Toys to entertain 18-month-old on the plane?!

[Hoosier Mom]

Hello, I have a now 3 1/2 year old. I live in PA and my family lives in NC, so since he was tiny, we have traveled the 7 hours by car,or 2 hours by plane to see them. His Videonow Jr has been a godsend. Each movie is only the same length as a Blues Clues or Wiggles episode so it 's not as long. Great for his short attention span. He loves the Crayola Color Wonder markers that someone else referred to. Last trip, we had a Batman book and it was definitely a hit. Magnadoodle makes a travel size toy also. He loves Aquadoodle at home. I bought the packs of cards that are used with a Aquadoodle pen and the colors come out. Once they dry, the color goes away and you can reuse them. I like this better than Color Wonder because they are reusable. Color Wonder can be ex*****ve. I buy the new cards and coloring books and give him things one at a time. He doesn't know what's next and usually each new thing keeps attention for a good bit. I used all of things from the time DJ was the age of you little one. Also...only other thing I can suggest is...lots of snacks and lots of patience!

How does aquadoodle work? I'm assuming the water goes in the pen. But does the pen have to be filled immediately before coloring? Or can it be filled and dropped in a diaper bag til later? Will water leak out?

 

[fakereadhed]

Mommyof2boys:

The placemats are by Neat Solutions. They are disposable and they stick to the table. I read about them here on the DIS. I think I got them at Target. They have Spongebob on them, but I think there were Dora ones too. They are 20 to a pack. I've not used them before. But I thought they'd be a good thing to stick some stickers on to occupy ds at our table service meals. Hopefully he doesn't rip it right off the table.

I'm planning to put meal baggies together before I go so I can just throw them in our tote bag each day. Here's what I'm putting in them:

Disposable placemat
Disposable large pooh bib (also found these at Target)
disposable spoon
some individual wet ones
a page full of stickers
Shout wipe

They do rip right off they table. I think they are pretty expensive for what you get. I have a placemat that I like that is washable and reusable, and sticks with suction cups.

Love the packaging idea, though.

 

[DJSMOM]

The Aquadoodle mats I am talking about each come with a small "pen." I fill them all up with water and throw them in his car activity tray on even in my purse. I don't think I have ever had anything get wet in my purse because you do have to use a little bit of pressure to get them to work. They don't need to be filled immediately either. If he "paints" all of them, (we bring 9 or 12 with us), by the time he is done, he can start all over again because the others have dried. They keep him occupied for at least an hour and are pretty inexpensive. Walmart usually has the most varied selection I have seen.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

Thanks! I'll check into the aquadoodles.

 

[D&DDisney]

We adopted our son from Bulgaria and rode home on a 13 hr flight at age 18mo. He enjoyed playing with a box of neon colored bandages sticking them on himself, mommy and the walls and seats. (Came off easily)
Also, small window clings with different characters on them kept him occupied as he stuck them to the window.

 

[savs]

Also, small window clings with different characters on them kept him occupied as he stuck them to the window.

That is such a wonderful idea, this would work on the plane and also in the airport while you are waiting for your flight. Then if you get some Disney Character ones, you can use them to decorate your hotel room window.

Thanks!

 

[las3888]

We took DS at 8.5 mos and at 13 mos and will be taking him again at 18 months. Our best device by far is movies on a personal video player. If your DS isn't into movies that may be a problem. My DS is just pretty much transfixed once tv comes on, especially his favorites -- Barney, Wiggles, Elmo etc. That being said, movies can only go so long too. We try to break it up with a movie early then some other activity - snacks or even a meal is good. Then try to wrap up the flight with another movie. It's tough. I always say travelling to Disney with our little guy is great, it's just getting there that is the hassle. Good luck.