Ideas For "difficult" 3 Yr Old On Flight

[allie5]

My son has just turned 3 and is a nightmare to amuse at home with a toy stash that would make Toys R Us go green let alone on a plane. He has an attention span of a gnat and whilst my 5 year old DD will play happily with the "usual" plane staples of colouring, books, puzzles, play doh and watching TV, DS is not interested in any of those for more than 30 seconds!

His number one pleasures are running, jumping and climbing - not very condusive to a metal tube at 37000 feet. We have arranged for him to be restrained on take off (as he will escape from the lap belt in about 4 nano seconds) *edited to add that he will have a 5 point harness seat insert, not a member of cabin crew holding him down* so I need something to keep him amused whilst he is strapped in (which will provoke a massive tantrum...well it did last year ).

Im looking for small, easy to carry items that he might find of interest - any ideas? Ive looked in Early Learning, and although there are tons of things to suit DD Ive found nothing suitable for DS. ANY ideas welcome! And yes I had considered a straightjacket and a quart of sleeping pills .

 

[angel659]

Hi

I feel for you I am in the same situation as you. My dd who is 5 is wonderful on planes but we will be taking our 23 month old twin boys who are pains in the back end LOL! They love to climb, scream, run etc.... we are starting to panic now as to how we are going to entertain them and how we are going to overcome the paddies.

I hope it works out well on your flight otherwise it could be a long 9 hr flight and my worries is if anyone complains to us I would not know what to say or do.

Good luck and hope it all goes well.

 

[tim june and sam]

.....And yes I had considered a straightjacket and a quart of sleeping pills .

Don't the local Constabulary have a thing called a taser (or is that tasor?)???

LOL

 

[tink too]

my worries is if anyone complains to us I would not know what to say or do.

I had the same worries - but DD conked out as soon as the engines started up and slept most of the way (both at 13 months and 3 years old)!

We had a comment passed in the check-in queue at Sanford Airport. We were travelling in a large party with 7 kids and an American woman behind me said very loudly "Well, I hope they don't seat us beside all those screaming kids!" as she made a sour-puss face and nodded her head towards my nieces! And here was me, proud of all the kids for being so well behaved, yes they were chatting but no-one was screaming!

My DSIL when I said "People who don't want to be near kids should've booked with a better airline or at least paid to upgrade to first class - after all, we are flying out of Orlando!"

Thankfully, she wasn't seated beside us as we had already pre-booked our seats and none of the kids were a problem on the flight. The folks sitting beside us were actually quite pleased to hear all their stories of their adventures at WDW!

 

[Scottish_Maleficent]

ANY ideas welcome! And yes I had considered a straightjacket and a quart of sleeping pills .

Allie....Tixylix nighttime????

 

[Cochise]

I had the same worries - but DD conked out as soon as the engines started up and slept most of the way (both at 13 months and 3 years old)!

We had a comment passed in the check-in queue at Sanford Airport. We were travelling in a large party with 7 kids and an American woman behind me said very loudly "Well, I hope they don't seat us beside all those screaming kids!" as she made a sour-puss face and nodded her head towards my nieces! And here was me, proud of all the kids for being so well behaved, yes they were chatting but no-one was screaming!

My DSIL when I said "People who don't want to be near kids should've booked with a better airline or at least paid to upgrade to first class - after all, we are flying out of Orlando!"

Thankfully, she wasn't seated beside us as we had already pre-booked our seats and none of the kids were a problem on the flight. The folks sitting beside us were actually quite pleased to hear all their stories of their adventures at WDW!

Great Little piece, i would have let the lady in front of me then requested seats next to her. I would have inflicted the full wrath of my nutter Victoria on her. She would have been begging for forgiveness.

 

[wilki32]

Have you ever watched Silence of the Lambs?

Just an idea

 

[Cyrano]

I had the same worries - but DD conked out as soon as the engines started up and slept most of the way (both at 13 months and 3 years old)!

We had a comment passed in the check-in queue at Sanford Airport. We were travelling in a large party with 7 kids and an American woman behind me said very loudly "Well, I hope they don't seat us beside all those screaming kids!" as she made a sour-puss face and nodded her head towards my nieces! And here was me, proud of all the kids for being so well behaved, yes they were chatting but no-one was screaming!

My DSIL when I said "People who don't want to be near kids should've booked with a better airline or at least paid to upgrade to first class - after all, we are flying out of Orlando!"

Thankfully, she wasn't seated beside us as we had already pre-booked our seats and none of the kids were a problem on the flight. The folks sitting beside us were actually quite pleased to hear all their stories of their adventures at WDW!

The sad thing is sometimes some of the adults are just as obnoxious.
Love you comment Conchise about payback

Reid

 

[angel659]

I had the same worries - but DD conked out as soon as the engines started up and slept most of the way (both at 13 months and 3 years old)!

We had a comment passed in the check-in queue at Sanford Airport. We were travelling in a large party with 7 kids and an American woman behind me said very loudly "Well, I hope they don't seat us beside all those screaming kids!" as she made a sour-puss face and nodded her head towards my nieces! And here was me, proud of all the kids for being so well behaved, yes they were chatting but no-one was screaming!

My DSIL when I said "People who don't want to be near kids should've booked with a better airline or at least paid to upgrade to first class - after all, we are flying out of Orlando!"

Thankfully, she wasn't seated beside us as we had already pre-booked our seats and none of the kids were a problem on the flight. The folks sitting beside us were actually quite pleased to hear all their stories of their adventures at WDW!

Hi

I can see what your dsil was saying. I might use that as an excuse if people complain.

That women sounds horrid I hope she sat near some kids that were screaming all of the way back. Although I will feel for the parents if they did.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[TinkTatoo]

.............Im looking for small, easy to carry items that he might find of interest - any ideas? Ive looked in Early Learning, and although there are tons of things to suit DD Ive found nothing suitable for DS. ANY ideas welcome! And yes I had considered a straightjacket and a quart of sleeping pills .

Are their any programs he watches - Telly Tubbies - Bear in the Big Blue House - or what ever they are these days. If there is it might be worth investing in a portable DVD player with those programs on DVD??? The only other thing I can think of is a thing I saw on one of the kids adverts - it was like a game boy but for tots (can't remember what it was called - so probably not much help from me there )

 

[allie5]

Thanks everyone. The doc has given me some phenergan (sedative) but Im reluctant to use it on the day flight out - though might give him half a teaspoon to "calm him"!!

I cant be doing with "kid haters" on a flight to Orlando - I know my son is loud and active, so I apologise to anyone this affects near me, and try my best to keep him entertained. I dont let him run wild or interfere with other passengers. Half the flight will be kiddies and anyone who is naive enough to think they wont be sat near any must be mad! Upgrading wont get you away from them either....we are flying back PE . Me and DH flew about 5 times as a couple to Orlando before our kids were born and totally resigned ourselves to the fact it would be a noisy flight. Its just a fact!

My son DID scream nearly halfway through the night flight home last year - this year I WILL be using the Phenergan as it isnt fair to him, us or others on the plane.

Tink, he doesnt have the attention span to watch any TV show for more than a couple of minutes (Virgin have a pretty good tots channel - the one he likes best is Balamory, but he wont wear the headphones, so he watched about a minute last year!). I saw that mini leapad thing - that might be an idea though. Will see if I can "test drive" one before we go to see if might like it!

 

[wilki32]

Allie

He's a boy, easy coming from a father with an almost angelic daughter but also with 5 nephews, which 3 are godsons. And being once, a little while ago, a young boy thats what we do well, act up. Actually I think my wife will say I still do!
We flew 15 hrs to Oz last year and I had a lil un kicking my chair for about 14hrs 59 mins and 59 secs of the flight, irritating but hey if I was him I'd probably thought it was funny watching the chair in front go back and forth
One thing you need to do is think when you get there he will love it!

 

[Cyrano]

I cant be doing with "kid haters" on a flight to Orlando - I know my son is loud and active, so I apologise to anyone this affects near me, and try my best to keep him entertained. I dont let him run wild or interfere with other passengers. Half the flight will be kiddies and anyone who is naive enough to think they wont be sat near any must be mad! Upgrading wont get you away from them either....we are flying back PE . Me and DH flew about 5 times as a couple to Orlando before our kids were born and totally resigned ourselves to the fact it would be a noisy flight. Its just a fact!

Well said Allie. It is difficult enough dealing with a child without the added pressure of the tut tut brigade
That fact that you are trying to find distractions is enough for you to realise You are doing your best.
Have a great time
Reid

 

[Clare D]

Allie if you are contemplating the Phenergan please try it before you go. I had heard from friends that it either worked a treat or had no effect at all so one afternoon I tried it on my DS who at the time was just short of 2. It did not work. This is a child who at the time would happily snooze for about 2 hours but with a spoonful of Phenergan he was wide awake. I thought it may be a one off and tried it on the plane again with no effect. However what did happen was that my son had the most awful Diarrhoea in his car seat on the way to the villa and it was everywhere!
You may be best to try medicines that have a drowsy effect that are normally used for colds.
I won't be taking anything this year as hopefully DS (Nearly 3 now) will be amused with his books etc... Does your DS like listening to stories on CD?, you could try a portable CD player if he does.
I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you
Clare x

 

[allie5]

Thanks Claire.

Ive already tried it out, and it does work for him, but he did have a slightly unsettled tummy afterwards. I wont be using it lightly - as I said, Im loathe to use it on the outbound journey at all. I will also take some Medised - which also works well, but only tends to last a short time. For the flight home, I will probably use the phenergan.

Unforunately, he isnt interested in story or music tapes - its mainly the headphones he dislikes, but even when we hold them near his ear for him, they dont hold his attention. He prefers things to do with his hands rather than passive activities like tapes and TV!! I found some "training watches" made of wood whilst I was browsing online last night, and I think he might enjoy one of those as you can move the wooden hands. He loves to do stuff like that - but it wont last very long!

 

[jdybnsn]

Just wondered what time is your flight ????

Any chance you can use natural sleep deprivation tactics (though I appreciate this can be hard if you've got a long car journey first !)

Also, it could be worth checking if the airport you are flying from has any creche facilities - I know some do, and perhaps you can let him run off a bit of steam before you board the flight in there ?

My partner & I usually end up taking in turns to read to our DD4, or draw / play games with her, as we find that she is not too bad as long as she is getting individual attention from someone !

Plus a large and varied supply of sweets for calming and bribing !

Finally, don't get too wound up about what other people are thinking - most of us have been there, and done that, and every time I hear a youngster bawling on a plane I'm just relieved its not mine !!!

 

[widget]

What about wrapping small gifts realy tightly in cheap paper - a sort of pass the parcel game but your son wins every time? If he enjoys doing things with his hands it would take him a bit of time to unwrap and 'post' the paper bits into a carrier bag. They dont need to be large parcels and you could wrap some coins inbetween the sheets of wrap so he has to undo carefully. Or how about a roll of bubble wrap - that would keep me amused for ages!! Not sure how the other passengers would feel with me pop..pop..popping but I love that stuff!!
Or how about an old fashioned etch a sketch? You can draw and make up your own stories with monsters who make loud noises and can be scribbled over etc

 

[Tarzan]

Finally, don't get too wound up about what other people are thinking - most of us have been there, and done that, and every time I hear a youngster bawling on a plane I'm just relieved its not mine !!!

I know it's not a helpful suggestion for the OP but just wanted to say thatI agree. As a parent, I love to have a loud child on a plane. It means that if my baby gets bored and loud, I won't feel bad because she's not the only one!