Suggestions for entertaining DS1 on 4 hr flight?

[Addicted2TheMouse]

I was planning on bringing lots of snacks and drinks. I'm open to any suggestions for toys or anything that might keep a squirmy 1 year old occupied on the plane. We didn't buy him a seat so space will be at a minimum. I'm really starting to worry about it. It doesn't help that my DH has never flown before and may not be much help. I'll be taking care of both of them!

 

[missymagic]

snack and drinks are great. I used to make up little snack pack baggies each one with a little of a different snack. Then I made up little baggies with different things in them for little projects. One would have stickers in w/ paper and maybe a mini coloring book in another. Pipe cleaners and make different shapes. A mini site book to work on pictures. Not to mention a dose of motrin keeps them relaxed. That is what my pediatrician told me. It wasn't until my girls were 2 yrs old I took a dvd player to watch movies. Good luck.

 

[MandM521]

My son had a small backpack that I packed w/ snacks and coloring books/crayons, a magna doodle, a deck of cards, and some new little "toys" that he hadn't seen before.

We actually were up very early for both flights, and although he doesn't take a morning nap anymore, he actually took a nap on both flights. The only thing he played w/ from his backpack was the deck of cards (helps w/ numbers/shapes).

We also flew JetBlue and they have video screens on the back of every seat. While they don't have anything age appropriate their age (he's 2 1/2), he seemed to like Animal Planet, as they had those cute Funniest Animal shows on. Not sure which airline you're flying, but I think JetBlue reserves the front row for families - I think you request those seats when you check. in.

 

[K&KsMom]

Have you thought about Dramamene?
In all honesty we bring our portable DVD player and arts n crafts stuff.

 

[wrldpossibility]

I have a 1-year-old too, and just took a 4-hour flight with him. Mine was too young to care about the DVD player or coloring. He doesn't even look at books much yet. So it was a challenge. We also did not buy him a seat, and trust me...when we fly again when he's 18 months...he HAS a seat! It was really crowded on the plane during Christmas when we flew last, and wow, he was squirmy and a pain! It makes all the difference if you have a full flight or room to move around. If possible, take the car seat to the gate check area, and ask there (not when checking in) if they have any extra seats. If so, they can block one right then for your infant and the car seat. Sometimes it'll be full and you'll have to gate check the car seat, but I find it's worth it to ask, for the possibility of a seat for the 1-year-old.

Other ideas...lots of snacks, new little toys like puppets, and lots of games of peek-a-boo! My DS loved the sick bag and magazines too!

It's not fun, but think of the destination!

 

[o2bacelt]

When we flew to England last summer our DD was 1 yr. but we did get her a seat for that flight. I put books, a couple of her Fisher Price Little People, her favorite small stuffed animals, snacks, and a few other things that she liked. I can't remember now. We did do a lot of reading when she was awake. Also my DH and DDad walked her around the plane forever, she's been walking since 9 months, and she enjoyed seeing everyone on the plane.

I do recommend finding something that they don't usually get for the decent of the plane. My DD wouldn't take a sippy or a binky and was miserable. She doesn't usually get candy but I'm bringing a couple of lollipops this time because I don't think she'll pass those up like she would the binky or sippy.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Daydreamer64]

OK- putting on my flame suit now - my aunt had a sure fire way to have a nice and calm trip when she flew with her little ones -

if your ears are stuffy they can hurt on the landing so... children's cold tylenol or benadryl always worked wonders to make sure that the little one's ears are clear/painfree and the baby was nice and sleepy = quite for the flight - I haven't tried this trick but I would try it out before I traveled because some kids have a reaction to these meds and become super-hyper- not sleepy NOT what you need on the plane for hours!

 

[o2bacelt]

OK- putting on my flame suit now - my aunt had a sure fire way to have a nice and calm trip when she flew with her little ones -

if your ears are stuffy they can hurt on the landing so... children's cold tylenol or benadril always worked wonders to make sure that the little one's ears are clear/painfree and the baby was nice and sleepy = quite for the flight - I haven't tried this trick but I would try it out before I traveled because some kids have a reaction to these meds and become super-hyper- not sleepy NOT what you need on the plane for hours!

No flames here, my Ped told me if she was having a tough time on the plane to give her a dose of benedryl. She even made sure I knew what the right dose was. We travel with it anyway because our DD gets hyper on cold medicine so our ped told us that the benedryl will dry up a cold and since it's an antihistamine it shouldn't make her hyper. Worked like a charm on her last horrible cold. Dried it up and it was gone really quickly.

 

[my4kids]

I did not buy a seat for my 18 month old either....when we boarded, I plopped him down on the seat next to me and belted him in. I figured that if the plane was absolutely booked to capacity and I HAD to put him on my lap I would. The plane boarded and it was really crowded, but no one ever asked me to move him. When you get on the plane, don't assume that you have to put him on your lap and make a seat for someone getting on....there might be an extra seat on the plane, and it might as well be next to you. Everyone getting on the plane just kept movng back and never looked longingly at his seat. I don't think I could have done the trip with him on my lap.

 

[katiesmom2]

We flew 5 hours when our DD was 14 months old. Our pediatrician told us to give her children's cold medicine to knock her out. She suggested we try it out at home first just to be sure she had the right reaction. Boy, were we glad we tried because the medicine we gave her (children's benalin I think) made her hyper! She wouldn't sleep, even at 3 am! So....if you decide to try to give him something, definitely try it out at home first.

We know have a DS, 14 months. He doesn't play with stickers and paper yet, or magnadoodles. Basically, bring whatever he likes. I would buy him some new toys he's never seen before. Snacks are also a good idea. Don't forget some water or milk or juice for takeoff and landing (to help his ears).

We always got a seat for our children. DH didn't think it was safe for them not to be restrained in their carseat on the plane. I know it costs a lot to do that, but it can really be a lifesaver. DS would never sleep on our laps, but sleeps well in his carseat.

Good luck to you! He may surprise you and be a little angel!

 

[Twingle]

Hi there,

I can sure understand your concern! After flying seven hours when my son was one, and then four hours with 13 month old twin daughters (them never having their own seat, always sitting with an adult), here's a list of a few things I've found that saved my sanity flying when my kids were that age:

a travel sized etch a sketch - it's little so it doesn't take up much room, and when my children were a year old they enjoyed not only writing on it but also making it disappear.

a roll of scotch tape/post it notes - I stumbled on these by accident during a wait for the plane to taxi down the runway. My kids especially enjoyed sticking them to their faces for a different take on peek-a-boo, and I would stick the tape on the kids and they'd peel it off.

a bottle of bubbles - check with the airline before you board, but I know that most of them allow these on the flights as long as you don't annoy other passengers. We even had the steward blowing them for our twins! These are also really good to use while you wait for the plane - we made quite a few friends!

new toys/books - they don't have to be expensive, just something he's never seen before, your local dollar store should have just what you need.

If your son is "into" finger games (ten little indians, here is the church, etc.), try to find some new ones, maybe an internet search? I think they're also called hand rhymes.

As far as the medicine before flying bit, that has never worked for me, even though Motrin will knock my kids right out at home. Don't know if it was just the excitement of the plane or what.

And don't forget your sense of humor! Even if he flips out the entire flight, which he won't-I'm sure, it's only four hours and what are the chances that you'll ever see anyone on that flight (other than your DH!) again?

Good luck!

 

[Nicolepa]

My son always loves play doh on the airplane. I get him a pack of the party size and then I don't have to to worry about if it gets lost ect. Also matchbox type cars have always been a hit.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

On our last long flight, we took a portable DVD player and they watched movies the entire time and were quiet and still. It also kept DW entertained while I took a nap.

 

[NotUrsula]

A plea from business travelers: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -- no PLAYDOH! If you have to bring some sort of molding clay-type product, please go for Silly Putty or Crayola Model Magic.

Aside from the smell, which is nasty enough, real PlayDoh is oily and loses little crumbles very easily, and those crumbs can be hard to see on an airline seat. Even if it has dried for awhile, the oil still seeps out of it if it gets warm. Please think about this and be considerate of the next passenger who might be sitting in that seat; he or she might be wearing a $500 suit that will be ruined forever if there are any of those tiny PlayDoh crumbs left behind on the seat.

 

[Addicted2TheMouse]

Thanks so much for all the tips!! I really appreciate them all!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not to mention a dose of motrin keeps them relaxed.

Motrin? This is a pain reliever. You must be thinking of something else. Perhaps Benadryl?

a bottle of bubbles

I find it really hard to believe that many airlines would allow bubbles. Seems like a huge mess potential to me.

 

[NotUrsula]

She might really mean Motrin. Ibuprofen does make my DS sleepy; while Benedryl and most other antihistamines make him horribly hyper. He's contrary that way; last night I gave him Nyquil and he buzzed around for an hour afterward. (I wasn't giving it to him to make him sleep, but to let him sleep -- he has a nasty cold at the moment, and the symptoms were keeping him awake.)

I'm with you on the bubbles, though. Keep those little devils away from my laptop.

 

[Nicolepa]

A plea from business travelers: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -- no PLAYDOH! If you have to bring some sort of molding clay-type product, please go for Silly Putty or Crayola Model Magic.

Aside from the smell, which is nasty enough, real PlayDoh is oily and loses little crumbles very easily, and those crumbs can be hard to see on an airline seat. Even if it has dried for awhile, the oil still seeps out of it if it gets warm. Please think about this and be considerate of the next passenger who might be sitting in that seat; he or she might be wearing a $500 suit that will be ruined forever if there are any of those tiny PlayDoh crumbs left behind on the seat.

Well obviously you've never tried to get silly putty out of anything. That suit would be ruined in a heartbeat if you sat on Silly putty. And yes pieces will fall off if it's pulled thin enough. Ask me how I know.

I am being considerate of the passengers that are on my flight. If my kid screams for 6 hours then I will upset hundreds of people. I'm sorry but I'm not too worried about the business traveler that may or may not be on my airplane at some later date. There are lots of things beyond play doh that will ruin your suit. I have had plenty of expensive clothes ruined while on an airplane. My solution I don't wear clothes that I would be upset if I had to toss. I still dress nice for the flight (slacks, dress shirt/sweater etc), but I keep the $500 outfit in my suitcase until I get to my destination. I understand this isn't always an option to change after, but that is just part of the job now isn't it?

I do my best to clean the seats off when we leave and that's the best I can do.

to the OP - Sorry to rant on your thread, I just get so frustrated by people telling me how inconsiderate I am because I try to entertain my kid on an airplane!

 

[texasthree]

My suggestion, dont overpack. It makes you uncomfortable lugging around a giant bad and you cant ever find anything. I would go with the magna doodle and little people or cars. I also bring work searches(perhaps to much for a 1 year old) my son loves to find letters from family members names in the books. For instance, I find an "A" for Aunt Amy then he finds all the other "A's" and we circle them. It keeps my son busy for a good 30 minutes when we fly or eat at restraunts. Its cheap too, $1 from the dollar store. In short, keep it small and simple, if a few toys arent going to keep them entertained 10 toys probably wont work either. You'll be happier when your backs not wrenched from lugging all that stuff around!

 

[Kahana-ri]

Have you thought about Dramamene?
In all honesty we bring our portable DVD player and arts n crafts stuff.

Unfortunately, you can't give a 1-year Dramamine. I've asked. You can however give them Children's Benadryl for Allergies. (Ask your ped of course first) Its a beautiful sight to see them sleep so peacefully on the plane. I also agree with the DVD player, toys, snacks and juices.
DH flew with DS at this age and it really wasn't so bad becuase he wasn't too mobile just yet. However, when he was able to walk all over its was a whole new story.