Ok, ladies. I'm getting anxious trying to get ready for our flight on Friday to Michigan. We are in California. My boys are 2 and 4 and they will just have turned 3 (day we fly) and 5 (two days before we fly).
I'm already making them carry their own little backpacks and I will be bringing a backpack as a diaper bag. I just need to figure out what to put in them. Can anyone suggest things that I can bring to keep them entertained on the plane?

By Amecmom on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 04:02 pm:

Benadryl? LOL - just kidding!
Any small favorite toys that will keep them occupied, books, little snacks, variety is the key. Bring just one or two things and they will get bored quickly.
Good luck!
Ame

By Kaye on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 04:57 pm:

When we flew with my wild child he was just turned 5. He loved to listen to books on tape. The headphones comforted him and it kept him very busy. Also silly putty is a great toy if they don't eat things, it doesn't get all messy like playdough.

By Chai~latte on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 05:09 pm:

My guys love post-it notes, highlighters and calculators - weird but it works! Books with dry erase markers are good too. Crayola color wonder sets are great as well. Get two clip boards to help keep papers contained although they have the back rest trays to use. You can try drawing stick figures for them and have them draw on the clothes. Felt boards work well too.

Just don't give them everything at once, space it out.

Good Luck!

By Reds9298 on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 05:30 pm:

Ditto the others for the great ideas. Also the smaller magna doodle-type boards. Magnet board out of a small bar pan with letter or shape magnets you have at home.

By Tonya on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 05:44 pm:

New stuff!! Go to the store $1 store or a little more than that and get new stuff to put in each of their bags. Things they have never seen will hold their attention longer than toys they have already played with. Go to your local movie store and see if you can rent a DVD player to take with head phones. Snacks and a blanket plus a stuffed animal if they like.

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 06:49 pm:

California to Michigan??? Woah.
I've traveled with Connor many many many times and I gotta tell you...
DVD player with 2 headsets, lollipops, new small toys, a "new" movie from the library (that you *know* is not scratched), books and $5 so you can have some wine. ;-)
Don't forget that you have to travel back with them, so hide the toys you used on the plane while you're vacationing and then bring them back "out" for the trip home.
Good luck!

Also, don't forget ziploc bags to put dirty diapers in. (The big gallon ones. Bring 4 of them so you have some for the trip back home.)

And...when you go through security, there is always a line for those with small children. Find it. (Also be prepared for them to ask that whatever the child is holding to be put through the scanners, so don't give them any toys/blankets/candy before you go through security.)

By Imamommyx4 on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 10:28 pm:

Dd loved Leapfrog and DVD movies.

By Enchens on Saturday, April 19, 2008 - 10:41 pm:

Thank you ladies! I was trying to think of an alternative for playdough. I'm off to the dollar store tomorrow to look for silly putty and stuff. I almost forgot about their favorite stuffed animal. Thanks for the reminder. And oh my gosh, books on tape! We have a ton in our library. Guess I'll be heading there as well.

I'm feeling a bit less anxious now. Just a bit. lol