Travelling abroad with 2 year old

[firsttimemxm]

Hi i’m going abroad for the first time with my toddler on a roughly 2-2.30hr flight! I’m just looking for any tips advice as i have severe anxiety about the full situation! He is a wild child, doesn’t stay entertained for long, doesn’t walk only runs so any tips for plane toys, pool shoes, best suncream etc is appreciated! Should i take nappies or buy over there, how much to pack for 1 week etc, i always tend to severely overpack lol 🙈

Where are you going and exactly how old is he? Quite a difference between just turned two and almost three!

A bag of toys that aren't noisy and he can fiddle with plus a few favourite books, take high factor sunscreen and a sun suit , hat. Buggy that reclines for naps, sleeping in the evening so you can go out. Shoes that he can swim in for the beach. Don't overthink it though, people do this all the time. The flight might be the most challenging so practice by encouraging seated activities, stories, colouring etc now leading up to the trip. Mine flew long haul from birth and it really is ok

I used to take loads of children magazines, the ones with stickers, crafts and colouring things, and those rubbish toys stuck to the front. I’d never buy them usually despite pressure from the kids so having them was a massive treat. The id ration the,: one per half hour on the plane. It breaks the time up for little ones.

I also used to take all the snacks and an iPad and kiddie earphones. Don’t be one of the people who listen to devices without earphones. The entire plane will kill you!

We went with our 2.5 yo last year and I was super apprehensive but it was actually fine! She was potty trained, but we took enough nappies just incase I couldn't find her size etc. We would have been fine nipping to a Lidl/Aldi and picking some up though.

Talcum powder works wonders for getting sand off. An essential!

Our DD slept on the plane both there and back - we think it's because she was used to white noise as a baby 😂 But we had the ipad just in case with ready loaded episodes of peppa pig etc, plus a sticker book and colouring in pad and her favourite books etc.

Make sure you've got snacks and a drink. We ended up stuck on the tarmac for over an hour!

2.5 hours for the plane isn't long by the time you've taken off and landed etc, and you can walk around the plane a bit. We flew with Jet2 and they were phenomenal with families - let the kids sit in the cockpit, staff chatted with the kids and brought us water etc. Really went above and beyond.

Aldi do a great sunscreen that's factor 50+ but we made the mistake of not washing it off properly and leaving it on too long meaning my DD got a sore rash on her face. Same goes for any new clothes - make sure you wash them before you go as my daughter sweated in her pyjamas and then had an awful rash on her body (v common apparently but nobody thought to tell me this!)

tablet with headphones
magazines and sticker books

take one or two for the flight back in your luggage, these are really expensive abroad

snacks and ignore healthy eating for the time.

a buggy for walks, if you have reins, take them as well.

Suncream 50+, hats, his waterbottle and sippy cups if he uses them.

for the pool, some toys and if you use a floating device at home, take it as well as he is used to it. Still, watch like a hawk.

If you can, be one of the last to board the plane. If you're travelling with someone, see if they can board first so they get the space for your carry-ons. Sitting on the plane first with a toddler adds about 20 minutes for "flight time" for them and you.

For the plane get an ipad and headphones. Practice at home with the headphones before you go and download a selection pf favourite cartoons. Tire them out in the airport first, Heathrow has soft play for example, but even just walking about is good! I would take advantage of early boarding, otherwise you risk lack of overhead locker space and your stuff put rows away or worse, having to gate check it. 2.5 hours is nothing so an extra 20 minutes is fine. Plane toys I’d say not worth it for that little time either, but maybe some colouring or sticker books if you really want. Bring all the snacks and a no spill water bottle to fill after security. I’d buy the nappies there if you’re confident you can get them easily enough. JoJo have good pool shoes and I like the Ultrasun family sunscreen but really anything high factor with kids on the label and reapplied regularly will be fine!