Flight activity recommendations for 2.5 yr old

[twickersmumtobe]

We're due to fly soon, covid allowing 🤞

Last time I travelled with my daugher she was 6 months old, now I have a 2.5 years and a 3-month-old. Daddy is with us on the way out, but I'm on my own with both coming back.

Do you have any recommendations for good activities for the airport, aeroplane, etc.?

She is pretty good at focusing on things for a little while.
We've got a small bag of favourite toys and have bought some headphones and will download cartoons as backup, but what would you do before resorting to plugging her in? Are there any good sticker books you'd recommend? Any in seat activities or games?

Thank you in advance for all advice.

My daughter spent ages on a ‘where’s Santa?’ Book (she is obsessed with all things Christmas’. She spent ages looking and then circling things. We don’t ever have much luck with trying to get her to really watch the tablet but she will spend ages scrolling through photos. Good luck!

Lots of different exciting snacks (healthy ones obviously as you don’t want a sugar-crazed toddler on a plane) … ones you don’t normally have at home.

New toys she’s not seen before are good for distraction. Just cheap and small ones from charity shop. Or rotate toys (good to do anyway) and take along ones she hasn’t seen in a while.?

I’ve flown frequently to Oz with my 3 - 27/30 hour flight so…
Have a small bag that will fit under the seat in front with various things to do but don’t show her everything. Get one activity out at a time. Activity books with stickers; activity books with wipe off pages; Colouring books. I used to take things to make as it was invariably Christmas or Easter so a couple of sew & stuff type things or decorations to colour/stick/sew (big fat plastic needles and tiny toddler round ended scissors are useful). We’ve had small scissors confiscated.
Peppa Pigs birthday party game app - she writes invitations, bakes cakes, receives presents, plays games. My smallest played that all. the. time. There maybe better ones now but that was very engaging and straightforward.
Definitely headphones!

These were a big hit too…
Galt Toys, Water Magic - Under The Sea, Colouring Book for Children, Ages 3 Years Plus www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01NBWL5S4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_R6CSQ2QZVHBFNVJX00FC?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I’d recommend a load of cheap new toys from the pound shop. Those aquapen books are good for no mess colouring. Lots of snacks. If you have a tablet, try and download a load of kid friendly games - my daughters favourite is the hungry caterpillar game or the CBeebies apps. Don’t rely on them watching tv, as the noise of the aeroplane is quite loud and makes hearing the shows tricky as all kids headphones have volume limits that mean it’s quite quiet

Cheerios

Play dough

Lots of stickers

Melissa and Doug reusable sticker pads
Dress up bears
Pipe cleaners (yes, they’re allowed in carry on luggage)