From: estherchaya	Date: August 22nd, 2005 05:21 pm (UTC)		(Link)

a teenager I could seat in a different row. A ten year old I can drug (okay, not really). A four year old, you can at least explain eveyrthing to, or hand him/her a DVD player/gameboy/PDA/Laptop to play with. A two year old is squirmy and pissed off about being belted in.

The BIGGEST difference between the not-quite-two-year-old and the 4, 10, of 13 year old is that the not-quite-two-year-old is still in diapers. Ever changed a diaper in an airplane bathroom? On your lap? I have. It's not pleasant.

And on the way home there was the vomitting. On me. That was fun.

	From: cahwyguy	Date: August 22nd, 2005 05:25 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Ever changed a diaper in an airplane bathroom?

Ummm, yes, as a matter of fact. We took NSS&F to Tucson when she was 2.

As for the vomiting, etc. That's typically not due to the airplane ride.

Lastly: You can drug them. More specifically, you can give them something to make them drowsy. You just talk to your pediatrician beforehand. Basically, you want to have something in their system before flight so they don't have the discomfort. Baby Advil or Tylenol works wonders (as does Benedryl, if that doesn't hype them up).

	From: estherchaya	Date: August 22nd, 2005 05:40 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I'm sorry you, too, had to change a diaper in an airplane bathroom. Yuck.

I know that vomitting is usually not due to the airplane ride, but in this case, I think that it was a contributing factor. He was fine before and after the ride. I think he got overheated on the plane and the initial part of the ride was bumpy enough that I was getting queesy (I've been riding on planes since I was a baby, so I rarely am bothered by flying). Nevertheless, it wasn't pleasant, and it was very difficult to explain to him what was going on.

And for sure we'll drug him next time. We didn't this time, because he'd never been on a plane and we weren't sure it would be necessary. Now we know for next time.

Julian didn't misbehave on the plane. He just really didn't enjoy it (and I don't blame him), particularly on the way down. (On the way home, though decidedly less pleasant at the start, he slept most of the way, so it actually wasn't so bad). Mostly, I felt bad for the little guy. :(

	From: cahwyguy	Date: August 22nd, 2005 05:50 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Julian didn't misbehave on the plane. He just really didn't enjoy it

He probably didn't understand. He was belted in his seat. In a hot bumpy really-odd car. He couldn't see out the window. It was noisy. His ears hurt. Can't really blame him.

	From: estherchaya	Date: August 22nd, 2005 06:06 pm (UTC)		(Link)

definitely not blaming him. The only thing I think would be easier about an older kid is being able to explain what's going on. But every age group has their own unique problems. Mostly, I should just travel by myself so I only have MY issues to deal with. ;)