How to Keep Your Toddler Entertained on a Flight

Living in Utah during the winter you really start to crave sunlight and warmth. I mean, you get to January and you're begging to have a day that's 40 degrees with sunlight. My family has a timeshare on the Big Island of Hawaii so we ended up flying their this January. So many things to talk about!

So we brought Jake with us and I was so nervous for the plane ride with a toddler. The first flight to LA went by super quick and Jake loved being on the plane. The next plane ride was 6 hours so I had a whole activity bag packed for him. I downloaded a few movies and TV episodes on my iPhone (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates-- his favorites!). And then I got a few little presents (most of them from the dollar store) and wrapped them all. I used them as leverage every hour or so. "If you're a good boy you get to open this next present!" No shame with that stuff when you're stuffed on a full plane for 6 hours!

The toys that held the most attention were playdoh and the Melissa and Doug "Wow Water" notebooks. The notebooks come with a paint brush that you fill with water, when they paint the water on the notebook it brings out all the colors. Mess free and AMAZING! I found mine at Target but you can also order them on Amazon.

The other key to keeping your toddler busy is movies, and their favorites! We brought a portable DVD player and brought Frozen, the Lorax, and Wreck it Ralph. Make sure that you charge the DVD  player full charge and that you bring headphones that will fit their little ears. If you have a iPad available for them to use that would be even better, just download the movies and remember you don't have WIFI while flying over the ocean!

Jake ended up using our Dre Beats... (spoiled toddler!) just because those are the only ones that would fit him. Next time I will just order some kids headphones off of amazon before we go.

We brought lots of his favorite snacks... goldfish and even fresh blueberries and raspberries. I rinsed them before we went and packed them in my carry on in a clear tubberware (TSA rules). On the second flight he downed the berries and passed out for a little nap.

Before the flight I talked with Jake a lot about what the plane ride was going to be like. I made sure it was clear we were going to have to sit for a LONG long time, that we were going to have to be quiet on the plane (no screaming or crying) and that we were going to have fun watching movies during those 6 hours.

Word of advice before you try making your child sleep with benadryl, sometimes it will make it so they become MORE hyper! You don't want an agitated hyper toddler on a 6 hour flight.

So in summary, here is what you need.

• favorite snacks
• sippy
• favorite movies
• play doh
• melissa and doug wow water
• and small wrapped toys from the dollar store

No matter what, taking a toddler on a long plane ride is completely intimidating... but being well prepared can help decrease the amount of stress! And then you ends up with some amazing memories. Here is our family video of the trip!

Do you have any tips you could add to this list? What has helped you? Tell us in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO Britney Munday
Instagram: @Britneymunda