How to entertain 18 month old DS during 2 hour flight? (dreading it!)

[bettyboo26]

First flight with my gorgeous and very active DS.
Any tips to make it pass without too much drama would be great.
Will obviously be packing lots of nibbles but am scared how i'll manage to entertain him for the rest of the time.
Thanks so much for your help.

Bumping for you as I'll be doing this in the summer too.
Took DS on Ryanair when he was 4m/o, and it was't that bad but obviously older DCs are harder to occupy and I'm worried about it (he'll be 16months when we go).

Not sure 2 hours is too bad - any chance you can eke it out to align with naptime?

Would def say that snacks and juice are a good idea. Does DS like books?
Have read a tip elsewhere on MN that putting toys on ribbon and tying to the seatbelt to prevent you having to scrabble round on the floor the whole time looking for dropped toys. I will be doing this!

If you can afford it, book him a seat.

I am flying with DD's in 2 days, 3 hour flight.
I have invested in a portable DVD player. Can't really afford it but I cracked into the savings to get it in the hopes it will help (also got 2 sets of headphones...).
Flight is also during nap time so am going to let them run around before getting on in teh hope that will tire them out.
I have a rucksack for each packed with crayon rolls, pads, kaleidoscopes, slidy puzzles, small cars.
I went ot the local hypervalue place and bought cheap sticker books, calculators in teh shape of mobile phones, torches and magnifying glasses too, cost about 6 quid but is all stuff they have never seen before so will just bring it out as and when.
And a bag of lollipops. I don't like them having them normally but they keep them quiet for hours

However, I haven't actually done the flight yet, so it may all go horribly wrong

Flight booked ages ago so no seperate seat unfortunatly. Its an early morning flight so hopefully the early rise and 2 hours running around the airport might wear him out. (fingers crossed)
The toys on ribbon sounds like a fab idea, thanks for that.

I too took DS away when he was tiny, he slept for the whole flight (actually, he slept for the whole holiday!!)

Think I'm in for a shock this year!

We did a 2 hour flight with dd1 at the same age and it was not nearly as bad as I'd feared. I bought several little toys and a couple of books and wrapped them all in tissue paper, to produce another whenever she started to get bored. I didn't use them all up, so it can't have been that bad.

I bought her a board book about going on a plane to try & excite her about the whole thing.

Don't worry - 2 hours really isn't that long. Have a great time.

Thanks Aranea.

Really hope our experience is just like yours. (fingers crossed)

Really worried because he just won't sit still anymore. Since he learnt to walk he is constantly on the go! Typical 18 mnth old I think!

Off to find a plane book tomorrow.

I did a 4 hr flight with a 3mnth, a 2yo and a 6yo, and it actually wasn't as bad as I had feared.
They did sleep some of the time, and I did what JackBauer has planned with the bits and bobs and it worked brilliantly.
I wrapped everything up separately and put it in a small duffle bag each(not the baby obviously!). I told them that when they had been good for a while, they could pick another present out of their bags.
They were really excited to be carrying these little bags of secret goodies, they had treat foods in there too that I would not usually let them have(lollies, wotsits, those manky filled cracker things, cheese strings-why do they like them?!)

I wrapped books, colouring sets, puzzles, a mini snow globe, sticker books, mini star wars figures, spy sets, sunglasses, singing toothbrushes, mini etchasketch, squishy eyeballs, farting slime(v bad idea that one...), all sorts of junk.
It worked coming back too.

Also, we were on the plane last, and the air hostess noticed there was an empty seat on the row behind us and shuffled everyone around.It was worth it though, and they shuffled on the way back(2 spare seats, baby laid down on her own seat too!)too, so I imagine they do try for you where they can.

Thanks Poppity.

Don't know what I'm moaning about when you did it with 3 dc's! Wow!

Feel abit more confident now and will defo be giving the little goodies and toys on ribbon a go.

Thank you all so much for your tips.

Ah! no, the 2yo alone would have been as bad! Actually, I'm terrified of flying, so it was a bit of a useful distraction!
Hope you have a lovely trip.

Mine always slept when she was smaller. Something to do with the motion, and it's usually slightly too warm. I was always prepared with a little bag snacks, books, small toys as others have suggested.

Our DS1's first flight was at 7 weeks - slept all the way. His next was at 2.5 yrs - slept most of the way . We had the little bag with some trains (loved Thomas), books (about Thomas), crayons and pad etc but he was fine - fell asleep on a spare set between us and we had a drink and read the paper......the sound does seem to lull a lot of babies/toddlers to sleep, so fingers crossed. You seem to be as prepared as you can be - main thing is not to worry about other people. Most will have been through it and for two hours, they can put up with any antics

A seat for him if you can

A DVD player if you can/approve

Lots and lots and lots and lots of snacks

Quite a few walks up and down the aisle.

We did 10 hours at that age. Adn 24 hours a year later. It's not so bad.

Wow, I feel silly moaning on now!
2 hours should be a doddle?!
Had thought of the DVD player idea but unfortunatly he's not really into the tv! Shame!
So from experience, old familiar books or new?
Any great toys you can recommend?
Bubbles?

Sticker books

Little pots of play-doh

look on the travel home page

these are good

And those crayola magic pens and pads - is it colour wonder?

I've just done a two hour flight with DD 16 months. TBH she waved at people for most of it! IT wasn't bad at all. I had a little mystery bag of little toys which I let her take one by one at any bored moments. We didn't get through the bag. Lunch took up an agreeable amount of time.

In the bag were
Aquadraw mini
a maraca
A spoon and cup
A little box with my earplugs in
baby wipes
A box to put things in.
a water bottle with a lid to take on and off

This does reflect my DD's current obsessions though and so is not very flash!

I would try and get the seats at the very front of the plane. There's a little bit of toddle space and they can satnd up by your knee. I did get priority boarding to bag it but it's no guarantee.

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