Toddler on a Plane--Keeping 'em Busy?

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Good Morning...I'm still working on my first cup of coffee...I hope this makes sense...

We are getting ready to travel by plane for DS2's first trip...What did you bring on the plane to keep your kiddo busy??? Anything fabulous out there that is a must have? DS is really into reading, but that can get heavy. We have started downloading books to the iPad, but he really likes just flipping it sideways and talking to Siri...

Give me your tricks and tips!

TIA...

 

[timandjanl]

I have a 2.5 yr old. Movies or cartoons on the ipad works for us. I will buy a few single episodes of his favorite cartoons and then download a few movies. He had headphones he wears to hear. And snacks. Lots of snacks.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I have a 2.5 yr old. Movies or cartoons on the ipad works for us. I will buy a few single episodes of his favorite cartoons and then download a few movies. He had headphones he wears to hear. And snacks. Lots of snacks.

Snacks-CHECK

What headphones do you use?

 

[MSSANDRA]

go to the library and check our a bag of paper back books. You may have to look a bit since he is younger but there are tons of paperback mixed in with hard backs at ours. The early reader books, meant for kids just starting to read can be short and simple and just right to be read to a toddler and these often come in paper back. Remember you can read the same book a few times and kids are still happy to listen. We often travel with a bag of these.

Beyond that, lots of snacks, a few new apps on the pad or tablet, a color wonder book and markers, a few matchbox cars or a few mini figures from a playset like fisher price.

 

[Darcy03231]

Post -its. Kept my kids busy for a long time.

 

[GotLabradors]

How long a flight are you looking at with the kids? My kids like to have their ipods to listen to music, read books, etc. I know it can be expensive, but let them pick out some snacks after you clear security to take on the plane. For us, it's only a 2 hour flight nonstop with Southwest from home to Orlando.

 

[timandjanl]

Snacks-CHECK

What headphones do you use?

I found them at Toys R Us. Don't remember the brand but they were cheap. They have a volume control so it doesn't get too loud.

 

[mommy2mygirls]

In addition to movies and books, I've always packed coloring books - either with crayons or color wonder markets are also great because they don't make a mess. My kids also loved play-doh. I'd get those small kits with just a few small containers of play-doh and the little mat and a couple of small toys to use with it. We also have a lot of those Read-along books that come with CDs, so we'd bring those along with a CD player and headphones for the kids to listen to. Now that they're a little older, they mostly play on their Leappads.

 

[MeeskaMomma]

Sticker books! Or even just stickers. They kept our 2.5 year old really entertained. I also bring a little toy car and or airplane.

We also previously carried an iPad with some movies, but recently my husband bought our DH his own little kindle fire. It has all his favorite movies and cartoons downloaded on it and some age appropriate apps. The parental settings are much better on the kindle and it is really easy for him to navigate. I took it on our last trip this last month and for some reason it kept his attention longer than the iPad ever did (or it could be he is getting older)

I also let him pick out a candy when we get to the airport. He always chooses m&ms because he likes to practice colors with the m&ms. This keeps his attention while we are waiting for the plane and on the Tarmac before take off.

I should note my son flies a lot more than most almost 3 y/o. We live in a rural area and he has a rare eye condition so we fly every 3 months for his Dr. Appointments. We have had a lot of trial and error with flying. I prefer to pack light with a few key strategic toys, since I am usually flying with him by myself. It is easier to have strategic things that are easily accessible.

There is also what my sister calls the atomic temper tantrum diffuser. I bring one of those spinning light up toys which you can find at the dollar store or at the check out line at Walmart. It works best 1-2 years then its magic starts to wear off. I would only use it when a melt down is approaching and I need extreme distraction immediately so the novelty took longer to wear odd.

Good luck!

 

[Carriemel]

Please don't take play doh. First, it needs to go in your Ziploc baggie taking up room that you might need for personal toiletries (it's considered a spreadable item). Second, that stuff makes the worst messes you've ever seen. And third, I for one am highly allergic to it, my throat closes off and I can't breathe.

I'd suggest pipe cleaners - twist them together, make shapes.

In the dollar spot at Target, you can find activity packs that have different fun things to do.

 

[SamSam]

We flew with 2 1/2 year old gransons earlier this year and the LOVED the travel sized Magna Doodles even more than movies that we loaded onto tablets for them. $3.00 at Walmart...honestly they love these.

 

[sbastin02]

I found a bunch of sheets on pinterest that you can use the bingo markers for but instead I laminated them and let the kids use the circle garage sale stickers. They can fill in the pictures and then you can peel them right off. Old plastic spice bottles with the whole on top, I cut pipe cleaners and they had a great time dumping them out and the putting them back in the holes.

I found blank faces on Pinterest-printed them and let my kids turn them into funny faces, or mommy, or daddy ect...

My kids don't get a lot of candy, but lollipops kept them quiet. They each had about 3 or 4 on the 4 hour flight we had to go on.

 

[mommy2mygirls]

I found a bunch of sheets on pinterest that you can use the bingo markers for but instead I laminated them and let the kids use the circle garage sale stickers. They can fill in the pictures and then you can peel them right off. Old plastic spice bottles with the whole on top, I cut pipe cleaners and they had a great time dumping them out and the putting them back in the holes.

I found blank faces on Pinterest-printed them and let my kids turn them into funny faces, or mommy, or daddy ect...

My kids don't get a lot of candy, but lollipops kept them quiet. They each had about 3 or 4 on the 4 hour flight we had to go on.

Just make sure they are the kind with the plastic sticks. I had a freak out moment when my son was about 2. We were shopping at Target and my son was getting restless, so while I checked out I gave him a dum-dum sucker I had in my purse. He very quickly chewed through the paper stick and had the round sucker in his mouth - total chocking hazard. Luckily I saw it immediately after he did it and scooped it out of his mouth, but I have had a fear of my kids choking on hard candy/suckers ever since. Especially on a place with no access to emergency medical attention.

 

[mommy2mygirls]

Please don't take play doh. First, it needs to go in your Ziploc baggie taking up room that you might need for personal toiletries (it's considered a spreadable item). Second, that stuff makes the worst messes you've ever seen. And third, I for one am highly allergic to it, my throat closes off and I can't breathe.

I'd suggest pipe cleaners - twist them together, make shapes.

In the dollar spot at Target, you can find activity packs that have different fun things to do.

I had no idea play-doh could cause airborne allergies. I know it contains gluten and has to be kept away from kids with gluten allergies in case they eat it, but I didn't know it could cause anything from breathing near it.

My kids were always really good about keeping it in nice big solid pieces, so it never got that messy. They're more into electronic stuff (and homework!) now so we don't take it anymore, but It used to work well.

It totally makes sense that it should be part of your "liquid" bag, but honestly I didn't think about that when we took it and no one ever said anything. It was buried in the kids' little backpacks with all their other stuff. Kind of scary that they didn't catch it knowing there are other not so good things that you wouldn't want on a plane that look like play-doh.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

go to the library and check our a bag of paper back books. You may have to look a bit since he is younger but there are tons of paperback mixed in with hard backs at ours. The early reader books, meant for kids just starting to read can be short and simple and just right to be read to a toddler and these often come in paper back. Remember you can read the same book a few times and kids are still happy to listen. We often travel with a bag of these.

Beyond that, lots of snacks, a few new apps on the pad or tablet, a color wonder book and markers, a few matchbox cars or a few mini figures from a playset like fisher price.

We read often (sometimes well into 2 hours a day!) and he loves it! And the same ones over and over...I recite them at work...Good thing I work with kids.

Post -its. Kept my kids busy for a long time.

On the list...cheap and easy...he'll have a blast with it

How long a flight are you looking at with the kids? My kids like to have their ipods to listen to music, read books, etc. I know it can be expensive, but let them pick out some snacks after you clear security to take on the plane. For us, it's only a 2 hour flight nonstop with Southwest from home to Orlando.

1hr with lay over than 2 hours. Then 3 direct coming back...We might do the snack thing...expensive or not there is something cool about getting to pick your own snacks

I found them at Toys R Us. Don't remember the brand but they were cheap. They have a volume control so it doesn't get too loud.

Thanks I'll take a look

Sticker books! Or even just stickers. They kept our 2.5 year old really entertained. I also bring a little toy car and or airplane.

We also previously carried an iPad with some movies, but recently my husband bought our DH his own little kindle fire. It has all his favorite movies and cartoons downloaded on it and some age appropriate apps. The parental settings are much better on the kindle and it is really easy for him to navigate. I took it on our last trip this last month and for some reason it kept his attention longer than the iPad ever did (or it could be he is getting older)

I also let him pick out a candy when we get to the airport. He always chooses m&ms because he likes to practice colors with the m&ms. This keeps his attention while we are waiting for the plane and on the Tarmac before take off.

I should note my son flies a lot more than most almost 3 y/o. We live in a rural area and he has a rare eye condition so we fly every 3 months for his Dr. Appointments. We have had a lot of trial and error with flying. I prefer to pack light with a few key strategic toys, since I am usually flying with him by myself. It is easier to have strategic things that are easily accessible.

There is also what my sister calls the atomic temper tantrum diffuser. I bring one of those spinning light up toys which you can find at the dollar store or at the check out line at Walmart. It works best 1-2 years then its magic starts to wear off. I would only use it when a melt down is approaching and I need extreme distraction immediately so the novelty took longer to wear odd.

Good luck!

Love the m & m trick..never thought of that...I save the spin globe for medical procedures only...My kiddo can go through immunizations with just giving the RN a dirty look b/c of the momentary pain...but could totally care less b/c of the spin globe...

Please don't take play doh. First, it needs to go in your Ziploc baggie taking up room that you might need for personal toiletries (it's considered a spreadable item). Second, that stuff makes the worst messes you've ever seen. And third, I for one am highly allergic to it, my throat closes off and I can't breathe.

I'd suggest pipe cleaners - twist them together, make shapes.

In the dollar spot at Target, you can find activity packs that have different fun things to do.

Love the pipe cleaners...not bringing playdoh...cool idea...but messy...

We flew with 2 1/2 year old gransons earlier this year and the LOVED the travel sized Magna Doodles even more than movies that we loaded onto tablets for them. $3.00 at Walmart...honestly they love these.

Already have one...it will be magical at his age when it disappears.

Just make sure they are the kind with the plastic sticks. I had a freak out moment when my son was about 2. We were shopping at Target and my son was getting restless, so while I checked out I gave him a dum-dum sucker I had in my purse. He very quickly chewed through the paper stick and had the round sucker in his mouth - total chocking hazard. Luckily I saw it immediately after he did it and scooped it out of his mouth, but I have had a fear of my kids choking on hard candy/suckers ever since. Especially on a place with no access to emergency medical attention.

Plastic sticks...nice tip!

Thanks everyone! These are great!

 

[Trip planner]

I have flown (alone) with two toddlers and I would add:
Finger puppets
Silly putty
Melissa and Doug "make a funny face sticker books" and their reusable sticker books (cheaper than colorforms)

Don't forget to pack little toys in your diaper bag for any long lines and waiting for tables at restaurants. At an Ohana wait we had all kinds if kids playing with our silly putty and wiki stix.
Good luck.

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

I have flown (alone) with two toddlers and I would add:
Finger puppets
Silly putty
Melissa and Doug "make a funny face sticker books" and their reusable sticker books (cheaper than colorforms)

Don't forget to pack little toys in your diaper bag for any long lines and waiting for tables at restaurants. At an Ohana wait we had all kinds if kids playing with our silly putty and wiki stix.
Good luck.

Totally forgot about silly putty! and will have to look for the Melissa and Doug make a funny face sticker books...Thanks!

 

[glk2009]

We use the Kidz Gear headphones - found on Amazon.

We like to brings small photo album with pictures of family, etc and that is always a big hit. And a book or two with the lift up flaps.

My younger DD loves to dump things out and put them back in, so we have a Ziploc bag of large orange juice bottle caps. Keeps her entertained for awhile.

Safe travels!

 

[CalSea12]

I would say on the plane is the easiest to keep them occupied. I usually bring my dd toy laptop, my ipad, books, and snacks. These items keep her busy on the plane.

At the airport, totally different story. She's either in her stroller screaming her head off and trying to flip her body out of the stroller. Or finally I give up and let her run around the airport which results in bad looks and her tiring mommy out fr an hour. This is when I wish I could get her occupied with something else.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Please don't take play doh. First, it needs to go in your Ziploc baggie taking up room that you might need for personal toiletries (it's considered a spreadable item).

No, play dough does not have to be in a 311 bag. You may pack it in a carry on.