Flight with a toddler (19 mo.) nonstop or layover?

[Leslie]

I will be taking Ian from CA to the east coast by myself this spring. I love non-stop flights since they are the quickest. But I am thinking that it might be a bad idea to try that with a 19 month old. Anyone have any thoughts? I think he might need the layover to get a break so he can run around. ??

[Patti]

I'd personally go non-stop as an airport is not a safe place to let a child run around in. I understand the thought of letting him out to run but think getting to my destination most quickly would be important. I myself hate getting on and off planes and can't imagine lugging all the stuff a toddler needs. Good luck and let me know how it goes. We're planning a trip to England in the fall when DS will be 2.

Patti

[Rebecca]

WOO HOO!!!!! SHE'S COMING TO SEE ME!!! SHE'S COMING TO SEE ME!!! SHE'S COMING TO SEE ME!!!!

(oops, sorry... and some other people... sorry... was this an inappropriate place???)

[Julie]

Personally I prefer the non stop flights. That being said, if you buy him his own seat, put his carseat in there, you should be set. I have found that as long as Jordan is sitting in his carseat, he knows that it isn't really negotiable to get out and about. Also, I would recommend flying during his normal naptime, at least get the nap in while in flight.
BTW - Jordan is 21 months now, but in November we flew from Atlanta to San Diego non-stop, and he did great in his own seat.

[Leslie]

We took Ian to Dallas over Thanksgiving. He slept for two hours, was behaved for another hour or so, but then the last hour he was really upset to have to stay seatbelted into the carseat. He was 14 months then. I am not sure how a 6-7 hour nonstop flight would be. He will have his own seat, but I can totally see him *losing it* around hour 5. I don't know...

[gulp!]

We just flew from New England to CA over the holidays with Emma, who is 18 months. Both ways we had a layover in Denver (but a short one). It was the first time we flew with her, so I can't compare stopping v. a non-stop flight, but I think having the break was a good thing for her. We flew first class (gotta love miles!), so we didn't buy her a seat, which made her wriggle around more to get off our laps. During the stop in Denver, DH and DD walked up and down the people movers- she got her energy out and seemed a little more content on the plane.

How 'bout taking a red eye? That way you could fly straight through, and hopefully he'd sleep the entire way there.

[~Tara~]

I was gonna suggest a red eye too!!!!!!!!! HEy aren't you flying in to see ME!?!??!? Whats this about flying to Rebecca!!!!!!!!!! (traitor!!! )

[Leslie]

Hmm, if he could go to sleep, a red eye would be fabulous. Anyone ever try a red eye with a toddler?

Relax Tara, I'll try to fit in a visit to see you too.

[Cortney]

I'd do non-stop. Are you buying him a ticket? I think that if you buy him a ticket and do a non-stop you'd be ok.

[Jodi_E]

We just flew for Thanksgiving with Makenna (14 months then) I would suggest non-stop because all of that pressure change in take-off and landing can do a number on them at that age. So many don't know how to deal with the pressure change and can be uncomfortable. Plus, for me it would seem to be another battle to try to get them back into the car seat for another round. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Jodi

[Dennis]

I would definitely go non-stop if possible. Having a layover adds at least an hour to a trip, and more importantly increases the chances of being delayed. Going coast to coast is long enough as it is, I couldn't imagine making the trip longer. Keep in mind that the travel time isn't just while you're on the plane - it's getting to the airport and getting home from the airport as well. We just flew from Denver to New York, and it was over 9 hours door-to-door. That's a long day for anyone, let alone a toddler.

Dennis

[Maria]

I would think non-stop would be better. The take offs and landings could be hard on his little ears. Also getting on/off once is better than twice, especially since you are doing it alone.

[EricaMG]

I took a red-eye from Seattle to Boston alone with my son when he was about 13 months old. I personally would NOT recommend it. I bought him his own seat, figuring that he would just sleep, and that life would be grand. Well, he did sleep for most of it, but very restlessly, as I don't think he was comfortable in his car seat for such a long stretch of time. When he woke up he SCREAMED and I got a bunch of really dirty looks from passengers trying to sleep. This made ME very anxious and for the rest of the trip I couldn't sleep because I was worried that he would wake again and disturb everyone.

Plus, I think starting a trip off with a red-eye flight just makes for a tired beginning of a vacation. And traveling with a toddler is tiring enough as it is, I'd rather get an extra night in my own bed!

Erica

[~Deborah~]

I would go with the non-stop flight as well. I took Joshua over to Ireland(6hr red-eye flight going and during the day coming back) when he was 16 months old and he slept both ways for pretty much all of the flight.. I recommend you take NEW toys that your child has never seen before as well as a favorite toy. I bought Joshua one of those mini etch-a-sketch things so he could scribble.

Also if you are still using a soother, TAKE ALOT OF THEM!!!!!! You never know which one they will like.