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Original poster

To wonder how you keep kids entertained on long haul flights?

58 replies

JessKM · 05/05/2017 20:25

Taking a reasonably long haul flight with kids in a few weeks and I'm at a bit of a loss as to how we can keep them entertained the whole way!

Older girls (14/12) and youngest girl (7) will probably entertained by in flight entertainment and reading etc but I'm worried DS (just turned 4) will turn into spawn of Satan and begin to create mayhem.

Most of the things that keep him occupied for any period of time are large (train track etc) or loud (any role play games are dinosaur or shark related and get loud very quickly!) we only have one iPad between them all so not an option for a long time without arguments.

I'm getting a bit panicky! I don't want to ruin anyone else's flight and I don't want to turn into a grumpy shouty mum over the Atlantic somewhere...

Please please please tell me what you super mums turn too at times like this!!

OP posts:
TheCaptainsCat · 05/05/2017 21:28

Also emirates cabin crew will let children wear their hats and then take polaroids of you all as a momento, that killed a bit of time Grin

Itscurtainsforyou · 05/05/2017 21:35

I bought cards such as these https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Things-Little-Children-Journey-Usborne-Activity-Cards/074608921X

Plus snacks, kindle loaded with apps, films etc, books, pencil case of plastic dinosaurs etc. Rotated activities every 20-30 minutes unless they were engrossed

incywincybitofa · 05/05/2017 21:39

The only thing I would say about the Kindle idea is check the restrictions on inbound flights you can't bring tablets and kindles in from certain countries and the ban does affect some Emirates flights

incywincybitofa · 05/05/2017 21:39

Sorry kindles and tablets in the cabin on those flights

SavoyCabbage · 05/05/2017 21:41

I'd let him have the ipad for the whole flight and tell the the older dc they can watch all the tv they want but they can't have the ipad.

OlennasWimple · 05/05/2017 21:44

Yy to over ear headphones - the ones that are supplied by the airline are bad enough for adults, there's no way they would stay comfortably on
4yo ears

We have had play do removed from hand luggage on one flight (US border security), but allowed on another.

Get a draw string bag to keep all the bits and pieces in. Magically draw one out (or let him choose like a lucky dip) every hour or so. You can even wrap up snacks like bread sticks to pad it out a bit Smile

Original poster
JessKM · 05/05/2017 21:52

So many great ideas thanks - I think it's me panicking too much as he's such a different temperament to my girls! They're so placid and relaxed - he's lush but a different kettle of fish!

OP posts:
SquinkiesRule · 05/05/2017 22:12

Dd used to marathon watch videos on the little TV when we flew long haul from age 2. She'd watch just about every one of the kids shows. Then fall asleep on landing, or as we pulled up to the gate.
With my older boys we flew before the little TV's in the seat. I used to buy and wrap little presents. I usually had about 8 of them, and when my son got really antsy I'd hand one out. Things that he'd never seen. One time he had some small cars, a rubics cube, and some fidget type toys. I'd re wrap them for the return journey once confiscated on arrival. We usually were away close to 2 months or so, so he forgot about them mostly.

sycamore54321 · 05/05/2017 22:29

I had a slightly younger toddler to entertain but the Lego Duplo train app was a godsend on a recent long flight, enchanted him for hours - no sound on the tablet.

Don't bother with own headphones unless you can confirm that the airline uses the standard jack - on my recent transatlantic flights, there was a weird double-jack so only the plane headphones could be used.

Daytime flight is the best I think as if you travel overnight, then you have an overtired child unless the gamble that they sleep pays off. Whereas a daytime flight means any sleep is a bonus buy the child is at least rested and not irritable.

36plusandtrying · 05/05/2017 22:47

Def get headphones and you can buy a jack convertor , emirates are a 2 pin. Most electrical stores will have them or head phone brands will sell a travel add on pack ! Good luck 😉

BlueChairs · 06/05/2017 18:20

You can text seat to seat on the plane screens! Either be careful or distract him by letting him talk to you and the girls on it x

lionsleepstonight · 06/05/2017 19:00

Second the pound shop toys. I bought lots and had a rucksack full of pound shop toys, snacks, magazines, travel size games, new books. I'd also download some programmes or films onto the iPad and also download children's stories onto your phone. Don't forget to make sure it's fully charged before the flight.
Please get headphones too, I'd murder a child if I had to listen to Peppa pig on a long haul flight!

Original poster
JessKM · 06/05/2017 21:55

Grin long haul peppa pig Grin
Yes how easy we forget that not everyone is immune to the snort of that porcine brat GrinGrin

Lovung idea of texting seat to seat!!!

OP posts:
Coulddowithanap · 06/05/2017 22:08

Before we took our children on holiday we took them to the pound shop where they could spend a £5 each on whatever toys they wanted, that way when they inevitably lost them it wasn't a problem!

They both had their own little rucksacks and carried their own toys as well as some snacks (brioche, yoghurt covered fruit snacks etc). I think I ended up with their colouring books as their rucksacks were smaller than A4 size. They both took their DSs (well I did for them) but they hardly played them as they were more interested in the TVs in the back of the chairs!

firstimer30s · 06/05/2017 23:35

Got these headphones for my toddler - highly recommend Snug Play+ Kids Headphones Volume Limiting and Music Share Port (Purple) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A5RO3CI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_Yd7lDUY4A623f?tag=mumsnetforum-21

ItsThisOneThing · 07/05/2017 04:25

Same as PPs have suggested - small wrapped gifts! I went to the pound shop and bought a few bits of tat that kids love Smile Wrapped each up individually and DS got to open one every hour of the flight. Total success!

User24689 · 07/05/2017 04:43

Thanks so much for this thread OP and for all the suggestions! We are flying long haul with Emirates in 2 weeks - Australia to UK. DD is almost 2. I've been dreading it but now have lots of good ideas. Last time we did the trip she was 11 months and I went out and bought about 10 random toys from the dollar store beforehand then got a new one out every couple of hours. That worked quite well then but she won't be entertained by a toy for as long now. This time I have got some sticker books - she's never had stickers before so should hold some interest. I do have visions of her decorating the plane before we disembark though! Grin

I have looked into playdoh OP - allowed but comes under the 100ml liquid rule. So you have to have it in a clear bag. No idea how to measure 100ml of playdoh but worst they can do is bin it at the gate!

cad186 · 07/05/2017 05:00

We recently went to America with a 7, 5, 3 old year and 5 week old. We took a bag filled with colouring, stickers, dot to dot, tablet, top trumps etc and none of it got touched! We took our own headphones (not the little in your ear ones) they are definitely worth taking. It is surprising how fast the flight goes, you'll be fine! Also your older girls will be so engrossed with the in flight entertainment I'm sure your DS would be able to have sole use of the iPad without any arguments!

YoureSpartacus · 07/05/2017 05:45

We fly a lot - when DC1 turned 4, he'd been on more than a flight a month on average!

Taking their own carry on luggage so they have a bag of their own things. We bought them their own headphones (Tesco do child-sized ones) and splashed out on iPad minis. When you're paying thousands to fly, it's a small amount of money and can you put a price on peace and quiet (don't forget a long charging lead) Sticker books were great as were a couple of other toys. Make sure they aren't toys that roll when they're inevitably dropped. Get chewy sweets like those

blubberball · 07/05/2017 06:02

I flew recently to the US with dc 9 and 5. Youngest has sn.

We made use of the soft play area at Heathrow airport, so that they could run off some steam before we got on the plane. They were very interested in the TV on the back of the seats, and we also had snacks and sticker books, ipads. We downloaded cbeebies games and stories, which kept youngest busy. I had to take youngest for a time out once during the flight. The seat belt sign was off, and he was starting to kick off. He was getting frustrated, and started hitting me, and kicking the seat. I took him back to where the toilets are and sat him down on the floor to calm down. The cabin crew let him sit on their little fold down seat, and I looked out the window. I think that we were flying over Canada or something. Any way, we got through it, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck. :)

JoandMax · 07/05/2017 06:10

We fly Emirates a couple of times a year (since DS1 was a baby and he's now 9) and they are great with kids! My preferred airline by far.

They bring round at least 2/3 activity packs, a few snacks and drinks rounds so every hour or so the kids get something!

The TVs are great too - you can watch as soon as you board so not hanging around until you take off, there's so many films and TV shows and loads of games.

GeekyWombat · 07/05/2017 06:16

We flew to Florida in September. We're another Peppa Pig hating house. DD watched two hours of it on loop bar for when she slept.

Never underestimate the power of forbidden fruit ;)

cochineal7 · 07/05/2017 06:26

If there are tvs in the back of the seats I would say ipad goes to the 4yo preloaded with whatever he fancies. Found that inflight entertainment generally is too high (the screen) and has little choice for the little ones. Great for the older kids though. For the rest, ours can alwaya choose a magazine at the airport, with those silly plastic toys. Mine love this (even though they cost 4 quid and are not even worth 4p if you ask me). With meal time and general excitement it can go faster and better than you think. Found 4 yo much much much better than any time between 1-3 when all they say is no and all they want is to walk.

emma2468 · 07/05/2017 08:25

We've just flown from U.K. To Australia with DC aged 6 & 4 and it was a doddle! Firstly the airplane had one of those interactive entertainment centres so they loved that they could pick their films. Then I had a selection of new small toys for them to open at intervals. I packed colouring, stickers and ink stamps so that worked for another little while. Plus there are various meal and drink breaks. We had a bit of a walk about the cabin. We did the activity pack that was handed out. Then there is the novalty of being on a plane that entertained for a while too. With headphone I took some kid ones for the iPads but the airline supplied kid ones with the plane socket thingy.

Original poster
JessKM · 07/05/2017 09:35

Thanks guys! Ordered some of those headphones for youngest two!! I'd never considered the angle of the TV not being great for his smallness! Hmm

We're going to head to pound shop with a budget and let him pick some things.

I'm hoping we can walk around the plane a bit and he's quite nosey so he'll probably want to ask the poor stewards and stewardesses lots of questions but everyone so far has said Emirates are great with kids so fingers crossed that will entertain him.

You guys on here are so useful, whenever I've asked anyone in 'real life' they've told me to slip him some piroton!!!! Shock thy can't fathom why I'm unwilling to drug my child for no reason Hmm

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