18mo on 10 hour flight argh why did we book this!

[moggle]

We booked a May holiday in Vancouver last autumn when DD was about 10mo, it's looming up on us now and I'm dreading the flights. She's so active, on the go all the time. Why did we think it was a good idea to save a few hundred pounds and not get her a seat?!!

I think there's a good chance she will just want to walk up and down the aisles for the whole 10 hours smiling and waving at everyone, but in case she doesn't, or it's a turbulent flight, can anyone suggest some specific toys/activities? Her main favourite activities are putting things in and out of containers; her favourite toys are her toot toot animals (noisy) and books with sound buttons so don't think we can really have them on the plane :-( It's just trying to predict what she's going to find fascinating - it's never what I expect it to be!! On a recent flight to Dublin she played with my mum's pop up hairbrush for half an hour, obviously I have bought one of those now but what's the betting she will not be interested this time around! If anyone has any specific things their toddler finds endlessly entertaining please let me know :-D

Thanks badg3r. I think there is hope!!
As you can't put your bags under the seat in front for easy access - were you able to entertain DS OK for take off in the bulkhead?

I've just remembered the worst thing about our 1hr Dublin flight was that DD's legs were just the right length to continually straighten them and brace against the seat in front when she was sitting on someone's lap. I was continually saying "No don't do that" just so the poor lady in front would know I was trying. I sat her so her legs went to the side but she just immediately wriggled back round. Just an extra couple of inches would have made such a difference as she wouldn't have been able to reach it ... can only hope Air Canada has a tiny bit more room since it's long haul...

I've just checked and it will cost around £50 each to get a bulkhead seat on our flight. Might be worth it, I can't decide!
Either way we need to hurry up and decide as many of the regular seats are already reserved.

I would definitely splash the cash. You've got floor space and you won't be permanently anxious about her kicking the seat in front.

A couple of lift the flap books (or you could make a photo book for her at one of those online places) will keep her busy until you can get her bag. Plus there's lots going on so she can look out of the window

Yeah Lynda I think it probably is worth it for the outward leg. Just need to run it by DH.
But we won't be near a window - think definitely better to be on the aisle. The plane is a boeing 777 - enormous - and has a new 3-4-3 seat formation - it actually looks fairly horrendous and the comments on Seatguru about the lack of room are awful! I think I need to stop googling now!
A personalised photo book is a grand idea! I've just bought her a replica Sky remote off ebay for £2.99...

If she loves a doll at nursery, maybe get a doll which has an outfit (or 2) with lots of buckles, buttons, zips etc to open and close.

We've done the "wrap up cheap tat and dole out at a rate of 1 per hour" on longhaul flights. Works well for when a distraction is needed, spares can be used on the holidays or return flt. Only use them IF needed, don't bring them out just because it is another hour into the journey if DD is enjoying whatever she's into or it's mealtime etc.

YYYYY to having a change of clothes for everyone in your carryon bags - we travel a reasonable amount (DH and I for work, and we've done a fair bit of longhaul with DD as well) and you never know which flight will lose your hold case/hostess drop coffee/dinner will spill/someone in your party get sick or similar (or someone near you) - all sorts of reasons why a spare outfit, on board, is useful.

Colouring in - bring crayons so no sharpening needed or likely accidents with markers.

A favourite reading book to have a story together. (If she has a favourite blanket that's small, that might be useful).

A favourite teddy/toy to snuggle up to on plane and while away.

Have you been on a flt with DD before? If not, try and show her some photos of what airports are like (regardless of which airport you use, Manchester airport has a very good autism page - which explains about what the airport is like, noisy, busy, lots of people, need to do security etc - so great for anyone who has never been to see what to expect). Most airports have good websites, to see what is there. And look at the website of your airline too - show DD pictures of the type of plane you are going on and what the inside of a plane looks like.

Sorry - just saw you were on a flt before. Thinking of too many thigns at once today...

Definitely take a change of clothes for you. I am ashamed to admit that I have now had 3 flights when I didn't, ended up covered in sick, and could change DS but not myself. Yuck yuck yuck.

A selection of random Duplo bricks to build with. Plastic animals. Pre inked Stamps, we got some great ones from Hema.

sola oh no... My mum once had to spend a whole transatlantic flight wearing a spare flight attendant's blouse, and a blanket as a skirt, after I spilled lemonade on her minutes into the flight (I was aged 10). Dad's company had paid for the flights, we were in Virgin first class and mum had been so looking forward to it, she was absolutely mortified :-( Still, definitely better than sick or poo!

We've just been to Florida with 22 month old DS. He did have his own seat but spent most of his time in my lap on the way out there. Having the other seat helped for extra space though. We bought a car seat out there for him to use - it also turned out to be "airplane ready" so we brought it back on the plane. It was much better having him in the car seat on the way home because he slept more. Unfortunately we can't use it here because it won't work with our seat belts.

Mmmm... this is why I'm torn between paying for bulkhead, and taking a chance on a normal seat and then hoping the flight isn't full and a nice flight attendant / check in person who can rejig things so that we have a spare seat next to us. If we're in the bulkhead I'm sure we won't have a spare seat but at least there'll be a little room on the floor.

My first piece of advice would be to see if you can buy her a seat.

Failing that, I found that those puppy training pads were invaluable. I put one on the seat under DD when she was very young, then if there were any spillages / accidents the seat was protected. The day she vomited during take-off on a fully-booked transatlantic flight I was extremely grateful that the puppy pad meant we didn't have to sit in vomit for 9 hours.

A roll of sellotape was good, and provided much more entertainment value than I thought possible.

We always used to buy those kiddie magazines with plastic tat on the front and oodles of stickers inside. I bought about 6 and had three each flight, disposable at the end.

Lastly, sorry to be the voice of doom, but I'm really unsure about letting her play with a dosset box, especially putting treats inside it for her to find and eat. I would be so nervous of her finding someone else's dosset box and helping herself to their tablets. I'm probably over-reacting, as I use one and have tablets in there that could kill a child.

Hmm Anne I hadn't thought of it like that. I'll give it serious thought, maybe I can find something that works similarly but looks different. She's so nosy it could well be a possibility. We were in a costa the other day and she was standing looking out of the big floor to ceiling window at shoppers, I had a mouthful of coffee and when I turned back to her she was holding someone's shiny posh mascara that she'd nicked out of a lady's bag!

Anne, a puppy pad is a great idea. I shall definitely do this, and another on the floor too. Cleaning vomit off plane carpets is the absolute pits.

Moggle, can't you get dog toys that need to be rolled around etc to get the treats out? Less dangerous than a pill box

Be brave... You picked Vancouver because it is absolutely amazing! You will love it.
If you only believe one thing I ever say....Sophie's cosmic cafe, west 4th avenue kitsilano Vancouver. It was a recommendation to me and they are without doubt the best pancakes and breakfast I have ever had.

Aircanada the 3 4 3 formation isn't bad. It's a nice plane l, each seat has a charging point etc. but please don't let her walk up and down. I had it on a 2 hour Berlin flight recently and it was hell. Toddlers don't walk like we do, they are flat footed and so on a plane the slapping feet vibrAte. Also they can't go in a straight line so this one kept bashing chairs and waking people up. The air stewards were not amused with the mother standing at the back by their station encouraging it.

Ps survive the flight - Vancouver is awesome.