Flying with a one year old

[NothingOriginal8]

Tips for our first time flying with our one year old please!

He's not quite walking yet but loves crawling/cruising and I've no idea how to keep him occupied on my lap for 3 hours. Any toys/activities that you found particularly good?

I would not dream of taking a 1 year old on a flight
Not for to the child or other passengers

You should dream bigger!

Books are always good, particularly ones with flaps to open.

Small things to put in and take out of something else are often popular at this age. The one brick duplos are great for this and can also build a tower for him to take apart.

The Melissa and Doug board toys with flaps to open and things to take out are also good (and the things are magnetic so they don't fall out).

I would make a travel treasure bag as well. Google 'baby treasure basket' for ideas.

Snacks and water.

A screen for if things get really bad.

We flew with our DS, DDIL and one year old grandson and it was fine. I took a bag of new small toys, snacks, drinks and he happily clambered around on our laps for 3 hours, watched cartoons on my phone and generally behaved really well.
It’s a lottery as to how any child will behave but he and his younger brother have travelled since they were babies, with one or both parents.

Books, crayons, toys they can fiddle with. I did long haul regularly with one and it's fine, don't overthink it

Book the window seat and arm yourself with a selection of spinny toys with suckers to stick on the window and a roll of masking tape. Toddlers love peeling and sticking strips of the tape on and off the window / wall / tray table etc.

Antihistamines

Speak to your GP as for little ones they get special stuff

Great idea @mrsfoof - I've got a 20 month old who we are taking on a flight soon so will be doing this!

Sticker books, books that you magically paint using just water, fidget toys. I wrapped everything, new and old for my son when he was that age as he really loved opening wrapping paper. He was grand on a 4 hour flight.

Well I don't think we'll be cancelling just on the basis of this comment, but thank you anyway I guess!

Love the masking tape idea. And best of all, it's cheap!

Mine have all been better than expected on planes. You might find they enjoy people watching or just conk out. Biggest tip though(having learnt the hard way) is take spare clothes for you as well as the little one. It is no fun being sat in a vomity top without a spare change of clothes…

small snacks like raisins or blueberries keep them occupied for a while. Busy board books are fab for that age as are the water pen colouring books. Loads of stickers.

Take lots if snack that are a bit long to eat ... like these puffy kids crisps which are like air.
Maybe a new toy to keep him occupied with something new.
Peppa pig on the Ipad.

Basically all your rules go out of the window when you're travelling: do whatever works!

Books and iPad. Keep it simple. Don't masking tape the plane unless you want to make everyone eye roll. Crayons etc I would say work for older children. Ditto small things that get thrown everywhere.