Entertaining a Toddler on the Plane?

[EllNat11]

Hi Everyone -

We are flying down on Oct 26 and for the first time our daughter will be using a CARES harness instead of lugging her carseat on board. Usually when we would fly we'd fly around naptime or early early and she'd sleep the whole way there in her carseat. This time our flight leaves at 10:30 in the morning.

Any tips or tricks to keep her entertained? I have an iPad that i will download some Sofia the First episodes on (her favorite) - any other apps that may be good to DL before we go? She will be 21 months old. She can color but is still at the stage where coloring the ppl around her is more fun than the paper . I have some stickers that I will bring. Just looking for some ideas - not a terribly long flight, only about 2 hrs 40 minutes, but i'm sure it will feel like a lifetime for her!

Thanks!!

 

[timandjanl]

Everything you're doing is what I do for my toddler. Only thing I would add is snacks - lots of snacks!

 

[Ladcassidy]

Pick up some kid-friendly earphones to attach to the iPad so she can hear Sofia but not everyone else on the plane can. Ours are hot pink and allow the grownup to easily set the upper volume level. I think I got them at Target.

 

[stormer]

When my son was little I bought him the child headphones that don't go too loud. I thought I was protecting his ears, but turns out he couldn't hear on the plane. I had to give him my headphones and I didn't have any for the flight The noise on the plane and the low volume were not a good combination. Be careful if you pick out those headphones

 

[bumbershoot]

When my son was little I bought him the child headphones that don't go too loud. I thought I was protecting his ears, but turns out he couldn't hear on the plane. I had to give him my headphones and I didn't have any for the flight The noise on the plane and the low volume were not a good combination. Be careful if you pick out those headphones

Yes. We just had to get DS regular headphones because he cannot hear movies/music/etc when he is on the plane. Since he'll be right there it is easy to monitor the volume. When in land he uses the kid, volume-controlled, headphones.

 

[travelgirl06]

I add some dollar store toys to my bag of goodies and pull them out one at a time as she gets bored with other things, new toys are always exciting. I also have her look for things in the airline magazines (sky all has several dogs). My DD also likes play doh, which saved us from an epic landing during descent on a recent flight (she was bored with everything else, but pulling apart play doh was great fun). I agree with the posts about lots of snacks and stickers

 

[stacecakes]

in terms of coloring, the color wonder markers, though not my favorite in general, are nice on the plane cause you don't have to worry about them marking up the tray, seat, etc. Post it notes are fun- I call them "make your own stickers". If you get the maps ahead of time in your vacation kit, it can be fun to look at the maps and say- here's the castle, here's dumbo, can you find a spaceship?, etc. Helps kive the kids a sense of what is going on/which stuff is at the same park. Also helps parents get a better sense of the layout in their head.
Dollar stores have TONS of little mickey and princess things- small puzzles, spyglasses, etc. Nothing super fancy but good enough to amuse for a bit on the plane, and not stress if it rolls under the seats or something.
And food. Food is good. Especially food that requires a little effort- the crackers with cheese dip, or lunchables type things, where they have to assemble something before popping it in their mouth. I've also been known to employ those candy buttons that come o n the paper for the same reason. Picking them off takes time and effort for the sugar payoff.



those are the best ideas I've got.

 

[wiigirl]

Pick up some kid-friendly earphones to attach to the iPad so she can hear Sofia but not everyone else on the plane can. Ours are hot pink and allow the grownup to easily set the upper volume level. I think I got them at Target.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Color wonder stuff is GREAT for travel. Even my 6 year old that does not like to color, loves it. We don't do the coloring books, but the plan paper to draw on. They have special things like black paper and neon markers and no mess. I even let my DS do the finger paints in the car once. Kept him busy for hours and no mess. Not an option on the plane though.
Other ideas:
a egg of silly putty
a pack of pipe cleaners to create all sorts of fun things
a few simple i spy books
one or two match box cars
STICKERS
LOTS of fun snacks. get things he does not get often and have a bit of play value. a bag of M&Ms to sort and then eat, a bag of fun shaped cookies or crackers, fruit snacks etc. Bring his sippy cup and buy a favorite drink after you pass security.