With half of our family located in Scotland and the other half in South Africa , my two children have been flying long distance since they were a few months old. The first time we set out for the airport with a small baby in tow, I was wracked with nerves: What if she kept the entire plane awake for hours with her screaming? In the end, I needn’t have worried. The drone of the engine had her snoozing in her sky cot for the majority of the flight.
Fast forward a year or two and I discovered that flying with an active toddler is a whole different ball game. With some careful packing , though, it’s possible to minimise the stress for everyone involved. First on your list should be travel-friendly toys.
Look for ideas that are mess- and noise-free, take up minimal space and don’t involve too many parts. Because carry-on space is precious you’ll only be able to bring a handful of options, so making sure each one is as engaging as possible is also key. Here are our tried-and-tested top picks for all ages from babies to pre-teens.
It’s a universal truth that kids love sticker books. They’re great for in-flight entertainment since they’re lightweight, easy to pack and can be used on little laps even when tray tables have to be stowed away. For younger children we love reusable sticker books like the Make-a-Face series from Melissa & Doug.
Available in pet, farmyard and safari versions, they provide hours of educational fun as your little ones add facial features to thei.