What is the best way for a toddler to sleep on a plane?
I will be soon travelling alone internationally with my 16 month old daughter. She will be on my lap. When she was a baby, she could sleep in an airplane bassinet during flights, but now she won’t fit. I am wondering, how can I make her sleep longer and more comfortably on my lap? What position would you recommend? She’s a bit of a fussy toddler, so I expect it may be hard to put her down.
Also, any other life-saving tips for toddler air travel?
the people who said give your baby benedryl before the flight got a lot of thumbs down, but it really wont hurt. I wasn’t too crazy about that idea when I was going to fly with my son at that age for the 1st time so I asked his pediatrician if that’s ok. He said yes its totally fine and they told me exactly how much to give. It goes by weight, so to keep your sanity you may want to try it. It wont hurt her, unless she’s one of those freakish kids who has the opposite reaction to benedryl and bounces off the walls. toys work for a little bit but cramming a toddler into a small space like an airplane seat confined to your lap…..youre going to want her asleep. As far as what position…I asked the flight attendant for a pillow and then i opened up the little tray in front of me, put the pillow on it and my lap…his head was on my lap his legs up on the tray part. it was a 5 hour flight and most of it went smooth since he was sleeping. When he was awake he kept trying to get off my lap and was kicking the giant guy next to us 
give her benedryl
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make sure she is really tired and bring some pillows or something and blankets so you can make a sleeping spot
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I took my son on a non-stop trip to florida. I know it is not nearly as far but he is a very active and crazy toddler. I was worried that he would have us kicked off the flight. I gave him benedryl on the flight and he fell right a sleep. I had him lay across my lap with his head in my arms. Bring lots of stuff to do and bring a portable dvd player.
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A mini DVD player made our trip to florida a good one. I don’t know what we would have done for 2.5 hours without it. As a ‘diaper bag" so you can take more than one bag…I packed, playdoh, crayons, books and some puzzles. Snacks!!!!!
If you are really lucky the seat next to you will be empty. If not look around to see where there is an empty seat and ask the flight attentand if they could ask that person to switch seats.
The best postion would be her facing you so she can snuggle and rest her head on your shoulder.
I took the dvd player but played with the other stuff I brough first…when she was done with all of that I put on a few of her favorite shows. She fell asleep about a half hour before we landed. She woke up and as we were walking off the plane she threw up allover the both of us…she was sick, had a fever…not a fun trip. The plane trip was great though!
if she has a lovey bring it on the plane…but that is a given.
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the people who said give your baby benedryl before the flight got a lot of thumbs down, but it really wont hurt. I wasn’t too crazy about that idea when I was going to fly with my son at that age for the 1st time so I asked his pediatrician if that’s ok. He said yes its totally fine and they told me exactly how much to give. It goes by weight, so to keep your sanity you may want to try it. It wont hurt her, unless she’s one of those freakish kids who has the opposite reaction to benedryl and bounces off the walls. toys work for a little bit but cramming a toddler into a small space like an airplane seat confined to your lap…..youre going to want her asleep. As far as what position…I asked the flight attendant for a pillow and then i opened up the little tray in front of me, put the pillow on it and my lap…his head was on my lap his legs up on the tray part. it was a 5 hour flight and most of it went smooth since he was sleeping. When he was awake he kept trying to get off my lap and was kicking the giant guy next to us
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