Tips for keeping a toddler entertained on the bus

[crystal7]

My 19 month old goes to a childminder close to where I work so we travel there and back together on the bus 3 days per week. She used to have short sleep on the way in but she has recently stopped doing that and it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep her amused. The journey is ony 20-30 minutes but can feel much longer when she shouts at the top of her voice! I take books but they only work for a few minutes. I don't like to get her out of the buggy as she just wants to climb all over the place.

Anyone else do something similar and have any tips?

Thanks!

[Polly D]

Would she sit on your knee and look out of the window? Or too much faff on a busy bus. I usually try to placate R with raisins and a biscuit on the bus but it's pretty hard.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Baby S is only 9 months but he goes mental on the bus at times, too. Baby apps on the iphone have saved my life, as have rice-cakes and baby biscotti (oh, allright, I know it's all packed with sugar...)

[womanofdulwich]

i think the thing when you tie a hankie on your finger and make a little puppet show is perfect for these situations- but other passengers migh wonder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Nappy Lady]

If you have an iPhone or portable DVD how about in the night garden or similar playing on it?

Singing (how embarrassing I know!!).

If sat on knee do first to spot a dog/cat/baby in a buggy etc etc

When a bit older one I invented in the car; I'm an animal, what animal am I - I have long eats, a swushy tail etc (very funny when your child does the describing as you can imagine)

Pad of paper with Niro that does four colours - not normally allowed so generally goes down a storm!

Play peep with a blanket - baby hiding - also fairly embarrassing!

Will add more let me' consult my book of things to do on journeys!!!

[ryedalema]

I used to do from here to Waterloo and back with a toddler five days a week so I know the feeling. We did drawings (on scraps of paper in my bag) and she had to guess the animal. Singing - oh how many new verses of wheels on the bus did we have? Some rude ones included to preserve my sanity! But mostly I kind of let her climb as long as she was safe and the other passengers didn't mind her 'talking' to them.

Good luck!