Entertaining a 20 month old on a plane - ideas please, I'm starting to panic

[shirleycat1]

Hi all,

This has probably been done lots before, but I tried to search it and was obviously putting the wrong stuff in. So please help me with ideas to occupy my 20 month old ds on a 4 hour flight to Lanzarotte which will almost certainly not involve any sleeping (morning flights, no where near nap time).

He's not a sitter and isn't much interested in TV generally. A 10 minute bus ride into town can prove difficult, so what on earth am I to do for 4 hours?

Any ideas please...

Thanks in advance...

Watching with interest as we'll be doing the same in mid feb!
My DD has just discovered sticker books which keep her happy for a bit so I'll definitely be getting her a new one but other than that...

(MIL suggested letting her run up and down the aisle )

My DS always ended up having a nap no matter if it wasn't nap time, it must be the movement like being in a car - sometimes we've not even left the tarmac and he's gone!

We always found a colouring book, sticker book and some crayons was good and a wander around the plane helps stop him getting bored.

Wrap lots of little toys (anything really, as long as it's not noisy). Then, he can have special treats every now and again. The whole unwrapping thing is fun for them, and then they've got something new to play with. I would also limit how many toys are out at the same time. Too many and they just get thrown around, which is not good on the plane!

I also like taking finger puppets - when all else fails, you can make up stories.

Agree with sticker books, which are life savers!

Oh, and lastly, a favourite soft toy, something familiar.

We've been worrying about the same thing. Got a flight booked to Lanzarote, too. Have you booked an additional seat for DS? We decided not to because of the cost. Dreading having DS on my knee for 4 hours. He's very active too with the attention span of a gnat!

I pity whoever is going to sit next to us!

Get some of those 'padded' stickers, the ones that are a bit thick. DS loved sticking them onto the back of the seat in front and peeling them off, and because they were sturdy they stayed intact

Snacks will buy you a bit of time

Stickers, wax crayons, colourful books, anything new basically that they haven't seen.

Oh, and in my dd's case, Pringles. She only has them on the plane, but she always has them and it's her favourite bit of the flight.

Yep. We always pack a back pack just for dc with new toys in it; crayons, books, puzzles, playdough. Loads and loads of snacks. Actually I tend to find that it's never as bad as you expect because they relish 4 hours of your undivided attention.

Are you going with someone else? Get them to sit in the aisle seat while you sit in the window and unless it's a really busy flight you'll get the row to yourselves so he's got a bit of room to play.

Cheapy camera and playdough kept mine occupied at that age.

Take something for them to suck (unblock ears) for landing and take-off.

Take a pillow - bulky, but so worth it