Entertaining a Toddler while Travelling Internationally?

[quantumleap]

I will be travelling with a one and a three year old, without my partner, in the next few months. We'll be doing the overnight flight from North America to Europe, and then another big jaunt from Europe to central Africa. I have more trouble with the Europe - Africa segment, so I'm anticipating the same with my kids, but who knows! DD (she'll be a brand new 3) has allergies, and we've used Benadryl on her once or twice and it totally knocks her out, so I'm going to be a bad mama and bring some as a back up plan. She's very spirited, has trouble with change, needs a lot of focused attention, etc, etc. DS (a brand new 1) is much more laid back, but knows how to work the drama and is extremely mobile now (walking at 9.5 months). I'll be hauling carseats and all the other kid-related gear, and DS won't have his own seat but is also too big for the basinette thing in the bulkhead. I'm hoping we can manage to get the bulkhead anyway, 'cause the airline isn't going to know that my baby is a giant, right? Then they can at least be contained on one side?!

I'll have a few new books and toys, and I've heard of people who have success with post-it notes and stickers. I can't see DD going for that sort of thing for longer than about 10 minutes, but it's worth a try. I'm also counting on sedating her with some tv (we don't have one at home, so I'm hoping the novelty will captivate her). Any other specific suggestions? Stuff that doesn't require me developing the packing abilities of a sherpa is especially desired. 

Also, any tips for sleep during travel like this? I know this is a fail on my part, but neither of my kids sleep through the night, and neither of them can put themselves to sleep. We have to nurse, rock, sling, or go for a drive to get them down. DD has recently started letting us just lie with her if she wakes up after that initial going to sleep, but DS is a lost cause on the putting self to sleep thing. How do you work this on an airplane?! Most of my memories of flying between Europe and Africa involve being smashed in to seats with very little leg room and being completely corralled on both sides by large African mamas or insanely long-legged, very proper (serious!) men. I'm not so much worried about people hating me (I'll never see them again!), but I am worried about dealing with my kids in a positive way. I can't just leave one kid to go bounce the other in that little nook at the end of the aisle like I did when I only had one! ???

Thanks. 

[gitanamama]

Wow mama--you're brave! You have my total admiration and respect. :) I'll be making a solo trip with my 18 month old to South America and am already getting a little anxious about the flight. I also did three 21 hour solo bus rides last year in South America when my little guy was 9 months old, but since he wasn't mobile yet, it was relatively easy to contain him. But I understand being sandwiched between people with a very wiggly child!

I can't offer too much advice from experience, but thought I would chime in anyway.

-maybe get one of those doodle pads that are magnetic (I'm drawing a blank on the name right now) and some little toys that are totally new for the trip, in hopes that the novelty will keep the kiddos entertained.

-I'm going to look into some homeopathic remedies for calming my very spirited son on our flight. Benadryl sounds like a good back-up in your case (we've never tried it with my son, so I'm hesitant to use it for the first time on the flight.)

-Do you have any sort of child carrier like an Ergo? You're not allowed to use them sitting down on the flight, but I think it would be ok to carry your 1 year old in it while you hang out in the back of the plane or walk up and down the aisles. It would leave your hands free and might even put him to sleep!

-Definitely talk to the airline reps as soon as you check in and see if they can get you a bulkhead, or seats towards the back of the plane so you can hang out in the space near the bathroom. I imagine if they see you with two little ones on your own, they'll be happy to help!

Best of luck to you on your trip! I imagine it won't be a relaxing one, but hopefully it goes smoothly for all.

[Amanda1]

I dont have too much advice but we just did a 24 hour flight with a sick toddler (17 months), on the 13 hour trip there (less layovers) he was great.

DH was with us so that made it much easier.

My tips would be to get some toddler headphones, they are much easier to keep comfortably on. 

The other would be to ask the people at check in for an extra seat, explain your situation and how nervous you are. If they dont help you speak to the gate agents, they were amazing on all of our flights, went way out of their way to help us, I would say as 1 parent with 2 toddlers they should do their best to give you an extra seat if there is any.

We flew with Air Canada, the flight attendants were amazing. I hope yours are just as helpfull.

Good luck

oh ya... the stickers were amazing!!! He loved sticking them everywhere, luckly they came off easy :)