Racking my brain trying to think of things I can pack to occupy my LO for 3 hrs. I will be traveling with her by myself.
She loves apps on my iphone, but I've never tried to get her to wear headphones... I'm going to start practicing with her asap!
I plan to pack snacks, etc. to keep her busy, but what else???
Can you recommend any small/portable/engaging toys or activities?? She's kind of sick of a lot of her current toys, so maybe I will buy her a few new small items....
eggplant / 11824 posts
Books - oddly, JoAnn's fabrics has a nice selection of small board books for $1 most every time I go in there.
Ipad
Coloring book/paper and washable crayons
Any favorite item that might incourage napping!! 
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@yoursilverlining: thanks, I will bring along some books! Wish I had an ipad, but sadly, no!
I came across this list and it has some helpful ideas: http://www.playingwithwords365.com/2012/07/50-ways-to-keep-your-toddler-or-preschooler-busy-on-a-plane-or-elsewhere/
pomegranate / 3383 posts
Lift-the-flap books can keep my son occupied on a plane for 20-30 minutes at a time! On our last flight I bought markers that have a rolling stamp on one end from Target and my son loved them.
Honestly, 3 hours is not that long and it will go by pretty quickly. My son has always been more interested in exploring the plane (playing with the tray table and armrest) rather than his toys. We've also never used headphones for the iPad...we just turn the volume way down.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@Sammyfab: thanks! How old was your son when he liked the rolling stamp pen thingy? Lift the flap books are the only books that really hold her attention, so I will definitely be taking a bunch of those.
This is what I have on my packing list so far:
-lift the flap books
-touchy feely book
-stacking cups
-crayola magic paper/clear finger paint
-stickers/paper
-random stuff to open/close (contact lens case, eye glasses case, small plastic bottles + lids)
-random stuff to mess with (dental floss, pack of mini tissues,??)
-iPhone + new apps
-puffs, yogurt melts
-cereal bars
-fruit
-milk
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
@78h2o: are you still nursing? I know our LO's are close in age. Our flight home is about 2.5 hours and I usually nurse LO at take off and then she passes out in my lap until we land. The motion and the white noise lulls her right to sleep.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Ipad with a few episodes of bubble guppies!
Leap frog counting phone
Elmo musical crayon box
Books
Snacks she has never had (a lollipop if you are into that)
Stacking cups - at 18 months my son played a them for at least 30 mins (he would stack and I would count)
Stickers
Magna doodle
Lovey
Crayola magic markers that only write on special paper
Vtech also makes a musical book that has been a huge hit for our travels
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@MamaMoose: no, unfortunately she weaned herself recently (prob due to my low supply). I'm debating about what to do with her schedule. She usually naps at home from 10-1 (at daycare it's more like 10:30-12 or 11:00-12:30, and sometimes even 1-3). Our flight is 12:30-4 . I want to get there at 11, so wondering if I should have her sleep in the car on the way 10-11 or try to keep her awake until the plane takes off? If my husband is able to drop us off, I could sit in the back and keep her awake. The other option would be to wake her up really early in the am and then put her in the car at 9 or 9:30 and drive around before going to the airport so she could nap 9:30-11. I think I'm leaning toward keeping her up in hopes of her sleeping on the plane, but I am worried she's get overtired and be a pill.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@winniebee: ooooh, thanks! I will look into those things! I forgot that I did want to try to get a magna doodle for the trip. I don't have an iPad, but maybe I can load some cartoons on my phone or bring a DVD player. She doesn't really like tv, but it's worth a try.
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@78h2o: there's a great app maybe called monkey lunch box that my son likes - also he loved peekaboo barn at that age and giggle gang app!
My son didn't sleep on plane on last few flights but they were still manageable with a ton of snacks and books and apps!
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts
@78h2o: bummer on the weaning. I DEFINITELY suggest trying to keep her awake so she sleeps on the plane.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@MamaMoose: ok, thanks! Daycare wants her to nap 1-3, since that is when everyone naps in the toddler room where she'll be moving in January. Maybe I will tell them to try to start shifting her nap later if they can. Also, if I keep her up late Thurs night (until 8 or 8:30) she will sleep in a bit (8 vs 7)...that might help keep her up until the flight.
cantaloupe / 6687 posts
I agree that a 3 hour flight isn't that long and will fly by! I packed so much stuff and the stuff she liked best were snacks, watching the beverage cart and getting a small cup of ice to play with...and just kind of looking around at everyone. We traveled from Seattle to Alabama when LO was 8 months and again when she was 16 months. Snacks were key!
persimmon / 1233 posts
Post it notes and a box full of cut up grapes and blueberries. It recently got us from NY to LA!
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@hummusgirl: adding post-it's, blueberries, and grapes to my list! Thanks!
@sandy: yeah, 3-3.5 isn't that long, but right now she is super active - she just learned how to run and she hates sitting still. She also doesn't like to sleep on me anymore, so I'm kinda worried. I flew with her for 3.5- 8hrs (also by myself) when she was 2mo, 3mo, and 5mo and she did great, but I'm worried since she's currently into everything, has a short attention span, and is starting to throw tantrums now when she can't do what she wants. That being said, she does love attention and smiling at strangers, so there's a chance she'll ham it up the whole time. She is also being a mam's girl and wanting to sit in my lap now - so that will help!
bananas / 9118 posts
More snacks than you think you'll need. Lots of cereal and lots of fruit pouches.
My guy was perfectly happy to watch my ipod classic without any noise, headphones were a complete failure. Books, a quiet remote control, some paper to scribble on, oh yeah, and more snacks!
persimmon / 1233 posts
@78h2o: If she doesn't sleep well on you, I'd suggest getting her as well-rested as possible before the flight, and bring a car seat in case there's an extra seat for it. We did that on the flight there and it was so helpful, LO slept for 2+ hours. But on the flight back we had to gate check the car seat and he wouldn't sleep on us even though he was exhausted and he stayed awake the entire time, all 4.5 hours (basically went 7 hours without sleeping which he's never done). It was...difficult. We splurged on a separate ticket for him for our upcoming holiday travel since he's so much happier with his own space. Good luck. And even if it's miserable, in 3 hours it'll be over one way or the other!
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