BTW, all these tips for flying with a toddler, apply to adults too. Snacks, headphones, iPads, own seat and distractions. That’s exactly how I fly too.
I’m the exact same way when I fly!! if I don’t have my big bag of cheezits, monster and a sprite I feel weird and then lately I bring a mini Oogie Boogie Funko pop figure from their advent calendar because I fidget a lot. It’s small so it’s not as distracting to others. It really helps me out!
When we traveled with a toddler the best thing we did for the plane ride was I went to Target before and bought a bunch of cheap small toys. Every time he started to get restless on the plane I was able to pull out a new toy he hadn’t seen before and he would be distracted by it for quite a while. I had a purse full of random cheap toys. Kept him entertained for sure.
It’s interesting hearing other peoples’ experiences with toddlers! For us we never leave the park ever for our toddlers to nap. Even my 9month old, he slept in the stroller and we rotated rides with the other kids. Then we stayed up past bedtimes (shockingly never have grumpy kids either) and then after vacation they went back on their normal schedule easy no issues.
Same here. Those park tickets are too expensive to miss a moment. Naps in the stroller and for my oldest we would take breaks as need if they complained about their feet. Going back to the hotel was only for MOST NEEDS only.
I totally agree. I don't understand why they kept saying they needed to get Jackson down for a nap. But, they are annual pass holders, so their "need to see it all because of what they spent on tickets" isn't the same as it is for most of the rest of the park visitors. They have the luxury of going back as many times as they want.
We traveled from the UK every year with young kids the 5 hour difference was a challenge. Our kids just napped in the strollers when they got tired no rushing back to hotels for a nap.
We did this at Disney, whenever they got tired they napped in the stroller. No need to disrupt the day. But everyone parents differently and there is no way is the only way
We have 6 kids and when they were ages 5-11 we took our biggest family trip and went to Universal in Orland. The best thing I found we did was give each kid a disposable camera. It was so awesome to see the trip through their eyes.
Don’t bring home lava rocks when you come to Hawaii! It’s very bad luck and disrespectful to the native Hawaiians. Look it up - there are many stories about tourists sending back lava rocks from where they took it from. I know you’ll be on Oahu for Aulani, and Oahu doesn’t have much areas to get lava rocks, but if you go to a different island (especially Hawaii Island AKA the Big Island or Maui) 🌋
@@karenwade6713 that was a tiki idol, not actual lava rocks. Not sure if you’re trying to be funny, but as someone who was born, raised and still lives in Hawaii, I take this seriously.
Yesterday I saw your live show, and I was moved to see Jenn sad about Winter the dolphin, I didn't know she was so ill. And now I'm so sad, because she died 😔😭. Thank you for letting me know about that dolphin through your videos, and their work recovering and taking care of marine fauna. At least little Jackson got the chance to know her.
The time change idea that I used: I adjusted the times for going to bed and getting up by 15 minutes starting a few days before. On the way home I also did the same thing.
Having a gazillion snacks was 100% our plane saver and still is at 7. We love using a car service with Universal, and renting a car when visiting Disney. The car service we use also gives you a grocery pickup stop (not sure if they are still doing that post-COVID). Not having to pick up a car at the airport is just so much easier. The one time we rented from the airport it was a ridiculous line. Picking up a car from Avis at a Universal hotel is a great option too, that's what we did for a split stay. Car service from airport to Universal, picked up rental from Avis at the hotel, drove to Disney, returned the car at the airport. Best of all worlds.
Snacks snacks snacks! Always have them! You’re already doing the most important thing of traveling with a toddler…letting him nap and being flexible! Well done trackers!!
What worked for me is timing the flights, along with everything else you already know (snacks, ipad, games, etc.). From Orlando to San Francisco, we flew first flight out so our toddler was so wired, he fell asleep 6-7pm PT. From LA to Orlando, we took the red eye, so our kid slept the majority of the flight, with a 6am arrival when he woke up. For us, it made readjusting to Orlando time a lot easier.
Hi Trackers! FYI I’m a flight attendant. Regarding the harness straps your were talking about, make sure it is an ACSD/CARES device and that there is a label on it that says: “FAA Approved in accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d). Approved for aircraft use only.” We need to be able to see that label on the device in order for you to be able to use it on the plane. If you have any questions feel free to reach out!
Travelled with 3 kids (2 years apart) every year to Brasil since they were born (now 2 in college already), mostly by myself (hubby would go after), every time after landing people nearby would say "wow, never knew there were kids that close, thank you!" Our tips: introduce 1 new thing every hour (book, coloring stuff, small game, new doll); did not feed them much or drink (less need to get up and go to bathroom). My kids were raised to nap anywhere, we went to Disney every year, they would nap on strollers whenever tired.
he is a toddler let him do his thing he will sleep when he is tired if you are on a strict time thing it will only frustrate you be flexible and you all will enjoy trip
When we flew from England with my nephew when he was 3 ,we played with him before departure ,so he was tired before we went on the plane ! We had a back pack filled with all sorts of things to entertain him ! We had treats , a duplo set to assemble with him , colouring books and pencils, books to read to him ! We walked up the isle of the plane with him ,when he got bored! I love the way Jackson calls Jenn mummy ! Stay safe x
I'm a Child Passenger Safety Technician my biggest piece of advice for parents when flying is to always purchase a seat for your child and use their harnessed car seat onboard. It's the safest way for them to fly. The plane belt generally doesn't fit until at least 40lbs. Having their seat installed on the plane is the safest option in the event of severe turbulence or runway emergency. It also helps with wiggly toddlers and gives them a familiar place to be.
My boys are all grown up now but we traveled all over the place with them. Their first trips were from San Francisco to Switzerland, before they were a year old. Some of my favorite trips for traveling with little ones are: 1. Let them get their energy out before you board the flight. Walk laps, find a playground or do a gate number search, etc. 2. Pack a back pack of activities of things they have never seen before. I would put sticker books, brand new match box cars, coloring books with washable markers, small containers of Play-Doh, Wiki Sticks, Color Forms, Duplo, etc. 3. Bring a second bag with lots of snacks, both healthy and not. 4. Have a refillable but collapsible water bottle so they have something to drink now matter what. 5. Have them wear cotton long John style pajamas with a light sweat suit over top. It is good to have layers and when it is time for a nap or sleep on a long haul flight, you can remove the sweat suit and they are ready for bed. 6. Bring a familiar blanket and small child's down pillow for them that smells like home. 6. Bring a cheap beach ball. You can them inflate it when you are in the air and place it on the floor in front of their seat. It gives then a place to put their legs when sitting and extends the area for when they lie down to sleep. 7. Bring "I Spy" type books or download them on your tablet. It keeps little ones very busy trying to find items. Two of our favorites were Richard Scarry's Busy Town or Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! There is a little Gold bug that appears on every page and my boys loved trying to find him. 8. Use Pull Ups even if he is still in diapers. You can change them standing up and they seemed to absorb a lot more than a diaper. The sides rip open in the event you have to deal with a number 2. 9. Involve them in the planning and itinerary even before the age of two. We would talk about the trip, where we were going and show them on a map, how long the plane ride would be, our expectations, etc. I hope these suggestions help. You two are fantastic parents and I know you always have Jackson's best interests in mind. Happy travels.
My biggest tip for flying with littles is definitely get them their own seat. It is a 100% worth it. I bought a smaller travel car seat the our son uses. I find using a carseat that they are used to gives them a sense of familiarity and their own space to hang out in. Also all the snacks! I will pick up little surprise toys (coloring books, blocks, dinos, cars. Etc) to pull out when he starts get restless. Another thing I found extremely helpful I got a little travel tray off Amazon. It has a lip around it to keep things contained and a cup holder, it also has side pockets . It has been great to set up the tablet with a movie and he can color or play and not worry about things dropping or that he can't reach the planes tray table.
Hey Y'all 👋👋👋 glad to see you are sharing this for those planning on traveling with little ones. I'm sure there are people who really don't know what to expect. Thanks for sharing so much and remember, YOU ALL ARE SO LOVED, and by so many 😊 Keep doing all you do because you are so appreciated. Have a great Saturday, and Oh... Hey Sweet Jackson 😊☝👍👋💖💜
I can’t tell you how much I love your vlogs! Thank you for always being so consistent and good people I’m so thankful to be able to watch you guys ! Me and my whole family have watched you guys for years and I’ve just introduced my boyfriend who is now a big fan too. We’re from uk so this has given us a slice of home (Disney) every week/day. Im so excited for the Disney cruise vlogs coming up
We also only did one plane trip without buying our kid a seat, and always got her a ticket after that. We learned pretty quickly that buying her a seat, carrying her car child seat on board and buckling it in place was the way to go. It's a bit of familiar surroundings for the child that they associate with travel, actually more effective than being in a parent's lap the whole time.
Our son was 3 when we went to DC. I got a bunch of inexpensive little toys, activities, treats, etc and individually wrapped them. He would have a new surprise to unwrap periodically. He loved it and it kept him occupied.
THE BEST TIP I CAN GIVE YOU FOR TODDLER TRAVELING (ESPECIALLY WITH TIME ZONE CHANGES) WOULD BE TO TRY AND KEEP EATING AND SLEEPING SCHEDULES THE SAME, BUT DON'T STRESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OUT BY TRYING TO SEE AND DO EVERYTHING. GO TO THE PARKS WITH MAYBE 2 OR 3 THINGS IN MIND OF WHAT YOU WISH TO SEE AND DO, LET THE REST BE SPONTANEOUS AND YOU ALL WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER VACATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT YOUR VIDEOS HAVE HELPED US SO MUCH IN PLANNING OUR TRIPS TO DISNEY!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT JOB!!!!
I am a flight attendant and the CARES harness is 100% the way to go. I used it for my own daughter when she was Jackson’s age, and it was way better than lugging a car seat.
Also I never rely on parks to have food that my toddler will eat. Even when traveling if you are checking your bags take a jar of peanut butter n jelly with you and stash some ziplock bags in your luggage. You can get bread anywhere CVS Walgreens etc. so you can make a quick lunch. Also I always pack favorite snacks in baggies and try to have enough for the trip and even though it means carrying these items around with me I always know I have what my toddler likes and will eat and never have to stress about finding food or snacks for him. I even pack pediasure and chocolate milk in my checked luggage so I have those for him too. Instead of worrying so much about his nap time I would be more concerned about his food. I’ve never left a park for a toddler nap especially when spending so much money we are on vacation and I feel the toddler should be able to go with the flow just like everyone else. You’re not home so things are gonna be different you make things work and learn in the moment. If you always run back to the hotel to put the toddler down for a nap he will never learn to adjust to dif situations and it makes it harder for you as the parent and you end up missing out on so much too. Be flexible you can’t be so strict with your schedule on vacation that’s impossible
Yes for sure. We always get a grocery pick up order or food delivered to be able to have our own snacks. My son has ASD and I’m even thinking about buying a $9 toaster to have in our room because he will eat toast
He loves books so much that reading books to him might help him relax to sleep. It helped mine when traveling. Also, I agree with him having his own space. Make sure you take his favorite blanket or stuffy or whatever will make it "his" zone, that will help also.
We used to wrap a small gift for every half hour of the flight. Things like pots of playdoh, stickers, book, crayons so that the children were distracted by a new thing. Some flights they enjoyed their new item so much we could save some for the way home. Plus snacks lots and lots of snacks….and people sitting in the row in front or behind who miss their grandchildren and are happy to chat to yours and entertain them on the train always worked well too!!
Flying with my 2 yr old next month to Florida, I’m not super excited about it because it is a lot of work but I really, really prep for it! Sticker books, loaded iPad, tiny party toys wrapped up and enough snacks for about 3 or 4 children 😆 like, way more snacks than you think you’ll need! Always worked well for UK - Florida flights.. just a little out of practice 😊
I was born & raised here in Florida & moved/lived in Hollywood, CA from 1980-2007. I returned to live in Florida and bought a home here in St. Augustine, FL in 2008. Florida , no matter the venue, taxation of daily living or places of interest is always a lot cheaper than California! Really nice to see you & family having a great time!
Flying with a toddler is hard. I flew from Utah to Orlando with a toddler, by myself. I did all the same things (books, videos, toys, snacks) to distract, but I also gave a small dose of children's Tylenol before the flight to help with any potential ear pain (I think it also helped him nap a bit better during the flight). I made the mistake of giving him lots to drink before the flight (I wanted to keep him hydrated) and so he peed through his diaper in his sleep, all over me. And airplane restrooms are not built for changing diapers and cleaning a child.
I love how Jackson was just like oh sorry i heard you when you were asking him to put rocks in the jar! 😂 he was like I can’t answer if bluey is playing! 😂
When my son was little, and now traveling with the granddaughters - Fly Redeye. The girls fly in their PJs, are comfortable and with the cabin lights off they sleep pretty much the entire flight from LAX to MCO. We sleep too., At the airport they then change clothes. We just check our luggage in at the hotel & ready for the day. I live local and go to Universal maybe once every 15 years. Here in Hollywood- definitely nothing much for children. Best bet is definitely Knott’s. Next trip I would rent a car and spend a few days down south.... Legoland & Sea World. Both great for children.
I don't have a kid, but I think the two hardest parts about traveling is the flight itself can be a pain and the time difference. The bigger the time difference the harder it is. For me and probably more so with a kid that would probably help is staying on your specific time zone since it's what you're use to. That is hard too because it would get darker or lighter out earlier or later depending where you are.
We don't have kids, but when we went to WDW, we ordered snacks from Amazon. Bottled water, multi-packs of cookies, Uncrustables, and granola bars (we swear we're adults!) just to toss in our backpacks for a pick me up at the parks. I know you guys said you had lots of snacks for the plane, but having them delivered also helps save carry-on space! Especially if you need to have juice or soda. They also say you can order to deliver the day you get there since you just pick it up at the lobby. We also had a couple nights where we ordered Doordash from McDonald's and Dominoes. We were having too much fun at our magic hours that we never ate dinner and by the time we got back to our room everything on property was closed. It was a lifesaver, and saved us some money.
Yes, I agree! I bought one for my daughter, and it really comes in handy! Also make sure to let the flight attendants know that it is certified, because I was asked many times by flight attendants that didn't know what it was.
Found this video really interesting, once our little girl arrives (Christmas Day 2021🤞🏼) we will be counting down the days where we can bring her from the U.K. to WDW!
When our kids were younger we always had a separate small backpack (or even just a bag in our own backpack) with their things to occupy them on the plane, car, etc. We would fill it with new things they hadn't seen before. Just simply dollar store stuff like stickers, small coloring book, new small picture book, fidget toys, home made simple arts and crafts things in ziplocs. Then snacks and more snacks. Rotate them with movies, hopefully some kind of nap, and hope for the best!
We started traveling often with our kids when my son was around 18 months old and my daughter was 3. They are 8 and 10 now. It does get a little easier but I feel like what you need for them constantly changes with their ages and stages. One thing I have learned is always have their electronics handy and chargers on standby. When flying there is no such thing as too much screen time. We are getting ready for our flight to Hawaii soon, this will be their longest flight so far. But I have small travel games, scavenger hunts, and activity books ready for when/if they get bored from the ipad. I always pack their own backpack it usually contains their electronics, a coloring/activity book with crayons, a book to read, headphones, a refillable water bottle (upgraded from a sippy), a complete change of clothes (because they’re kids and messes happen), snacks, their favorite blankie, an portable charger, and a neck pillow. We have handled cabin pressure with sippies, water bottles, and now chewing gum. We also don’t plan a lot on our arrival days. But we let them run as soon as we can. So find a park or a pool and they can get all the energy out while you sit in a chair and start your vacation! I absolutely love your vlogs!
Also! My kids are too old for this but I wish they would have had this for them! Jackson may be too young for it but I think it might be great for future travels! JetKids by Stokke BedBox, Lunar Eclipse - Kid's Ride-On Suitcase & In-Flight Bed - Help Your Child Relax & Sleep on the Plane - Approved by Many Airlines - Best for Ages 3-7
Take lots of snacks with you for Jackson. We are in the UK and have travelled to Florida twice with our 2 young girls, and even on days out here, we take a bag full of snacks for the girls to graze on in between meals. It saves buying them and saves being caught short when they say they are starving and we aren’t close to a good place that serves appropriate snacks for them. It also keeps them occupied in the ride queues! Love watching your vlogs! We hope to be travelling back to Florida in August 2022 after our 2020 trip was cancelled due to covid
Window stickers that easily peel off! Fun on the plane. (The kind without glue). Also getting a little kid sized bag with wheels/scooter and straps to wear as a backpack. They usually fit under the seat in front and therefore provide easy access to their snacks and toys. Comfy pajama/lounge type clothing (this goes for everyone).
When my kids were younger and we had to go from Sacramento to Orange County, I would leave late at night and the kids would sleep all the way. It was peaceful but they enjoyed themselves when we got there
We bought a seat for our daughter when she was 1 and took her car seat on the plane. She slept most of the way from Dallas to Vegas and back. Took a two day trip to Disney in the middle of the Vegas trip.
One thing I would recommend in let Jackson bring a bag with a few favorite small toys and a couple stuff animals. One a cruise. Our boys loved putting their stuff animals in the window to look out while we were out of the room. And a few toys would keep him busy at times. ❤️😎❤️
I’m impressed with how hard you try to stick to nap time with Jackson! I’m childless but I do notice a lot of toddler meltdowns at the parks and I’m sure it’s because they don’t take the time to try to put them down for a nap. Although I don’t think it’s always possible or get them to sleep. My twin sister and I were 2+ on our first trip (MANY years ago!) and walked and walked the whole day, no stroller, no nap!
Travelling with kids is tough. We have been coming to Florida from the UK for 12yrs now with babies/toddlers/kids and now tweens and teens. 3hr drive to airport, 9.5hr flight, 5hr time difference. It was and is hard. But I wouldn’t change any if it! Plan, be prepared, have plenty of entertainment and sleep 😊 thanks for taking us with you to CA Trackers!
What we found worked best for us was to travel when we know they’re going to be tired. For long car trips, we leave around bedtime, so they sleep all night in the car. Or we choose the earliest possible flight, so they sleep on the plane. I know this won’t work for every kid. But, we know that our kids can sleep through just about anything.
I have three kids and have traveled with all of them since they were infants. I always bought my babies/toddlers their own seat on airplanes for safety, comfort, and also to have our own car seat with us. I can also tell you that each of my three children are very different. My oldest always slept on planes, but got horrible car sickness. My middle one has a lot of trouble with her ears on planes. My youngest is the calmest and most curious. So be prepared for anything! Even the same child can change a lot as they age. That oldest kid of mine has grown up and traveled to multiple countries on his own repeatedly!
Just did a trip with a 2 yo from Florida to Colorado. I tried more analog toys/books as long as we could until it was tablet time; we always have new, small toys we get in our Kiwi crate, and the insert guides recommend a few different ways to play with each set, so you get more play with less to haul. Another big hit was a reusable vinyl sticker book. He flippin' loved it, and also endlessly stuck the vinyl stickers on the sliding door of our rental for 4 days. Melissa & Doug, came with 5 different scenes, and you can play with them regardless of the "electronic devices" status. Our first plane ride coincided perfectly with nap time, so that was perfect; we even waited to deboard last so he could sleep a few more minutes. Our return flight, however... Dude decided to nap about 20 minutes from touchdown. 🤦 He was Not Pleased when we landed and everyone stood and started making noise and he couldn't get back to sleep. Next month we're headed to Norway. Please send any toddler-parent pixie dust you might have 😅
This may be a controversial statement but I think waiting til kids are atleast 10 years old to go to Disney is a much more fun experience for the whole family. Everyone can go on all the rides, you don't have to worry about naps or meltdowns. The kids understand waiting in lines and best of all, they will remember the trip. Just my opinion 💙 That being said it looks like Jackson had a great time 🙂
I understand what you are saying but we took my 7 and 4 year old for their first trip and even at 4 my son could go on everything at disney and 4 years old don't really nap. No strollers needed either.
I have a 4 and 2yr old daughters and while we haven't flown before with them we mostly drive. The biggest trip we did was driving to the Creation museum in KY from PA (pit stop in Toledo, OH just to get some sleep my older daughter was 6mths ish at the time) and we drove to Wisconsin for a friend's wedding and again my older daughter was 9mths at the time. With two kids the biggest trip we have is South Central VA to South Central PA to visit family that's 5hrs (with stops). I usually let my girls bring their small pillows, some books, snacks, now that it's getting cold we're going to let them bring blankets. We've shown our girls your videos and they're so excited about the idea of going to "Cinderella's house" and visit her and her friends and see Mickey. Luckily we don't have to worry about a time difference but my hubby and I have had the debate over whether to fly or drive (2hr flight but rent a car or 2 day drive but have our car, or the auto train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL also a 2 day train ride but ya have your car. I recommend getting a sleeper car for that didn't on my honeymoon and it was uncomfortable lol) but for now going to FL is too expensive for us and we'll just keep watching videos in the meantime!
A little hesitant of cutting Jackson gorgeous hair. He’s so cute glad you guys made it back home safe and sound. Tower of Terror and are you afraid of the dark…nice 😜
Check ALL the bags you don’t absolutely need while in the cabin, even the stroller or car seat if you can. Most airlines let you check them for free. You are also entitled to a diaper bag on top of any carryons for any diaper wearing child. You are also allowed pouches of applesauce or yogurt for small children besides your liquids bags. Plus allowed bottled water to make bottles. I HIGHLY recommend this because I don’t think airplane kitchens are very clean. Don’t ask for their hot water. It comes from the coffee machine that hasn’t been cleaned ever. Fruit snacks are awesome because they take a long time to chew. Marshmallows are also mostly air so they’re light to carry and have very few calories or sugar per serving. They’re more healthy than I thought they were. Suckers are good too if your child is old enough for them so maybe a young kid, not a toddler. You can also bring fresh whole fruit like apples, bananas, and grapes. Window clings are great for kids to use on airplane windows like stickers. Hot wheels are great because they take very little space and Polly pocket if that’s more their speed. Playdoh isn’t a liquid but is sold in tiny little containers and isn’t terribly messy compared to slime or silly putty. If you can find any of the activity books called “quiet books” or something like that, they are great! If your child has a special blanket or lovey you should absolutely bring it even if you’re scared of losing it. Your vacation will be awful if the child spends the week missing an emotional support elephant stuffy. Lysol wipes and baby wipes are both important. A baby sling if your baby is small enough. I wore my toddler through security, on the plane, and all through the airport. If you can wear your baby, do.
Kids Airplane Travel Suggestion: Pack a backpack with lots of different activities and snacks and each hour (or 1/2 depending on the attention span) give them a new thing, you can even wrap it to make it more fun. It keeps them engaged and switches things up a bit while they are trapped inside the plane. Also a pillow lap desk is great for having a surface to play with toys, color, or spread out the snacks. Gives them a little area of their own, some even come with cup holders.
We have traveled with our son since he was 3 weeks old. You got the basics, snacks, comfy clothes, and distractions. For international travel just pay for the better seats - trust me!
When we were flying with my then toddler in 2019, we used the Cares harness after using the car seat the first time. Loved the harness. So much easier. We also had a buckle pillow that had a zipper pocket that we put little fidget items in as a surprise. We got some sticker books to play with as well, that were new for the trip, so novel. I had one for the flight out and one for the flight back. We also had a small etch a sketch that he liked playing with too. Then we had his tablet, which I downloaded some games and some books to read to him. On my tablet, I also downloaded some shows. We brought a travel blanket he picked out for traveling that he could sleep with on the plane. We also brought some of his little stuffies for the hotel room and his favorite blanket for the hotel room. We also had lots of snacks...fruit gummies (they make toddler ones) were the best for take off and landing. He also really liked mini crackers and yogurt melts. Also brought some applesauce packs and food pouches.
I knew someone who hadn't flown before, so they did a test flight. Flew to a large airport, hung out in the terminal with their family, and then flew back, before taking their actual trip.
Tips: When your child is too old for the pacifier for his ears on the flight, use fruit snacks or something chewy if child is not old enough for gum yet. Also, we always had pre-packed snacks in our bag. I would pack a shoebox in the corner of the suitcase with scooby snacks, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers and non-perishable things that can easily be carried around in a park bag for when our son got hungry and it wasn't convenient to stop for something. (Or if our dining reservation was coming up soon and he just needed a hold over until the real meal.)
I was a flight attendant for vacation flights from Canada to the USA and South. We had a LOT o kids onboard. Good things are, a fun new book, snackies (if you can find a new fun shape that is always cool), The additional straps for the seats are amazing. I think they are about $100 which are required to be aviation approved. We used to use them for children and also persons which could not be seated upright on their own due to disability. We used to have "comfy kits" which we gave to the kids, it had a little blankey, a snack, a voucher for the trolley so they could also PICK a snack, kids freaking LOOOOOVED that. It also had a beach ball and a shovel they could play with at the beach. Maybe make your own Jaxy comfy plane kit so he always knows. :Hey its my go bag time to go on a plane!" If you have a particular bouncy little bean you can also ask the flight crew if you can do some stretches in the aisle with him. If they have a nice little stretch/dance it tends to help and the whole plane thinks its adorable. You had the ideal seats which gave you a bit more room so he could play on the floor if he needed *while the seat belt sign is off of course*
I have taken many trips with little kids and the best thing is to have your kid get use to sleeping in a stroller. Going back and forth between the hotel takes too much time. I use to vacuum while the kids slept so loud noises wouldn’t bother them. They sleep through everything.
The best thing you can do to get acclimated anywhere (and is just a great daily practice) is to get morning sun. In fact, with our babies, that's how we kept them from ever having an issue mixing up their days and nights. Bright, loud (like normal daily life loud) house right in the morning, some time outside. Then dark, quiet house (with just orange light salt lamps) at night. 😊
All very good information for traveling with a toddler, it’s definitely not easy. But snacks and things like books and iPads are a must! Looking forward to your cruise vlogs🤗
My kids are older but we always preferred traveling with a car seat when they were little especially when they have their own seat. That way it feels very much like the car. I also traveled with all of the very favorite snacks from home - especially the treats I never let them have. Also, I had a second set of those snacks in the suitcase to pull out for the return flight. Once they stop using a pacifier, a sucker is great for keeping them quiet and their ears happy while pressurizing they cabin. Plus, snacks. On the snack subject, I never left the hotel without snacks (seriously they were a large part of the suitcase) when heading to the amusement park because that could buy me the time to walk to the other side of the park to get something they would prefer to eat. Our family often did table service meals at lunchtime because then I knew they got one good meal in them and you could usually do one more thing once they were fed. We also skipped character meals during the toddler/preschool years because my kids were distracted by the characters and were grouchy 45 minutes later. I’d rather wait in the park and have them with a full belly. Finally, whenever we’d go to an amusement park, my goal for the day was the number of rides for the day equal to the youngest kid’s age. Everything else was bonus!
When I went with my 2.5 year old at the time, we had our days totally planned out….. everything was planned out FastPasses, our dinners, I had a full timed out schedule from park open to park close….. if he was tired he was in the stroller, he napped in the stroller, and we kept to our schedule. But I think it’s very different when you go regularly or you have a once in a lifetime or maybe once every 5-10 years.
My kids are older teens now. We traveled from Chicago to Disney several times when babies and toddlers.found it best to pay to stay on Disney property. Always did rope drop did maybe 5 roses and back to hotel for naps and down time. And maybe back to park after dinner for a couple more. We now stay off property to save money. We always pack lunches and bring snacks to parks. Save so much time standing in line and money. Only pay for dinners out.
When we took our little kids, I liked having the car seat. My daughter just acted like it was a car ride. They are so used to them when they are little I think it helped, plus you get to board early to install the seat and they have to be placed in a window seat so you know where you are going to be on plane.we did rent a car once we got there so that makes a difference
Love the video! Toddler/child travel tips: I always kept (safety loop) lollipops for a quick snack and colorful pipe cleaners in my purse. My youngest loved to bend and shape the pipe cleaners into little animals. Wiki sticks and reusable stickers are also great and don’t take up much room in your bag. The Dollar Tree is also a great place to look for small travel toys.
Hi guys, I had a good chuckle when Tim mentioned that he is looking into the harness that fits a toddler that works with the seat belt on the plane because my daughter in law had it for my 2 year old granddaughter when we flew from Boston to Orlando and my granddaughter freaked out on the plane and refused to use it. She made a huge scene because the flight attendants were asking everyone to stay seated during take off and we couldn’t calm my granddaughter down. The flight attendant was so nice. She brought over food and anything else she could think of to settle her down. I hope it works better for you!😀
BTW, all these tips for flying with a toddler, apply to adults too. Snacks, headphones, iPads, own seat and distractions. That’s exactly how I fly too.
I’m the exact same way when I fly!! if I don’t have my big bag of cheezits, monster and a sprite I feel weird and then lately I bring a mini Oogie Boogie Funko pop figure from their advent calendar because I fidget a lot. It’s small so it’s not as distracting to others. It really helps me out!
Lmao adults can’t get around having their own seat
When we traveled with a toddler the best thing we did for the plane ride was I went to Target before and bought a bunch of cheap small toys. Every time he started to get restless on the plane I was able to pull out a new toy he hadn’t seen before and he would be distracted by it for quite a while. I had a purse full of random cheap toys. Kept him entertained for sure.
I love how much attention Tim pays when Jenn talks
He loves her so much ..true treasure
Me too! I want a love theirs.
It’s interesting hearing other peoples’ experiences with toddlers!
For us we never leave the park ever for our toddlers to nap. Even my 9month old, he slept in the stroller and we rotated rides with the other kids. Then we stayed up past bedtimes (shockingly never have grumpy kids either) and then after vacation they went back on their normal schedule easy no issues.
Yeah I never left the park when my son was a baby or toddler. He slept in the stroller or didn't sleep at all.
same! but at disney we did go in later to the park and took rest days
I guess it depends on the family. We all enjoyed that break in the middle of the day.
Same here. Those park tickets are too expensive to miss a moment. Naps in the stroller and for my oldest we would take breaks as need if they complained about their feet. Going back to the hotel was only for MOST NEEDS only.
I totally agree. I don't understand why they kept saying they needed to get Jackson down for a nap. But, they are annual pass holders, so their "need to see it all because of what they spent on tickets" isn't the same as it is for most of the rest of the park visitors. They have the luxury of going back as many times as they want.
We traveled from the UK every year with young kids the 5 hour difference was a challenge. Our kids just napped in the strollers when they got tired no rushing back to hotels for a nap.
We did this at Disney, whenever they got tired they napped in the stroller. No need to disrupt the day. But everyone parents differently and there is no way is the only way
We have 6 kids and when they were ages 5-11 we took our biggest family trip and went to Universal in Orland. The best thing I found we did was give each kid a disposable camera. It was so awesome to see the trip through their eyes.
Don’t bring home lava rocks when you come to Hawaii! It’s very bad luck and disrespectful to the native Hawaiians.
Look it up - there are many stories about tourists sending back lava rocks from where they took it from.
I know you’ll be on Oahu for Aulani, and Oahu doesn’t have much areas to get lava rocks, but if you go to a different island (especially Hawaii Island AKA the Big Island or Maui) 🌋
I live on the Big Island and have heard that from lots of people here.
@@karenwade6713 that was a tiki idol, not actual lava rocks. Not sure if you’re trying to be funny, but as someone who was born, raised and still lives in Hawaii, I take this seriously.
Yesterday I saw your live show, and I was moved to see Jenn sad about Winter the dolphin, I didn't know she was so ill. And now I'm so sad, because she died 😔😭. Thank you for letting me know about that dolphin through your videos, and their work recovering and taking care of marine fauna. At least little Jackson got the chance to know her.
I am in love with Jackson hair!! My two year old loves seeing him and having his own little conversation too cute!!
Yeah his hair is long! They are really waiting for the Harmony barbershop to open back up haha
The time change idea that I used: I adjusted the times for going to bed and getting up by 15 minutes starting a few days before. On the way home I also did the same thing.
Having a gazillion snacks was 100% our plane saver and still is at 7. We love using a car service with Universal, and renting a car when visiting Disney. The car service we use also gives you a grocery pickup stop (not sure if they are still doing that post-COVID). Not having to pick up a car at the airport is just so much easier. The one time we rented from the airport it was a ridiculous line. Picking up a car from Avis at a Universal hotel is a great option too, that's what we did for a split stay. Car service from airport to Universal, picked up rental from Avis at the hotel, drove to Disney, returned the car at the airport. Best of all worlds.
Snacks snacks snacks! Always have them!
You’re already doing the most important thing of traveling with a toddler…letting him nap and being flexible!
Well done trackers!!
I like how clueless Jen was for a minute lol that happened to us too when we went back home from San Francisco to south Florida
OMG that night night mommy made my heart so happy!
What worked for me is timing the flights, along with everything else you already know (snacks, ipad, games, etc.). From Orlando to San Francisco, we flew first flight out so our toddler was so wired, he fell asleep 6-7pm PT. From LA to Orlando, we took the red eye, so our kid slept the majority of the flight, with a 6am arrival when he woke up. For us, it made readjusting to Orlando time a lot easier.
Hi Trackers! FYI I’m a flight attendant. Regarding the harness straps your were talking about, make sure it is an ACSD/CARES device and that there is a label on it that says: “FAA Approved in accordance with 14 CFR 21.305(d). Approved for aircraft use only.” We need to be able to see that label on the device in order for you to be able to use it on the plane. If you have any questions feel free to reach out!
Travelled with 3 kids (2 years apart) every year to Brasil since they were born (now 2 in college already), mostly by myself (hubby would go after), every time after landing people nearby would say "wow, never knew there were kids that close, thank you!" Our tips: introduce 1 new thing every hour (book, coloring stuff, small game, new doll); did not feed them much or drink (less need to get up and go to bathroom). My kids were raised to nap anywhere, we went to Disney every year, they would nap on strollers whenever tired.
he is a toddler let him do his thing he will sleep when he is tired if you are on a strict time thing it will only frustrate you be flexible and you all will enjoy trip
I really love that you share these experiences with us. They’re so lovely to watch! ☺️ Seeing Jackson grow up has been so wonderful
When we flew from England with my nephew when he was 3 ,we played with him before departure ,so he was tired before we went on the plane ! We had a back pack filled with all sorts of things to entertain him ! We had treats , a duplo set to assemble with him , colouring books and pencils, books to read to him ! We walked up the isle of the plane with him ,when he got bored! I love the way Jackson calls Jenn mummy ! Stay safe x
Jackson knows to say hi directly to the camera! He’s a vlogger now!
I'm a Child Passenger Safety Technician my biggest piece of advice for parents when flying is to always purchase a seat for your child and use their harnessed car seat onboard. It's the safest way for them to fly. The plane belt generally doesn't fit until at least 40lbs. Having their seat installed on the plane is the safest option in the event of severe turbulence or runway emergency. It also helps with wiggly toddlers and gives them a familiar place to be.
My boys are all grown up now but we traveled all over the place with them. Their first trips were from San Francisco to Switzerland, before they were a year old.
Some of my favorite trips for traveling with little ones are:
1. Let them get their energy out before you board the flight. Walk laps, find a playground or do a gate number search, etc.
2. Pack a back pack of activities of things they have never seen before. I would put sticker books, brand new match box cars, coloring books with washable markers, small containers of Play-Doh, Wiki Sticks, Color Forms, Duplo, etc.
3. Bring a second bag with lots of snacks, both healthy and not.
4. Have a refillable but collapsible water bottle so they have something to drink now matter what.
5. Have them wear cotton long John style pajamas with a light sweat suit over top. It is good to have layers and when it is time for a nap or sleep on a long haul flight, you can remove the sweat suit and they are ready for bed.
6. Bring a familiar blanket and small child's down pillow for them that smells like home. 6. Bring a cheap beach ball. You can them inflate it when you are in the air and place it on the floor in front of their seat. It gives then a place to put their legs when sitting and extends the area for when they lie down to sleep.
7. Bring "I Spy" type books or download them on your tablet. It keeps little ones very busy trying to find items. Two of our favorites were Richard Scarry's Busy Town or Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! There is a little Gold bug that appears on every page and my boys loved trying to find him.
8. Use Pull Ups even if he is still in diapers. You can change them standing up and they seemed to absorb a lot more than a diaper. The sides rip open in the event you have to deal with a number 2.
9. Involve them in the planning and itinerary even before the age of two. We would talk about the trip, where we were going and show them on a map, how long the plane ride would be, our expectations, etc.
I hope these suggestions help. You two are fantastic parents and I know you always have Jackson's best interests in mind. Happy travels.
this is unrelated to the video but the way you both look at each other when one another is speaking just warms my heart 🥺
My biggest tip for flying with littles is definitely get them their own seat. It is a 100% worth it. I bought a smaller travel car seat the our son uses. I find using a carseat that they are used to gives them a sense of familiarity and their own space to hang out in. Also all the snacks! I will pick up little surprise toys (coloring books, blocks, dinos, cars. Etc) to pull out when he starts get restless. Another thing I found extremely helpful I got a little travel tray off Amazon. It has a lip around it to keep things contained and a cup holder, it also has side pockets . It has been great to set up the tablet with a movie and he can color or play and not worry about things dropping or that he can't reach the planes tray table.
Jen "like tower of terror but on a plane" lol............now safe & sound at home! This is the best UA-cam channel ever, adore you all! cheers
I love Jenn's montages. Perfection. 😘
They were really nice to watch!
Hey Y'all 👋👋👋 glad to see you are sharing this for those planning on traveling with little ones. I'm sure there are people who really don't know what to expect. Thanks for sharing so much and remember, YOU ALL ARE SO LOVED, and by so many 😊 Keep doing all you do because you are so appreciated. Have a great Saturday, and Oh... Hey Sweet Jackson 😊☝👍👋💖💜
I can’t tell you how much I love your vlogs! Thank you for always being so consistent and good people I’m so thankful to be able to watch you guys ! Me and my whole family have watched you guys for years and I’ve just introduced my boyfriend who is now a big fan too. We’re from uk so this has given us a slice of home (Disney) every week/day. Im so excited for the Disney cruise vlogs coming up
I love landing in Orlando and the captain announces it! I know I'm officially "home".
We also only did one plane trip without buying our kid a seat, and always got her a ticket after that. We learned pretty quickly that buying her a seat, carrying her car child seat on board and buckling it in place was the way to go. It's a bit of familiar surroundings for the child that they associate with travel, actually more effective than being in a parent's lap the whole time.
Our son was 3 when we went to DC. I got a bunch of inexpensive little toys, activities, treats, etc and individually wrapped them. He would have a new surprise to unwrap periodically. He loved it and it kept him occupied.
Fun idea! Thank you for sharing 🥰
Night night mommy. I’m bawling 😭💕
THE BEST TIP I CAN GIVE YOU FOR TODDLER TRAVELING (ESPECIALLY WITH TIME ZONE CHANGES) WOULD BE TO TRY AND KEEP EATING AND SLEEPING SCHEDULES THE SAME, BUT DON'T STRESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY OUT BY TRYING TO SEE AND DO EVERYTHING. GO TO THE PARKS WITH MAYBE 2 OR 3 THINGS IN MIND OF WHAT YOU WISH TO SEE AND DO, LET THE REST BE SPONTANEOUS AND YOU ALL WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER VACATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADD THAT YOUR VIDEOS HAVE HELPED US SO MUCH IN PLANNING OUR TRIPS TO DISNEY!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT JOB!!!!
His profile is so precious. You have to have another silhouette made at Disney.
I am a flight attendant and the CARES harness is 100% the way to go. I used it for my own daughter when she was Jackson’s age, and it was way better than lugging a car seat.
Also I never rely on parks to have food that my toddler will eat. Even when traveling if you are checking your bags take a jar of peanut butter n jelly with you and stash some ziplock bags in your luggage. You can get bread anywhere CVS Walgreens etc. so you can make a quick lunch. Also I always pack favorite snacks in baggies and try to have enough for the trip and even though it means carrying these items around with me I always know I have what my toddler likes and will eat and never have to stress about finding food or snacks for him. I even pack pediasure and chocolate milk in my checked luggage so I have those for him too. Instead of worrying so much about his nap time I would be more concerned about his food. I’ve never left a park for a toddler nap especially when spending so much money we are on vacation and I feel the toddler should be able to go with the flow just like everyone else. You’re not home so things are gonna be different you make things work and learn in the moment. If you always run back to the hotel to put the toddler down for a nap he will never learn to adjust to dif situations and it makes it harder for you as the parent and you end up missing out on so much too. Be flexible you can’t be so strict with your schedule on vacation that’s impossible
Totally agree
Yes for sure. We always get a grocery pick up order or food delivered to be able to have our own snacks. My son has ASD and I’m even thinking about buying a $9 toaster to have in our room because he will eat toast
He loves books so much that reading books to him might help him relax to sleep. It helped mine when traveling. Also, I agree with him having his own space. Make sure you take his favorite blanket or stuffy or whatever will make it "his" zone, that will help also.
We used to wrap a small gift for every half hour of the flight. Things like pots of playdoh, stickers, book, crayons so that the children were distracted by a new thing. Some flights they enjoyed their new item so much we could save some for the way home. Plus snacks lots and lots of snacks….and people sitting in the row in front or behind who miss their grandchildren and are happy to chat to yours and entertain them on the train always worked well too!!
Flying with my 2 yr old next month to Florida, I’m not super excited about it because it is a lot of work but I really, really prep for it! Sticker books, loaded iPad, tiny party toys wrapped up and enough snacks for about 3 or 4 children 😆 like, way more snacks than you think you’ll need! Always worked well for UK - Florida flights.. just a little out of practice 😊
I was born & raised here in Florida & moved/lived in Hollywood, CA from 1980-2007. I returned to live in Florida and bought a home here in St. Augustine, FL in 2008. Florida , no matter the venue, taxation of daily living or places of interest is always a lot cheaper than California!
Really nice to see you & family having a great time!
Flying with a toddler is hard. I flew from Utah to Orlando with a toddler, by myself. I did all the same things (books, videos, toys, snacks) to distract, but I also gave a small dose of children's Tylenol before the flight to help with any potential ear pain (I think it also helped him nap a bit better during the flight). I made the mistake of giving him lots to drink before the flight (I wanted to keep him hydrated) and so he peed through his diaper in his sleep, all over me. And airplane restrooms are not built for changing diapers and cleaning a child.
My 4 year old loves to travel with the melissa and Doug water wow and reusable sticker books.
I love how Jackson was just like oh sorry i heard you when you were asking him to put rocks in the jar! 😂 he was like I can’t answer if bluey is playing! 😂
When my son was little, and now traveling with the granddaughters - Fly Redeye. The girls fly in their PJs, are comfortable and with the cabin lights off they sleep pretty much the entire flight from LAX to MCO. We sleep too., At the airport they then change clothes. We just check our luggage in at the hotel & ready for the day.
I live local and go to Universal maybe once every 15 years. Here in Hollywood- definitely nothing much for children. Best bet is definitely Knott’s. Next trip I would rent a car and spend a few days down south.... Legoland & Sea World. Both great for children.
IT'S LIKE TOWER OF TERROR ON A PLANE!
We loved the FAA harness when our kid was younger on flights.
I don't have a kid, but I think the two hardest parts about traveling is the flight itself can be a pain and the time difference. The bigger the time difference the harder it is. For me and probably more so with a kid that would probably help is staying on your specific time zone since it's what you're use to. That is hard too because it would get darker or lighter out earlier or later depending where you are.
We don't have kids, but when we went to WDW, we ordered snacks from Amazon. Bottled water, multi-packs of cookies, Uncrustables, and granola bars (we swear we're adults!) just to toss in our backpacks for a pick me up at the parks. I know you guys said you had lots of snacks for the plane, but having them delivered also helps save carry-on space! Especially if you need to have juice or soda. They also say you can order to deliver the day you get there since you just pick it up at the lobby. We also had a couple nights where we ordered Doordash from McDonald's and Dominoes. We were having too much fun at our magic hours that we never ate dinner and by the time we got back to our room everything on property was closed. It was a lifesaver, and saved us some money.
CARES harness work very well for toddlers in airplanes, we used them on both our kids flying
Yes, I agree! I bought one for my daughter, and it really comes in handy! Also make sure to let the flight attendants know that it is certified, because I was asked many times by flight attendants that didn't know what it was.
We just got back from Dollywood and y'all REALLY NEED to take Jackson there he could ride so much!!!
"Welcome to Orlando" is my favourite thing to hear on a plane
Found this video really interesting, once our little girl arrives (Christmas Day 2021🤞🏼) we will be counting down the days where we can bring her from the U.K. to WDW!
Having small bags of different things to rotate is super helpful for small ones with short attention spans.
When our kids were younger we always had a separate small backpack (or even just a bag in our own backpack) with their things to occupy them on the plane, car, etc. We would fill it with new things they hadn't seen before. Just simply dollar store stuff like stickers, small coloring book, new small picture book, fidget toys, home made simple arts and crafts things in ziplocs. Then snacks and more snacks. Rotate them with movies, hopefully some kind of nap, and hope for the best!
We started traveling often with our kids when my son was around 18 months old and my daughter was 3. They are 8 and 10 now. It does get a little easier but I feel like what you need for them constantly changes with their ages and stages. One thing I have learned is always have their electronics handy and chargers on standby. When flying there is no such thing as too much screen time. We are getting ready for our flight to Hawaii soon, this will be their longest flight so far. But I have small travel games, scavenger hunts, and activity books ready for when/if they get bored from the ipad. I always pack their own backpack it usually contains their electronics, a coloring/activity book with crayons, a book to read, headphones, a refillable water bottle (upgraded from a sippy), a complete change of clothes (because they’re kids and messes happen), snacks, their favorite blankie, an portable charger, and a neck pillow. We have handled cabin pressure with sippies, water bottles, and now chewing gum. We also don’t plan a lot on our arrival days. But we let them run as soon as we can. So find a park or a pool and they can get all the energy out while you sit in a chair and start your vacation! I absolutely love your vlogs!
Also! My kids are too old for this but I wish they would have had this for them! Jackson may be too young for it but I think it might be great for future travels!
JetKids by Stokke BedBox, Lunar Eclipse - Kid's Ride-On Suitcase & In-Flight Bed - Help Your Child Relax & Sleep on the Plane - Approved by Many Airlines - Best for Ages 3-7
Take lots of snacks with you for Jackson. We are in the UK and have travelled to Florida twice with our 2 young girls, and even on days out here, we take a bag full of snacks for the girls to graze on in between meals. It saves buying them and saves being caught short when they say they are starving and we aren’t close to a good place that serves appropriate snacks for them. It also keeps them occupied in the ride queues! Love watching your vlogs! We hope to be travelling back to Florida in August 2022 after our 2020 trip was cancelled due to covid
Window stickers that easily peel off! Fun on the plane. (The kind without glue).
Also getting a little kid sized bag with wheels/scooter and straps to wear as a backpack. They usually fit under the seat in front and therefore provide easy access to their snacks and toys.
Comfy pajama/lounge type clothing (this goes for everyone).
When my kids were younger and we had to go from Sacramento to Orange County, I would leave late at night and the kids would sleep all the way. It was peaceful but they enjoyed themselves when we got there
We bought a seat for our daughter when she was 1 and took her car seat on the plane. She slept most of the way from Dallas to Vegas and back. Took a two day trip to Disney in the middle of the Vegas trip.
One thing I would recommend in let Jackson bring a bag with a few favorite small toys and a couple stuff animals. One a cruise. Our boys loved putting their stuff animals in the window to look out while we were out of the room. And a few toys would keep him busy at times. ❤️😎❤️
I highly recommend the Slumber pod. It goes over the pack n play and makes sharing a room with a toddler so much better!
I’ve heard those are awesome!
👆🏼 this. We don’t go anywhere without it
I’m impressed with how hard you try to stick to nap time with Jackson! I’m childless but I do notice a lot of toddler meltdowns at the parks and I’m sure it’s because they don’t take the time to try to put them down for a nap. Although I don’t think it’s always possible or get them to sleep. My twin sister and I were 2+ on our first trip (MANY years ago!) and walked and walked the whole day, no stroller, no nap!
Travelling with kids is tough. We have been coming to Florida from the UK for 12yrs now with babies/toddlers/kids and now tweens and teens. 3hr drive to airport, 9.5hr flight, 5hr time difference. It was and is hard. But I wouldn’t change any if it! Plan, be prepared, have plenty of entertainment and sleep 😊 thanks for taking us with you to CA Trackers!
What we found worked best for us was to travel when we know they’re going to be tired. For long car trips, we leave around bedtime, so they sleep all night in the car. Or we choose the earliest possible flight, so they sleep on the plane. I know this won’t work for every kid. But, we know that our kids can sleep through just about anything.
Trackers! You convinced me to go on a cruise so now I’m out a bunch of money 😂 your videos are dangerous
LMAOOOO
I can’t wait to hear that “welcome to Orlando” announcement. 49 more days
I have three kids and have traveled with all of them since they were infants. I always bought my babies/toddlers their own seat on airplanes for safety, comfort, and also to have our own car seat with us. I can also tell you that each of my three children are very different. My oldest always slept on planes, but got horrible car sickness. My middle one has a lot of trouble with her ears on planes. My youngest is the calmest and most curious. So be prepared for anything! Even the same child can change a lot as they age. That oldest kid of mine has grown up and traveled to multiple countries on his own repeatedly!
Just did a trip with a 2 yo from Florida to Colorado. I tried more analog toys/books as long as we could until it was tablet time; we always have new, small toys we get in our Kiwi crate, and the insert guides recommend a few different ways to play with each set, so you get more play with less to haul. Another big hit was a reusable vinyl sticker book. He flippin' loved it, and also endlessly stuck the vinyl stickers on the sliding door of our rental for 4 days. Melissa & Doug, came with 5 different scenes, and you can play with them regardless of the "electronic devices" status. Our first plane ride coincided perfectly with nap time, so that was perfect; we even waited to deboard last so he could sleep a few more minutes. Our return flight, however... Dude decided to nap about 20 minutes from touchdown. 🤦 He was Not Pleased when we landed and everyone stood and started making noise and he couldn't get back to sleep.
Next month we're headed to Norway. Please send any toddler-parent pixie dust you might have 😅
We prepared our son for roller coasters. My husband and I would ride but alternate. My son could watch us ride and new it was safe.
i bought the toddler stroller handle and it’s been great! thank you Jen for the suggestion
This may be a controversial statement but I think waiting til kids are atleast 10 years old to go to Disney is a much more fun experience for the whole family. Everyone can go on all the rides, you don't have to worry about naps or meltdowns. The kids understand waiting in lines and best of all, they will remember the trip. Just my opinion 💙 That being said it looks like Jackson had a great time 🙂
I understand what you are saying but we took my 7 and 4 year old for their first trip and even at 4 my son could go on everything at disney and 4 years old don't really nap. No strollers needed either.
I have a 4 and 2yr old daughters and while we haven't flown before with them we mostly drive. The biggest trip we did was driving to the Creation museum in KY from PA (pit stop in Toledo, OH just to get some sleep my older daughter was 6mths ish at the time) and we drove to Wisconsin for a friend's wedding and again my older daughter was 9mths at the time. With two kids the biggest trip we have is South Central VA to South Central PA to visit family that's 5hrs (with stops). I usually let my girls bring their small pillows, some books, snacks, now that it's getting cold we're going to let them bring blankets. We've shown our girls your videos and they're so excited about the idea of going to "Cinderella's house" and visit her and her friends and see Mickey. Luckily we don't have to worry about a time difference but my hubby and I have had the debate over whether to fly or drive (2hr flight but rent a car or 2 day drive but have our car, or the auto train from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL also a 2 day train ride but ya have your car. I recommend getting a sleeper car for that didn't on my honeymoon and it was uncomfortable lol) but for now going to FL is too expensive for us and we'll just keep watching videos in the meantime!
A little hesitant of cutting Jackson gorgeous hair. He’s so cute glad you guys made it back home safe and sound. Tower of Terror and are you afraid of the dark…nice 😜
Check ALL the bags you don’t absolutely need while in the cabin, even the stroller or car seat if you can. Most airlines let you check them for free. You are also entitled to a diaper bag on top of any carryons for any diaper wearing child. You are also allowed pouches of applesauce or yogurt for small children besides your liquids bags. Plus allowed bottled water to make bottles. I HIGHLY recommend this because I don’t think airplane kitchens are very clean. Don’t ask for their hot water. It comes from the coffee machine that hasn’t been cleaned ever. Fruit snacks are awesome because they take a long time to chew. Marshmallows are also mostly air so they’re light to carry and have very few calories or sugar per serving. They’re more healthy than I thought they were. Suckers are good too if your child is old enough for them so maybe a young kid, not a toddler. You can also bring fresh whole fruit like apples, bananas, and grapes. Window clings are great for kids to use on airplane windows like stickers. Hot wheels are great because they take very little space and Polly pocket if that’s more their speed. Playdoh isn’t a liquid but is sold in tiny little containers and isn’t terribly messy compared to slime or silly putty. If you can find any of the activity books called “quiet books” or something like that, they are great! If your child has a special blanket or lovey you should absolutely bring it even if you’re scared of losing it. Your vacation will be awful if the child spends the week missing an emotional support elephant stuffy. Lysol wipes and baby wipes are both important. A baby sling if your baby is small enough. I wore my toddler through security, on the plane, and all through the airport. If you can wear your baby, do.
It sounded like he said fast instead of snacks when you guys landed !! Lol 😁
Kids Airplane Travel Suggestion: Pack a backpack with lots of different activities and snacks and each hour (or 1/2 depending on the attention span) give them a new thing, you can even wrap it to make it more fun. It keeps them engaged and switches things up a bit while they are trapped inside the plane. Also a pillow lap desk is great for having a surface to play with toys, color, or spread out the snacks. Gives them a little area of their own, some even come with cup holders.
We have traveled with our son since he was 3 weeks old. You got the basics, snacks, comfy clothes, and distractions. For international travel just pay for the better seats - trust me!
Good choice, my kids love Bluey too!
Bluey is such a cute show!
When we were flying with my then toddler in 2019, we used the Cares harness after using the car seat the first time. Loved the harness. So much easier. We also had a buckle pillow that had a zipper pocket that we put little fidget items in as a surprise. We got some sticker books to play with as well, that were new for the trip, so novel. I had one for the flight out and one for the flight back. We also had a small etch a sketch that he liked playing with too. Then we had his tablet, which I downloaded some games and some books to read to him. On my tablet, I also downloaded some shows. We brought a travel blanket he picked out for traveling that he could sleep with on the plane. We also brought some of his little stuffies for the hotel room and his favorite blanket for the hotel room. We also had lots of snacks...fruit gummies (they make toddler ones) were the best for take off and landing. He also really liked mini crackers and yogurt melts. Also brought some applesauce packs and food pouches.
I knew someone who hadn't flown before, so they did a test flight. Flew to a large airport, hung out in the terminal with their family, and then flew back, before taking their actual trip.
Tips: When your child is too old for the pacifier for his ears on the flight, use fruit snacks or something chewy if child is not old enough for gum yet.
Also, we always had pre-packed snacks in our bag. I would pack a shoebox in the corner of the suitcase with scooby snacks, fruit snacks, goldfish crackers and non-perishable things that can easily be carried around in a park bag for when our son got hungry and it wasn't convenient to stop for something. (Or if our dining reservation was coming up soon and he just needed a hold over until the real meal.)
I was a flight attendant for vacation flights from Canada to the USA and South. We had a LOT o kids onboard. Good things are, a fun new book, snackies (if you can find a new fun shape that is always cool), The additional straps for the seats are amazing. I think they are about $100 which are required to be aviation approved. We used to use them for children and also persons which could not be seated upright on their own due to disability. We used to have "comfy kits" which we gave to the kids, it had a little blankey, a snack, a voucher for the trolley so they could also PICK a snack, kids freaking LOOOOOVED that. It also had a beach ball and a shovel they could play with at the beach. Maybe make your own Jaxy comfy plane kit so he always knows. :Hey its my go bag time to go on a plane!" If you have a particular bouncy little bean you can also ask the flight crew if you can do some stretches in the aisle with him. If they have a nice little stretch/dance it tends to help and the whole plane thinks its adorable. You had the ideal seats which gave you a bit more room so he could play on the floor if he needed *while the seat belt sign is off of course*
Love following along on your trips ((:
I have taken many trips with little kids and the best thing is to have your kid get use to sleeping in a stroller. Going back and forth between the hotel takes too much time. I use to vacuum while the kids slept so loud noises wouldn’t bother them. They sleep through everything.
The best thing you can do to get acclimated anywhere (and is just a great daily practice) is to get morning sun. In fact, with our babies, that's how we kept them from ever having an issue mixing up their days and nights. Bright, loud (like normal daily life loud) house right in the morning, some time outside. Then dark, quiet house (with just orange light salt lamps) at night. 😊
All very good information for traveling with a toddler, it’s definitely not easy. But snacks and things like books and iPads are a must! Looking forward to your cruise vlogs🤗
My kids are older but we always preferred traveling with a car seat when they were little especially when they have their own seat. That way it feels very much like the car. I also traveled with all of the very favorite snacks from home - especially the treats I never let them have. Also, I had a second set of those snacks in the suitcase to pull out for the return flight. Once they stop using a pacifier, a sucker is great for keeping them quiet and their ears happy while pressurizing they cabin. Plus, snacks. On the snack subject, I never left the hotel without snacks (seriously they were a large part of the suitcase) when heading to the amusement park because that could buy me the time to walk to the other side of the park to get something they would prefer to eat. Our family often did table service meals at lunchtime because then I knew they got one good meal in them and you could usually do one more thing once they were fed. We also skipped character meals during the toddler/preschool years because my kids were distracted by the characters and were grouchy 45 minutes later. I’d rather wait in the park and have them with a full belly. Finally, whenever we’d go to an amusement park, my goal for the day was the number of rides for the day equal to the youngest kid’s age. Everything else was bonus!
I have to touch the outside of the plane as I'm boarding too LOL
Every time Jackson (or anyone for that matter) says "secret tunnel" I just think about Avatar the Last Airbender
When I went with my 2.5 year old at the time, we had our days totally planned out….. everything was planned out FastPasses, our dinners, I had a full timed out schedule from park open to park close….. if he was tired he was in the stroller, he napped in the stroller, and we kept to our schedule. But I think it’s very different when you go regularly or you have a once in a lifetime or maybe once every 5-10 years.
Christmas is starting nowwwww 🎅🏼
Thanks for taking us along on your Californian adventure ❤️ xx
Jackson is getting so big! He’s so sweet!
My kids are older teens now. We traveled from Chicago to Disney several times when babies and toddlers.found it best to pay to stay on Disney property. Always did rope drop did maybe 5 roses and back to hotel for naps and down time. And maybe back to park after dinner for a couple more. We now stay off property to save money. We always pack lunches and bring snacks to parks. Save so much time standing in line and money. Only pay for dinners out.
When we took our little kids, I liked having the car seat. My daughter just acted like it was a car ride. They are so used to them when they are little I think it helped, plus you get to board early to install the seat and they have to be placed in a window seat so you know where you are going to be on plane.we did rent a car once we got there so that makes a difference
I still have my sons Rock Collection. He’s 22! LOL
Love the video! Toddler/child travel tips: I always kept (safety loop) lollipops for a quick snack and colorful pipe cleaners in my purse. My youngest loved to bend and shape the pipe cleaners into little animals. Wiki sticks and reusable stickers are also great and don’t take up much room in your bag. The Dollar Tree is also a great place to look for small travel toys.
You would have been better going to Knotts than Universal with a kid his age
Agreed my son is 2 and loved Knotts more than disney too actually
I feel like Disney has a good enough things for kids his age though.
Hi guys, I had a good chuckle when Tim mentioned that he is looking into the harness that fits a toddler that works with the seat belt on the plane because my daughter in law had it for my 2 year old granddaughter when we flew from Boston to Orlando and my granddaughter freaked out on the plane and refused to use it. She made a huge scene because the flight attendants were asking everyone to stay seated during take off and we couldn’t calm my granddaughter down. The flight attendant was so nice. She brought over food and anything else she could think of to settle her down. I hope it works better for you!😀