Taking a 4.5 hour flight with a 20 month old

[KeenoOnVino]

We are flying next week with our 3 children, including a 20 month old. I am dreading the flight and looking for any tips please of ways we can keep him occupied! His current favourite hobbies include kicking a football, throwing things as far as he can, and tipping out boxes of things to then spread them across the room. None of which are suitable plane activities. Please hit me with your best tips! I don’t think he would sit and do sticker books, water painting, drawing or anything like that. I think he’s too young and also way too active. I have a feeling I’m simply going to have to turn him into a zombie with 4 hours of little baby bum loaded onto the iPad...... 🤦‍♀️

Do the iPad. Whatever it takes to survive!
Can you manipulate his nap into the flight time?

He may sleep for a bit yes.....it crosses over lunch

When my DC was that age, he loved playing a game where we'd stick post-its all over the back of the seat in front of us and he would peel them all off! He also loved sticking post-its on himself and me! Amused him for ages.
Pipe cleaners can be taken in hand luggage and are fantastic fun.
Put some snacks in little envelopes for him to tear open. Raisins and Cheerios work well.
A small set of stacking cups (great for playing games with hiding snacks)
Early Learning Centre Chain Links
A high chair toy. We found a really good Lamaze toy with a suction pad that we could stick on the tray table. We also took a mirror that we could fasten to the back of the seat in front which DS loved!
Two or three finger puppets or a hand puppet
Fisher Price snap lock caterpillar
John Lewis discovery cube
Sticklebricks
Edushape curiosity cube
The humble balloon! I always pack a few, and there you have a game of catch whilst waiting at the airport.

Half an hour before descent, get everyone ready. Pack bags, go to the toilet, find lost socks, so that you’re ready to get off the plane as soon as you land.

Wrap up all snacks, toys etc in wrapping paper for optimum excitement value.

First did that length of flight when youngest was 2.5. she watched some stuff on DVD player, ate, playdoh, books, drawing tablet thing, snacks, walk around the plane...

No magic suggestions here, just do whatever works. I flew Europe to Australasia (30ish hours) recently with a very tantrum prone active 23 month old and it was tiring but absolutely fine....lots of walks up & down the aisle, lots of "can you see a...." type games, lots of snacks and liberal with the screen time. Lots of running around in the transit airports to help burn off some energy. Good Luck!

Thanks so much some great suggestions. Will be on an amazon order later!

I flew to Australia on my own with my eldest a week after he turned 2. I didn’t find it awful. But I think 4 months makes a huge difference as to what keeps them amused!!!

I don't have a great deal to add, except when we took DC1 away at a similar age, I also wrapped everything, messy but killed loads of time.

I also went to the pound shop and bought a load of tat, things like a wind up dinosaur, a slinky, a small pack of cars etc so they had novelty value and we managed to eek them out and save a few for the flight home. Reusable vinyl stickers and travel aqauadoodle type mats also helpful.

The worst part for me tbh was having to change a poo nappy on the world's smallest changing table with no space between toddler's face and the cabin roof and a queue of people outside hearing me tunelessly singing Five Little Ducks.