Dreading your next flight because you’re worried your kids will act up on the plane? Let some experienced North Shore Mums help you out with their best in-flight distractions to make your next trip a painless one!
Kelly: We’ve done a few plane trips with our kids, and to be honest we just give them the iPad as soon as we get on now. Has a mix of apps, tv shows & movies we know they like. It’s much less to carry on the plane (especially when you already have nappies etc) and it’s what they always want anyway, as they don’t get to use the iPad at home.
Melissa: I’d suggest getting some kids headphones as well for her both for the iPad and the TV screens (you’ll have to get the little adaptor so you can plug them into the air line sockets). The adult ones just fall off them!
Sally: If you have more than one toddler make sure that you have apps downloaded on your phone as well, as both of our toddlers wanted to play the games at the same time!
Laura: I took some foam beads that came with a plastic thread – she spent ages threading them and making necklaces!! I also took mini-books – Mr. Men, Little Miss- colouring book with Textas, stamps and paper.
Kerrie: Colouring-in book and crayons, jigsaws. Books (lift-the-flap ones). On the iPad episodes of The Wiggles, In the Night Garden and Peppa Pig helped us with our journey to the UK.
Leigh: I have done the Sydney to UK trip 3 times with kids and no husband. Keep what you take to a minimum, honestly they’ll enjoy using the in-flight entertainment.
Katie: Balloons!! Don’t inflate until you’re on board, and have a few… I have travelled to the UK 4 times with my 3 nearly 4yo and they saved me in the toddler years. They take up so little space and yet they’re so effective.
Sarah: Food. My 2 year old went crazy about 10 mins before landing it was beyond awful- the hostess gave him M & M’s…… Distracted him and helped with his ears. Good because they were small so he had eat/ chew each one. On the way home- at 5am- we were armed with M & M’s!
Joanne: Little EtchA Sketch, water colouring books, stickers, ChupaChup lollipops for take off and landing.
Janine: We got a scratchy book which my girls are obsessed with, a water pen and colour pad (both are colouring without pencils) a magnetic fishing game in a tin and other little craft things.
Sandra: Playdough worked for mine
Delia: Lots of tiny things inexpensive things wrapped up in shiny paper- even opening them is exciting and distracting. As a guide, I was told to take 1 item for each hour of flight – that was plenty – and given just before they lose it (not after as that would be rewarding them).
Cristin: Snacks! Lots of snacks! All the snacks!
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- 10 family-friendly camping spots in & around Sydney