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

Don't worry, you'll only offend rude arseholes.

We have done loads and loads of long flights with ours at this age and they are early 20s now so it was before iPads. I agree with boarding last. I’m always confused by the invitation for parents with young kids to board early - makes no sense to me.

I used to take loads of new things - books, activity books, puzzles. And at almost 4, he’ll be old enough to watch films etc. Just make sure you take his own headset that fits him.

Take triangular crayons/pens/pencils - they don’t fall off the tray table as easily. If you have the normal round ones, you will spend half the flight trying to scrabble around on the floor to find them.

Get your child accustomed to using headphones if he doesn’t already. If you can’t do that, then get him used to screen time with no volume. If you can’t do either of those, get used to the idea that a fellow passenger will break the iPad for you after hearing the Bluey theme tune fir the eleventy millionth time on such a long flight.

New toys, wrapped up. Unwrapping is half the fun!

Pack a couple of plastic bags to collect your own rubbish. It is surprising how many sweet wrappers you will generate and they spread everywhere and the flight attendants only do rubbish collections a couple of times.

Entitled much?

Yes, it is public transport, which means consideration needs to be given by all, you included. You can't expect to let your child run riot and everyone be all aww bless 🥰

I wouldn't let the child run around the airport either, unless there is a kids a play area to do so in.

I’m always confused by the invitation for parents with young kids to board early - makes no sense to me.
First dibs on the overhead bins to ensure you have all your stuff near you, especially if you have a carry on stroller like the YoYo. Not an issue in a premium cabin going long haul where there’s always loads of space but if it’s economy and especially if it’s short haul then you need to get on it and board first because the last thing you want is that spare outfit in case of vom ending up in the hold as they’re out of space! And really what’s another 20 minutes when the flight is that long anyway?

Tracksuit bottom and comfortable clothing, incl layers. I’d take a change of clothes just in case.

Then anything small ish that usually keeps him entertained. Will depend on the child! No point taking some colouring stuff if they never colour in at home!

id avoid things that can ‘escape’ easily. By that I mean eg little cars that move around very easily and therefore are very likely to fall again and again from the table!

Books were great.

And snacks! Plenty of snacks. Both because they are likely to need one anyway. But also because it breaks time (very much the reason why airlines do the ‘here is a snack and a drink’ even on short journeys).

If you are travelling in your own with dc, I’d chose an aisle seat for them (and me in the middle). That way you won’t be bothering your fellow passenger trying to get stuff that has fallen on the floor. Plus no risk of them disturbing them. Dc can get up easily to go to the loo etc….

Board last. I know airlines always encourage families with young children to board first but that just means sitting there for 45 minutes longer than you need to. Keep running around at the departure gate for as long as you can!

Have a sick bag handy and a change of clothes plus wet wipes.
As others say, loads of snacks and downloads.

He'll be fine!

@oceanob name change fail??

oh well you can play pass the parcel then!! Spread his hugs around the family!!

have a great time!!

(toddlers toddle so around a year to 2 in my mind, I think the U.K. (semi official) is up to 3.).

@SpringSprungALeak
Hi I'm confused with the whole concept of name change fail ? I just wanted to change my name haha xx

@SpringSprungALeak Thankyou!! X

@oceanob

defitely pack a change of clothes for you both. It's horrible sitting in doggy clothes they've tipped their drink or committed on you. Have a bag with these types of things for the overhead lockers and a smaller bag with snack & toys for by your feet (under the seat). Definitely pack a non spill drink bottle he's used to

@Kinsella1 not entitled I'm just saying it is public transport, in other comments you will see I've said he's not going to be running a riot in the plane x

Thankyou x

Thankyou I'll be having a look into buying these fuzzy felts x

Thankyou and noted I will be bringing a rubbish bag/ plastic bag xx

It's not a problem, it's just as the OP your posts show as a different colour so are easily seen, when you change halfway through a thread, posters don't know you are the original OP. You can also filter out all of the OPs posts to save having to read the full thread if it's really long, you can't do that either if the OP changes name

I do this a lot with 2 boys by myself - SFO to London - I took small animals ( tube of farm animals or tube of zoo animals ) small jigsaws - a few books - small packs of raisins and other snacks - try for things that are tricky and time consuming to eat - all things should be new for the excitement! And I just walked holding hands a lot and also let them watch a film - but just expect v little rest and if you get some then it's a bonus

@Idontjetwashthefucker ohhh I see I didn't know that I'm relatively new to these xx

Plane friendly toys - things that don’t make a lot of noise and don’t have a lot of small parts! Books and water colouring books are great. Regular trips to the toilet, and I bet he’ll get lots of conversations as he goes. We bought my son a set of Bluetooth headphones as a surprise for a short haul flight and he loved them.
Make sure he knows about the ear popping!
definitely downloading some films or tv is useful. You can get little briefcase style busy boards with laces, buckles etc which might be good?

Hi OP, I don't know why your thread has attracted so many rude and aggressive people! I think people can sense you might be new to MN and a lot of horrible people with too much time on their hands like to try and intimidate anyone that is new, I've seen this on lots of other threads before too. Very sad as this is supposed to be a supportive parenting forum.

Anyway just wanted to say it's best to just not engage with anyone who is clearly coming on to be rude and pick a fight, it's really not worth your time. I can see you have had some good and useful responses too so that's good.

Enjoy your holiday visiting your family and I'm sure you will all be glad that you didn't skip seeing family to go to center parcs instead I'm sure your child will be fine on the plane, they're not that little, they're old enough to understand not to bother others and to keep occupied with activities. My 5yo has a Glo Pad which she likes and we give her sticker books, colouring books, little books etc on long car journeys, tablet with headphones, snacks. Maybe get them a children's travel cushion too, mine has one from Little Life since she was 3 and loves it and sometimes has a nap in the car with it so it might help him have a little nap on the plane too.

It's a wonder you could understand it. Bloody phone driving me nuts!!

that was soggy clothes & vomited (not doggy & committed)

& fuzzy felts is a great idea!!

I did an 8 hour flight with a one year old who only napped briefly! It was very very hard work/ lots of playing and entertaining him including walking around the plane - devices; colouring books, toys, whatever you need

OP- ignore the people who are not helpful.

Things that worked with my 2 at that age.

Sticker books- especially the usbourne ones.

Snacks, snacks and more snacks. I took their lunch boxes filled with lots of little packets of things... chocolate buttons, mini cheddars, little cereal bar type things, hula hoops... Put a few treat things in too. That used to keep them busy.

Apps/games on a tablet and comfy headphones.
We used to have an app called Video Touch- vehicles.
It was lots of 30 second clips of things like fire engines, bin lorries, planes, boats, motorbikes etc. I think it cost a couple of quid from the App Store but it was worth its weight in gold. There were others for animals/ pets/sea life too.

A magazine with a load of free tat on the front. They didn't set eyes on this until we took off so it was a new novelty thing.

A few story books to read.

Triangular crayons (they don't roll away) and a colouring book.

Baby wipes and a nappy sack to use as a bin!

Honestly- it will be fine. These things are never as bad as you think. He's old enough to understand what's happening and he'll be so excited.

[cracks knuckles]

This is my area. My family live in Australia and I have taken my DCs to see them on my own when they were 3 months; 2 years and 4 years and 2 years. My older one has autism and travelled badly.

My tips;

1. Get ear planes. I will link below. You can get from amazon for £7. Put them in the ears when you are about 30 mins from landing. It makes a proper and real difference IME
2. Buy alot of small new toys and wrap them individually. When starting to get restless bring one out and let them unwrap it and play. it maintains their interest for a little longer
3. Snacks
4. Comfortable clothes and a confortable change of clothes as there is almost guaranteed to be a poo or vomit disaster. Change of top for you as well.
5. Book their own seat. You don't need 10 hours on your lap
6. Now is not the time to limit screen time or devices
7. Just know that the experience is probably going to be shit. But it will pass.

https://www.hearingaidaccessories.co.uk/shop/ear-protection/earplanes-child/

We've travelled regularly with our son's from birth to 10years with a gap for Covid.

I start by planning for the worst and then anything better feels like a win. My number one rule is only one entertainment item at a time. So no snack when watching TV.

I used to go cold turkey with no TV for a few days before a flight. I then loaded up a tablet or laptop with their favourite cartoons and let them watch at will. Get some kids headphones and then you don't worry about their ears and can also let them loose on the kids on flight stuff.

I also packed a bag with thinks like new pens, notebooks, story books, little games, stickers or sticker book, small snacks. The Works is good for cheap activity books. DS both pack a little bag with favourite teddy and things for journey.

Typical journey...
Arrive at airport, lots of walking around and if possible visit play area
Possibly choose a magazine...one with stickers or dodgy plastic toy in shop
Preboard with families and get set up
Lots of looking and exploring seat area and getting excited about takeoff.
Once on journey watch TV/screen for a bit
Break for snack
Produce something new
Repeat several times interspersed with loo trips
Eat aeroplane food

If you like hot drinks take a refillable, sealable cup to avoid spills.

Child might sleep or take a nap...but mine used to stay awake until the immigration queue and baggage collection