bay beans

Massive List #1: Travel Toys

March 3rd, 2007

General Tips:

• Buy some new toys for the plane. The novelty factor goes a long way, compared to toys that have already been used a lot at home.
• Wrap a few special items in wrapping paper for the fun of unwrapping
• Fly JetBlue whenever possible; they have individual tv screens on seat backs with DirecTV. They also have a diaper change surface in their bathrooms. You do have to bring your own food, though.
• Even if you have a JetBlue TV, a portable DVD player is a very worthwhile investment if you travel frequently.
• The seat-back tray is very entertaining, as are the magazines and safety instructions in the seat pocket

Entertainment By Age

Under 1 year:

• Mr.Man! (a Whoozit)
• Zoolio

14+ months:

• Board books, specifically DK’s “My First Body Book” with pictures of other little kids
• Small photo album with pictures of family & friends
• “My First Purse” with plastic accessories: put things in, take things out
• Touch & feel books
• 3-D Activity Book
• play cell phone
• Toy eggs in carton
• Paper cups for stacking, putting snacks in & out
• Finger puppets

20+ months:

• Favorite paperback books
• Issues of Babybug, Ladybug
• Sticker activity book with reusable vinyl stickers (stick to window of plane, big fun – probably any vinyl window decals will work for this). We’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of the following reusable sticker books:
• Madeline
• Timothy’s Year-Round Sticker Activity Book (a favorite)
• Regular sticker activity books – we got a “Doll’s Tea Party” book that was a big hit
• Magnet activity boards – like sticker books, except the pieces are magnetized
• Bits of a small plastic tea set (cups, saucers, teapot, sugar, creamer) for on-board tea parties
• Very small stuffed animals, a tiny doll blanket & bottle for feeding & putting to bed (we always bring Bert & Ernie)
• Magna Doodle (Doodle Pro)
• Scotch tape
• Post-it notes
• Crayons, paper, coloring books
• Ruler stencil for drawing (can use a pen to make circles, stars, etc.)
• Color Wonder markers, which only draw on special paper
• Play-doh
• Soft playset
• mr.potato head (although, he is large)
• tubes of plastic animals
• Baby Einstein flash cards
• Russian stacking dolls (if not too small)
• Tiny squeeze flashlight

Older kids 3+:

• Polly Pocket
• Large Legos
• Woodkins dolls
• Wikki Stix

All ages: SNACKS

• Juice boxes for ear popping on the way up & down (*although no longer allowed to bring on flights at the moment)
• Teddy grahams or animal crackers
• Raisins
• String cheese
• Some special treat that only appears on the plane

Entry Filed under: travel, lists