Let them get their wiggles out! 
• Show them the airplanes outside and explain to them what is about to happen. And also explain what they should expect on the airplane i.e. sitting nicely on mommy's lap, no screaming, flying high in the sky...
• When boarding the plane stop in the outside gap between airplane and tunnel, so that they can see the body of the airplane, this helps them realize that what they see in the sky and on the tarmac is what they about to go on. 
• Breathe!

And if all this fails you..... Pray that you sit near a dear old lady that will put on a barf-bag puppet show for your little one!