Entertaining Toddlers on Planes

[Benny B]

Tomorrow, I'm jumping on a plane with the three offspring in tow (ages 2,5,6) for a two hour flight to NC.  But unlike the flight to Orlando last year, this time it's just me, no wife.

Older kids will be entertained mostly by their iPods, LeapPads, activity books, etc.; honestly, I could probably take a 2-hour nap on the flight if not for the youngest... she
s the one I don't know what to do with.  She'll watch a video on the iPod for about two minutes before she starts pressing buttons or tossing the thing.  She whips through board books in seconds.  If I give her crayons, American Airlines isn't going to be happy with me.  The only thing that keeps her attention are things that make noise and a full-bodied IPA; the former won't make me very popular amongst my fellow travelers, and the latter won't make me popular with the bible-thumpers down south.

Any suggestions?

[tower912]

'Frozen'  on some device, be it iPad, tablet, or portable DVD player, with headphones.   

[Spotcheck Billy]

Give her a valium before the flight or pawn her off on a stewardess flight attendant



Have fun (thank God I won't be on that flight)

[jficke13]

Give her a valium before the flight or pawn her off on a stewardess flight attendant



Have fun (thank God I won't be on that flight)

Valium? Psh, Propofol or bust?

[CTWarrior]

When my son was that age we would play cards (we had one of kids deck of Go Fish with pictures of animals), read books etc.  I always enjoyed whatever time I could get with him.  Fortunately for me, I only had the one so I didn't have to worry about occupying other kids.  Good luck.

[barfolomew]

the latter won't make me popular with the bible-thumpers down south.

What they don't know is in the lidded sippy cup won't hurt them.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Tomorrow, I'm jumping on a plane with the three offspring in tow (ages 2,5,6) for a two hour flight to NC.  But unlike the flight to Orlando last year, this time it's just me, no wife.

Older kids will be entertained mostly by their iPods, LeapPads, activity books, etc.; honestly, I could probably take a 2-hour nap on the flight if not for the youngest... she
s the one I don't know what to do with.  She'll watch a video on the iPod for about two minutes before she starts pressing buttons or tossing the thing.  She whips through board books in seconds.  If I give her crayons, American Airlines isn't going to be happy with me.  The only thing that keeps her attention are things that make noise and a full-bodied IPA; the former won't make me very popular amongst my fellow travelers, and the latter won't make me popular with the bible-thumpers down south.

Any suggestions?

Give her the window seat so she can look for stuff in the clouds or things on the ground.

[4everwarriors]

Not too late to invite one of her friends along. Might put ya back a few dinero, but hell you can make it back in da market tomorrow, hey?

[keefe]

[Jay Bee]

[mr.MUskie]

That's what the overhead compartment is for.

[warriorchick]

My kids' pediatrician once recommended giving them Benadryl.  Only made them crabby and they cried the entire time.

Maybe I was the one who should have swigged the Benadryl.

P.S.  Anyone who gives you special props for traveling alone with three kids can suck it.  Moms do this all the time and no one ever thinks it is anything extraordinary.

[chapman]

The only thing that keeps her attention are things that make noise and a full-bodied IPA; the former won't make me very popular amongst my fellow travelers, and the latter won't make me popular with the bible-thumpers down south.

If you're flying into CLT or RDU, go ahead with the IPA.  The relocated Yanks among us have made the original southerners a distant minority in the metro areas.

[mu_hilltopper]

Benny .. I'd bring an entire bag of toys, books, phones.  Sippy cups are a must while you go up and later down .. bring 5 different snacks, candy, whatever.  (It's a myth that sugar makes kids hyper.)

Make sure you have earphones for your phone/tablet.  Maybe she won't watch a movie .. try flipping through all your phone pictures, talk about each pic where you where, etc, maybe you can kill 20 seconds per pic, suddenly 10 minutes have zipped by.

Good luck.

[real chili 83]

Makers Mark.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Ear plugs for the changes in pressure.

[Jay Bee]

[🏀]

Vikings fan, aina?

[PGsHeroes32]

My kids' pediatrician once recommended giving them Benadryl.  Only made them crabby and they cried the entire time.

Maybe I was the one who should have swigged the Benadryl.

P.S.  Anyone who gives you special props for traveling alone with three kids can suck it.  Moms do this all the time and no one ever thinks it is anything extraordinary.

Well yeah...that's in the job description.

[warriorchick]

Well yeah...that's in the job description.

Yet no one fawns over a mom who also has a full-time job outside the home.

[Spotcheck Billy]

Women are always reminding men how how much better they can multi-task

[Jay Bee]

Yet no one fawns over a mom who also has a full-time job outside the home.

Do these even exist?

[GooooMarquette]

Yet no one fawns over a mom who also has a full-time job outside the home.

If she's hot, they do.

[tower912]

I loathe parenting/gender clichés.   As a dad who cooks, cleans, grocery shops, does laundry, participates when available in school day events, coaches, knows the clothing and shoe sizes of my children, changed every diaper, made solo trips to the urgent care center and ER, has had countless kid/dadventures.......   I get totally PO'd when I am asked "oh, babysitting today?"     Presuming that I am borderline competent at best.   

  Kudos to the OP and I hope it all went well for you.

[Benny B]

Yesterday could not have gone any better than it did.  All it took was the right combination of videos, snacks, and constant reminders that if you're naughty, you'll get left behind at the airport.

As to the props, comments etc., I did receive a few at the airport and on the plane.  The older men were impressed for the reasons Chick alluded to as basis for sucking it.  But I'm pretty sure all the "props" I got from the younger men and women were nothing more than a casual realization that I was doing this as a favor for my wife.

Incidentally, we were in a 3-3 confit, so the two older kids sat one row in front of me and the 2 y/o... the third person in their row happened to be an MU alum (took notice of my son's MU shirt), at which point the conversation turned to basketball with my 6 y/o.  Nevertheless, I suggest keeping this thread in the Superbar.