How To Keep A Toddler Calm During Flight

Flights are hard on toddlers because they are confined to a small area where they can’t get up and run around and play. They must sit quietly on their parent’s lap or in their seat for extended periods of time. Toddlers don’t like sitting still or being quiet, so a plane ride is especially difficult for many parents with toddlers. Fortunately, there are a few ways to get your toddler to remain calm during a flight, no matter how long.

Toys

You may not buy your child new toys frequently, so if you buy a couple of new toys for the plane ride this will keep your toddler entertained for quite a while. They will be so excited about receiving a new toy that they will automatically be happy. Then, they will spend quite a while playing with them and exploring them. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, but it is recommended to buy a toddler safe toy that will be enjoyed long term.

DVD

If you have a portable DVD player now is the time to pull it out! You may not let your toddler watch much TV, and that is recommended. However, a couple hours on the plane won’t have any detrimental affects to their developmental development and it will save you a lot of stress and anxiety for a block of time. Let them pick out a DVD or take their favorite.

Food

Make sure you have plenty of snacks and treats when you fly. If your toddler is hungry you will want to have enough food to give them to fill them up. You may also consider telling them that if they behave until a certain time they will get a sucker or piece of chocolate. This will motivate your little one to behave. You shouldn’t give your toddler treats all the time so that when you really need them, like on a flight, they are really special!

Nap

Try to schedule your flight during your toddler’s nap. This will allow you to get the little one to sleep most of the flight and you won’t have to worry about any of the above suggestions! When your toddler is asleep you can catch some Z’s, too!

These are just a few suggestions to help make your trip on a plane easier on you and your toddler. Consider taking flights with a connection so you have some time on the ground for your toddler to run around and get some energy out rather than a really long flight that makes entertaining them all the more difficult.

Posted in Toddler Time