What to take to entertain a nearly 9 month old?

[Arimeh]

I'm a bit short for ideas here, got heaps of stuff to entertain DS and DD1 on the flight on Wednesday, but have noooo idea what to take for DD2, cos its not like she's interested in sticker books, or drawing or movies!! She's not that overly into her toys, or books, and spends most of her time crawling around the house, she doesn't really stay in one spot any more (which worries me too!)

So I have to entertain her for basically 3.5 hours, 1 hour to melbourne, and then 2.5 hours to the sunny coast.

Anyone got any ideas? She loves her food but I can't keep giving her stuff for 2.5 hours.. LOL

[Just Me]

We have a 3 hour flight to Sydney next week - ours goes at 12 midday so I am planning on skipping DD2's morning nap. I will feed her as the plane takes off (the sucking will help her ears pop) and whenever I have flown with my other kids at the same age, if they have missed their nap before the flight, they have been asleep almost as soon as they finish their milk. My kids usually only sleep for an hour on the plane even when they were little so I am planning on having food which will entertain her for 20 mins when she wakes up and then I was planning to take a couple of non noisy toys and hope for the best.

[~Kim~]

mmmm, same as JM, Nate still falls asleep at the start of he plane ride if we've moved his sleeps on him.
At that age we did a similar flight country NSW to Sydney and then to Nth Qld. I took a little tiny etch-a-sketch (it was actually for DD but he used it way more) and some touchy books for him - and lots of food.

[meow]

Our son slept on flights at that age too. I fed him on take off and then gave him a dummy & cuddle and off he would go. If she's awake I'd say the new environment and her family would be entertainment enough. I'd take a favourite colourful rattle/toy/book and food- that should be enough.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Do you have a portable DVD player and her fave movie?
Maybe there is an inflight movie or something she will watch?

We are flying to Adelaide next mth and i am worried about Z, it's not a long flight but DD1 will hopefully be on DP's knee looking out the window (her first flight) so i have to entertain DD2, argh!
Watching for some great tips.

Does she have a fave teddy she would cuddle, a comfort blanket or something?

[Arimeh]

Thanks guys. Our flight leaves at 9.30 - she usually has a bottle around then, so that will fit in great, then her sleep is usually around 10.15 - which isn't great because we land in melbourne not long after that. Will be good if she can hold off until we get onto the next flight, I have my sling ready to go so just thought I would pop her in that and walk around until she is asleep and then sit down again. Hopefully it works out.

ZF - she's nearly 9 months old - she doesn't have a favourite movie.. LOL... she seems to like In the night garden, but usually is crawling around too much to notice anything going on....

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

ZF - she's nearly 9 months old - she doesn't have a favourite movie.. LOL... she seems to like In the night garden, but usually is crawling around too much to notice anything going on....

Hehe sorry i meant like show or music etc... lol DD1 loved wiggles, that got us by anywhere we went but Z hardly watches anything, she just wants me so i know what you mean.

GL with it all...

[aussienic]

We went travelling (car) when Ds3 was 8-9 months old. We were doing alot of driving over the 5 weeks. We took new toys like cars and very bright things in the car.

I know driving is different to flying cus at least they are buckled in one spot in a car plus Ds3 wasn't crawling.. Can she look out the window? it might really fascinate her enough for a little while.. Or buy her a toy mobile phone lol.. That used to entertain my kids when nothing else worked lol

[Junglemum]

Just a little info for you..... They always make me take DD out of a sling/carrier to put the infant seatbelt on. They sometimes make me take the carrier off too, even if it's a HAB.
Does she like books? i find them a good distraction. I also sing with them, quietly! My singing might be bad, but it's better than them screaming. I also sometimes take a hand puppet for a bit of entertainment!

[allycat06]

We took DS Sydney when he was 8 months. He was just like you described your DD, more interested in crawling around and not really into toys. Obviously the flight was a bit shorter than yours will be but I bought him a new toy with lots of touchy feely stuff that made lots of crunchy sounds etc and that was pretty handy and seemed to engage him more as he'd never played with it before. Other than that he was quite happy to just watch everything going on around him, the flight attendants always gave him a bit of attention when they walked passed. If he was getting a bit restless I'd give him an arrowroot bikky and that would keep him occupied for a bit he he'd forget why he was whinging in the first place. So yeah you can't really be feeding her the whole time but food is a good distraction if she gets a bit irritated.

[Arimeh]

Just a little info for you..... They always make me take DD out of a sling/carrier to put the infant seatbelt on. They sometimes make me take the carrier off too, even if it's a HAB.

What - when they are taking off and landing only I hope? God I don't know what I'll do if they make me take her out if I'm trying to get her to go to sleep. She doesn't ever let me rock her to sleep - hasn't for a long time. I don't have a HAB, I'll just have my KS mei tai, my Beco will be packed in a suitcase.

[Junglemum]

Yeah mainly for take off and landing, but anytime the seatbelt sign is on. It stinks. I think my baby is more secure in a carrier on me than with a single seatbelt around her waist. Freaking rules and policies.

[Arimeh]

Urgh this plane trip is going to suck. I've already been psyching myself up and telling myself that I will NOT be having a panic attack (positive thinking!) so this could be... errr... interesting...lol

[Just Me]

She might fall asleep earlier than her regular nap time - all my kids tend to nod off as we take off because of the motion of the plane. Also, there is a bit of room at the back of the plane usually where you can stand if you need to rock her and the change table is in the toilets at the back of the plane so if possible, ask them to seat you up the back. It is also close to the toilets if your other DD and DS need to go midflight (which can get a bit tricky if they are walking up and down with those meal carts and your kids need to get to the toilet deperately).

Good luck with your flight and if it goes really well, make sure you come back to this thread and give me lots of hints and tips

[Arimeh]

JM - we've already picked our seats at the front of the plane - I thought the change table was in each toilet, and I know there is a toilet (or two) up the front. Been a while since I've been on a plane though (a year to the day nearly!) Only DS is toilet trained, so he can go up the front, and he will be sitting with me. I checked our seats last night, and we've got two on one side of the aisle and two on the other. So the plan is I have Eden on my lap, and Aricyn sitting next to me, and then Kelti will sit across the aisle with DH. Hopefully this arrangement works, we have empty seats beside us, in front of us for some flights (we are taking 4 flights) and some vacant behind us.

Sooo hopefully we won't annoy too many people.

Although - when I checked last night online, most of the back half of the plane was completely empty -is this normal? Or is it people that have booked flights and not reserved seats? Can you do that? We book online so pick our seats straight away...

[Junglemum]

You'll be fine. I promise!
It does go much quicker than you imagine. By the time you have taken off, had a snack, read a few books, walked to the toilet and back it's almost time to land again. It will all be worth it at the other end. I kept DD2 awake yesterday and she crashed on takeoff, it was perfect. Maybe stretching her sleep out will work in your favour. There is the possibility it could all go horribly wrong, but i find when i'm more relaxed about the whole thing the kids travel better.

[Arimeh]

Ahhh crap, just read this on Jetstar:
A front baby carrier or sling might just save your back, if not your trip. You have to check-in pushers for domestic flights so a soft baby carrier will give you both hands free. It will also roll up easily into your cabin luggage. Great for transit and collecting luggage (although you are not permitted to use a baby carrier whilst you are seated on board.)

[Just Me]

There might be a change table at the front ... we have always sat at the back so I didn't think about it. You're lucky to have been able to organise your seats already - we couldn't do that online, we had to wait until the morning of the flight when we go to the airport because we had an infant travelling on our laps. This time we only have one travelling on our laps (it is the first flight in a couple of years that we only have one) so we might be able to check in online.

You'll be fine as Junglemum said. It is pretty quick and there is a lot going on so it might keep her well entertained just looking around. The flight attendants are usually very interested in babies too so they will probably come along and talk to her as well which mine all find entertaining.

Is your DH going as well or are you one your own? Passing her between both of you (if you are both going) can give you a break and you can get a cuppa and a snack which will help you keep calm and feel relaxed as well. If you can get some time out while DH has a turn - do it. It makes a difference if you don't have to hold a wriggly baby all by yourself for the whole flight. If you are on your own, sometimes the flight attendants take them for a little walk around the plane too, if you are comfortable with that.