Okay, so, flying with a toddler. That’s a whole adventure in itself, right? I remember this one time, I was flying with my little one, who was about, oh, two at the time. I thought I had it all figured out, but boy, was I in for a surprise.
First off, I packed all these toys. I mean, you name it, I had it. Coloring books, crayons, those magic ink pads, even a couple of new ones I thought would be super exciting. I also loaded up on snacks. We’re talking about all the good stuff – you know, to keep the little monster happy and, hopefully, quiet. I even tried to make the snacks fun, like cutting sandwiches into funny shapes and telling little stories about them. It’s silly, but I was desperate, okay?
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Here are what I brought
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Coloring books and crayons
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Magic ink coloring pads
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Water painting
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Dry-erase books
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Doodle boards
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Suction toys
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Reusable sticker books
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Kid cameras
We got to the airport, and everything was smooth sailing at first. But once we boarded, it was like a switch flipped. My kiddo was all over the place, wanting to explore every inch of that plane. I tried to get the toys out, but no, being on a plane was way more interesting. The novelty, you know?
So, I waited. I let my little one look out the window, point at things, and just be amazed by it all. After a while, the excitement started to fade, and that’s when I swooped in with the toys. The coloring book was a hit, for about five minutes. Then, it was onto the magic ink pad, which was a lifesaver, honestly. Kept the little hands busy without making a mess.
And the snacks? Oh, those were a game-changer. Every time my kid started to get fussy, I’d offer a snack. It wasn’t just about filling the tummy; it was a distraction, a little break. Plus, who doesn’t love a good snack, right? And walking? Oh, we walked. Once that seatbelt sign was off, we were up and down that aisle more times than I could count. It was tiring, but it helped.
Then, there was this one moment where my toddler just wanted to be held, you know, that comforting feeling. So, I picked the kid up, walked around a bit, and just held. Sometimes, they just need that closeness, especially in a strange place like an airplane. And I had these small headphones, too, with some calming music. That seemed to do the trick a few times. Also, I made sure to prepare a place for my kid to lie down next to me, in the airline ‘car’ seat. I made it as comfy as possible, with a blanket and a small pillow. It wasn’t perfect, but it helped my kid relax a bit. Well-fed, comfortable, those are the key, I guess.
Looking back, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, it was a lot of work, and I was exhausted by the end of it, but we made it. And you know what? It’s all about those little moments, those small victories. Like when your kid finally settles down and you get to just sit there, holding them, knowing you’re doing your best. That’s what matters, right?
I also prepared some lacing cards, although my little one didn’t show much interest in them at that time, I still think these are good to go.
So, yeah, flying with a toddler is definitely an experience. But with a bit of patience, a lot of snacks, and maybe a little luck, you can get through it. And hey, it makes for a good story later on, right?
