Before embarking on the task of air travel with a toddler, it is important to prepare diligently. As any parent can attest, children between the ages of one and three have a seemingly insatiable desire to be constantly in motion. This can create a challenging situation when confined to a plane for an extended period.
Recently, I found myself in a similar predicament. My daughter, Lou, then 16 months old, was quite active and demonstrated a reluctance to sit for lengthy periods. Previously, our flights had been around an hour long and keeping Lou seated had not posed too many difficulties.
This time, however, we embarked on a three-hour plus journey from New York City to Florida. It was instantly clear that things wouldn’t be as straightforward. Lou had grown since our last flight. She was more aware of her surroundings and less inclined to stay in one place for prolonged durations. The concept of sitting still was not appealing to her, she wanted to explore. Her restlessness was heightened by her reluctance to sleep anywhere outside of her crib.
To combat this issue, I decided to go screen-free during our trips. I was adamant not to rely on a tablet for entertainment, so I started searching for other distractions. One suggestion that appeared frequently was snacks, not just offering them but making them part of an activity. Lou loved containers.
She was intrigued by the mechanism of opening and closing them, removing, and replacing items. So, using this information, I found a snack container that added a layer of engagement. It was the GoBe snack spinner. This interesting piece of kit is divided into compartments and each one is revealed by the press of a button.
With this new toy purchased and hidden away for the journey, I filled it with yogurt melting, peanut butter puffs, Once Upon a Farm puffs, cheese cubes, and wee peanut butter sandwich morsels. It was all set for Lou’s consumption and enjoyment on the flight. I was hopeful this would keep her entertained and keep the noise down.
An hour into our journey, after cycling through an array of lift-the-flap books, reusable stickers, bendy straws, and plastic cups, we took out the snack spinner. Her fascination was instant, she was both drawn to the newness of the object and enticed by the available snacks.
The snack spinner captivated her for a solid 30 minutes, which may not seem like much, but in the grand scheme of toddler attention span, it’s an eternity. This activity outperformed any other distraction we had packed and had the added bonus of providing nutrition.
I am not suggesting that this snack spinner eliminated all instances of fuss or tantrums on the plane, but it did lessen them to a manageable level. When Lou began to succumb to restlessness again towards the end of the flight and pacing the aisle did not bring her solace, I reintroduced the spinner. It worked brilliantly as a quick distraction and allowed us to reset, keeping the peace for a bit longer.
Since that journey, the snack spinner has become a mainstay for all our travels. It has served us well on car trips, park outings, and even at restaurants while waiting for food.
Although it is not the tiniest object to carry around, its effectiveness makes packing it worthwhile. It took Lou some time to work out how to press the button herself. However, this learning process contributed to the spinner’s appeal, prolonging the duration it kept her entertained.
In conclusion, managing travel with a toddler might be stressing, but with a bit of planning and this unique snack-spinner, it can be made less daunting. While this snack spinner served its purpose for us, it’s worth noting that every child is different.
However, the key takeaway is that it’s the little things (like a child’s fascination with buttons or containers) that can make a considerable difference in managing a toddler’s behavior. For those looking to purchase a spinner, the GoBe snack spinner retails for around $23.
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure a less stress-filled and more enjoyable travel experience for all involved, parents and children alike. Patience, planning, and a bit of creativity (like turning snack time into playtime) can go a long way in achieving this.