how to keep a toddler entertained - top tips please!

[lululo]

Will be undertaking our first long haul flight with a 15 month old and I'm very nervous about it. Little one is very active and I'm unsure how to ensure she is entertained and distracted for the 7+ hours flight.

Anyone have any suggestions?

In particular, any toys/activities that may help?

Many thanks in advance!

It would be really good to hear about your experience with this and what worked for you. If I've posted in the wrong place or if there is any chance of a response elsewhere on the site - please let me know!

Thank you!

Does she have her own seat?.

Would take all her favourite foodstuffs and enough anyway for the flight duration; food on planes for adults let alone children can be of poor quality. Do not rely on the airline to fully provide. A change of clothes for you and she in case of accidents should also be carried.

Toys that are not small, or if dropped easily found are a must.

Do you have a tablet you can load with CBeebies or similar content? If not it might be worth buying something like a Kidigo.

We did long-haul with an 11mo and when not sleeping she watched the odd bit of In the Night Garden, walked laps of the plane (with one or other of us), ate/fed, and played in her seat with a few toys we had brought.

Assuming you are travelling with OH or someone else, agree to take the flight in shifts, an hour or 90 minutes each at a time, and it helps to break it up a bit, one of you can watch something or get some rest whilst the other is on duty.

Definitely get her a seat of her own it's not much more because so much of the price is taxes. Agree plenty of food.

DS was entertained for hours as a toddler on a flight to USA by Madagascar on the seat back screen, no sound as he wouldn't tolerate earphones. (Not a totally lazy mum honest!)

Thank you for replying!

I've already booked the trip but didn't get a seperate seat for her (on a budget!)...I hope I won't live to regret this!

Hopefully we'll have time to stock up on some food at the airport - security being what it is it will probably be impossible to bring the homemade snacks she prefers :0(

So far, she hasn't shown much interest in tv but who knows, maybe an airplane movie will prove a novelty!

The splitting of time between parents is a good idea - will defo. do that!

Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

Open to all ideas so feel free to keep it coming!

If you haven't booked her a seat have you put in a request for a basinet & bulkhead seats? I can't remember what the rough max baby weight is. Bulkhead seats will give you more legroom to let her stand/walk up and down the row.

lululo I did a 12 hour long haul with mine at 18mo and similar to yours, DD didn't discover TV or tablets until much later. No toys are useful either. I bought a few sticker books new toys but she won't play with them. On the day flight she spent the whole flight walking around the aisles and playing near the toilets. It's not so bad as she was entertained by chatting and giving in flight magazines to the passengers. The night flight is awful because she can't sleep upright. She needs to sleep on the floor but that's not allowed for health and safety reason. DH and I were so tired trying to hold her on our chest to sleep.

We didn't buy the extra seat but was given one both ways. It was useless anyway as she won't sit in it.

OneLittleToddleTerror - thanks for your post. i've got a feeling i'm in for a similar experience!

iseenodust - forgot to thank you too! i've contacted the airline - fingers crossed they'll repsond to my request.