How to deal with very active toddler on 3.5 hour flight?

[jodifla]

Yes, but have you read any articles encouraging passengers to bring on strong-smelling foods? Any time the subject is mentioned, passengers are urged to think about the smell before they choose what to take on the plane. I'm just doing the same re: modeling products.

I like the smell of Eau de Joy, but I would still discourage anyone from opening a bottle of it on a plane.

Back in the days they did serve airline food, I can recall them serving fish at times!

 

[michvin]

I have never taken my two kids on an airplane and we are going to WDW in Dec. We will be flying from Boston Logan or Prov. R.I. and that is a 3+ hour flight. It is over 8 months away and I am already stressed about it. I think my 4 year old will be fine but I have a ds that I think will be a problem. I am going to try putting him in his car seat which might work for awhile but I don't see him staying there for long. He is the type of kid that is a pain at restaurants because he just won't stay sitting down. What can I do? I envision an exhausting 3 hours of marching him up and down the airplane aisles.

Do you have any tips for keeping him entertained? He will be 2.5 when we leave for WDW.

If you are really, really worried about it, give your little one benadryl. Make sure you do a trial run with the stuff to make sure you don't get the opposite effect. My doctor gave me the correct dosage just in case but we were okay w/o it. On a side note...my husband took it a few months ago for an allegery and was out in 45 minutes! lol good luck!

 

[angiestone]

Buy a Leapster at Walmart with one or two cartridges and you're set. Enough said.

 

[steen995]

My advice - pray....... My oldest son when he flew in his carseat slept. My youngest sees it as an invitation to kick the seat in front of him because he can reach it better. I swear I burn more calories trying to handle my youngest on the plan than if I went to the gym.

I do agree that for most kids the leapsters and personal DVD players are the way to go. I just think for the truly active kids you gotta just hang in there. And, sadly, my youngest is the kind that hypes out on benadryl.

 

[tjmw2727]

My advice - pray....... My oldest son when he flew in his carseat slept. My youngest sees it as an invitation to kick the seat in front of him because he can reach it better. I swear I burn more calories trying to handle my youngest on the plan than if I went to the gym.

I do agree that for most kids the leapsters and personal DVD players are the way to go. I just think for the truly active kids you gotta just hang in there. And, sadly, my youngest is the kind that hypes out on benadryl.

LOL - we had a seat kicker so we took off her shoes and booked the seat in front of her for dh or I. One parent sat with youngest dd and the other parent sat in front of her next to younger dd.

Our dd's favorite activites were stickers and a sticker book, the kind you could remove the stickers and re-position them. We only recently got a portable DVD so we used books on tape, store bought or ones dh or I read to the recorder. Happy meal toys and a portable magnadoodle were also hits. If you stumble on something your child finds fun put something similar aside for the flight.

Another fun thing is snacks and drinks, buy a new sippie cup or straw cup, its important to keep them hydraded. Chew and swallow helps the ears, fruit chews are good for that and not something I normally allow so it was a novelty. The party store has a make your own candy necklace - that was a huge hit one trip (my nephew loved it as much as the girls!). Easy enough for a toddler to do, fun and then a snack for later. A pez dispenser if fun, esp if he/she hasn't had one before.

Just keep your eyes open in the party asile, craft asile and even the grocery for some things to put aside between now and the flight. I find I do this all year now and then when a car trip or flight comes along I just go through all the "treasures" I have collected and pick some.

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[rnorberg]

from what im hearing about this kid...i just hope im not one of the poor slugs sitting near you guys on the plane!! haha, youre not flying Sun Country are you? HEHE. 2 1/2 days til CSR!

 

[RuthLS]

I have 2 toddler boys, 3 and almost 2. We are going this May from Portsmouth, NH to Orlando. I am of course just as worried as you are.

I agree with the leapster. A friend got it for our 3 yr old and he's still playing the games that came on it. I just got a game for the flight.

I also agree with the sticker book. We got a 999 stickers sticker book the other day and my son spent hours playing with it. We've decided he is off stickers until the Disney flight. LOL.

I also bought a million little trinkets. Think $1-$3. Annoying little toys that I know will keep them busy.

Somone once suggested on these boards wrapping the things you get the kids. Even triple wrapping.

I'm not planning on bringing play doh. Not b/c I don't think it's not ok..but b/c my kids are messy and I don't want to have to deal with all the tools/toys.

Oh...we also just picked up the color wonder that has black paper and you use the markers and color appears. I don't know what it's called. It says it's for 6 and up..not sure why. But I have a feeling that will be a hit too.

Good luck...3 hours isn't really that long.

Ruth

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