MummyGabby

how to keep a 18 month old entertained on a airplane?? Please help

Hi ladies in may my family and i will be going to Alcudia. So not very far but still airport and 2 3/4 flight and transfer to get through. Has anyone any good toys ideal to put in a trunkie to keep my little one going? Not sure she will sit the whole time but fingers crossed she will nap once shes walked up and down the plane! Thanks in advance

By MummyGabby 3 months ago Newbie
Hi,

We took our LO to Australia just before christmas. We were really lucky as he was really good on all the flights but we also had some little presents for him to unwarp when he got bored - just small things that were new and as most parents know, unwrapping is a game in itself for LO's. We also had some of his faourite programmes downloaded onto our ipad for him as the screen don't tilt enough for Lo's to see properly and he watched those - only for about 20 mins at a time but enough to keep him busy (we did practice sessions with the headphones before our holiday so that he was used to wearing for for periods of time before the flight). Also, we had him in his pyjamas for the flights as they were comfortable for sitting in long haul and easy for sleep. Those tips with the others - snacks, books, colouring, letting them jump on their seat until they get too noisy shoud hopefully see you through!
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Expert
By EileenHayes 3 months ago Newbie ChatPRO
It is always difficult travelling with small children. I have felt for the parents I have seen walking endlessly up and down the plane on long-haul flights -they’ve probably done a marathon by the time it arrives! The old favourite books are good, then you can read to your child, which can work better than expecting them to amuse themselves. The best are the ones that are a bit interactive so you can ask questions and she can name things, or stroke different textures, or make sounds of animals to guess. If she has a particular comforter toy it is definitely best to remember that. Quite a few journeys and holidays have been ruined because of a forgotten teddy or dummy. Avoid things like puzzles or duplo or things that fit together as the pieces will just get lost under the seat! It can really help to take some little juice boxes or raisins or some kind of snack in case you are delayed taking off. I hope you have a lovely time.

By LucyRuth 3 months ago Newbie Lucky Superstar
Only other thing I can think of is you can keep her buggy til you get to the plane steps-you don't have to check it in with other stuff! Bon voyage!xx
By diamond87 3 months ago Newbie ChatPRO
Wow thats a long way! Good luck but im feeling more possitive with some of the help the ladies on here x x
It is but has to be done if I want to see my family. Plus I'm more worried about OH, he's never done long haul before and he was bad enough going to Greece so it should be interesting lol! You'll have to let us know how you get on and give me more confidence! xx
By Laura7985 3 months ago Newbie Chat
Hi I have taken babies that age twice to Portugal and had a few tricks up my sleeve :)
1. Tire them out in the airport-do not strap her in buggy. Put reins on and walk walk and walk-many airports have indoor kiddie play areas with slides etc-check in advance! Your OH can do all the boring queueing!
2. Have a good stash of small snacks-the fiddlier the better and ration them to one sort per hour.
3. Have a bag of mini books-ones with flaps, feely bits etc-you could borrow some from lib she's never seen
4. Put interesting non toys in your hand luggage:
Pack a roll of sellotape-give her a strand and see how long it occupies her-amazing stuff! Stickers have similar effect-those coloured spoit ones are good-let her stick them on herself, your face, the chair..endless opportunities! Try a string of paperclips with supervision of course!Toddler magazines like Cbeebies often have a cheap toy attached. Those mini magnetic sketch boards with pen attached are good for scribbling or you drawing things for her to name. Have a few apps on your phone. A set of finger puppets is nice or a tube of small animals-you can get zoo and farm sorts. Save some of this stuff for your return flight! I was lucky in that the flights we were on had several empty seats so they could climb around a lot.
5. make sure you have a sippy cup/bottle for take off and landing to help with her ears
6. Try to stop her napping on the way to the airport.
I am sure you'll have a fab time so don't let fear spoil it for you-most travellers are very kind and sympathetic towards toddlers and will often have their own tricks up their sleeve-on one flight a little 4 yr old did most of my daughters entertaining with his teddy lol!
Thank you so much!! Youve given me so many ideas. Im looking forward to it but i just think oh how will we all get on sleeping in the same room and then how will she cope with the flying etc. Like the sippy cup idea as i hate my ears popping so that will work a treat. yes by the time were on the flight it will be her nap time so hopefully she will nap but she will cry and moan because its not her cot shes like it in the pram doesnt give up easily.Definatly take reins and walk walk walk. If you think of anything else please let me know. Thanks so much x x
By Laura7985 3 months ago Newbie Chat
Hi, we've not had the guts to go away yet! With our little monkey's sleep habits I think a holiday would be a waste of money for us! But! Our lo is kept amused by: raisins, cheerios (are you allowed to take on?!) snap playing cards, just identifying/ copying sounds etc, she loves books, her little Sainsburies laptop that sings etc, her mobile phone the vtech one, she's too young to play the games but loves it all the same. I'll see if I can think of more, but if I'm going out and about with my friends for lunch etc, I always take a bagful of those things!

Also her little laptop lives in our 'going out bag' so she only gets to play with it then, so maybe a new novel toy? x
hiya yes im going to buy new toys to take like the look of the aqua doodle just need to find out how big it is.
Not sure about food but they will let us take milk which is really hard for her to go without its a comfort for her.
Hope your lo settles with sleep soon x x
By Laura7985 3 months ago Newbie Chat
No advice but good luck! I'll be keeping an eye on this post. I'm planning on taking my LO back home to Australia next year, so about a year old so looking for as much advice as possible! Baby isnt here yet and I'm already dreading it lol! x
Wow thats a long way! Good luck but im feeling more possitive with some of the help the ladies on here x x
By LucyRuth 3 months ago Newbie Lucky Superstar
Hi I have taken babies that age twice to Portugal and had a few tricks up my sleeve :)
1. Tire them out in the airport-do not strap her in buggy. Put reins on and walk walk and walk-many airports have indoor kiddie play areas with slides etc-check in advance! Your OH can do all the boring queueing!
2. Have a good stash of small snacks-the fiddlier the better and ration them to one sort per hour.
3. Have a bag of mini books-ones with flaps, feely bits etc-you could borrow some from lib she's never seen
4. Put interesting non toys in your hand luggage:
Pack a roll of sellotape-give her a strand and see how long it occupies her-amazing stuff! Stickers have similar effect-those coloured spoit ones are good-let her stick them on herself, your face, the chair..endless opportunities! Try a string of paperclips with supervision of course!Toddler magazines like Cbeebies often have a cheap toy attached. Those mini magnetic sketch boards with pen attached are good for scribbling or you drawing things for her to name. Have a few apps on your phone. A set of finger puppets is nice or a tube of small animals-you can get zoo and farm sorts. Save some of this stuff for your return flight! I was lucky in that the flights we were on had several empty seats so they could climb around a lot.
5. make sure you have a sippy cup/bottle for take off and landing to help with her ears
6. Try to stop her napping on the way to the airport.
I am sure you'll have a fab time so don't let fear spoil it for you-most travellers are very kind and sympathetic towards toddlers and will often have their own tricks up their sleeve-on one flight a little 4 yr old did most of my daughters entertaining with his teddy lol!
By cheery_chick 3 months ago Newbie Lucky ChatPRO News Like
Hi, we've not had the guts to go away yet! With our little monkey's sleep habits I think a holiday would be a waste of money for us! But! Our lo is kept amused by: raisins, cheerios (are you allowed to take on?!) snap playing cards, just identifying/ copying sounds etc, she loves books, her little Sainsburies laptop that sings etc, her mobile phone the vtech one, she's too young to play the games but loves it all the same. I'll see if I can think of more, but if I'm going out and about with my friends for lunch etc, I always take a bagful of those things!

Also her little laptop lives in our 'going out bag' so she only gets to play with it then, so maybe a new novel toy? x
By diamond87 3 months ago Newbie ChatPRO
No advice but good luck! I'll be keeping an eye on this post. I'm planning on taking my LO back home to Australia next year, so about a year old so looking for as much advice as possible! Baby isnt here yet and I'm already dreading it lol! x
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