Flying with toddlers: recommend toys!

Kelli&Jed · April 2012

We're doing a 1 1/2 hr flight (each way) when the boys are 1 1/2 yrs old. They are pretty good kids but I want to be prepared. We have 3 seats...the plane has 3 seats rows so we figured the extra space would help. Plus can you imagine the poor person that would have been stuck with us if we did 2 toddlers on our lap? Other than snacks/drinks recommend toys that will keep them entertained please! So far I'm planning stickers, books, cool new snack cups. Any recommendations would be helpful since this is our first flight with children.

CHS2005 · April 2012

My sister swears by plain old scotch tape - its small enough for everyone to have their own, you can get it on a plane - says its the best thing ever.

Kelli&Jed · April 2012

I was planning on stickers but this is probably even better...thanks! 2 rolls of scotch tape, check!

robinbirdaz · April 2012

My 17 month old is OBSESSED with her magna-doodle right now. You can get small travel sized ones, best part is the "crayon" is attached by a string. No crayons/markers rolling off the tray onto the floor

armywife7205 · April 2012

I suggest going to the dollar store/section/bins and spend about $10 You wont regret it! I have flown TONS of times with both girls and couldn't begin to tell you how awesome this works!

catycate · April 2012

I just did a 5 hour flight- you will be fine with 1 1/2 hour- it'll be a piece of cake. I made a photo book with pics of family, friends and things we had done- just pics from my iPhone. Stickers were a hit. Pouches for ascent and descent to help with ears. Really, the flight will be over before the novelty of the plane wears off.

kkeran · April 2012

I would recommend masking tape instead of scotch tape - that can be hard to get off of other stuff! With masking tape you have no worries. We brought a roll on a flight recently with our 13 month old and he had a blast. We put pieces on our faces and hands, and then he crumpled them up and made a ball, etc.

Also, we brought our tv remote control. He loves to press the buttons.

Kelli&Jed · April 2012

Ooohhh such great ideas! Thanks so much! I'm getting even more excited for our trip and this info is helping my DH relax...he's convinced it's going to be a disaster, I however am staying optimisitc

wife1014 · April 2012

I am so glad I hopped back on before going to bed. Masking tape is such a great idea. We love the aquadoodles, stickers, the dvd player, new toys (from $ tree or target $ bins) and lots of snacks.

PhillyPhan · April 2012

We just got back from a flight with 2 1.5ish hour legs. The travel manga doodle and the aqua doodle worked great. We also let DD play with an old blackberry that didn't have the battery in it. We also had an itouch loaded with Despicable Me as a last resort.

celiabwatson · April 2012

Kelli&Jed:
We're doing a 1 1/2 hr flight (each way) when the boys are 1 1/2 yrs old. They are pretty good kids but I want to be prepared. We have 3 seats...the plane has 3 seats rows so we figured the extra space would help. Plus can you imagine the poor person that would have been stuck with us if we did 2 toddlers on our lap? Other than snacks/drinks recommend toys that will keep them entertained please! So far I'm planning stickers, books, cool new snack cups. Any recommendations would be helpful since this is our first flight with children.

Just FYI - The airlines wouldn't have let you sit in the same row if you both have lap children. Each row only has 4 oxygen masks, so each row can only have one lap child (plus the 3 adults, provided the flight is full). When we fly with both kids and don't buy a seat we have to call the airline specially and book seats in adjacent rows and make a special note not to move us. It's a pain in the butt, and if the flight isn't full they will move you so you can sit together.

Just thought I'd share in case you find flying easier than you thought and plan another trip before your kids are 2.

Kelli&Jed · April 2012

I had no idea but it makes perfect sense. Thank you so much for the info! My sister is planning on flying with her 3yr old and 11 month old this year and I'm sure she doesn't know this info.

Kara5109 · April 2012

Now that I have a Kindle Fire I don't bring any toys. When she starts getting crabby Mickey Mouse Clubhouse puts her in a trance.

NicoleWI · April 2012

I Googled this topic before our flight to FL a couple weeks ago and the recommended tape is blue electrical tape.

We flew during nap time and it worked out great. Brought food onto the plane and fed the kids, and then they pretty much went to sleep. I had tons of stickers, toys, etc but ended up not even using them. DS (16m) loved the tray and opening/closing the window shade.

AlexKate45 · April 2012

We just did a 5.5 hrs flight with DS. Didn't buy an extra seat either. Right now he loves boxes. So I packed a baby shoe box and put other little boxes in it. I also put little "surprises" in the boxes like stickers and old gift cards.

I brought a flat pillow on board and he luckily took a nap on my lap.

Good luck!

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