Quiet Activities for 13 month old on plane

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Looking for ideas for quiet toys/activities to entertain my 13 mo DD on our flight. We are going to have an IPad and headphones for her, as well as snacks, something to suck on for ear pain, changes of clothes for everyone, etc. I'm trying to think of other toys to bring that don't take up a lot of room, are quiet, and won't roll away. She LOVES books, so we will bring some new ones she has never seen before. Maybe some Little People? Foam stacking blocks? Any ideas would be welcomed. And in case it helps anyone with suggestions, she likes toys for the 1.5-2 year old category. She gets very bored with toys for 12 months and under.

 

[monorailsilver]

Candy was always wonderful on the plane!

We did lollipops since they last long and some kind of fruity snack but I would break that one fruit snack into 4 pieces so it really would last!

A few years ago I got my dd a book that you use the special marker and as she colored the page would come to life. Sort of like color wonder markers but it was just the one marker. Those things are usually in book stores on the spiny rack.

I spy books that are easy enough for her-or even on the iPad.

Heck, I have gone thru the airline magazine with each of my kids on the plane and have done the ispy with that.

Download some games on the iPad too.

How about the sewing activities for little kids and they sew with a shoe lace?

 

[The Hendies]

I work with this age group on a daily basis, and I use an activity that occupies this toddlers for a very long time. Grab an empty frosting container, or similar size with a plastic lid. Cut a slit in the top so it looks like a bank. Buy some colorful, assorted shape BIG buttons. Voala! You have a Button Bank. While your little one puts the buttons in, and take them out, you can talk about color, shape, etc. It works!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I work with this age group on a daily basis, and I use an activity that occupies this toddlers for a very long time. Grab an empty frosting container, or similar size with a plastic lid. Cut a slit in the top so it looks like a bank. Buy some colorful, assorted shape BIG buttons. Voala! You have a Button Bank. While your little one puts the buttons in, and take them out, you can talk about color, shape, etc. It works!

I love that idea, but I know DD would want to rattle the container and I don't want to drive out fellow passengers nuts. We are currently in the "everything is a percussion instrument" phase.

 

[The Hendies]

I'd much rather hear a little rattling sound than the sound of an unhappy toddler! But that's just me! I hope you have a fun~filled trip!!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'd much rather hear a little rattling sound than the sound of an unhappy toddler! But that's just me! I hope you have a fun~filled trip!!

Lol. Good to know. We are trying to be as respectful to fellow passengers as possible. Maybe if I line the container with fabric or cotton...

 

[MSSANDRA]

Stickers! They can stick them on paper you bring or on themselves and you! Babies also love masking tape. Transferring it from one finger to the next takes up a lot of time! Pipe cleaners they can twist and form are fun. Crayola magic mold clay is great. It does not crumb or mess like play dough and can be mashed and formed into balls or whatever. Also crayola color wonder markers are soooo fun and no mess at all. All of these assuming you are aware of choking hazards and won't take your eyes off of her. Also use finger foods as fun too. Animal crackers, gold fish, teddy grahams can be fun to tell stories and sing about as you line them up and eat them. mini m&m can be sorted and then eaten. Toddler gummy snacks are also fun food.

 

[MissVeronica]

I agree on the stickers! Especially when ascending and descending when you can't use the iPad.

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

When I flew with a 15 month old we did lots of stickers. I also took a small sized magna doodle. That was a big hit and we still keep them in the car for entertainment at home. Good luck!

 

[chuss]

Our family very rarely watches TV/movies with the exceptions of long car rides and any plane trip. If they want to watch videos/movies the entire time, great! Happy kids= happy parents = happy fellow passengers stuck in that skinny, uncomfortable tube for hours. It's not the time to worry about teaching the kids their ABCs. And with the new rules about small electronic devices being ok even during takeoff and landing, even better.

That being said, I think you have a great list going of other items if the videos/games get boring!

 

[lucyddr]

We are taking a tablet and headphones as well as a Nintendo DS for our 19 month old twins in a couple of weeks. They don't understand games yet, but they love buttons!

You also might look at the bin section at the entrance to Target. I found some little sticker/crayon/book packs for $1. We bought several. I figure they will love opening the package, exploring the contents, sticking stickers in the book and on themselves, and then scribbling! Cheap and disposable!

 

[Buntington]

Our family very rarely watches TV/movies with the exceptions of long car rides and any plane trip. If they want to watch videos/movies the entire time, great! Happy kids= happy parents = happy fellow passengers stuck in that skinny, uncomfortable tube for hours. It's not the time to worry about teaching the kids their ABCs. And with the new rules about small electronic devices being ok even during takeoff and landing, even better.

I've got to agree with chuss; our family is the same way! DS is almost 16 months and we've taken two long road trips (one was two days of driving each way, ugh) in the past month. I mostly kept DS entertained with videos I had downloaded onto my Kindle Fire. I had different shows so that if he got bored with one, I could switch to another. Then I would give him my phone and play youtube videos when that stopped working. Kids are also sometimes entertained by regular objects you wouldn't think of. He spent quite some time trying on my sunglasses and playing with the extra set of car keys, and he also enjoyed crinkling my water bottle (it might be a bit noisy on the plane, though). I think you will be fine if you just have some objects to hand her and a bunch of videos loaded on your ipad/phone.

 

[BecBennett]

My DD isn't interested in watching tv or movies, so we had a heap of stuff lined up for our flights, however she spent most of the time on the plane taking the lid off her bottle and putting it back on again.

How long is your flight? Snacks are always popular, plus she enjoyed walking up and down the aisle for a bit.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

Dollar Store - Dollar Store - Dollar store

They have crayons, little Disney figures, Little barbie doll types, New coloring books, plush toys, foam blocks... etc etc

AND - they will ALL be new! Don't let her see any of them before you get onto the plane (and pack a few in your suitcase for the return flight)

 

[Neesy228]

I used to keep my two DS's entertained for a long time with post-it notes in different colors/sizes! They could stick them anywhere and pull them off....window, seat, tray, parents, siblings... Quick and easy clean up, and easy to pack.

 

[68earlybay]

We take a pencil case/small zipped bag on plane journeys, with a few pieces of Lego in for my youngest and play a game of "what can we make"

Maybe for a 13month old a few pieces of duplo to put together, pull apart

 

[jacknsally19]

So what I found works great is filling a toddler size backpack with small toys / snacks and slowly give a new toy or snack every 1/2 hr. Dried fruit snacks are pretty chewy and tasty for the little ones.
The magna doodle is pretty awesome. Wikki stix have been a good option to carry around since they are lightweight and mesmerizing for a little one. Probably not a good choice if your child is prone to putting things in their mouth. If you don't have a Mr Potato Head, this is great gift for the airplane. I gave it to my DD on one of our trips and it literally occupied her for a good 2 hours. She loved putting the pieces in out of him... She was about 20 months at the time but I think it would probably be just as fascinating for a 13 month old.
Also - if this is for a flight to Orlando, there will be a TON of families onboard and very understanding if your child is a little noisy!

 

[allegoricduck]

Look up toddler busy bags. My 12 month old loves a yogurt container with lid that she puts pompoms in, and a magnetic felt fishing set.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I work with this age group on a daily basis, and I use an activity that occupies this toddlers for a very long time. Grab an empty frosting container, or similar size with a plastic lid. Cut a slit in the top so it looks like a bank. Buy some colorful, assorted shape BIG buttons. Voala! You have a Button Bank. While your little one puts the buttons in, and take them out, you can talk about color, shape, etc. It works!

I would not give anything with loose buttons to a 13 month old! This us a choking hazard.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I'm going to google Busy Bags for Toddlers. That sounds perfect!!