Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Long Haul with a 3 year old

2 replies

Bottomofthedeepbluesea · 05/01/2026 12:41

Flying to Australia in a few months time. On the way there we'll stop in Singapore for a few days, but the return journey is straight back to Heathrow (quick transfer in Dubai).

Son is used to flying, fortunate to have done many short hauls but the only other long haul we've done was when he was an infant, so a different ball game.

I need some advice on what things have worked best to keep a toddler occupied for that long. I'll of course have endless snacks, iPad (which I might try and install some age appropriate games on). Magnetic play scene (road/town you add the vehicles and signs to), toy cars, electronic doodle pad. These are all things that he's enjoyed having on other flights but this won't cut it for more than 4/5 hours.

He's not an arty/crafty child. Crayons and paper are a waste of time. He's not massively interested in sticker books.

There's a couple of other things I'd like to know if others found them useful or just an extra thing to carry around;

  1. Those inflatable foot rests so you can set up a little makeshift bed for them
  2. A travel tray - like this sort of thing - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NQPZN7F/?coliid=I34WSF538RZTIH&colid=21263J7AD80LD&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im&th=1

Please share all your wisdom on keeping kids happy on long hauls.

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NQPZN7F?colid=21263J7AD80LD&coliid=I34WSF538RZTIH&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it_im&th=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-holidays-5470750-long-haul-with-a-3-year-old

OP posts:
Forgottenmyphone · 05/01/2026 13:24

My dc loved the LeapStart electronic book. I’m pretty sure they used it when they were as young as 3.
It’s literally just a case of rotating everything e.g. 30 mins TV, 30 mins games on iPad, 30 mins of snacks & story books, 30mins Leapstart, repeat repeat snooze repeat.

minipie · 05/01/2026 13:33

Re the inflatable foot beds - they can be helpful for toddler sleeping yes BUT many airlines don’t allow them, or allow them only in window seats or central seats in the middle section (ie where nobody might have to get past£). So check carefully.

There are also other options that make a sort of hammock arrangement using the back of the seat in front, these are less bulky and no need to inflate . Again you’d need to check the rules.

Or the DIY version which I use - bring a long scarf in thin material, tie the ends to make a loop, open the tray table in front, hang loop around the table and close table. Then spread out the bottom of the scarf loop. Voila a foot hammock.

TBH at 3 years old he’s probably small enough to curl up on his seat with his head on your lap and that’s probably going to work better than the above. Just have plenty of jumpers etc to pad any uncomfortable bits like seat belt sockets or arms that don’t fold fully.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread