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Original poster

Toddler on a plane

30 replies

Bobbiepin · 14/07/2019 11:28

In a few weeks we're taking a short haul flight to visit family. The flight is less than 2 hours but obviously will have more travelling either side. Any tips for taking an almost 2 year old? She'll be on our laps hopefully, she's a very active toddler and we're thinking dummy for her ears, kids headphones with some peppa pig on a phone and lots of snacks.

Does anyone have any other tips to make it less painful for us (and other passengers) please?

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 14/07/2019 11:42

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 her to tear open. Raisins and Cheerios work well.
A small set of stacking cups or nesting eggs (great for playing games with hiding snacks)
A pot of play dough
Early Learning Centre Chain Links
Sticklebricks
Edushape curiosity cubes
The humble balloon! I always pack a few, and there you have a game of catch whilst waiting at the airport.
I've had success with the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker pads, magnetic shape board, aquadoodle travel mat and lift the flap books.

BarryBarryTaylor · 14/07/2019 11:50

Aquadoodle, stories, favourite teddy, dried fruit, stickers. Tiger and poundshops are great for all that.

TreacherousPissFlap · 14/07/2019 12:19

In a few weeks it will be summer holidays and flights will be packed with kids. The suggestions above are great (apart from perhaps PlayDoh, I'm not sure if you would even get that through security)
When DS was smaller we used a lollipop for his ears which was a huge hit Grin

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NannaNoodleman · 14/07/2019 12:21

Please don't stick post it notes all over the chair in front of you. Remember there's someone else sitting in that chair!

birdling · 14/07/2019 15:55

How would the person in the seat know? They are post it notes.....

Stompythedinosaur · 14/07/2019 16:49

Take headphones that are comfortable for her and use loads of screen time! Plus remember to take lots of snacks and wet wipes.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 14/07/2019 17:07

I went to pound land. I bought a whole bag of new toys. And kept them just for the plane. Kept him happy for ages. Only problem is I had to do the same on the way back. But worth every penny

welshweasel · 14/07/2019 17:12

Book them a seat. Honestly. I’ve travelled loads with kids of varying ages, short and long haul. The worst flight I ever endured was when DS1 was almost 2 and we flew to Barcelona. He didn’t want to be sat on my knee and kicked the seat in front constantly. I vowed never again to fly with a toddler without their own seat. Other than that, lots of peppa pig (but practice wearing headphones before you go), buckle toy, threading toy, aquadoodle, more snacks than you could imagine needing.

graziemille567 · 14/07/2019 17:28

Take lots of spare clothes. We flew a couple of yrs ago when our DS was 3, and midway through the flight he was sick all over himself and me. We cleaned him up, changed his clothes and then 10 mins later he was sick again and on my DH too . We put him in the last clean clothes in our hand luggage and yep, he was sick over those too. The air stewards gave us load of blankets to cover him in as he had to spend the rest of the flight in his pants bless him. And we'd never thought to pack spare clothes for ourselves, so the two of us truly stank for 6 hours of that flight -I've never been more desperate for our suitcases to appear on the carousel when we got to the airport! It was a long haul overnight flight, but in the space of an hour he'd gone through the clothes he boarded in, his pjs and then his clean clothes intended for arriving. So pack more spare clothes then you'll possibly think you need on the off chance your child gets sick on the plane.

WhosThere · 14/07/2019 17:36

Take snacks.
I give DC a dose of Calpol 20 mins before boarding so their ears aren't as sore.
Give a dummy or bottle of water for take off and landing.

MsSquiz · 14/07/2019 17:46

We've just come back from a family holiday with my twin nephew and niece who are 2.5 years old - you can definitely take play doh through security (although ours were mini pots, all sealed in a tube, not sure if that made a difference)
We also had fruit in snack pots, cracker snacks and small bottles of water (you could always take a cup and just buy a large bottle of water once through security)

We had iPad and headphones with lots of cartoons downloaded.
Each twin had a small cuddly toy and we had a pashmina to use as a blanket/pillow if they did nod off
My SIL had a magnetic peppa pig book where you put the characters on the pages of the story, as well as a small wooden jigsaw

Peppa Pig: Marvellous Magnet Book https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1409301761/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_qU1kDbGGB9D2C

Melissa & Doug Animals Wooden Mini-Puzzle Set With Storage and Travel Case https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0073BVRZ6/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_1V1kDbFAPV84V

Last year when they were 18 months, we did spend some time walking them down the aisle when they got too wriggly to stay in their seat, much better to let them explore a little bit, as long as it's not at the same time as the cabin crew are doing trolley service

Solasum · 14/07/2019 17:50

Second clothes including a change for you. I will never forget the flight during which I had to spend two hours in vomit soaked clothes.

If you can, get extra legroom seats so DC can play a bit on the floor/ stand on the floor and play on the seat

LondonJax · 14/07/2019 17:54

Tuck a back pack under the seat in front of you so you can get to it during the flight and put lots of little things to do in there. Taking them out one at a time rather than all at once means you can control the excitement and, when you see that particular item's run its course, you can take something else out of 'the magic bag'. That includes little snacks and sweets (if you allow them).

Definitely take extra clothes for her and for you - one lady in front of us on the plane had her DS vomit over her. We had wipes luckily and a spare, slightly too big for him, Tshirt which helped her but I had nothing I could give her for herself.

Take her for plenty of walks up and down the plane.

userabcname · 14/07/2019 18:10

A cheap sticker book was a life saver for us! We travelled recently with our 2yo DS who does not sit still for 5 minutes. He loved take off and landing, Peppa on his tablet kept him amused for a short while, then we let him pick a snack from the refreshment trolley which he loved and the sticker book saw us the rest of the way! It is quite hard to walk up and down with them as on short flights the flight attendants are mainly going through with the refreshment trolley, then duty free, then collecting rubbish and then of course there are the people waiting for the loo/ seatbelt light goes on for turbulence / preparing to land. We didn't really have a chance to get him out of the seat tbh. But he did stand between DH's legs for a bit to stretch his legs. The worst part for us was the airport - all those queues! Check-in, security, passport control, queueing at the gate, getting the sodding bus from the gate to the plane, queuing to get on the plane....led to a LOT of frustration as DS wanted to explore / run! We did have to weather a few tantrums to be honest so I'd advise definitely keep hold of your buggy until you get to the plane as we just had to strap him in and grit our teeth while he expressed his dissatisfaction a few times!

Expressedways · 14/07/2019 18:18

Book them a seat, take an iPad with headphones (practice with the headphones before you go), bring snacks or buy them at the airport, take a change of clothes. I don’t bother without anything else for such short flights as I can’t be bothered to carry it all through the airport.

xTinkerhellx · 14/07/2019 18:21

I thought this was going to be the far scarier sequel to Snakes on a Plane.

A psychological horror where nobody escapes unharmed.

But otherwise, just snacks and an ipad.

BarryBarryTaylor · 14/07/2019 18:21

If you can I would also take them to the airport prior to going on holiday, maybe the weekend before, just so they can see the planes.
My daughters first flight when she was 20months was to Tokyo. I took her to city airport before and we watched planes take off and land, it meant that she wasn’t too overwhelmed on the day.

Original poster
Bobbiepin · 14/07/2019 19:22

@xTinkerhellx that made me laugh. I'm hoping for less of a horror story but who knows!

Thanks so much everyone, I would never have thought of taking spare clothes for us. I don't think booking a seat for her will be possible, it's a budget airline and it's unlikely we'll get a seat together. New toys, sticker books and the magnetic books all look fab! I'll definitely have a look at those.

OP posts:
WhosThere · 15/07/2019 10:14

Take wet wipes and hand sanitizer in your bag. Planes and airports are breeding ground for germs. Wipe hands and surfaces before letting DC play. Getting a tummy bug on holidays is a nightmare.

Lettherebelight · 15/07/2019 10:29

For us a sticker book, snacks and BBC app games work well. We also take a giant muslin to cover the seat she sits on so it doesn't matter if she drops stuff.

RainOrSun · 15/07/2019 10:41

Yes to most of the above.
Take a water bottle she will drink from. Just remember it need to be empty when passing security.
Calpol can be bought in 5ml sachets, which are allowed through security as liquids. The glass bottle are usually too large to get through.

stucknoue · 15/07/2019 11:44

We took crayons and colouring books, yogurt raisins, books etc. No iPads or smartphones then! They were fine, having 2 under 4 on my own was interesting though for 10 hour flights!

Fundays12 · 15/07/2019 14:40

I took my them 20 month old last year and he was great. The only time he got upset was when a very loud drunk lady insisted on having a very loud conversation over the top of us with the people behind us.

I took snacks, leap pad, car DVD player, colouring books and crayons. I also tried to make sure he was tired so he slept on his flight.

Somersetlady · 15/07/2019 15:56

It wont be as bad as you think! Ive been flying toddlers by myself then when ds2 came along i would fly a baby and just 2yo!

All the rules go out of the window for mine when we fly they are allowed screens and can order chocolate from the air hosts.

Pack a change of clothes for each of you. If your daughter is still in nappies double nappy her so you can change a wee nappy without moving by taking the underneath one off.

Pack a picnic and a foldable travel buggy like a babyzen yoyo is a godsend especially if you are the only adult travelling as can put it in overhead lockers.

Always have wet wipes handy and use a backpack not a bag.

If your passport surname is different to that of your child pack their birth cert too.

Don’t be that parent that is loud difficult or thinks others should entertain their kids and don't let your children kick or pull the chair in front of them.

It will pass quickly and easily if you dont overthink it!

Pixie2015 · 15/07/2019 21:05

iPad / books / snacks / little toys and try to keep their hands and feet away from seats in front - enjoy your holiday

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