I think an iPad on a long flight makes you a GOOD parent. Keeps the kid entertained with various activities, which keeps them calmer and engaged. Drawing apps, video books, educational apps like Monkey Lunchbox, etc. -- the variety is good and it's compact, so you can bring a lot.

My kid loves those flag-type stickers and other post-its, along with what PPs have mentioned. Lollipops are good because they're candy (big treat!) but they take a long time to consume.

OP, you must have left by now, but if you read this after your flight, let us know how it went and what worked/didn't!

I'd be surprised if the bassinet fit. When I was planning a trip with a 15 mo old (50th percentile height/weight), he was well past the limits on every company I checked, but maybe some Asian carriers are different. I know my friends' 4 mo old was practically bursting out of her bassinet on KLM.

Anyway, for an almost-2 my airplane must-have is an iPad. Yes, this makes me a lazy, terrible, etc, parent. A lazy, terrible, etc parent whose kid doesn't bug the other passengers. An iPhone/iPod should suffice, just load it up with free puzzle apps, drawing apps, etc, pictures of your family to flip through, maybe some cartoons.

Yeah a warning about the bassinet - she's not going to fit and they may not let you even try because of the weight limit. THAT SAID, the bassinet is great for holding all the crap.

I would suggest (and here come the flames) that you take along a dramaine tablet in case things get hairy and she won't sleep. You woud only give her a 1/4 of one... but it works.

Surprise gifts to open during the flight are fun too. My kids also played with some paper cups for about an hour on our flight. Also consider kid headphones as airline ones not always that nice.

We've traveled with dc since she was an infant. The longest trip we had was 8 hours to Europe, so based on my experience, I suggest the following. Have plenty of quiet activities for her to do:

coloring books
crayons
plain paper for drawing
dvd movies on iPad, laptop

Is this a morning, afternoon, or evening flight? If towards evening, maybe you can tire her out a little and have her run around at a playground.

I don't think a two yo old is going to fit in a bassinet. They are infant sized.

For takeoff/landing when no electronic devices are allowed, a favorite stuffed animal and bandaids worked well for my 2 year old. What, kitty fell off the seat and has a boo boo? Better get her a bandaid! DD opens box, takes out bandaid, unwraps it, takes off stickers, places on kitty. Oh no, kitty fell AGAIN! Silly kitty! Repeat 200 times. But getting bandaids off of stuffed animals is harder than it sounds.

Lollipops for takeoff and landing for ear pressure (ie, it is good to suck/chew to help with earaches and pressure). Although takeoff is rarely an issue for me, but sometimes those long, slow descents can be rough.

You'll be fine -- make sure you have aisle seat access -- as she'll likely like to walk around a lot.
Its not that bad actually. And with all the stuff you've brought, you will be fine.
We've done it with kids on laps and really didn't have any issues.

Sorry, when you said bassinet it sounded like you were using the airline's bassinet instead of a seat-- we never tried traveling with our own.

I saw a suggestion somewhere that a roll of scotch tape will keep a toddler amused for quite a while....

I think you have done just about all you can do ahead of time. Just go in with a good attitude, be flexible, and if things get bad, remind yourself, "This too shall pass.' When we flew from China to the US with my just-3yo, I think we walked up and down the aisles about 4,786 times, and she also quickly figured out that she was allowed out of her seat if she had to go to the bathroom, so we were in the bathroom about 3, 789, 198 times.

PS Oh yeah, a bad time was when she therefore had to get back in her seat and buckle in for the descent. She was not a happy camper. It was the end of the flight and she was sick of it all! She cried the whole way down and tried to launch herself back into my lap. I could only sit through it and apologize to everyone else around us.

OP here. What's with the assumptions? She has own seat and bassinet.

I'd like ideas from BTDT moms on entertainment and handling possible meltdowns.

Thank you to the helpful 1st PP! We have iPad loaded with apps and movies, stickers, books, snacks, some favorite toys, some new toys, blankie, headphones, magnets, and plenty of supplies (diapers, wipes, food, etc).

Anyone have any insight into when she may get cranky? We traveled when she was tiny and I knew to look out for takeoff and landing...but this time I'm stumped.

Thanks again.

You didn't get her her own seat for this flight? Well, yeah, it's going to be a problem. Nobodies fault but your own.

I would have said her own seat...

How about some mini crafts? Ipad with games/shows? snacks?

Okay, I felt like I was really prepared until it became THE DAY BEFORE THE FLIGHT FROM HELL.

BTDT moms, what do I need to know to make sure my almost-2-year-old doesn't freak out on our 15-hour flight? She's not great at napping/sleeping in strange places, but we have a bassinet on the plane so I'm hopeful (but I'm expecting tiredness and freaking out).

What are my must-haves to make this as smooth as possible?