In 3 short months we'll be making the greatly anticipated trip to Maui! We have been looking forward to this for a long time now and have had our cottage booked for quite some time. And as the days get closer, we realize that our toddler will be a challenge on a flight that long. Thankfully she has been on a plane a number of times and has always been an awesome traveller. We're hoping things will be the same when she's 20 months old.
Rhonda & I won't be alone to entertain Brielle on the flight because her dad, Dean, is coming with us. We are super excited and I have no doubts that the three of us will easily gang up on the toddler to ensure she behaves and everything goes smooth. Haha...funny, right! Okay, if that plan doesn't work, I am gathering all sorts of ideas to ensure that Brielle is well entertained, that her parents don't go bonkers and that the other passengers on the flight still kind-of, sort-of like us by the time we all get off the plane.
From other vacations we've taken with Brielle, we've learned about an awesome way to pack. Set out clothes for each day, put them in Ziploc bags and label. We'll likely only pack enough clothes for a week since our cottage does have washer & dryer, but packing in Ziploc bags really prevents you from over packing and squishes down to take up very little room in a suitcase.
I've found some great ideas to keep a toddler busy on a long flight and I'm very grateful to those who have lived, learned and shared their secrets. I know so many people think that traveling that far with a toddler on a plane is crazy, but we feel different and actually think it's manageable if you plan properly and that the flight is just a small part of the sacrifice we'll make to spend two wonderful, amazing and fun-filled weeks in paradise with our little love.
- With the In-Flight Magazine: Play “I Spy” and “Peek-a-boo”.
- Put lots of pictures and videos on your phone or tablet. Kids especially love seeing photos and videos of themselves.
- Save the cups you get with your drink on the plane. Kids love to stack them and put things in them.
- Lots of snacks for kids and parents! Well fed kids and parents make for happy kids and parents.
- Decorate the puke bag with stickers or make a puppet.
- Bring their favorite stuffed toy. They can cuddle, sing together, pretend to feed it, etc.
- Wrap toys and snacks in gift wrap so it's exciting every time you bring something new out and takes time to open.
- Paperback books or books on your phone or tablet.
- Kids games on phone or tablet.
- Kids movies on phone or tablet.
- Play-doh to make fun things.
- Magna doodle.
- Sticker books.
- Field trip to the bathroom or up and down the isles. Just don't disrupt other passengers!
- Toy car. Can bring masking tape to make roads on the tray or on the seat.
- Masking tape. Can make roads for cars, stick to nose, roll into a ball, stick to anything without wrecking anything.
- Activity sheets in a plastic bag with a dry eraser marker. Can erase to do over and over.
- Mr. Potato Head
- Finger puppets and a creative mind to make up plays.
- Puzzles
- Felt shapes on a felt background. Learn colors & shapes, dress-up dolls, put nose/eyes/ears on face, etc. Easy to create at home.
A few of the things we need to pack for Brielle for the flight include:
- Sippy Cup. We really don't want spills on the plane.
- Extra change of clothes.
- Lots of diapers (if she's still using them), underwear (if she's in them), wipes and rash cream (for a bum that will be sitting for long periods of time).
- Backpack her size so she can carry a few of her own things.
- Bib.
- Change of clothes.
- Mini first-aid kit.
- Headphones.
- Light blanket.
- Patience.
- Sense of humor.
No toddlers here, but it is always fun to read your blog. Probably will be showing this to my sister. Hopefully, she can take some tips out of this and have peaceful journies in the future.
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