Toys -DIStractions for the plane for a one year old

[btstmom]

Hi -- does anyone have some recommendations for things to do/ toys to buy/ snacks to snack on for the flight for my one year old boy?

TIA for your help! We leave this Sunday and we are so excited!

 

[sherabby]

My son was 7 when we first flew with him. I took a dvd player but we never used it. It was his first flight and he was so obsessed with looking out the window. Our flight was only 2 hrs so it wasn't that bad. I also took pretzels and chips as snacks for him. This year I took some travel coloring/puzzle packages for him and it only amused him for a few minutes. He was still thrilled with being on the plane...he also made a girl friend too!

 

[Dopey19]

Try timing his bottle with the flight; the sucking on the bottle helps with the ear pressure. If he isn't on a bottle any more pickup a lollipop to achieve the same result. We fly with our daughter when she was 9 months, 2 years old and now leaving on Sunday and she is 2 years 5 months. We bring an ipod with her movies on it for her to watch and this trip some coloring books & crayons. For a one year old I would try to bring a book to read and maybe one or two toys; also talk about the flight before you leave so there are no surprises. We keep telling her about planes and that we are going on one soon - and now since she was been on 4 planes we reinforce that she is an "old pro" and has done this since she was just a baby. I would like to think it helps to remove some of the fear of the unknown.

Good luck! And remember everyone's kids cry at some point on the plane and it is nothing to feel bad about. Now that I'm a parent I have such a better understanding of the fact that there really is nothing you can do.

Oh - don't forget to enjoy yourself!

 

[ngneer98]

obviously, have any "favorite" toys with you...blankie, teddy bears, etc. For snacks, pick stuff that travels well (ie doesn't turn into crumbs)....my kids love raisins and yogurt covered raisins....they also like those crackers with the cheese that you spread with the little stick (handi-snacks I think they're called?).....you can bring a sippy cup or a bottle, even full, through security, so that can help the before-flight time.

for toys, we've taken hot wheels, thomas trains, coloring books, DVD players, duplo blocks......whatever the kids are into at the moment. I take a backpack specifically for "aiplane stuff" that holds their snacks/toys/etc. A lot will depend on how long the flight is. if it's only a 2-hour flight, you might try to schedule it around naptime or bedtime so he sleeps the whole time. also, on shorter flights, they "flying experience" itself occupies a lot of their time.........longer flights are a bit trickier.

and like a PP said, crying/fussing is inevitable. The best thing to do is deal with it ASAP and cross your fingers you get understanding neighbors on the flight! also, definitely talk about the flight beforehand......go watch some planes take off if you live near an airport.....or watch some on TV....something to get him excited about the whole process....

have fun!

 

[frtchr]

We flew with our 11 month old DD. She really enjoyed looking at the in-flight magazine! lol The next time, I brought a few old magazines for her to look at and tear up. She also enjoyed watching a Baby Einstein DVD on the portable DVD player. She doesn't watch TV at home, so that was a huge treat for her. She didn't even care that there was no sound. I had LOTS of snacks just in case as well. Hope it's a great trip!

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

I am traveling down with a 20 month old (in less than a month-yeah!!!)

We are taking:
*a coloring book with crayons ($ store had Pooh ones)
*stickers-lots of them! she likes to put stickers on and off of things. Again the $ store had a lot of Disney themed ones
*Disney figures from the $ store and some Disney bath toy figures she already had and a bag to put them in/out of (kids that age like putting stuff in/out of bags)
*snacks/drinks

One tip a friend of mine gave me was to wrap the little things like a present so she can unwrap them and add a minute or 2 to getting things she may already have seen. Even the little figures she already has will get wrapped up as a "surprise".

 

[swavay72]

Great suggestions. I'll be taking my dd1 & ds4 next month. Anyone else with tips?

 

[Perditamarie]

favorite DISers recommendations: post-its to peel and place and peel again...may be a bit easier than stickers. We also had fun with window clings and I always carried infant tylenol, just in case of any ear issues. Happy planning!

 

[AmyBWV99]

Flown with babies/toddlers plenty.......Plastic containers w/dry snacks. Put one inside another maybe 3 toegther, They offer lots of distraction. Opening closing checking out what's inside, etc. If you time it around a nap and you're lap sitting we find they drinkt he bottle for take off and promptly pass out for most of the flight. You can also get those little sticker books (our fmaily museum and card shops have them) where the center fo the books you can stick and restick the stickers. We get various themes, emergency vehicles, pirates, etc. Quiet light up toys, you'll see adults zone out on them too. Like the light up things we get in WDW we've been taking the same $5 light up Mickey head they don't have anymore at EPCOT (it's now a plain ball but functions the same) since our 1st son was 15 months. You wave it and it changes colors that can last for a good 20 minutes, on/off/wave/on/off/wave/wave/wave/person across the aisle is hypnotised/on/off. If you are in business class we find just letting them stand there opening and closing the magazine pocket can be entertaining as well. In desperation putting little items in the barf bags and letting them tear their way in also absorbs energy and time. Remember a favorite cup or bottle for ears. LINKS for toys to attach them to the seat belt or car seat straps so you're not feeling around the floor for wayward toys. Have you ever tried to bend in 1/2 to grab a beloved item under the seat infront of you, not pretty.

 

[squirrel]

Make an I Spy Bottle:

1 empty water bottle
rice
items to find: button, dice, confetti, penny, pom pom, candle, bead, mini eraser, small toy, shell, etc. (Lots of items at the dollar store)

Put some rice in the bottle and then a few items and then some more rice-keep alternating until it is almost full. You need to leave some room so the items move around.

Glue lid using hot glue or crazy glue.


Your child can have fun looking for items of a certain color or just the items.

 

[katied]

It's amazing what will entertain DS. He's flown quite a bit (30+ flights in from age 6 mo - 15 months), but some of the best things:

Snack Trap (sold at Babies r us) with dry food. At times, it will keep him interested for 30 min plus - not so much eating, but playing with it.

Other tupperware - cups and lids or disposable sippy cups and lids (again, playing with putting the lid on/off & putting smaller toys inside).

Small swirlling light thing - we have a small one that I travel with just in case there is a complete meltdown. It stays hidden otherwise, but does entertain him.

Stuffed animals - we'll then play the game of "Where's Floppy" and Floppy travels around and "hides" and switches between DH and I - under the leg, behind the ear, etc, and then stops by DS for kisses and hugs.

Books - generally the kind with flaps or soft ones with things he can do (where's the bone book worked the absolute best - from Bright Beginnings).

Soft plastic cars - again, the cars go vroom vroom around the plane, on the tray, etc. He also has wooden dinosaurs from a puzzle which he loves, so those go everywhere.

For me, the key is to have lots of options, keep most hidden away, and only switch toys when we seem to be having trouble.

I also have lots of snacks and drinks (in both sippy cups and bottles), infant tylenol, and for longer flights, baby nose saline spray, and we generally do OK. (BTW - it is much easier when DS has his own seat).

 

[slo]

When my DD was 13 months we did the following......

Took a portable DVD player for her to watch off an on (at this age they don't watch it like older kids, but at least it's something for her to watch).

Took many many of her favorite snacks

Took many books for me to read

Took favorite stuffed animals

Prayed and prayed that she would fall asleep during the flight




Actually, my DD was very sick the day we left (103 fever) and we had no idea why. Even my Pediatrician didn't know, because she wasn't sick long enough to make a diagnosis. So I did all these things, and prayed that her illness didn't escalate to vomiting and diaherrea, which it didn't thank God!!!!! All I know, is my carryon was busting at the seams between all the stuff and for both of my girls, and medicianes. The security guard even searched the bag after we went through security, because he said, "There's alot going on in that bag" He was very nice about it, and tried to not make a mess - everything was very organzied.

Good luck, it's a challenge, but if you go prepared, you'll be fine

 

[bookmama]

we took my niece last year she was `18mos, she got a kick out of the in flight magazine, walking around a little bit during the flight, listening to the radio. she was still using her binky so that took care of the popping in the ears.

 

[waltskids]

When we flew with DS (20 months) a few weeks ago, here is what we brought:

-Eeyore (his 'lovey' he sleeps with at night)
- stickers and a sticker book ( he loved this!)
- lollipops for takeoff, landing (didn't use them)
- gerber puffs in a snack trap (ate this during take off)
- animal crackers (also a good snack)
- books ( he loves to read them, especially books with flip up pictures)
- DVD player with headphones (only used this for about 15 minutes)
- toy cars (never used them, he was too interested in eating )
- cup with water and juice (also used this for takeoff and landing)

The flight home he slept the entire time so we didn't need anything. Also we give him tylenol before each flight just in case his ears start to hurt. He has flown 5 roundtrip flights and his ears haven't bothered him once. Not sure if it's from the tylenol or not.

Hope this helps.