Happy toddler on an airplane???

[itsagirlthing]

What do you bring to keep your toddler happy on the airplane? I'm planning on bringing a few small books, a notebook and pen (DD2 loves to "write")...and I'm drawing a complete blank for something small yet fun and exciting...thought about buying something new to "reveal" on the plane. Any suggests would be GREAT!!!

 

[luvdisneyalways]

Last year I brought along a mini magnadoodle, it was a hit, it doesn't make a mess, and you can't loose the pen!!

For our upcoming trip I have bought the travel size Aquadoodle. My DD, 2, loves her aquadoodle, so when I saw the small one I thought it would be perfect, and again mess free!

 

[egoldber]

How long of a flight is it?

I always bring:

portable DVD player
drawing pad
crayons
stickers
snacks

For a flight of less than 4 hours, I generally find that to be plenty of entertainment. If your child is generally a good traveler and easy going I wouldn't worry about it too much. If not, then consider more distractions.

Also, remember that the flight itself is unusual and entertaining for them. My DD loves exploring the seatpocket, reading the safety information card, playing with the barf bag (let him color it and make it a hand puppet ). Don't underestimate the ability of a 2 year old to entertain himself with an empty paper cup from the beverage cart.

I would suggets bringing an empty sippy or straw cup to make beverages easier to manage.

 

[justwinnie]

How long is your plane ride?

There's a variety of things we bring for our 3yo daughter. We've flown quite a few times with her, and we end up bringing new stuff each time.

Suggestions:
- Stickers (can be as simple as dots from the office supply store) and paper to stick them on

- Pipe cleaners-- you can help make figurines/shapes

- Mini etch-a-sketch or magna doodle

- New coloring book and a few markers-- we love the color wonder stuff from crayola-- they now have a lot of Disney styles

- Flash cards

- Small slinky

- New snack food. This always helps time go by.


Now that we fly JetBlue, we don't bring as much stuff b/c they have free Direct TV and she likes to watch nickelodeon or whatever's on.

 

[huggiebear23]

What about some new Disney figurines like the ones they sell at the Disney store that are 2 for 20.

Or,

a mini magna doodle
Little playdohs
portable dvd player


Have fun

 

[jacos11]

I've loaded a bunch of movies on our Ipod and bought 3 new color wonder books for our DS(2).

 

[Grendalynn]

We too bring a bag of tricks on the plane. Our secret is to bring something new out every so offen. One thing in the airport if you have to wait for a flight or have a layover. Something when you initially get on the plane and have to wait to taxi to the runway and hopefully not wait tooo long on the Tarmack. Then when/if the kids start to get antsy, we bring a little something out (still in a package - so much more exciting to them) to tide them over. REMEMBER: these are things that YOU have to or may have to carry! It is a great "bribery" tool and can be as costly as you make it.

Our family is big fans of; and never travel's with out: A portable DVD witha fully charged battery and the plug. A game boy and a few games, new little figurines/action figures and a sticker activity book or two. The other big hit that I was amazed with, were those water games...You know the little cylander of water with a hook or two and you have to pump the button to make the water/air move a ring onto the peg or whatever.... The kids loved them and traded back and forth the whole way to Mexico last summer! What a hit and I would never have imagined it - it was just a bribery piece and cost all of $1.88 at where else, Wally World!

 

[mskay]

These are great ideas! Keep 'em coming!

 

[kat08]

Some familiar or usual snacks and some new snacks. Also some treats that they wouldn't get on a regular basis - suckers keep our little one occupied for a while. I would totally bring a portable DVD player; this could actually come in handy at a lengthy dinner, too.

 

[Aristomommy]

There are many great ideas that we use already listed. I would also add bringing small "window cling" type stickers. DS loves to play with these on the airplane window (that is, if you have a window seat). DS is the most comfortable in his own carseat, I would highly suggest it as the seat are made for grown ups and they can slip through the seatbelt when cranky, tired etc.

 

[jenseib]

I say a portable DVD palyer will be our big hit too. I have packed a travel magnadoodle as well. Crayons and color books. paper. a sticker book and stickers. Take a look at your local Dollar tree, and they have a bunch of cheap stuff.
And we are bring tons of snacks!!! As well as buying a couple of juices/waters to bring on board as well.

 

[egoldber]

As well as buying a couple of juices/waters to bring on board as well.

You know you can't take these through security right?

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

You can buy milk/juice/water after you get through security and bring that on the plane.

 

[itsagirlthing]

So at the Orlando airport are there vending machines or snack carts that sell juice/milk after security? Looking at the map of the airport, the food court is in the center and security is actually right by the gate.

 

[egoldber]

After you go through security in Orlando you ride a train/tram to the gate area. Once you get there, there is a food court. I am sure they sell bottled juices and milks.

 

[itsagirlthing]

Awesome! Thanks egoldber!

 

[northriver]

DD is 21 months and I have way too much for the plane ride! I am divorced and DD spends 6 hours every other weekend in the car - not sure why I am worried about the plane, lol! For starters we booked the flights with the shortest layover so there isn't the wait in the airport. In my experience toddlers love airposts anyway, moving walkways, shops, food, and PLANES! Here is what I remember that I have stashed away for the flight - some I will keep as "new" surprises for the trip home. I tried to go for both small as well as lightweight - board books can really add the pounds.

Snacks - new and different
Coloring books
Disney crayons (dollar store)
Mini Disney Golden books (eBay)
Small disney figures (eBay, mine actually came from Hong Kong in 8 days)
Small animal figures
Small Disney sticker & activity books (craft store)
Little magna doodle
Post it notes

We are not taking dvd's - too much to lug around in my opinion. My 13 yr old is even leaving all of his game systems behind - bringing 6 good books instead.

I always take our carseat. However, I always have the issue of my toddler kicking the seat ahead of us - and have never been able to solve this problem, other than sitting in the bulkhead area. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

 

[all4fun]

I just wanted to add that if you have a particularly long flight, then keep at least one never-before-seen item stashed in the bag for an "emergency". Once we were at the tail end of a (long) flight into MCO and ds was having a major meltdown. Nothing could calm him down. Stick a fork in him, he was done! We had one small Sesame Street figurine toy I had bought at the Dollar Tree, still in the package. Amazingly, it calmed him right down. Obviously, I don't want to encourage that kind of behavior but desperate times call for desperate measures. And incredibly, it was a toy that cost $1 that did the trick. Just thought I'd mention it.

 

[PenguinWaiters]

Our 2 year old flew for the first time at the beginning of this month. I was worried about keeping her entertained. I bought her a new rolling backpack with Nemo on it and made sure she didn't see it until we left. In the backpack, I put the following (none of which she had seen before):

12 Little Golden Disney books that MIL had dug up for us
Cinderella Color Wonder book
6 Lacing Cards in a ziploc bag
Wooden Bear puzzle (like a paper doll, but with wooden pieces)
Pipe Cleaners
Crayons and Mickey coloring book
Reusable sticker board with stickers
Earth's Best breakfast bars
Lollipops for take off/landing

We had direct flights with little wait in the airports and about a 2 1/2 -3 hour flight. Including the flight there and back, all we really used were the Disney books!

She STILL has not seen the Colorwonder book OR the Bear puzzle OR the Pipe Cleaners OR the Sticker Book OR the Coloring book! Basically, she just wanted one of us to be reading the Disney books to her, or she occupied herself by dozing (we had early morning/evening flights) or by eating the snack provided by the airline!

I do second the suggestion to bring a straw/sippy cup as our airline (Delta) did not even have regular straws we could use - fortunately I did have a sippy stashed in her diaper bag. Instead of the lollipops (which she had never had before) we ended up eating a Clementine for take-off on the way there and just drinking water from her sippy cup for the other take-off and two landings. She had no problems with any of them, and does have a low level of fluid in her left ear pretty much all the time. I was surprised and pleased with how well the flights went.

My DD tends to be pretty good about sitting quietly though, so really I should have known that I didn't need to bring much to keep her entertained. She was pretty excited to have her own bag though, and did pull it throught the airport, so that was helpful. We did not bring her car seat and never felt like we wish we had it with us. She sat fine on the airplane, but again we usually don't have a problem getting her to sit for a long period of time.


Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[emmismom05]

There are many great ideas that we use already listed. I would also add bringing small "window cling" type stickers. DS loves to play with these on the airplane window (that is, if you have a window seat). QUOTE]

What a great idea, I'll have to remember that for our next flight!

 

[emmismom05]

We fly a lot with DD2 and there are three things I that I feel are a must that work so well for her:

1.DVD player
2.Viewmaster
3.plastic figurines (they have cute Disney ones or just ones for 88 cents from Wallyworld)

Definately bring new things they've never seen before. I know my DD gets bored with the toys she's played with a lot already and won't play with them nearly as long.

Good luck! I always anticipate the worst and end up pleasantly suprised!