Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

So we are trying to finalize some vacation arrangements and I am on the fence about the flight. It leaves JFK at 6:15am! DD usually waked up about 7:15am....so this means I am going to have to get her up out of a sound sleep at about 4:30am. I will just take her from her crib and put her right in the car and she will fall asleep on the 30 min ride to the airport. Am I crazy to think that this could actually work and won't totally mess her up. She is not a baby that will sleep on you. She is pretty much a crib/car only sleeper.

She is 10 months old now and will be 15 months when we go away.

Message edited 1/21/2010 10:03:54 AM.

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

for a one time deal, I would go for it. Worst case, she doesn't fall asleep in the car, but I am sure she would sleep on the plane (which could be better)

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

I had to do the same thing with DS at 9 months old. We dressed him in his clothes the night before, and woke him up at the very last minute, at 4 am. He stayed awake until the plane started to take off, and passed out cold on me. (which he normally doesn't do).

So, it might just work out

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

same here...I dressed my DCs in their clothes the night before....both stayed up until the plane...but then passed out on the plane which I was much more grateful for! Good luck!

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

We did this I can't say it was the greatest night for us

But it was worth it in the long run She slept on the plane.

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

She might get up or she might fall asleep! Honestly, it is one time and she will eventually make up the sleep (whether it is in the car or on the plane)
Whenever we have done it, we have just taken the kids in their pajamas and changed them on the plane or in the airport.

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

We took a 630 am flight to orlando from JFK when we took DD to WDW when she was 15 months old. We had the car service pick us up around 4 am (we had to be there extra early b.c delta messed up our seats). I had her sleep in leggings, a tee shirt and sweatshirt (end of sept so it wasn't too cold yet). I just changed her diaper and walked her to the van and buckled her into the car seat and handed her a sippy of milk - she drank a bit and went right back out for the rest of the ride and stay asleep until they made me carry her thru security. At that point I made her get up and run around to get a lot of energy out in the terminal so she would sit on the plane (DD never sits). It worked well. She went right into her car seat on the plane and read her books, watched her dvd's and slept.

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

We did exactly that for DS and it worked out perfectly. He slept and was completely on schedule.

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

Thanks to everyone who replied! Looks like we will be booking the early flight!

Re: Waking up toddler early to catch a plane

We took a 6:30 flight to Orlando a few months ago.

I think DD heard us getting ready, because she was up at about 4:15, 4:30.

She didn't fall back to sleep until the plane was landig at the airport. And that was all of 15 minutes or so.

We tried to get her to nap, but nothing was working and she was so overtired.

But she went to bed at about 8:30 that night with no problems. I think she was just pooped after her day at Disney.

She slept ok for a while, then woke up and slept with me. But she slept and that was all that mattered to us.

You may have a rought first day/night, but I'm sure your DC will adapt quickly.