Keeping Toddler Happy on Plane Rides

I don't know if you already have one but my daughter had the leap pad and loved it-she played with it for years, now they have the my first leap pad. We bought one for my niece who is quite a handful, she was 2 at the time and loves hers too.

well althougth I have not done it with my 2 year old since he was 4 mo on a plane. I know him, and crayons would not be a good thing (he would mark on anything with-in reach and try and peel the paper off). I would think about what really makes him happy. Is he happy doing things with is hands? If so then maybe coloring is good, or those sewing cards, small puzzles (there are some that are in a book that go along with the story and some that have magnetic clothes for kids in the book to dress, etc...). My kid also loves stickers and Wal-mart has some good thick book with lots of stickers and fun pages to put them on and also Sam's has some right now with Disney characters. The sticker books are always a winner in our car. If not a "fine motor skilled kid" then maybe a game with home-aide flash cards with pictures of people he knows, shapes, colors, fun things he like to talk about (trains, cars, trains, - then ask what sound they make and talk about them) My active kid like to talk and make sounds and practice counting. Also, little match box cars and airplanes etc.. are always great to have handy.

I know some people will flip out on this becuase TV is evil :) , but think about a portable DVD player. It works at least for a little bit and can calm him enought to sit still enough to maybe fall asleep.

Think about fun things like not wearing regular shoes but fun slippers he take take off and "play" with. Have a bag he can drag or pull behind him like all the other travels or a backpack small enough for him to carry. He will like that and it will keep your "diaper" bag a bit lighter.

Just a tip, ask to be seated at the bulk-head. Depending on your airline - they will have no problem with that, it gives you extra space to stand up and move with the baby and or pick stuff up that the toddler drops. Also, you get off first and don't have to wait with the car-seat and/or whinny kid.

As always, lots of snack (think of things that make him happy ) like those graham crackers that are shaped like bugs - then you can again make bug noises and talk about them. Maybe get a "new" sippy cup that has something special on it, my kid just loves "cars" so a cup with lighting mcqueen would be a special thing for him.

Good luck :)

i just got back from a flight last week with my son who is 13 months was awake for the entire flights all 4 hours there and only slept on the way home on the last leg for about 1/2 hour so my husband were very busy the entire flights. i found that the two absolute best entertainments were stickers that i helped him stick on pieces of paper and view master that i clicked the through the pictures for him. He was typically too young for both activities but they entertained him very well. I was so worried of him bothering other people on the plane but he did not seem to bother anyone. He stood up in my lap a lot and i just asked or nieghbors behind if he was bothering them and people were nicer than i expected and that entertained him alos to just play peek a boo with strangers that were so kind to my little one. I was worried on one leg of the trip when we had two young 20 year girls behind us instead of parent or grandparent types but they talked to him too and did not mind him peeking over at them. Just take advantage of the free entertainement that you may get from other passengers and don't stress or worry about your toddler bothering them it seems that people are kinder than i thought they would be and even the few times that my son did cry and I was afraid that it would bother others I was complimented by other passengers on how well he traveled.

best of luck to you

I would bring some books,color books,some games for their age.That should keep them busy and entertained.Good Luck!

We had a little backpack with his favorite toys and snacks. He filled it and had to carry it though the airport himself. Then I put some of his favorite books in my carry on. We put him next to the window and that was a little entertainment. We also put my son in his car seat - it brought sleep on as well. This way we had his car seat with us ready to install in the rental. Good luck!

i didn't think i had anything to add since the only time i flew with my son was when he was 10 days old (don't get me started...!) BUT someone mentioned bulkhead seating and since i used to work for American Airlines i can tell you - do it! that is designated seating (at least it was with AA) FOR persons with special needs- and you have special needs! call the 800 number for your airline and talk to them about it. someone also suggested a dvd player, which i thought was good - i also thought of an ipod or mp3 player. maybe put some of his favorite songs on there. just a thought. different kids are entertained by different things. think about what works for your son when you really need him occupied. good luck!

To keep your toddler happy, you must stay happy and not worry about those around you. Children fuss and there is not much you can do about it, getting upset only makes it worse. Like other people said, coloring books, small toys, snacks etc. Make sure he uses a sippy cup to drink on the way up and the way down, this will help equalize his ears. I moved from OK to WA when my son was 2 and my daughter was 2 months. My husband drove out and I flew to visit my parents in VA, then I flew from VA to WA by myself. I had toys, crayons, juice and snacks. All went well until landing after the first leg (I had a connecting flight) as we were landing my 2 month old was sound asleep and my 2 year old started to throw up everywhere. The stewardess' said they were not allowed out of their seats(since we were landing) and they could not help me. I handled it myself, I had to set the baby on the seat, grab the wipes, strip my son and get through it (oh, and I forgot to put an extra set of clothes in my carry on). Once we landed the stewardess gave me a blanket for my son and a gentleman who has been sitting behind me commended my on my quick action and said I handled it very calmly.
The reason I wrote all this is to let you know no matter how prepared you are anything can happen!

I really like all the responses you received, they are all great!
I have flown a lot with my toddler. What I adopted early on is, just like in the car the seat belt stays on. This one really simple way to get them to sit still. I also have a very active now 4 year old, but we did travel when he was 2. He didn't even fuss about the seat belt because that is what we always do in the car. And of course I kept mine on too!
Reading books worked for us. Maybe a couple of new ones from the library or book store? DVD's work too, but you have to know that the batteries do wear out after about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Sometimes the less "busy" you are, the more likely they are to relax and maybe fall asleep?
Good luck!

Several things I would reccommend are multiple colors of the mini playdough cans with a few mini cookie cutters...you can find the set at the dollar store. Also, the coloring books that are paint with water work great on a plane or even water color paints since they serve water. You can also get magnetic books with shapes at the dollar store and little characters...dinoaurs or cars whatever he is into. We also brought foam shapes and paper. I always took a quick run through the dollar store and picked up 4-5 new items that would be a surprise on the plane. Don't forget to give him a decongestant before takeoff to help with his ears and have a sippy cup ready with his favorite drink to sip to help with the pressure. Bring plenty of snacks as most airlines no longer serve any. We flew alot when the kids were little and it really is not that bad if you are prepared.

I just traveled to WA with my 21 month old son and brought along new toys that were only for on the plane: magna doodle sketch pad (travel size, you can get at Wal-Mart), matchbox cars, a flashlight, and some new books. He got his own backpak on wheels with a handle to carry them in and he hauled it through the airport like a champ. I also suggest trying to sit in the bulkhead if possible because there are no seats in front of you to kick, and the trays come out of the arm of the seat - great for banging, kicking, and using as a drawing/playing surface. Oh, and snacks - lots of snacks! Good luck!

I was amazed by the unconventional things that held my son's attention when we flew. He was about 18 months - hopefully you'll find some things helpful for both of your little ones!

My Aunt bought us a deck of Thomas the Train game cards with all sorts of pictures on them. He was far too young to understand what you were really supposed to do with them, but I'd take them out one and a time and hand them to him. He'd fold, bend, chew, stare at and then toss it - and I'd hand him another. Target has flash cards in their bargain bins right now. A little flashlight was fun too. Things I may not have let him play with, except for the fact that he would be in my immediate supervision the whole time.

You have to go into this with all the planning of a CIA assignment... (Children in Air) haha

I had it all planned out:
-I arranged our flight over his nap time, nonstop.
-Run around terminal like crazy to wear him out.
-Change his diaper as close to boarding as possible. Use an overnight diaper so I only HAVE to change him if he's poopy.
-Give him 1st does of Hyland's colic tabs when changing diaper and every 15 minutes thereafter until takeoff.
-Do not offer any entertainment other than all the newness of flying until necessary. Let him be entertained by the sights and sounds of the airport and plane. (seatbelt, safety brochure, tray table latch, people watching...)
-The moment I stepped on the plane I smiled great big, handed the flight attendant an empty bottle, and asked for 2 ounces of hot water and 2 ounces of cold = warm. (their idea of warm and yours are usually two different things, I found that 1/2 & 1/2 is just right).
-Held bottle until take-off and gave it to him at takeoff (sucking keeps their ears adjusting to the air pressure and saves them discomfort).
-Make sure to strategicaly place multiples of necessary items. For my son it was pacifiers. I had one in every pocket I knew I'd be able to reach and 2 more in a zip top bag at the bottom of his diaper bag in case of emergency.
-He slept for 1-1/2-2 hours and when he woke up we played and read. He liked standing between my legs on the floor, and standing on my lap he thought that people getting up to use the restroom were playing peek-a-boo with him, ducking behind their seats! The giggles were hilarious.
-If you have a long drive getting from the airport to your destination make sure that you save a toy/snack/routine for the drive as well. If you always do or have something for them on a drive, pack that. It will give them some routine and stability and hopefully, keep them on-track.

There you go - it's an adventure. Set out with it being such and you're practically guaranteed to have a great time!!!

Enjoy your adventure!

T.

p.s. Dress them as cute and comfortably as possible. You'd be amazed the power of cute kiddos to get you help from flight attendants!!

i am probably repeating a few things that others have already mentioned.
stickers and a little doodle book to put them in.
doodle pro -we received a little one as a gift and my 3 y.o. still uses it whenever we travel. then you don't have to worry about keeping track of crayons
a new book or 2
music or dvd player
think about times when you are traveling. ideally during the time your child might nap
i have also brought a small bag of blocks or the bigger toddler size leggos
hope you have easy travels!