If you could take one single toy on a long haul journey...

[Gingerandcocoa]

... what would it be?

I'm travelling with my 11 month old by myself, on a 10+ hour journey... It will be an overnight flight so hopefully he will sleep for most of it. But which toys should I take for the times he's awake? I'm thinking about buying a couple of new ones for maximum attention grabbing effect!

I'd take more than one toy on a long haul flight! Ideally you want a selection of small things which will keep his interest, and you can pull out one at a time:

• a sensory ball (eg with spikes, which lights up - about 10cm diameter)
• have you tried him with survival blanket foil? My DD didn't really go for it, but apparently lots of children do. You can cut off a small square, say 20cm width
• a balloon to blow up and let go (but be careful not to let him suck it or have it unattended)
• a small tupperware box with craft pompoms (approx 1cm diameter, or a mix of sizes).
• a small toy car if he likes them
• a small lamaze type toy, with interesting bits to look at and play with
• most importantly, a few books, ideally with some kind of interactive element like flaps. (the maisy ones were popular with my DD). Small boxes of little books are also popular, but take up a bit more space. Books give great play value for the size they are!
• your phone, loaded up with some suitable apps and media. Whatever your feelings on media the rest of the time, the occasional use on a long flight really is OK - and may well work when nothing else does!

Incidentally, I find that my DD is more interested in books which she knows a bit. So rather than get new ones for the flight, get some a few weeks before, and then bring his favourites.

Second what strawberry said.... Wish I'd brought familiar books on our recent longhaul.
Other than that....
Ipad
Snacks
Good luck!

Stickers. Many many many stickers.

Get cheap pound shop toys. There's usually some good(ish) ones and it doesn't matter if you lose them.

Best thing has been a box sorter with 10 shapes that I got from the supermarket for $10. We are down to 7 pieces but it's still going strong.

Get the kid sized headphone and plug them in. DD watched frozen back to back returning from Amsterdam to the U.S.

Small box of raisins is good value for my 9 month old, you could put them in a container that doubles as a shaker. For the plane some of those ties that go around toys to attach them to things would be handy to stop you having to bend down all the time!

I would go for one Lamaze type toy, one chewy rubbery bath toy type thing, a couple of plastic toy links, a rattle type toy, a crinkly marathon blanket like someone suggested, a small soft toy, some books and one cloth bag to pull them all out of over and over again!

You know your baby best, so for my baby I would pack some cheap sunglasses, maybe an old remote and I would let him play with the wipes packet.

Stacking cups are great for travelling, as you won't just be stuck on the plane, but waiting at the airport too where there's more space.

I pad/tablet

Seriously, 10 hours on a plane, if I could only take one toy that would be it. Ds is older, 17 months and an apple or a pear will keep him occupied for far longer than most of his toys.

ipad. It just works.

For a toddler I would say iPad or iPhone but can't remember if dd was interested in screens by 11 months.

I would say a washpack full of small items that she can take out and put back in.

and take a million snacks. they were far better than any toy at keeping dd quiet entertained when she was younger.

I tied links to a small scarf (silk type not wooly), and then clipped lots of toys at intervals along the scarf. Saved folding my entire body in half when DC dropped them.

Things that made noises were a hit - homemade rattle (plastic bottle with pasta in it), scrunchy material, and the plastic airline safety info sheets. Which were a bit gross so I anti-baced them.

Thank you all for your suggestions. Really good ideas.

Unfortunately he's not at all interested in the iphone / ipad (other than throwing them on the floor / biting them)... I'm buying a cheap universal remote control as that's his favourite thing ever (he doesn't like his toy remote control ).

I'll just focus in lots of small toys and a cloth bag to put them in. Will also look at the marathon blanket, sounds like something he will like. And yes lots of snacks. For both of us...

and perhaps some piriton syrup

Playdough?

My one essential toy would be an iPad mini with a full battery and loaded with age appropriate apps. There are plenty of excellent and engaging apps even for that age.

Ds, a little older (4) will shortly be going on a 14hr plane trip and we have loaded up on Toca Bocca apps (brill for pre schoolers), animal puzzle games, electronic jigsaws, drawing games etc.

How about one of those little etch a sketchs? My 2 seemed to like those for long trips.

Mini slinky?

I read here (haven't tried it) that a roll of masking tape can last for HOURS on long haul flights, as they can rip off bits and stick them all over the place. Might be more suitable for a 2-3 year old than an 11 month old though.

Having just come home from a long haul holiday with a 24mth old it has to be an iPad loaded up with apps (Dr panda!) and their favourite programmes.

I took a bag full of carefully considered toys on the out flight and wish I hadn't bothered, they all came home in the checked in luggage.

I took lots of books at that age and duplo animals and loads of snacks - raisins etc. For long haul I would try downloading some cbeebies programmes onto a tablet and get maybe one new toy per hour to break up the journey a bit.