Any ideas of how to occupy/pacify a 14 month old on a plane?

Question

We are taking a 4 hour flight in November for a family reunion and it will be my son's first flight, he will be about 14 months old then.

How can I keep my squirmy liitle guy happy for the flight?

Thanks so much?

Answer 1

We've done this one SEVERAL times and here's what I've learned:

1.) Give your child a decongestant about 30 minutes before take-off. This helps with the pressure changes during the quick climb in elevation and could save them from perforating their ear drums.

2.) Give your kid something that requires them to suck on it during take-off and landing. Candy, suckers, pacifiers...bottles with water are best since they require sucking action and that is what REALLY helps to clear the pressure in their ears and minimize the risk of a perforated ear drum.

3.) Those mini DVD players are a godsend. Bring one along in the carry-on with a couple of movies and comfortable headphones. Try to find some smaller ones that will fit your child better than the adult sized ones. Helps if you introduce them to your child prior to arriving at the airport.

4.) If you don't hav a mini DVD player, get a GameBoy Advanced. You can get cartridges with cartoons on them instead of games. And it's smaller than the mini DVD player and usually cheaper, too. It's small enough for them to hold themselves like a big kid. (My youngest LOVES his sister's GameBoy for just this reason.)

5.) Take extra snacks/drinks on the plane that your child likes and is used to.

6.) Bring their favorite blankie or stuffed animal for security and comfort.

7.) DON'T bring noisy toys. Your fellow travellers are not always the most kid tolerant. Just bring things that will keep your child occupied as long and as quietly as possible.

8.) If your child isn't potty-trained, put them into an overnight diaper to avoid springing a leak halfway through the flight. Trust me, attempting to change a wet kid on a plane is NOT the most entertaining activity. (For you or anyone else.)

9.) Let them enjoy it and look at it as a new adventure. My kids love flying and fight over who gets the window seat.

Answer 2

As a daycare provider I found something that always keeps toddlers busy for at least a few hours but I'm not sure how it would work on a plane....so here are a few ideas and I'll rate them based on my experience..

Markless coloring: A friend of mine bought my daughter a pen and some coloring pages... you put water in the marker and they color the same exact pages over and over and over...I called it "How to keep a blonde busy" Works great and absolutely NO mess!

Regular coloring

A few large legos

Books of course.

Leapfrog books are a bonus just turn the volume down.

Goofy as it may sound if you get desperate you could always play camp out with a large receiving blanket and drape the seats and use the snacks offered by the staff...as long as the passengers in front don't mind the blanket drapped over their seats for a little while. Take a flashlight for this they love that part.

Honestly I think the best thing you could possibly do is talk to the passengers around you early on the flight and explain that you will do your best to keep your child quiet and entertained but that you would appriciate their patience. Also talk to the staff a lot of times if your little one is really antsi they will let you go see the pilot or let your child sand and play in an area of the plane.


Good luck!

Answer 3

FIrst...good luck! Second...I did it alone with two little ones and the flight was 10 hours, so it's not impossible. If you have a portable DVD player, this is most likely your best bet (the wiggles and Dora are great even on the plane). Second, make sure you take a bottle of infant pain reliever (i.e. motrin, calpol, etc.) just in case his little ears start bothering him, it's very typical and painful. Their little ears can't regualte pressure changes very well yet and a crying kid is miserable for the whole plane.

Third...remember, people get paid to clean the plane so don't feel bad about busting out a million snacks (stay away from sweet ones, a hyper child will most likely cause problems). I've even taken a can of playdough and tiny cookie cutters on a plane (only use in the worse of cases as it is pretty messy) Hopefully the plane will have a TV in the seat n front of your child so even scrolling through the channels and the radio too is fun.

Try little games to...like 'guess which hand' and 'little piggies when to the market'(on his feet).

With any luck, he'll sleep for the most of it!
Good luck!

Answer 4

First off, I recommend saving something for him to eat &/or drink on take off and landing to keep his ears from popping or clogging, which could cause discomfort.

Secondly, I would let him run around in the airport prior to boarding and board as late as possible (but be sure to board within the preboarding time set for parents with children so you can get settled in without blocking others). Also, buy some toys that he doesn't see or play with til the flight will hold his interest for at least short periods of time (keep switching off toys if necessary), or at least until the seat belt sign goes out. At that point, you could walk him up and down the aisle a bit. Hopefully, he'll be tired at some point early in the flight and he'll take a nap. You might consider changing his routine somewhat during the week before the flight so that his naptime will coincide with mid-flight time.

Answer 5

Get a couple of new toys and hide them until after the flight takes off. Just make sure they don't make too much noise so they don't disturb other passengers. Get some Crayola Mess-free markers and the special paper and see if he will scribble...my son loved them at that age. Take his favorite blanket, and stuffed animal that he sleeps with. It is also recommended to let them suck on a bottle or pacifier during take-off and landing to help prevent their ears from getting plugged. Take some Similisan ear drops just in case they do get plugged up...they work great. Don't drug your child. This will not teach them in the long run how to behave on a flight!

Answer 6

Ask your doctor how much what the correct dosage is for children's Sudafed for your child. He will need to take it so that he will not have painful pressure in his ears. If he still uses a pacifier or drinks a bottle or breastfeeds, sucking on something can help him during take off and landing.
As for entertaining him, let put him on your shoulder so that he can look at the passengers behind him. Most people get goofy around babies and toddlers, and will make silly faces and noises at him and that will keep him busy for awhile. Be sure to also take his favorite books along and indulge him by reading them over and over again. Fingerplays are also great for keeping him busy. (Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc.) He will probably also sleep part of the time since most kids that age still take naps.

Answer 7

Nope! Hope they sleep?

We've got a 5 hour flight coming up soon and we have a 1 month old, a 15 month old, a 3 year old and a 4 year old to keep happy! I am glad you asked this question and I hope SOMEONE has a reasonable answer! :)

Answer 8

I have heard of people giving their children benedryl, but I would ask the pediatrician. After the patty cake and the little piggies lose their novelty, try bringing a book to read, or a sticker book, small felt board books, I have bought a couple of those from Sams Club and they come with a carrying case.

Answer 9

It will be tough. No matter what we suggest, he will do what he wants...lol...Been there ;) Take along things that he likes to do, and a laptop with a DVD player (with favorite DVDs) is gold. You should bring his car seat and use it in the plane. If he is good in a car for a long trip, keep him settled in his seat as long as he is content.

Answer 10

My best friend has three boys and flys long-haul to South Africa a couple of times a year. She gives them a spoonful of benadryl before they get on the plane.