Airplane tactics for toddlers

Colorforms are great for airplanes. Put your toddler by the window and let him stick the Colorforms right on the window... or the board that it comes with. It's quiet and cheap! I like playing with them, too! ; )

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In my opinion, there is not an easy way. But, it will help if you got patience, love and all of the needed items to care for the toddler.

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I actually have an entire website devoted to this subject. The article I wrote about the plane is here:

http://kid-friendlytravel.blogspot.com/2007/06/pack-your-carry-on-bag.html

When bringing the DVD player, which we ALWAYS do, remember the headphones. Something about them puts my 3yo in the 'zone' and he falls asleep on longer flights. On shorter flights, sticker books are our our magic ticket.
We always get him his own seat, and never again use the carseat... the one time I did, I spent the entire flight reminding him not to kick the seat ahead of him. There is a cool safety belt attachment called CARES system that works well.
We bring sippy cups and juice/milk boxes. I always ask the security people with an innocent, pleading tone and have never been denied. We also bring our own snacks that we break out during takeoff.
I wholeheartedly agree with Amy about bringing the big stroller, especially if you're traveling alone with him. It's a great luggage cart. Keep it with you in the gate area and drive it right up to the plane. Don't have him sit in it in the gate area... that's where lots of exploring is less disturbing to others. Mine tends to get wound up instead of worn out, so use your judgement there.
I've been bringing less and less distractions as he gets older and also do the 'I spy' thing in magazines, newspapers, etc. But always the big stroller and always the DVD player with headphones.
If your little guy works well with routines, you seem to travel a lot with your little guy (as do we), setting a routine for travel may work well for you. It does for us, the same things come out in the same order, and my Tazmanian Devil child is usually quite the angel.

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Trisha said 'ask the flight attendent for a carton of milk on the plane'. I have found that some airlines don't have milk on planes anymore (as they don't get enough requests and it goes bad; they usually have juice, though), so it is better to buy a carton at the concession stand or have an airport restaurant bring a glass that you can pour into the sippy cup before you get on the plane. That way, your toddler will have milk, but you don't have to worry about getting it through security.

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Having been a flight attendant for years! My best advice would be to have all if not most of your goodies be a surprise! My children love the retractable crayons (not the long ones but the ones a bit longer than a reg crayon). There are also small containers of playdough with press/plastic cutters that children love. It gets messy but not hard to clean at all. Good luck and fly safe!

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Pipe cleaners can be made into all sorts of things. Same with aluminum foil(although foil may work better in the car). My daughter liked me to draw on a little notepad and then she would guess what I was drawing. She was asleep in 30 minutes! This worked wonders on the way home from Disney. She did use her own car seat and was able to fall asleep and be comfortable. I agree with the big stroller except at Disney where you rent one. I spy with mags is great too. Just go, be polite and have fun!

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A travel-sized Magna-Doodle can be your best friend if Wito is the coloring/drawing kind of kid.

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