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Houston Babies
PAGAS
member
Flying with a toddler
PAGAS
member
I am flying alone with F tomorrow night. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Flying with a toddler
If you can, swing by the store and pick up some new toys and books that she's never seen before. Playdoh is also a winner (but can be a bit messy, so proceed with caution). Blake actually preferred to take the Playdoh lid off and put it back on again. Good for fine motor skills! This one is more obvious, but have lots of snacks and drinks - especially for takeoff and landing.
Last year in an act of desperation to quiet a very cranky toddler Blake, I gave him my cell phone to play with. Since it was shut off for the flight, I didn't have to worry much about it. It kept him quiet for a surprisingly long time. If you happen to have an old cell phone on hand at home, you may want to bring it. As a matter of fact, I bet anything with buttons would work. An old remote control, cordless phone receiver, etc.
Good luck! I flew a few times alone with Maren when she was a toddler. It actually wasn't too bad!
Magnadoodle, new snacks, and lollipops.
https://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2007/nov/16/ten-tips-keeping-toddler-occupied-plane/
In addition to the above suggestions-
Let her run around at the gate as much as possible. Having a couple people who might be annoyed at the gate is better than on the plane. She can burn her energy in a wide open space.
Board at the very last minute.
I brought stickers and let Truitt stick them inside the inflight magazines. He really thought he was getting away with something and it occupied a good chunk of time for him at that age (now he watches a DVD).
I'm not sure that I'd want to bring random electronics through security screening.
Eloise spent a solid 2 hour flight taking containers out of her lunch box and putting them back in, so you never know what might work. She also liked the magnadoodle - she would demand an animal and I would draw it, she'd erase it and then we'd do the same animals again (duck, dog, cat, duck, dog, cat, agh!)
travel magnadoodle for sure
new books - especially life the flap or touch and feel ones
if she's in to them, a new cheapo baby doll with a bottle and change of clothes, diaper, etc.
and like V said - get on the plane last. run her up and down the terminal as much as possible ahead of time.
snacks, snacks and more snacks. I always pack twice as much food as she would usually eat. If she's eating, she's happy and quiet.
did you get a seat for her or will she be sitting in your lap?
j+k+m+e | running with needles