Tips for long-haul with 13 MO?

[deepbluec]

Dreading 9 hour flight with my 13 MO.

On the way home it's overnight which helps, but the way out leaves about 9 am so we may only get 1-2 short naps in that timeframe.

Best tips, toys, products etc you would recommend? Definitely want a couple new toys to unveil on the flight to entertain her!

Help!

Anyone...?

Ipad with headphones, practise with these before you go, download some Cocomelon or whatever gets their attention. A couple of books and a few small toys but nothing mega noisy or small enough to drop down the side of the seat! Our top one is this stupid toy phone bought from target 5 years ago for DC1, those vtech toot toot vehicles and a freezer bag full of a random handful of duplo. If the budget will stretch own seat is a good shout (unless you’re going business or first since those seats are too private for little ones). Loads of food including favourite snacks for them, sippy cup, dummy if they have one + spares. It’ll be fine! I found 6-12 months tricky to fly with but from then on, basically because they would watch TV, really really easy!

Had a long haul flight this summer with 11 month old. 8 hours plus 4. I didn’t pack any new toys. He watched a bit of tv, had naps, had food, played around, needed a few changes. We walked him around a bit too. Take spare clothes, you will get a blanket. Lots of food and snacks, dummies. Sleep when baby sleeps!

Depending on the airline request a bassinet. Those seats also have more leg room.

@FlounderingFruitcake thanks for suggestions! Is she a bit young for iPad? Her attention span right now isn't too great for cocomelon etc, what age do they actually "watch" tv? Sorry if that's a dumb question!

It’s not like I encourage screen time at home but absolutely I push it on flights. They generally like repetitive songs and bright colours at that age so stuff like Cocomelon, annoying as it may be, usually grabs them. DC1 flew long haul at 13 months, DC2 at 12 months and they’d watch for about 20 minutes at a time, maybe a bit longer if eating a snack at the same. And they’d do that once every hour or so, when not napping. Which is significantly more than any of the toys entertained them for! So not ages but mixed in with other stuff, it definitely helped pass the time and absolutely more so than anything else I brought with!

And I bought toddler headphones from amazon and practised for a few minutes a day for about 2 weeks before the flight to get them used to them. I don’t want to listen to it and neither do our fellow passengers!!

Snacks. Lots and lots of snacks.

Don't bring anything which losing a small part would render it useless - multiple pieces of duplo for example as someone else said is great. A small puzzle no good. You don't want to scrabble around under the seat when you leave the plane. Bring stuff you don't care about losing.

Raid Poundland/Charity shops/The Works etc for cheap little things to bring out, also wrap up some of your existing toys. The unwrapping is an activity in itself.

Bring a baby carrier/sling for the bits of the airport that you won't have access to the buggy. Don't be afraid to bring a massive buggy as long as it folds up securely. I took my Britax B-Agile to the airport recently for my 13mo and it was a dream. Really easy to fold, robust, and comfortable to push and sit in unlike a lot of the smaller portable buggies. I also stashed blankets in the zipped compartment in the back so that they weren't taking up bulk in the suitcase.

WRT cartoons my 1yo likes Pocoyo and any kind of songs entertained DS2 at that age. Start with songs she knows/you sing together and start watching them at home.