Tips for flying to Portugal with an active two-year-old toddler

[Sauteedtattas]

It’ll be my first time flying with my 2.5 yo toddler (his dad will be there too thankfully). Flight is to Portugal so not too long but I still need help on how to keep LO from climbing the walls & as he’ll have been in car seat on drive there. It’s Ryanair so not exactly any space for running about. LO likes stickers but not sure for hours. I’ve heard about Pok Pok but not used. Flights are day time.

It seemed really straightforward flying with a baby but an active toddler is another matter!

Snacks colouring tablet if he has one (you can download films and series on Disney+ or Netflix) toys he can play with sticker books etc are all things we take and we have been flying with our kids since our youngest was 20 months

As the person who always gets sat next to the 'active' child on a flight, can I just applaud you for actually thinking about this first.
As a mum myself DD now 24 😆, I would first take lots of distraction toys, pen, paper...just anything...maybe something new to entertain them and keep them occupied. Secondly perhaps do a trial run at home. Pretend youre going on a flight and sit down, Pretend to strap in, and fly! Get yourself an in flight drink..make it fun so nothing is unexpected. Chat to 'teddy' on the next seat. Make it as comfortable as you can.
I have been known to take over the parental responsibility and entertain random children to stop them winging on flights. Its become a standing jike with me and my friends.
Good luck

We used to wrap small new distraction toys (so crayons and paper, a toy car…) and hand them to DC at intervals through the flight. The gift wrap made him pay a bit more attention and because they were like little gifts they seemed to do the trick.

Snacks, stickers, snacks, toys, snacks, screen time.

DH boards with all your stuff. You board last with your toddler. Don't waste 25 minutes boarding early, let toddler blow off steam in the airport.

If still napping, time the flight with their midday nap. If they no longer nap, do a morning flight as afternoon overtired toddler on a plane is hell.

Run them round the airport at much as you can before you board. More snacks than you think. A drawing tablet (think Magnadoodle from your childhood). A new toy. A fidget popper. Sticker books.

These are all SO amazingly helpful -
thank you everyone!!!

I’ll be honest, I always took car seats on board, strap in no getting out, feed snacks, colouring, read books. Mine were pre tablets! Car seats faced forward for 2 year olds then