How to Entertain Your Toddler on an Airplane

The potential for stress increases exponentially when you decide to bring a toddler on an airplane. Notoriously frigidity creatures, toddlers are not usually keen on staying still for more than a few minutes. If you know what to pack in your carry-on, though, you can entertain your toddler on an airplane and make your flight much less stressful for you, and the people around you too.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blanket
• Inexpensive Toys
• Snacks
• Link-a-Doos
• Patience
• Creativity

1. Pack toys (and plenty of them). Buy or bring small toys, especially inflatable ones since they tend to take up the least amount of room. One way to make the trip especially exciting and entertain your toddler on an airplane even longer is to wrap the toys up individually and let him open one every 30 minutes or so.

2. Load up on snacks (and forget nutrition). Most times you want your child to eat well, but when it could be the difference between a toddler entertained on an airplane or a toddler freaking out on an airplane... go with the fun snacks. Crackers, fruit snacks (Gerber has some good toddler-friendly ones), sugar cereal, are all great options among others.

3. Link-a-Doo chain fun. Buy a number of linking chains (you can find these at any toy store), and connect them together. You can hang them from the tray table, the car seat, or seat belt. You can also find toys to hang off of the links for even more fun!

4. Create a blanket fort. Snag a blanket while you're boarding and when you need something new and fun to do, entertain your toddler on the airplane by playing peek-a-boo, draping the blanket over the back of the seat in front of you to create a fort, or by hiding toys beneath it for them to find.

5. Music. Bring along kid-friendly headphones (not earbuds) and load your iPod up with kid tunes for them to listen to. You can also load some of your child's favorite TV shows or movies for some great toddler airplane entertainment as well!

Tips & Warnings

• Find snacks that can be entertaining and belly-filling like gummy bears or worms, alphabet cereal, etc.
• Remember: No one else can hear your child as loud as you can, so don't stress if your toddler does have a meltdown.

[bobbileder]

on 5/23/2009 Great tips! I wish every parent would follow your advice.