Suction cup rattles easily affix to your dining tray and infants can freely bat at them without any worry that pieces will get lost or eaten. Additionally, your hands will be free to engage in other activities. You may also be able to suction them to a car seat. Consider bringing a favorite your child already enjoys and investing in a new one that will provide additional stimulation when she gets bored.
Infants love books, and paperback ones are lightweight to pack. Fortunately, you do not need to pack a large variety because infants enjoy hearing the same stories multiple times. You can also pack a book of nursery rhymes and finger play songs that will engage your child and stimulate him. Help your child do the actions if he is unable to manipulate his fingers and body parts himself.
Many infants have a favorite stuffed animal or doll. If the item is small, bring it because it will help your child feel secure in new surroundings. Favorite stuffed animals often make it easier for children to sleep, which will make the plane ride easier.
There are a variety of clip-on toys that can be attached to your child's car seat. Choose toys that are a comfortable size for plane travel and have stimulating colors. Most toys hang from the car seat handle and rotate or can be touched by your infant. Opt for toys that do not make noise or have mute features because the tight quarters of a plane may make them undesirable to other travelers.
If you have a computer, you may wish to bring educational DVDs to stimulate your child. Some of these can facilitate letter and number recognition. Additionally, the bright colors in many infant-appropriate DVDs provide visual stimulation. You can control the volume to make it low or let your child enjoy the DVD without sound.
