Traveling with a Nonstop Toddler for 7 Hours++ Please Help!!

DVD Player it's worth every penny! we travel a lot to VA beach and the drive is approx 6 - 7 hrs and we could not live without it. good luck.

Get a leapster. it's a small video game type of toy with "educational" games. It worked for my 32 mo.old

lol i know that feeling i have a high maintenance 4 year old girl and we had to go on like a 3 1/2 ride (not as long as yours but felt like it to her) so we got her a leapster game thingy at walmart (all praise walmart) it was like 50 bucks that kept her quiet we also brought coloring books and crayons and all that jazz and that worked too and we played games w her like telling her to look 4 a certain color car stuff like that
it worked 4 her
hopefully this works 4 u too :)

Good Luck! We've done several trips over the years, you'll be great. There is a website called momsminivan.com Its focus is on long car rides, but I bet you can adapt some of those ideas to your daughter for the plane. Just be really prepared, with snacks, small toys. Does she watch movies yet? Maybe investin a a portable dvd player. Good Luck and have fun!

B.

Hi R.,

I just found a site called www.travelingwithkids.com. They have a lot of nice activities to keep kids busy. One that I really liked, that I will be purchasing for my two busy boys, is a clear backpack (for boys or girls) that has small toys wrapped up. The kids can unwrap a toy as often as you say - whether it's from being quiet to eating their dinner. It's about $10 and I'm sure that you could even make it up yourself if time is not a factor. Something for your little one to look forward too during a long trip. The site also has sticker activities and magnetic activities as well. Just some thoughts. Good luck with your trip. Have fun and travel safe. -L.

For play, try a stack of colorful post-it pads. Or some rubber bands. Find nice people on the plane to help distract her. Carry on an extra shirt for her and for you. Get a good night's sleep the night before.

Hi

Crayola Color Wonder markers are great becuase they only write on the special paper. Leave no marks on furniture or hands/clothing. Can buy the blank paper or they have themed coloring books (Dora, blues Clues, princesses, etc).

Do not know if you have one but the portable dvd player is a life saver when traveling.

When traveling we also give my son a little tylenol to chill him out and it helps with the ear pressure pain.

When I flew out to CA w/ my son, I borrowed a portable DVD player from a friend and it totally saved my sanity. You could also consider asking your pediatrician for any suggestions. I know it sounds horrible, but if you get the go ahead from your pediatrician, you could consider giving her Benadryl for the trip. Good luck w/ it!!

Is it possible to tire her out before she boards the plane?

Portable DVD player with her favorite shows/movies?

Coloring books, Sticker books, crayons?

Snacks?

I would also make sure you tell her about the flight and how she has to sit in her seat a few times before that day, maybe pretend at home?

Good luck.

Hi there,
I have 2 kids (4 1/2 and 15mos), we travel to England once a year (7+ hrs), plus other trips and i am always trying new things to keep my kids (active non-napping kids) happy and quiet. The portable DVD player is great for any age (baby einstein works if she is into that or perhaps Dora, Elmo or Disney (Disney ones are long and might not keep her attention). Note, that the DVD player is heavy to carry, but remember that you will be so busy with her that you wont need anything on the plane for yourself, so consider this item your carry-on. The number one thing i would say that works is NEW things. I take a bag FULL of new toys when we go. New coloring things, new small books, small figures (like the Disney ones that you can get 2 sets for $20) so you can pretend play with her. Mini-doodle pro's and mini-etch-a-scetch. i go through the sale toys for months before we go on a trip and also stock-up through out the year if i see something cool so it's not so expensive near the trip. Lots of little snacks (no sugar)zip lock with gold fish, Annie's bunny rabbits (exactly like gold fish but the different shape makes it all new), raisens etc. Bring an empty sippie-cup so you can ask for it to be filled on the plane so you aren't juggling a regular cup for her. buy a book about going on a plane and in the airport to read to her before the plane ride and then when you get there so she knows what to expect. The best one i found is called Airport by Byron Barton and even talks about how people might get to the airport and how much waiting they are going to have to do (we just explain this in a fun way and they get excited about it). Are you traveling during the day or night? If it's at night change into her P.J.'s as soon as you get on the plane and try to keep some of her bed time routine so she can get some comfort from that. Ask your doctor if you can give her something like Benadryl or tylenol to help keep her calm on the trip. Sorry this is so long, but i hope it helps. if i think of anything else i will let you know. please feel free e-mail me with any other questions.

Hi, We've traveled alot w/our almost 3yr. daughter, never 7 hour flight but have been stuck in the airport for 7 hours. The main thing I've found is to make the trip very fun by having a positive attitude (they do not know that being stuck in the airport for so long is not suppose to happen) and any stress you are feeling you have to hide it big time! Also explain everything, first were going to park car wait in line check bags, take off shoes for security ect., change planes, explain over and over and over again everything. My daughter used to get very scared at security because she had to put her "lambie" in the bin. Bring all her comforts, have her wear super comfy clothes don't worry about dressing her cute cause that will be the time for disaster to happen, bring a change of clothes for her & you, (my daughter had a major blow out, we had to wrap her in paper towels until we could change her and buy new shirt for me) I always bring those anti bacteria wipes for the plane seats and I give her one and she cleans everything when we first sit down she loves that, then she reads all the airplane mags. Ask stewardess if they have children things (crayons ect.) Bring new things like they said. Its gonna be a super long day, make it an adventure mentally add on about 6 hours extra to your day so that you will be prepared, people are usually pretty nice and understanding. Your gonna all do great! M.

I fly alot with my daughter. Do you have a portable DVD player you could take with you? Some movies will help keep her calm. Even a lap top computer if you have one with child friendly games ( I like the jumpstart ones) Books, crayons, dolls. Will keep her busy. Snacks, drinks might help as well.
Use a sticker chart with her. Explain to her that the flight will be long, but if she earns x amount of stickers, when you get off she gets a certian toy. If she is acting up, she will lose stickers.

I traveled a lot with my son (very active) when he was really small, so here's what worked for me. Bring lots of small toys: books, coloring stuff, dolls, etc. and rotate through them during the trip. also, lots of snacks that she likes. a portable dvd player is a life-saver, but i don't know if you have one. if you bought one it would be worth the price, trust me. and hopefully she'll take at least one good nap. so between snacks, small toys, a nap, walking around the cabin a bit, and possibly a movie, your 7 hours should be okay. good luck and enjoy your trip!

I agree with the DVD or laptop plan, we also made sure that we woke our little one really early the day of our trip to be sure that she'd fall asleep on the plane. She slept for 3 of a 6 hr flight.

I love the wrapped gift plan. GOOD LUCK. I'm sure you'll do fine. I would Definitely reccommend bringing the car seat on board. my kids know that they DO NOT get out of their car seats, so that helped a lot.

Best wishes and have a wonderful trip.

I have traveled with my two boys at that age many times by myself. My suggestions or what has worked for me and to this day still do (with a 14yr old and a 12 yr old)are these that were passed along to me. Hope they help.
Watch the sugar intake, that can totally make your child more active. Suggested snacks are raisins, a banana, crackers with pb and j, goldfish,anything low in sugar,
also I broke up snacks in the hours we were going to fly. so you could make 7 goodie bags of food, also 7 goodie bags of things to do, place them in brown lunch bags and let her pick when she gets rammy.
Don't be afraid to walk her to the potty, even if she isn't potty trained and it really is for you just to get up and stretch your legs. Of course paying attention to the seatbelt sign. Bring her favorite blankie and a small pillow, full carseats are allowed on planes so if she does well in her carseat you might want to carry that on board and have her sit in strapped in. She will be more comfortable since she is familiar with it. also if you have an mp3 player record her favorite show songs,or bring a portable dvd player with her favorite shows.
Good luck and don't forget to breath

R. - Some good advise below. For activities, I would suggest bringing the following new items (ones that she has never played with) flash cards, story books, matchbox cars, a pocket magna doodle for drawing. Good Luck.

Ask your dr. if it's safe to giver her Dramamine. It will make her drowsy.

I did a lot of trips with my now 8 years old. I always made sure to have his favorit toys and books. Make sure you sit next to the window so she finds some distraction in watching. It would be good if you are traveling with the airline that has TV on demand (Virgin does it)so she can have some TV she likes. My son always slept part of the trip even that he didnt do it at home, guess something about the engines. In any case make sure you are not tired as it will not be easy. The good thing would be a new toy, best some of those with different songs and colors that can she can operate alone. That should keep her busy for a while. Best luck.

Doodle pro! Have a great trip :-D