Toddler on a 10h flight

[oceanob]

Me and my son(3 he'll be nearly 4 by the time of the holiday) are going on holiday in the summer the flight is 10hours long and it's a day flight from morning till afternoon. He is very active and hardly sits down, does have any activities/advice to tell him stay busy on the plane? I've heard to get in the plane last to have the minimum time in the plane

We did a 9 hour flight with 4 and 2 year olds. It was hard work, but if you plan ahead it should be ok. I made a little.bag for them with a "gift" that I wrapped and gave them one every hour (top internet tip!). They weren't expensive, just some thing from the pound shop etc, so a little car, a mini colouring pad, a lolly etc, but they looked forward to opening the next one and it was something new to occupy them for a while. In between they watched a couple of episodes of a TV show or whatever, and the younger one had a nap as well.

Like PPs said, go off to the loo every 45 mins, both just in case they need to go, but also to stretch their legs a bit. I don't know if you have already booked seats ,but I would put the child next to the window so they're "contained"! Also agree with a lolly to suck for take off and landing.

Lots of snacks, a change of clothes.

We were "on" the whole time, as in there was no reading or watching TV for us (and it was exhausting) but it's definitely do-able so long as you are organised and prepared to spend 10 hours entertaining them!

Ipad and earphones (and charger)
Download plenty from streaming
Audiobooks downloads
Lots of snacks (lots!)
Colouring book, drawing paper + pencils
Sticker play book
"Search and Find" book
Work book (if he is ready to do numbers/letters)
Small LEGO
Blanket and teddy to cuddle
Extra clothes
Wetwipes
Calpol
Lipbalm
A bag for waste

Mum's patience ad libitum (buy yourself something nice).

Many many snacks
Load up the iPad
Sticker books

You’ll be absolutely fine. Just switch your mindset to being fully present with him the whole flight, rather than expecting to watch films/read or whatever… which is tiring for you, but actually we had some great fun flying with our eldest.

we took a few of his favourite toys away a few weeks before the flight and they ‘reappeared’ on the fight, so he was very pleased with that!

also, bought a few little new things from cheap shops and wrapped them up. Then he was allowed a ‘plane present’ every now and then… a little toy car, some magic water colouring… whatever.

the routine then became, toys, snacks, watch something on his tablet, trip to the toilet and repeat. Never two things at once… eg snack while watching… have to spread out the fun!!

i’d also advise taking a chance of top for you as well as change of clothes for him… I just felt pretty gross after a long flight handling snacks, sticky fingers etc and the chances of a spill are pretty high.

you’ll be totally fine and the holiday will be well worth it! Enjoy!

https://i.etsystatic.com/10777364/r/il/d5ebd8/4049081081/il_794xN.4049081081_ry3s.jpg
As well as lots of colouring books/magnetic drawing and a Playmobil carry case, we took one of these filled with snacks and iPad and headphones.
Their first time on a plane was a 23 hour journey and it was fine. Don’t worry too much, I think you may be surprised how well it goes.

Rules on not kicking the chair in front or bouncing about in own seat - yes, it's public transport but we still have to respect other passenger on the flight.

This ^
For some reason small children always get the window seat and DD who sits by the window always gets the seat kicker behind her.

This will enrage a passenger more than anything else, so please ensure your DS does not kick the seat in front, and if he does don't respond with "he's only little he doesn't understand", which is what I got once when I asked very politely that a parent stop their child from kicking my seat.

If you get a bulkhead seat then it won't be an issue.

Playdoh on a plane? The flight attendants will love you!

Someone uptrend mentioned they are taking playdoh on the plane? Not sure I'd do this, I'd be worried it would get smushed into clothes, seats, the floor

It will be fine and your 4 year old has just as much right to a holiday as everyone else.

I really recommend getting a craft tray and filling it with small portions of snacks! Kept mine entertained for hours .

New small toys / books . Wrap them up in wrapping paper. Make it a game and they can unwrap a toy every hour . The wrapping paper will make it even more entertaining.

Also agree keep the tablet for when they are flagging at the end .

If they haven't flown before there are some fab books you can get that explain the whole process and really work for us so he understood the seat belt sign and why it was important to listen to the crew

Hi I brought extra leg room seat on the plane to give a little extra room for him x

Thankyou everyone for suggestions I will definitely be putting them on his carry on bag list x

So I'm doing a 12 hour flight with my 3 (4 year old and 20 month old twins) in 2 days. Ours is a night flight so my plan is they will sleep. But my backup plan incase they dont-

• Soft play at the airport before the flight
• I have a bag of snacks. Not sugary but easy foods- crackers, cereal bars, raisons etc
• I have maxed out the tablets storage with downloads. With headphones for all 3 of them
• Lots of small paperback books to read.
• Sticker books and crayons and self printed activity sheets of puzzles so they are the right ability for the eldest
• Small toys - threading toys, card games, travel connect4, magnetic jigsaws that you do in the box. These are either new or have been put away for a few months- also if I get time will wrap them, can have a new toy every so often!
• Changes of clothes for all
• Calpol and Ibopofen

Can children move seats I have quite a few family members that will be onboard this plane too but they may not be next to me as I've rebooked my seats already? X

He's not a toddler, he's almost 4.

i wouldn't take anything special with small pieces (like Lego) because you'll spend the flight trying to retrieve little pieces off the floor!

I would take some paper & colouring things (not too bothered if I can't find them on the floor). He can draw, you can tech him games.

an action figure if he has one he is attached to.

a favourite book or two.

choose a comic (with a toy) at the airport.

explain to him it's a whole day, not like just going to xyz.

is he excited about seeing the people you are visiting? Does he video call them etc??

snacks of course, but stay away from high sugar etc

you need to have a think about your attitude though, yes, it is public transport, but that doesn't mean people can just behave as they like. It is your responsibility to do your best to stop his behaviour impacting others. As well as noise, watch for him kicking the back of the seat in front or pulling on the top of it etc

I hope it's not as bad as you think it might be & you have a good holiday!!

Hun? This is MN. We don't do 'hun'. If that's your preferred epithet, may I suggest you head over to Netmums?

@SharedAccountWithMySister

Yeah? All my son does is flatten it and press the shape things in. Repeat ad infinitum.
It doesn't make any mess

Unlimited screens and snacks. Mix up the snacks so it’s not all sugary shit as you don’t want a vom. Also pack something resembling a real meal in case they hate the plane one. Download loads of favourite cartoons, movies and games onto the ipad before you go (my kids much prefer this to the plane’s entertainment). Buy kids headphones and practice at home before you go. Take a no spill bottle empty through security for drinks. Choose a tat magazine in the airport.

Mine have done a lot of long haul flights and I’ve never take anything else. No stickers, play doh, lego, colouring, whatever as I learned quite early on that none of that gets attention for anywhere near long enough to justify the space it takes up in your bag. If the airport has a play area we always find it, Heathrow has a decent soft play, and if not lots and lots of walking. Then treat the flight as a duvet day! Both of mine I’d describe as pretty active kids ordinarily but by 3 they were really easy on flights, to the point where if it weren’t for requests to open packets it doesn’t really differ to flying on my own.

Of course pack any hard to replace essentials, medications, change of clothes for everyone and swimsuits if it’s a beach holiday in hand luggage. If you’re checking more than 1 bag split everyone’s stuff between them. Then it’s just an inconvenience rather than an epic disaster if a suitcase gets lost!

My DD's first flight was transatlantic at the age of three.
I think it's important to prepare them well in advance about what it's like and your expectations. I did this in the form of a story about our forthcoming trip (early wake up, taxi to the airport, wait in line, on the plane all day, etc)

I took my 20 month old and three year old to Australia. Toddler did sleep a bit but the three year old hardly at all! But he was fine. We didn't have a tablet but he watched a couple of in flight films and I guess we just played some games with him. He discovered where they kept the biscuits pretty quick! He was a bit crestfallen when we landed in Singapore and I had to tell him we had to get on yet another long flight.😆

Hi this is my first child so I don't know when the toddler stage is finished haha and yeah he video calls them and things like that we are going with my dad so his grandpa and all his aunties and uncles and we are going to visit his other aunties that live there xx

Don't worry! I did 26 hours (New Zealand). Lots of walking up and down the aisles, lots of sticker books (Mellissa and Doug do reusable sticker pads with cars and planes if he likes that), activity pads, things downloaded, a few small presents he can open to keep him entertained (toy cars, fidget spinners etc) and tons of snacks.

It will be FINE - just get prepared and you'll be sorted.

I'm doing it again in summer - solo - this time with a three (almost four) and one year old! The joys of living away from home and visiting family xx

I'm not saying I won't try and keep him from making as much noise but others need to realise we all have paid for this holiday I'm not being selfish but he is autistic so yes he may get a bit loud at times but he does know not to be screaming and shouting when aload of others are around!! X

@LipstickLil I use hun as a reference to everyone and anyone I didn't know this would offended anyone??

Oh and if you get really desperate, eg there are lot of delays, buy the in flight wifi and let them watch you tube kids. Cheaper than buying half the toy shop, you won’t be scraping play doh off the tray table or scrabbling on the floor for lego bricks or crayons. Yes it’s brain rotting toddler crack but flights are when you suspend the rules as whatever it takes to get them to sit quietly (within reason, not proposing sedatives!). Delete the app after travels.

Yep. At least make sure he's not screaming and or kicking the back of the chair in front of him.