I'm not getting involved in this argument no way, no how, but I just had to chuckle a little over the advice to bring along a portable DVD player and the toddler's favorite DVDs. Am I old now or what?! My gosh, I've never seen a DVD in my 40 years (although I didn't drag my heels but jumped onto the CD technology pretty quick when it first became available!)! <BR> <BR>Maybe the DVD thing would compare to when we used to bring along some books with cassettes to play so the kids could be "read" to as many times as they want without mom and dad going hoarse. You know, the ones where you turned the page when you heard the "beep"?

Yea-like the average toddler will sit still for 8+ hours with a DVD player. NOT! You people must live on fantasy island!

Yea, if you really want to hear people scream, make them listen to Barney playing on the DVD for 8 hours! A 16 month old won't wear headphones, so please don't make the other passsengers listen to WEE SING, books on tape etc. They'll turn back the plane and put you off. Books, snacks, treats, new toys, their own car seat--all should contribute to a good flight.

No....and I hope I never will

Don't miss the opportunity to go because of your young child. I would think tuckering your tot out before the trip would do the trick. Plenty of walks and talks will help you along. Ignore the people who have had the bad experiences and just remember to engage a bit. You know best what your child can handle. AND TO THE REST OF YOU. REQUEST TO SIT APART FROM CHILDREN WHEN BOOKING YOUR FLIGHT IF YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOO SENISTIVE! I am one of you and works for me.

I see absolutely no problem bringing a 16 month along on your vacation. However remember a few things - the baby will get cranky if you do not bring things to keep him entertained and fed. We travel everywhere with our children this year it became even more adventurous when we had our third. We drove 18 hours with all three kids to Florida spent a week at Disney then took them on a cruise. They got bored several times, and I suggest you find out if the hotel you are staying at has a nanny service for some well needed time for yourselves. Since our children were born we have taken them to fine restaurants, airplanes, and 5 star hotels as well as trains, 3 star hotels and McDonalds. It doesn't matter where you take them, it matters if you discipline them and enforce your rules on the road just as you would at home. <BR>Travel at nap time, let your 16 month run around the airport to burn off energy -take your stroller with you - the flight attendants will make sure it gets stored and is available when the plane lands. And do buy a seat for the baby. Many airlines give a reduced rate.<BR><BR>As for choosing a hotel - try to find one that has a kitchenette, this makes it easy to fix small snacks to take with you before going out to eat. This prevents you from going insane if there is a wait for your food or their isn't any toddler friendly foods on the menu. Good Luck!

We brought our two adopted toddlers home from Russia via Switzerland to Atlanta. It was a nightmare, mostly because we could not talk to the children (we don't speak Russian), they did not know us, it took forever, and the people around us INCLUDING the SwissAir hostesses were very rude and hostile towards us.
No one asked us &quot;Are your children OK?&quot; I guess they just assumed that we had two brats and did not care how much noise they made, but my husband and I were mortified and could not stop them from screaming and crying. The kids were terrified, and we could not calm them. It was miserable, because my husband and I are very quiet and polite people (as are our children, now three years later!)
So, please, if you are ever on such a flight where a kid is crying too much, remember that there might be more to the situation than meets your eyes (and ears!)

Shouldn't be a problem, the child is almost 4 now based on the original post date.

Good one SanParis, I was about to go into my JFK-LHR ordeal but stopped myself just in time.