Depending on where you live, you might be able to visit a children's museum with a mock plane so your child can see what the process is like. At a minimum, you might try a trial run to the airport so she can see the hustle and bustle of the security process, the crowds, the lines etc.
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You might try "bibliotherapy." Speak to your local children's librarian and ask for books about flying on a plane. There are several wonderful titles that take enthralled young readers right through the process, step-by-step.
These exercises are about familiarity; young children are often most frightened by new situatuions, so the more you can do to make the experience seem familiar, the easier it will be for your child -- and for you
For the flight itself, I suggest lots of diversion materials including new paperback books, new water soluble markers, new magnet games. Bring along as many lightweight novel items as possible -- and don't forget to save some of them for the flight home!
Marilyn Augustyn
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well....being a frequent flyer....i would say keep your kid up for 24hrs before taking that flight....so people like me don't have to hear that nagging kid on the plane.....
actually at 2yrs old...that kid will be crying.....ears popping....
We went on a family trip to Europe when my daughter was 15 months old. We brought her car seat with us into the plane, as it would be more comfortable for her than the plane seat, and tons of new small, non-noisy toys (a travel-size magna doodle was invaluable) and books, crayons and coloring books. We sang songs and did rhymes. She slept pretty well on the flight, and was not overly obnoxious. Still, kids are kids and sometimes kids cry. Most people in the plane will be tolerant, as long as she is not crying constantly. If permitted, take a walk through the plane, but wait the longest possible, as it might be difficult to get her back on the seat (and that will bring on the waterworks). I was able to order child meals, so check into that, but also bring with you individual packages of snacks that she might be familiar with, such as apple sauce, juice, raisins, cookies/crackers. If you keep your child up, he/she will only sleep on the way to the airport and be even more miserable on the flight because she will be overtired and might not be able to settle herself down in a strange environment. Frequent fliers should know enough to bring earplugs.