Tips For Travelling With Nearly 2 Yr Old

[Chasingcars]

We are taking our 22 month old to Tenerife at the end of the month for a week and this will be her first flight!
Any tips for the flight (4 hrs approx)?
For the actual holiday, did other peole take nappies with them or buy there? Thinking of luggage weight allowances etc!
Also, we are staying at a hotel, for during the stay, did you take toys, and if so how many and what kind?

Any tips very welcome!

Thank you x

[mazie]

Were you lot born Grown-up ? Tut! I'd rather spend a 6 hour journey with most kids, the same doesn't go for some of the adults I know

[craft1948]

I found it bad enough when I had to sit near a screaming child on a train....

[2sp_]

I would buy nappies there, CC, you don't want to be lugging them with you. Take a few favourite toys (the lighter and smaller the better!). Make sure you have her favourite teddy if she has one. I would be tempted to stitch your name and phone number to it in case it gets lost (if that doesn't sound too OCD...).

Also, take Calpol sachets for the flights. You don't want her suffering with sore ears due to the pressure.

Have a lovely holiday, I'm sure you will all enjoy it!

[ludwig]

// I found it bad enough when I had to sit near a screaming child on a train.... //

Me too. I tried to move to a different carriage but it kept saying 'don't leave me alone daddy'.

[Sqad]

Ludwig.....LOL....you are on fire today.......;-)

[mikey4444]

Nappies are good for wrapping around the ears of other passengers, to block out the screaming and screeching, and don't forget,... Calpol works for adults as well....its just that we have take a lot of it to knock ourselves out !

[B00]

pmsl @ ludwig's reply!

[Baldric]

Agree with sqad back @12:51, no further comment!

[Chasingcars]

Many thanks to all your replies. To answer some of the questions raised, (apologies if I missed any but there were an awful lot of replies!):
We don't use a dummy so thought the chewing would help instead. Will look at the link provided - thank you.
So far, my girls entertainment bag consists of...mini etch-a-sketch, mini water mats (basically a picture that comes to life when using a small water style felt tip pen), colouring book, sticker book, new pop up story books and we have a couple of ipad apps. Also have favourite bunny and comfort blanket as well as her usual array of snacks and water.Agree with others that serving of food will be another distraction.
We are hoping as we have a monday lunchtime flight which is going to be out of peak season, the flight should be less full and although babies under 24 months can sit on laps for free we can pay for a sat if we wish. Convinced the flight wont be full, we are confident that there may a spare seat next to us anyway. Although we have to be seated for take off,we are free to get up and stretch our legs if we wish so we dont have to sit solid for 4 hours.
I have also been considerate to other passengers and chosen seats at the very back of plane so if we have to get up for bathroom breaks we are not disturbing other passengers up and down the aisles several times.
I have flown to Tenerife many times (sorry my 4.5 hours comment on part of my original post looked like a question but that was more of a statement) and in all my many journeys i have experienced children and babies at both ends of the spectrum. Likewise i have encountered adult behaviour of both kinds also.
A few of my friends have done similar journeys and about half of the children have actually slept for the flight, after all the excitement , travelling to the airport, and sometimes early starts, they are often quite tired.
To many yes, Tenerife is known for its clubs, but to add this is obviously not why we are going! I have never enjoyed clubs, or pubs for that matter, i dont actually drink. Not all of Tenerife is about clubbing. We choose to go to a quiet resort on the west coast, near the harbour, with pretty beaches. We go for the climate mainly to a family friendly hotel where just having sunshine and meals cooked for you is a holiday. The resort has lots of childrens swimming pools, and play areas and plan to take my little girl to the fabulous Loro Park that many will know as well as the water park as she loves water.
As I say, for us this holiday is having someone else cook for a week and not have to rush about and enjoy some sun, it isnt about heading out on excursions every day.
If anyone else has any other suggestions, especially regarding toys to take for the actual hotel they would be very welcome.
Many thanks all x

[TWR]

CHasing, I hope you and your family Enjoy you trip, take no notice of some of our old farts posts, at times it was in banter, as said you an buy many thing in the shops I either Americas / Adeki , Los C. so do not carry things you can buy out there, have a good trip, whilst some of the old farts start to put their vests / long Johns /Gloves on, they are only jealous, I will be doing the same as you in Dec, ( But no Children) xx

[sherrardk]

My advice would be to pay no attention to any tutters or eye brow raisers - the more stressed you are at what others might think the more stressed your daughter will become. Two years ago we took all ours to Ibiza and didn't take them clubbing once - the 'party' islands do cater for families too. Have a fab time, x

[anneasquith]

she will have the attention of her parents for the duration of the flight, don't worry about it, take a change of clothing for her , and enjoy you're family break, :)

[losgigs]

CC - you sound as if you've got most things covered so don't worry - I'm sure you'll all have fun. Not sure that you can bank on there being empty seats though. September is a popular time for older travellers without children and the flight may be full. Not sure which airline you are travelling with or where from, but we have travelled with Easyjet from Gatwick to TFS with our grandson of similar age, and there were no problems - he was excited and loved looking out the window on take-off and landing. As others have suggested, phones or ipads with Peppa Pig, etc are a godsend. Buen viaje! :)

[pusskin]

Your may not hear a sound from your child throughout this flight.
He/she may get on just fine and be no problem to you at all. Good luck.

[boxtops]

I hope it goes well, cc. I would be cautious about assuming about the empty seat, though - you may be right but we often find that a plane to any holiday resort (and particularly, we find, the Canaries) is much more full that we anticipate - and many people travel deliberately off-peak to avoid the prices during school holidays. There isn't much space on the plane for all these bits and pieces too, but I'm sure you'll manage. Some airlines do also provide a goody bag for little people, it's worth checking that.