Ideas for flying with 2 yr old

[Phlpsfamily01]

so we leave in a week and a half and I am planning plane activities, my 4 1/2 is easy peasy . It's my 2 year old that I am stressing about . She can/will not sit still for more than 3 minutes , so I am racking my brain trying to come up with some ideas to entertain her while on the 2 hour plane ride. I've got some coloring pages and crayons and some books to read and one of those 'I spy' types of books but for toddlers. Oh and she doesn't sit for movies so that won't work. I am thinking of bribing her with lollipops since she LOVES them and almost never gets them ! Please if anyone has any suggestions I am desperate .

TIA

 

[abirdd]

DS is 19 months, and LOVES stickers. So, for our upcoming flight in December, I've stashed away a little sticker book (Winnie the Pooh) and a ton of stickers he's not seen before. This will normally buy us at least an hour... more if it's switched up between colouring!

 

[pumpkin5156]

Get her those plastic stickers that peel on and off the windows (there's a name for them I just cannot think of it right now). That might keep her busy. Food is always the last resort with my son. If we are somewhere where I need him to be absolutely still and quiet, I give him one cheerio at a time and that keeps him very busy. It's only 2 hours so I think the suckers are a good idea.

What about if you got her her own music to listen to? My son loves loves loves music and starts wiggling around and dancing...maybe that will work.

I know you said she won't watch movies, but what about her own personal DVD player on the tray in front of her with Disney or Veggie Tales or something?

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

 

[spicemom]

Stickers are a favorite of my 2yr (almost 3) also. Maybe a puppet? Or a small toy teapot with a couple cups to play tea party.

 

[Honeymooner04]

When my daughter who is 19 months gets fussy on a plane I always resort to food! She likes raisins and stuff like that but I've given her lollipops before too. Anything to keep the peace when your trapped in a steel tube with a bunch of strangers. Usually though she is pretty good on the plane, I think she likes looking around at all the strangers and new things. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[bearloch]

Well maybe she will be so relaxed by the motion of the plane she will fall asleep ! LOL


Good Luck!

 

[Eeyore's Mom]

When my oldest son was 2, he and I flew a lot (DH worked for an airline and we could go cheap! ) I found that it wasn't as hard as being in the car. 1.- It's a new experience and some of the thrill and awe takes up some of the time 2. You can provide more attention than when you are driving in the car because you don't have to worry about directions etc., and you can give more one on one time.
I always bought new books and read a lot- just short books but it helped and we would talk about the pics etc. I also had an etch a sketch and one of those little boards with a magnetic pen, hot wheels (maybe not for a girl?), snacks, any little toy that doesn't make lots of noise and those crayola no mess marker/paper sets are are worth the money. Make sure it's new to them, doesn't have to be a new toy but something they haven't played with much.
Now that I have shared my ideas I need to think about this myself. I will be flying 12 hours with a 2 yr old, 4 yr old and 10 yr old (boys) in Jan. from Alaska to WDW . Good luck! Please share your ideas if something works great.

 

[disneymarie]

I didnt read the previous posts', but when we travel the 2 yr old grandson has a portable DVD player and several movies he is glued to.
Dianne

 

[dhardawa]

My advice (if you aren't already planning to) is to take her car seat and use it on the plane. Kids understand that when you're in your car seat you will be sitting. That is what they have done for years in the car. That in addition to the food and activities listed above should work wonders.

 

[miksilver]

I found a little toy plane at Target and that helped my DD with about 20 minutes of the flight. Also, a stuffed animal or your own small blanket can be good to get them to calm down and relax -- well...sometimes.

I have found that in real life situations like shouting toddlers on airplanes that bribes are the best . Take out and stock up on the lollipops And be assured that the plane will stop...eventually...

 

[abirdd]

I was also just thinking about WestJet - as they are our carrier of choice...

WestJet will always seat families with young babies and children near the engines. The drone usually puts most to sleep... I'm not sure if US carriers auto assign seats for families, but perhaps you could request being near the engines! If the engines fail to put them to sleep, at least they will have something mesmorizing to look at!!

 

[iman]

I suggest using Benedryl Just kidding! Sippy cups, snacks, books, stickers, and hopefully the motion of the plane will help your little one fall asleep.

 

[everylastbreath]

Lace up cards, magna doodle, coloring books, markers, stickers... bring them all, Along with the portable DVD player, you will probably use them all - 2 year olds don't have long attention spans so if you do find something that keeps him busy for the entire trip please share, because you can probably make a million on it!! 2 hrs will go quickly. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[Phlpsfamily01]

thanks for all the great ideas . Stickers is one that will work for a little while so thanks for that idea. and the magnadoodle I totally forgot we had will work too!

I hope some of the posters are right and she will be in such awe over the people and the plane it will all work out smoothly. She's a child who has a split personality, she's an angel out in public and a terror at home. I hope it holds true. lol

 

[everylastbreath]

She's a child who has a split personality, she's an angel out in public and a terror at home. I hope it holds true. lol

I have one of those too! Better that way than the opposite!!

 

[Texasmomof3]

It is the most challenging age to travel with kids. Luckily my 2 year old loves Barney so the DVD player works great for awhile. I also bring a ziploc bag with legos which even my older 2 love. I used to bring small things of playdo but don't know if that is allowed now. If you can find one of those small bubble containers like they give out at weddings that can be fun but it will have to go in the ziploc bag thru security. I guess the small playdo would work too if it's under 3 oz. My 2 year old loves her sisters magnetic dress up dolls so I will probably bring those too .Also small wind up toys that we have from various fast food places and always the basics colors and books. And lots of snacks. Have a great trip and remember 98% of kids on a plane are great it's the parents that don't plan in advance that are usually the problem so you are already ahead of the game.

 

[Minniemouse07]

Dd traveled on five round trips between 17mo and 3.5yo ...and slept the majority of the time. When she was awake we amused her w/ some Little People and an empty cup (put them in, dump them out), travel magnadoodle, board books, colorforms and snacks.

We are traveling w/ ds for the first time this December (ds is turning 2yo and dd is now 6yo) and I plan on bringing similar things...although I'm adding some vehicles because he ADORES them.

I definitely agree that using the car seat is KEY at this age.

 

[Daydreamer64]

We will be flying with our 2yo next December 30th, he turns 2 Nov. 30th. We have to get up at 2:30am to be at the airport by 4am so I'm hoping he will pass out during the flight ( 1 hour and 23 mins )- I worried that this may backfire as he may just get so over tired that he is hyper

First, we are using a carseat on the plane- I have never bent and let him out of the seat for any reason and he knows that he has to stay in the seat when we are out and about- he will be restrained and I will have two bigger brothers and Daddy to help me switch off, if need be to entertain him. Nintendo (Gameboy Advanced) used to make cartoon videos for the N-GB-AD- I found 4 of them used for around $5 each- Dora, Scooby Doo, Sponge Bob and Pokemon- I know they are not "little" kid cartoons but he will watch them in the Gameboy- if that doesn't help...........

We will have packed some little Deigo zoo animals, a magnadoodle- medium size , an A, B, C picture book to look at and point to, some small kinds of Thomas train cars- he loves Thomas - Santa has already bought all of these for Christmas with the trip in mind since we leave 5 days after Christmas day.

I will be sure to pack some snacks- I know this is bad but the suckers make him cry when they are gone * he can chew through lots of suckers in that amount of time! So,,, I substitute Nerds They are small, there are a million of these little bits of sugar candy per box and since he is used to having one at a time , I figure that the box will last the trip if it needs to! Also, he can't choke to death on these, even if he gets a mouth full like he can, being a young two year old, and wanting to chew the suckers and not lick them.

Yeah, so, he can have milk and vegis for lunch after we land!

 

[ptlycloudy]

In addition to all of the previous ideas, my secret food to play/eat is Mini marshmallows and those little coffee stir sticks. My dds' have both spent alot of airplane time stringing them on the stir stick straw, building, and then eating them . They are quiet, not too messy and they absolutely love them. Another is Cheerios or apple jacks to string on licorice laces or just regular string. They can make necklaces and then eat them. I package them in a ziploc individualized for each dd so they each have their own supplies, my girls are now 6 & 4 and they still love these things.

 

[tjmw2727]

My youngest once played with a roll of scotch tape for an entire 2 hour flight, so you never know what's going to catch their attention Travel toys from the dollar store or even McD's or BK. My sister goes in to the FF restaurants before a flight just purchases the toddler toys. Thngs like the magic slate where you write and pull up the grey paper or the magnetic man are also fun and new. My dd's loved to play with pipe cleaners and there is also a similar item called wicky sticks for older toddlers/preschoolers. A peek a boo or I spy book was always a fav as well as the "old fashion" finger games if you can remember them.

ITA with the food suggestions, lolly's or even chewy fruit snacks will be a nice treat and help with ear pressure. I would bring an empty sippy cup and then purchase drinks after security to make sure you have what you need and don't have to wait on the FA.

If I make a plea, please don't bring playdoh or bubbles onboard. While many travelers are on vacation many folks are traveling for business and won't appreciate play doh on the seat or bubbles on a suit coat. My dh travels for business and its often the case where he goes from the flight to the meeting with no time to change.

TJ