Taking three year old on first flight what am I going to need?

[Embelline]

early morning flight, staying at hotel night before.

so far I’ve got:
snacks
fully charged ipad

brain gone blank 🙈
what makes life easier for you when you fly with 3-4 year olds? Thank you!

2 hour flight or 12 hour flight? Will make a difference to the answers I think.

Patience

Where do I buy that @ConnieTucker ? 😅

@QueSyrahSyrah should have included! Three hours so not too bad (she says, hopefully)

Headphones for the iPad please. Nobody wants to hear Peppa Pig on repeat.

What are your child’s interests and how long is the flight?

Sticker books.
Colouring
‘Busy book’ (look on Amazon)
Magnetic puzzles
Picture books
Fuzzy felt
Fidget toys
Mini toys (eg: my little pony, matchbox cars, Peppa pig or paw patrol figures)
Simple puzzle book
Kids comic/ magazine (eg: CBeebies)
Duplo
Threading

Headphones for ipad
Favourite shows and audio books downloaded on it
Colouring book and crayons/sticker book
Changes of clothes/pull-ups in case of accidents or toilets being used when you need them.

Wipes. And all of the above. And crossed fingers that your flight is not delayed on the runway. (Horrible flashbacks 😂)

Don’t make too much of a drama about it. If you have an early start they might just want to sleep beside you during the flight. So I would say make them feel warm and comfortable first before taking out the iPad.

I was coming on to say that!

child headphones! Nothing worse than listening to peppa pig on a plane!

I took my high energy three year old to Sri Lanka, that was a very long flight. I took a lot of different snacks, two changes of clothes and lots of little new toys that I knew would really appeal wrapped up as presents. Every time things got desperate, I got one of them out. It worked a treat.

Usborne travel activity books. Something to do/puzzle/contained game. Cuddlies.

Mess free crayola colouring and sticker book

Also wrapped little
Gifts in tissues.

Rolls of stickers worked a blinder for my DD - she sat on my lap and we created a collage/farm scene/whatever the sticker theme, on the back of the seat in front of us (it was fabric).

Part of the fun is creating stories around the scene she created.

Then, we took photos of it with my iPhone so when it came to taking them back off again, she wasn't upset at 'lost' work.

This kept her busy for ages and it's something she talks about now and she's 18! She remembers it so fondly.

Changes of clothes for you both

Bitter experience

Definitely headphones and if kid isnt already used to them, ensure they will be happy to use them otherwise another passenger may eject said iPad out the window 🤣

As a PP has said, a change of clothes for both of you in case of air sickness. Seriously.

I plain notepad, lots of packs of stickers from the pound shop and pens were a life saver for us!!!

Does he/she like colouring/drawing or books. That's what we would have taken for our DD. She was three the first time we flew with her, and was actually too excited to do anything - she really wanted to enjoy the flight and look out of the window!

Galt water magic colouring book/Melissa and doug water wow. One of the best things I have bought recently!

Download some games on a tablet too, my little one tires of watching stuff quite easily.

Mine liked a colouring tablet and stickers. Also a new basic toy like a stretchy catterpillar but something they've not seen before so the novelty will last a little. Snacks, lots of snacks. And toddler headphones definitely. And agree with the lots of patience. It's not fun but it's soon over!

Wrap up some v cheap things they'll like, pop them into a bag and they can unwrap, pay with etc (colouring books, playdoh tub, lego figure etc) and space the opening of these out plus lots of snacks- you'll be fine, it's not a long flight!

Snacks and iPad.
Honestly
We have a three year old and travel fairly often. We always take crayons, stickers, toys etc and it’s all ignored. The crayons end up on the floor, it’s a faff, and he’s usually tired from early start so just wants biscuits and tv

Don't sit them next to the window!

(Toddler didn't want to sit down as they wanted to look out of the window)

A three hour flight with a 3 year old surely normal things you'd do at home in a rainy day