best toddler toys for the airplane image
superchic
what can I do to keep a toddler occupied on an airplane and make the trip easy?
Answer
Do you have a separate seat for each of you, or are you planning on having a "lap baby"? Definitely bring the toddler's carseat on board; you will want the convenience of being able to keep the child in its seat! It is WELL worth the hassle of having to lug it around and carry it on the plane, get it installed, etc. Plus the crew can and should help you get it to your seat, and back off the plane when you land. Ideally the baby should have its own seat and carseat as well.
Bring some quiet activities along for the toddler. A few items that they are familiar with, and several that are new. Dollar stores have lots of fun stuff and you don't have to spend a lot that way. Just a bunch of things to keep the toddler occupied if they are bored or frustrated. I would bring 1 toy/activity per 30 min. of flight time, and an extra one or two in case of delays.
Bring lots of snacks (more than you think you'll need-- delays can wreak havoc on little ones' tummies), and notify the airline ahead of time if your toddler has allergies or any other issues that require specific beverages (I don't know what they do if a child must have a nutrition beverage or soy milk rather than cow's, or any of that). Then you won't be surprised and unprepared when it comes to drinks. If you are planning to breastfeed your new little one, do me a favor and ask the airline when you call, if they have any restrictions on bringing lactating breasts on board now with all of their no-liquids policies... LOL
Another thing-- expect that at some point your toddler, your baby, or both, are going to be unhappy while on the plane. Try not to stress over whether this is bothering the other passengers, and just focus on meeting your childrens' needs. You're not responsible for the comfort of the rest of the plane, only for your own two precious passengers! And you paid for your seats, just like the rest of them.
Good luck! Flying with children doesn't have to be a huge issue; it can even be an enjoyable experience! I've flown with my kiddos many times, at different ages and stages, and with up to 5 children, plus dog & cat, with no hubby to help (he's military) on some occasions. Some have been negative experiences, but most have been wonderful. And the negative ones were only because of unforeseeable problems (getting sick just before the flight, or just me letting myself get stressed over kids being kids). I hope it all goes well!
Do you have a separate seat for each of you, or are you planning on having a "lap baby"? Definitely bring the toddler's carseat on board; you will want the convenience of being able to keep the child in its seat! It is WELL worth the hassle of having to lug it around and carry it on the plane, get it installed, etc. Plus the crew can and should help you get it to your seat, and back off the plane when you land. Ideally the baby should have its own seat and carseat as well.
Bring some quiet activities along for the toddler. A few items that they are familiar with, and several that are new. Dollar stores have lots of fun stuff and you don't have to spend a lot that way. Just a bunch of things to keep the toddler occupied if they are bored or frustrated. I would bring 1 toy/activity per 30 min. of flight time, and an extra one or two in case of delays.
Bring lots of snacks (more than you think you'll need-- delays can wreak havoc on little ones' tummies), and notify the airline ahead of time if your toddler has allergies or any other issues that require specific beverages (I don't know what they do if a child must have a nutrition beverage or soy milk rather than cow's, or any of that). Then you won't be surprised and unprepared when it comes to drinks. If you are planning to breastfeed your new little one, do me a favor and ask the airline when you call, if they have any restrictions on bringing lactating breasts on board now with all of their no-liquids policies... LOL
Another thing-- expect that at some point your toddler, your baby, or both, are going to be unhappy while on the plane. Try not to stress over whether this is bothering the other passengers, and just focus on meeting your childrens' needs. You're not responsible for the comfort of the rest of the plane, only for your own two precious passengers! And you paid for your seats, just like the rest of them.
Good luck! Flying with children doesn't have to be a huge issue; it can even be an enjoyable experience! I've flown with my kiddos many times, at different ages and stages, and with up to 5 children, plus dog & cat, with no hubby to help (he's military) on some occasions. Some have been negative experiences, but most have been wonderful. And the negative ones were only because of unforeseeable problems (getting sick just before the flight, or just me letting myself get stressed over kids being kids). I hope it all goes well!
Can someone suggest small toys for a 16 month old to use on a plane trip?
LOVE
We have a 14.5 hour flight to Tokyo and I know that I will need lots of entertainment for my little man.. Of course I can't bring big toys, but does anyone have ideas for small toys that I can bring on board?
P.S. My baby is a boy..
Answer
This is a tough age!
I was a Flight Attendant for 13 years and whenever we saw a toddler come onboard, we knew it could get tricky. After 10 years of working on airplanes, I then found myself one of those mothers. I fly, usually alone, with my three children between Europe and California about twice a year, starting when each was 4 months old.
Not to scare you but the hardest trips for me were when mine were this age. They don't like to be confined. You can't really reason or negotiate too well with them ("If you stay seated now...") I had one 11 1/2 hour flight when my son slept all of 20 minutes. Get a good nights' sleep yourself before leaving!
For entertainment, what does he like to play with at home? Probably tons of toys which are big and noisy! My trick was to bring new things. It worked for my mom when I flew as a toddler and I did it with my own kids.
Remember that it only needs to be new to them. Some moms get creative with second hand toys. Have several and pull them out as the flight goes on. My son especially liked things he could take apart and open up. He loved anything with wheels and those cheap plastic animals kept him busy for ages. Buy a whole container of them and divide them up in small bags. Keep pulling out the bags as the hours go by. If you lose one or two, it's no great tragedy.
Books are good, especially those with chunky pages. Coloring pads, magnadoodle pads worked well. Please don't get into drawing things for him. My mistake! I once drew cats all the way across the Atlantic (or at least felt like I had...)
Whether to bring a portable DVD player is up to you. Is he a big "screen watcher"? I only had one of those. The other two had the attention spans of knats so I never bothered. Will he wear the headphones? Perhaps practice at home first. What about watching the imagines without the sound? I never brought one but other moms swear by them. He seems a bit young but by all means, do what you think will work.
I do hope you have a seat for him. I suggest you bring his carseat and use it onboard. Check to make sure it's FAA certified if you're flying a U.S. carrier. Here's a site that explains more;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
If not, check with your airline and/or aviation authority of the the airline's nationality. Huge variations of rules regarding car seats onboard.
He'll probably be more comfortable in his familar seat and he's much safer than in your lap. Having said that, commercial air travel in the industrialized world is very safe and there's very little chance of anything happening. You'll be grateful to have the extra space and be able to put him down when asleep.
Try to book "bulkhead" seats. These are the ones with the wall in front. They are located throughout the cabin. This will give you more freedom to get in and out of your seats and prevent him kicking the seat in front of him. Toddlers are good at this! Unfortunately, you can't sit in exit rows with a child.
He'll want to move so try to do that when there isn't a meal service (or those pesky duty free carts) in the aisle. All the carts are super-heavy and the perfect height to hide a toddler. Keep an eye on him at all times.
If turbulence hits while you're up and about, don't go back to your seats unless it's steady enough to make it safely. Sit on the floor if you have to, one hand to hold on and the other around him.
A great tip I got from a cousin and used myself is to learn to change them standing up. The changing tables in airplanes are small and at this age, they hate to lie down in strange places. Practice at home and then you can use the bigger handicapped lavs instead of trying to cram both of you in the little ones. Keep him away from the emergency button. They are attracted to the red color and love to press it.
A few years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. I later expanded it and put it on a blog to share with other parents. Many of them in turn, gave me some more great tips. It's totally non-commercial so feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
I go more into packing, getting that car seat through the airport and feeding tips. Information from someone who actually worked in the industry!
Have a great trip to a very child-friendly country!
This is a tough age!
I was a Flight Attendant for 13 years and whenever we saw a toddler come onboard, we knew it could get tricky. After 10 years of working on airplanes, I then found myself one of those mothers. I fly, usually alone, with my three children between Europe and California about twice a year, starting when each was 4 months old.
Not to scare you but the hardest trips for me were when mine were this age. They don't like to be confined. You can't really reason or negotiate too well with them ("If you stay seated now...") I had one 11 1/2 hour flight when my son slept all of 20 minutes. Get a good nights' sleep yourself before leaving!
For entertainment, what does he like to play with at home? Probably tons of toys which are big and noisy! My trick was to bring new things. It worked for my mom when I flew as a toddler and I did it with my own kids.
Remember that it only needs to be new to them. Some moms get creative with second hand toys. Have several and pull them out as the flight goes on. My son especially liked things he could take apart and open up. He loved anything with wheels and those cheap plastic animals kept him busy for ages. Buy a whole container of them and divide them up in small bags. Keep pulling out the bags as the hours go by. If you lose one or two, it's no great tragedy.
Books are good, especially those with chunky pages. Coloring pads, magnadoodle pads worked well. Please don't get into drawing things for him. My mistake! I once drew cats all the way across the Atlantic (or at least felt like I had...)
Whether to bring a portable DVD player is up to you. Is he a big "screen watcher"? I only had one of those. The other two had the attention spans of knats so I never bothered. Will he wear the headphones? Perhaps practice at home first. What about watching the imagines without the sound? I never brought one but other moms swear by them. He seems a bit young but by all means, do what you think will work.
I do hope you have a seat for him. I suggest you bring his carseat and use it onboard. Check to make sure it's FAA certified if you're flying a U.S. carrier. Here's a site that explains more;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
If not, check with your airline and/or aviation authority of the the airline's nationality. Huge variations of rules regarding car seats onboard.
He'll probably be more comfortable in his familar seat and he's much safer than in your lap. Having said that, commercial air travel in the industrialized world is very safe and there's very little chance of anything happening. You'll be grateful to have the extra space and be able to put him down when asleep.
Try to book "bulkhead" seats. These are the ones with the wall in front. They are located throughout the cabin. This will give you more freedom to get in and out of your seats and prevent him kicking the seat in front of him. Toddlers are good at this! Unfortunately, you can't sit in exit rows with a child.
He'll want to move so try to do that when there isn't a meal service (or those pesky duty free carts) in the aisle. All the carts are super-heavy and the perfect height to hide a toddler. Keep an eye on him at all times.
If turbulence hits while you're up and about, don't go back to your seats unless it's steady enough to make it safely. Sit on the floor if you have to, one hand to hold on and the other around him.
A great tip I got from a cousin and used myself is to learn to change them standing up. The changing tables in airplanes are small and at this age, they hate to lie down in strange places. Practice at home and then you can use the bigger handicapped lavs instead of trying to cram both of you in the little ones. Keep him away from the emergency button. They are attracted to the red color and love to press it.
A few years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. I later expanded it and put it on a blog to share with other parents. Many of them in turn, gave me some more great tips. It's totally non-commercial so feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
I go more into packing, getting that car seat through the airport and feeding tips. Information from someone who actually worked in the industry!
Have a great trip to a very child-friendly country!
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