3 year old on long flight - tips please!

[Nubbedy]

Hi,
We are travelling to WDW in July with DS (3). So far the longest flight we have been on with him was a touch over 4 hours, so 9 hours will be a big difference. We have kept him amused in the past with portable DVD player and colouring books.

Can anyone recommend any other toys, items to take that will help make the journey easier? Also any other tips on travelling to Florida with a small child?

Thanks, Sara.

 

[carolfoy]

Other tips? a lot of patience! seriously, I don't think it'll be too bad, I wouldn't normally encourage junk food but if you could get some sweets that have some 'novelty' ie, sherbert dip types or build a burgers, they might use up some time and keep him quiet. also the usual sticker books, colouring, perhaps a wee map or something so he can see where he's going. I'd keep a stash of things and just occassionally produce a new item when he looks like getting fidgety, a good walk around the plane too will keep him amused for a bit. good luck

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hi Sara,

Certainly a Portable DVD player is a must for us too. That would be the number 1 on my list.

We always take some small familiar toys, books etc things that do not take up much room.
Small cars are very popular in our house, the PlayMobil range is very good and generally come with action figures too - these fit quite easily into your hand luggage.
Maybe if he has a favourite soft toy too perhaps?

Ensure you have a supply of his regular drink or snacks too.

The main thing we have always found with Josh and I am sure your son will be the same is that they always cope well in circumstances like this, and often it's the parents who worry the most.

I think your natural instincts just take over and you just muddle through as best you can, naturally with the thought of a great holiday at the end of it.

 

[alisonbestford]

The first time DD flew to Florida she was only 3 and I'd been dreading it!

I had a bag full of various toys, games, book, puzzles, crayons picked up from the £1 shops
From my experience you're on a flight to Florida so there'll be loads of other kids, all with parents worrying themselves silly too

We did quite a few laps of the plane too, 'chatting' to any babies or other kids she could find

 

[tashasmum]

When we first flew out to Disney our daughter was only 4 so we had little in-expensive toys,books etc , wrapped them up as surprises and she was allowed to pick one out of the bag every hour. You will be surprised how quick time passes, especially when you have to fit in eating and sleeping as well.

 

[Boo Boo Too]

As others have said, would be a good idea to take a supply of drinks and snacks. However, make sure you pace them and don't overload them on sugary/fatty/salty food/drinks - sounds obvious, but might make them hyperactive or even sick...

... I sat across the aisle from a boy (9 or 10 probably) a few years back on a night flight. During the first part of the flight he was absolutely STUFFING himself with Pringles and sweets, then his Virgin Kids meal. I went to sleep, to wake-up JUST in time to see him throw up all over himself and his blanket (thankfully not me...). Why his parents didn't regulate what he ate, I don't know...

So a good supply of reasonbly healthy food is good. Fruit is a good option because it will help battle dehydration. BUT remember, you cannot take fruit or other fresh food into the US (Customs do not allow it). So leave it on the plane when you get off.

Because of the time difference, it would be good to encourage your little one to take a bit of a nap during the flight - hopefully she wont be overly tired when you get there.

Portable DVD sounds great, so do colouring books, maybe puzzles or activities that you can do together? If you can find anything relating to Disney, Florida, holidays and/or airplanes, then that would be very topical

I don't think it will be too bad at all - think that the time will do quicker than you think

Boo

 

[alisonbestford]

Somewhere on the DIS boards is a link to downloadable Disney colouring pages and puzzles

Sorry I don't have the link on the computer but I bet you could find it easily enough - as well as the DIS try Google for free Disney printables

 

[Nubbedy]

Thanks for all your replies. Johnny and Alison, I agree that Luke will probably cope just fine with the flight and that it will be me who is stressing!

Liked the idea of him choosing a surprise from the bag when he starts to get bored and he would probably enjoy plotting his way across a map (thanks to Dora the Explorer he is better with maps than I am!) Will definitely take some little figures for him too because they will be small and light.

Off to try and find Disney colouring stuff via Google. Can never get my search to work on the forum.

Will also make a point of not filling him too full of rubbish - although if anyone is ill on the plane it will probably be me!

Sara.

 

[tink too]

Our DD was 13 months old the first time she went to Florida - she had a few walks around the plane and then slept a lot!

When we travelled again when she was 3, we had no problems. She had a few magazines and crayons and she watched the cartoon channels on the seat-back tv's. Again, she slept quite a bit!

 

[castanea1985]

Hi, we've taken both DD and DS when they were three (respectively), DD was always easy to take and kept herself occupied, but DS was (and still is at 14), a child from hell! Especially when he gets tired!!

I always got him to 'pack' his own back pack (even as young as three), with all his own toys, games etc - then I'd take some extra things he'd never seen before in my own luggage, to use as a back up, when he got fed up with his own stuff. I never took sweets for him, just activity things, colouring pens etc.

The portable DVD's are a great idea! I only wish they were about when DS was three!

Try not to worry too much! You'll be fine - bet his favorite ride will be 'Its a small world!' Have a great time!

 

[patdavies]

deleted duplicate post

 

[patdavies]

Try not to worry too much! You'll be fine - bet his favorite ride will be 'Its a small world!' Have a great time!

And you'll not get the tune out of your head for weeks.............

 

[BRobson]

We go on Sunday with ds (4) and dd who is (6). I have bought DS a Buzz Lightyear pull along suitcase and filled it with a lot of inexpensive goodies that he hasnt seen before.

The kids Magazines have the freebie toys and colouring in. He loves Thomas the Tank Engine so he has a couple of sticker books.

I also have bought a couple of travel games as Tesco has them 2 for £5 - so he has got hungry hippos.

Large playing cards for a game of snap or pairs - I got Dora the Explorer ones

I also found Mini Thomas Aqua Draw which he will love.

In fact when I gathered all the bits I had bought over the weeks I think I have gone a bit overboard but anything for a bit of peace!!!

Jackie

 

[karengr]

Dont get stressed out yourselves ,thats my main tip.

remember the flight is going to have some kids on it. we buy the usual books stickers etc i try not to give the kids too much sweets etc but perhaps a packed lunch with their favorite bits and lots to drink.
even if you have booked a kids meal for the plane there is no guarantee they will like it.
Please no one get all judgmental but i sometimes give my 2 a dose of Calpol this helps with the ear ache situation and just calms them down a little.
My 2 dont tend to sleep on planes which i dont mind as i get as much drink as poss in which in turn ends up with trips to the loo and time passes quicker.

Be calm yourself and this will rub off on your kids remember to take wet wipes on the plane to freshen yourselves up. have fun

 

[scojos]

i too will be travelling with dd3 this summer, i have bought dried fruits, raisins apricots etc, to feed them in case they dont like meal, this happened to us in '04 with ds then 4...
i have some uno cards for her, a game we play at home alot, these are fimble cards.. i have also printed off a folder worth of stuff for each kid, three v heavy folders, but at least they ll be busy, these are off themouseforless.com and they have some brill stuff.
Ill see you there ill be the one with no hair!!!

 

[Nubbedy]

Thanks again for the advice - I will certainly look in Tesco for some travel games.

Sara.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Regarding my earlier post Sara, there is a very good Playmobil store at the Florida Mall, it may be useful for the return flight or future trips - sorry if this is moving the thread off topic ,have to be careful you know

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

I'm from Canada, looking at your board for a totally unrelated reason - but when I saw your call for help, couldn't help but respond. I'm a Geordie born and bred and when we took my then 1 yr old over to England to visit my doctor recommended gravol - knocked him out for the entire flight - 9 hours (had to wake him up in Iceland when we had to get off to refuel) and normally he is the energizer bunny (still is at 11). The most fabulous thing about it was that all was that the out of sync sleep reset his clock and he was on UK time well before us. Try is before you go though, it can work the other way with some kids.

 

[Miffy2003]

Lots of great ideas on this thread - we found our 3 year old was in 7th heaven with her own seatback TV and a permanent loop of the same few CBBC programmes

 

[matty624]

Wow, lots of advice above!
We took our two when they were 10 months/2 year, then again a year later, a year later etc...
By the time ds was 3 and dd4, they were both transfixed by the seat back tvs. So a wonderful flight in prospect! The only little piece of advice i can add to the above, avoid anything sugary, it's hellish sticky if spilt!
And, whatever happens, avoid a tantrum!!!! My dd, who's a little highly strung at the best of times, had a couple of mishaps in some of the early flights, and all I could do, through very gritted teeth, was to bumble 'oh never mind'!!!! Whereas, what I actually wanted to do was throttle her!!!! But if I had, I, and the rest of the plane, would have really suffered the consequences!!!!
Ian