For many parents, the absolute last place they want to be with their child is on an airplane. It’s a small, tight space with little freedom and lots of waiting. Really, it's the perfect recipe for a meltdown, no matter how old you are. If your child does get a little restless and makes even the slightest noise, the stares of judgment and scorn might be enough to shame you into a fit of tears of your own.
There are so many new parents who opt out of the experience altogether. And then there are people like this TikTok mom who do the unthinkable: taking their toddler on a 22-hour flight and living to tell the tale.
This mom is literally qualified for the task.
Kristy, who goes by @drkristysommer on TikTok, is a mom, podcaster, and also just happens to have a doctorate in child development. If anyone were going to attempt this feat, she is the one to do it.
Kristy documented her daughter’s first flight for those of us who might like to follow in her footsteps and travel long hours with our children without incurring the wrath of fellow passengers.
The journey started with a couple of screens.
The journey began long before Kristy and her daughter even got on the plane. Because the flight was international, Kristy, her husband, and her daughter arrived at the airport five hours in advance to give them plenty of time to get through check-in and security. They waited in a lounge, where Kristy’s daughter engaged in a sensory activity.
The first flight was from Brisbane, Australia, to Dubai, UAE, a 14-hour trip. During that leg of the trip, the 2-year-old watched some in-flight entertainment before she quickly switched over to her iPad. It was an evening flight, and she soon fell asleep.
Kristy’s daughter slept for about six hours on the first flight.
While Kristy hoped for a long sleep, her daughter slept only six hours. She woke up and had some snacks, including the cereal she had threaded on a necklace: a two-for-one activity.
During the second half of the flight, the little girl colored, ate snacks from her snack pack, and played with road tape. But the activity that seemed to occupy her the longest was the playdough. “It was the best thing we brought on this flight … other than the snack pack.”
Kristy was surprised to see how well her daughter traveled.
After the playdough, it was time for breakfast. At that point, the toddler was ready to move around, so she stood on the seat for a bit. During the descent, her ears hurt some, but she was mostly OK. On the second leg of the trip, Kristy and her family traveled from Dubai to Glasgow, Scotland.
The little one slept for two hours, which Kristy said was definitely not enough. After the nap, they made a little fort out of a blanket, and then they landed shortly afterward. Kristy said she was pleasantly surprised to see how well her daughter handled the whole thing, having very few tantrums.
The trip home didn't go as smoothly.
Kristy’s video has been viewed 15 million times as people watched this journey in awe. Admitting that Kristy’s daughter handled this nearly day-long trip better than many adults would have.
“I would have had a dozen tantrums on a 22 hour flight," one TikTok user wrote. "I’m 42.”
After the popularity of her first video, Kristy shared how the flight home went down. Things were a little different on the way back. They only arrived three hours early to the airport, not five. They didn’t pay for a lounge, it was a day flight instead of a night one, and they flew back in economy.
Kristy’s daughter was less impressed with her toys this time around, even though they had some special new toys for her. Playdough was still her favorite. Oh, and she only slept 3 hours and 40 minutes total and woke up yelling after the shorter nap. But from the looks of the video, she still handled it like a champ, all things considered.
