Keeping Josh Occupied On The Plane ?

[genia]

some one pleaaaaassssssseeeeeeeeeeeee tell me how i am going to keep my impatient and stroppy when bored 1.5 yr old from making a huge scene on the aeroplane for 8-9 hours coz i just know he is gonna be so difficult and hard to please when we are up in the air and i think it will probably result in an argument bettween me and my boyfriend (and obviously this is the last thing we want )they both have very very short tempers and as it is there 1st time on an plane i just know it will all end in tears untill we land how great !!! its the only thing i am not looking forward too !!! thankyou !!

from genia

 

[PrincessMommy2]

I usually bring a little backpack of things to entertain DD. This is what I usually bring: coloring books/crayons, the small party pack containers of play-do, colorform books, a couple of favorite books, pipe cleaners, etc. We also have a small portable dvd player which was a lifesaver on the last trip. Does he like movies?? This may be the best investment we made!! Good luck!

 

[HeatherC]

I also make sure mine are a little hungry when we board. I bring lots of fun snacks that we don't always get at home and take my time letting them eat. Kills time and they get to play. (Like those crackers where they can spread the cheese, etc..) Just make sure you have plenty of wipes handy!!!!

I've never done it, but friends of mine swear by giving their children a teaspoon of Benadryl. They say the doctor suggested it and helped the kids sleep a great portion of the trip. I, however, don't like giving a kid medicine uncessarily. Plus, some kids get wired from that stuff. Which would backfire.

Not sure which airline you are flying, but we've been lucky in the past to get the seats that face each other in the back of the plane. The aisle between them is wide and there is room for a little one to walk around and wiggle once you are at a safe altitude. That way they are not blocking the main aisle but don't have to sit for 8 hours. Even I can't do that!!

Heather C

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Make sure he has his own seat and bring his car seat. At least then he has some boundries. Snacks are the best thing I have found for trips. Bring fun things that combine snack and play. Fun shaped crackers, fruit chews, rasins etc. Lots of quite toys, books and his blanket or snuggly to encourage a nap. The truth is you will need to spend most of the time entertaining him. Try some toys that he might be too small for but would be fine for 1:1 play with you. Some small legos, tiny cars etc. Colorforms for the window night be fun as will be stickers and paper. Some fun things you might not think of; a roll of tape to let him tear off and stick on him (and you), pipe cleaners,(twist into all sorts of shapes), your lap top to let him watch a movie or two. Good luck with BOTH, of your boys.


Jordan's mom

 

[Tamickey]

I always took a bag of surprises onto the plane, but I found the trick was not to let the child know you have it or at least any idea what's in it. That's not easy to do while packing. Just don't forget them if you hide them before the trip! The newness of the stuff is part of what keeps them interested. And don't hand the bag over, dole out things as you detect boredom coming on. It'll take longer for some things than others.

Have a bottle or pacifier (never used these things) handy for take offs and landings for his ears. Don't hand it over til that plane is actually moving since you can sit on the plane awhile until actual taxi & takeoff.

Also remember that if you're awfully keyed up about this, that alone can set your child off. I think kids take their cue from you. So take a surprise bag of toys & snacks, get on the plane and try to relax.

 

[tjmw2727]

Relax and plan, as I can see you are, and then plan again. We are huge believers in having the seat and carseat. It helped my girls feel comfy as it was something they were familiar with.

Some of our tried and true were, a cassette player and books on tape, some store bought and some read by dh and I. Books to read to him as well, something new and something loved. My dd loved a roll of tape with a notebook and paint with water. I used the spillproof bubble containers for the water and either swabs or brushes depending on her age. Model Magic is better (IMHO) than playdough as its easier to mold, cleaner and dosen't have the odor. If you have a dollar store you can find some great stuff and if it gets dropped and lost its not so bad.

Candy pops especially if he dosen't usually have them, we also gave snacks that we normally would not. Often an airline won't have child friendly food so a sandwich, fruit and healthy snacks will help. A bottle or sippie cup for dehydration and ears. Lots of paitience, like others said it will be hardest on you as you will want to activly engage him as much as you can. A lovie is great hopefully for napping!

At the risk of sounding preachy ITA with the previous poster that if you and dbf are feeling nervous and stressed baby will pick up on that vibe. Just try your best and so will he!

TJ

 

[lovesdumbo]

I was so worried about flying with my very active DS(3) and my baby DD(1). I knew DD(5) would be great. I've just got to tell you that they were all great. DS was so fascinated by flying that just looking out the window kept this boy who usually has a 1 minute attention span happy for some time and he actually slept for a while. He loved the sticker books I brought. I do agree with all others who have said that you should bring a carseat. I think that let my DS know that he wasn't going to get up and run around.

 

[stacy2197]

My husband can be as difficult as the children so I put him in the row behind us. That way I'll just have to worry about the kids not him being difficult.

 

[genia]

Thankyou all for your great suggestions i went to the early learning centre today and got a small etch a sketch type drawing board that erases stuff each time you want to use it, they didnt have any pipe cleaners (which i was most surprised about) so i will look at toys r us maybe, josh has a thing about Nemo at the moment so i went to the disney store and bought a nemo pen (with a nemo fish floating about in) some nemo stickers and a nemo drinking flask !! i want to get a few more bits and make up a little goody bag to present to him after we take off !! my mum made a good suggestion of leaving everything i bought/buy in the packets so that he can (attempt) to open them himself and this might keep him occupied for that little bit longer and if i keep them hidden from him untill we get in the air it will be some thing different that he hasnt seen before!! as for my boyfriend i think i will go to the doctors and see if they can give me a local anasthetic to give to him lmho (only joking although it does seem like a good idea) i might even secretly make up a little pack for him too with a few puzzle books and hand held mind maze games etc he will probably be quite surprised and amused!! anyway thankyou again it was so exciting reading all your replies and really really helpfull too if you come up with any more great ideas please let me know i look forward to hearing from you all it gives me peace of mind !! THANKYOU ALL FOR KEEPING ME SANE!!!?

FROM GENIA

 

[fran99999]

I was just thinking about this problem for my DS4 yesterday at Walmart. I went to the paper supplies and there it was another set of Crayola markers the ones that only write on the special paper. One enclosed book has pictures to fill in and one was for free drawing. This years set has the finger paints and the markers. ($9.94) Don't get the set with the big plastic desk, the desk was in the way last year. Oh and I also bought from the Easter bunny a Crayola set of dry markers with board ( looks like a small 3 ring binder with zipper 6" by about 8") to practice his letters and #'s and play tic tac toe. included small eraser.

The Crayola set with the special paper worked especially well when my DH and I wanted to go have some time away from the kids. My DD 15 and her friend (she couldn't go alone who would she spend her time with us? Gross!! LOL) babysat for an evening and colored together. I even have pictures to prove it.

My DS dr was the one to suggest the benadryl to calm down DS for the flight.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

Can I just point out that you aren't allowed to take a car seat on flights from the UK - even if the child has his own seat! Thanks!

 

[NotUrsula]

[Can I just point out that you aren't allowed to take a car seat on flights from the UK - even if the child has his own seat! Thanks!QUOTE]

Not actually true. This depends entirely on what carrier you use. UK-based carriers will not normally allow it, as the UK govt. does not require them to allow it. (The UK govt. does NOT forbid them, however; it is left to the airline to decide.) The US govt. *does* require US-based carriers to allow carseats, so if you fly on a US carrier and purchase a seat for the child, you can indeed use a carseat on a UK-to-US flight, if the child weighs less than 40 lbs. I've done it many times. (They might require proof that the seat meets US FAA aircraft standard, however. For a UK carseat, you can get that by writing to the mfr. US carseats have a sticker for this.)

Also, for a child this age who has had a seat purchased (not just the 10% fee for a infant, but an actual child fare), BA and Virgin both have specially-designed childseats available for transatlantic use if they are requested in advance. Note that I am NOT referring to the skycots; these are seats. (BA's attach to the bulkheads.) Availability is very limited, so ask early.

 

[disdreams]

Sometimes on long flilghts we will take a redeye flight (late night), just so everyone can sleep (I seem to be the only one who has trouble sleeping on planes, though). Also, we take a portable CD player. Even babies like to listen to their music on there...as long as they will keep it on their ears, that is. We definately take snacks, coloring books, cards and whatever else I can think of. Some airlines have kids activity packs that they will give you for free, but you have to ask for them sometimes. Kids ears will hurt from the pressure sometimes, so if they eat something that makes them swallow a lot it helps with the pain. We also take ear plugs. There are some for kids you can get at your drug store or grocery store called earplanes.


stacy2197 ......I am dying over your husband comment. That is so funny that you stick him in a different row!! I'd put the kids in the row with him if he was difficult! Then you can relax!! We fly stand-by so we don't always sit together (my DH and I, that is), so we just trade off kids every now and then and it all works out. If the flight isn't crowded you can usually move to a row that doesn't have anyone else sitting in it.