12 hour flight with 19 month baby! Help!!

[meowcatuk]

We have booked a holiday to travel to America which will be at least a 12 hour flight. Our daughter cannot sit still and I am dreading going!! Any advice? My friend said I could go to the docs and get a pill that makes her drousy?? But I am not so sure!! Help!!

[laundrylover]

Is it not an overnight flight? In which case make sure you get a crib and a seat at the bulkhead. Pack a little bag with small toys/crayons and books to take on as handluggage. We managed 13 hours like this but on the way home didn't get a crib as there were 9 babies and only 6 cribs so ask early. We had to make a nest on the floor! the heat/motion does work as a sleep inducer but you could try drugs or just calpol. Don't forget her cuddly toy etc. if she has one or or all hell may break loose!!

[moondog]

It will be hell (I've done it plenty and know).
Once you accept that,bizarrely,it becomes tolerable.

(Loads of threads on this in archives however.)

[moondog]

It will be hell (I've done it plenty and know).
Once you accept that,bizarrely,it becomes tolerable.

(Loads of threads on this in archives however.)

[mcmum]

i took for dd4 and ds 7 to usa florida last year i know big age difference here but same principle you need a bag as per laundrylover with lots of colouring things news small toys even start keeping hold of mcdonald toys etc small snack pots i.e. grapes raisins buttons dummies if has one. if not night flight out it prob will be coming back, when and where r u going

[laundrylover]

I'm employing the same philosohy about the next six months once this bump becomes a reality Moondog!!

[moondog]

That's the spirit ll.

Lowere your expectations.




Then lower them some more



And again!!

[singersgirl]

Did this a lot with DSs aged between 6 months and 6. Book a night flight and your DD will sleep for about half of it. Have lots of snacks and small toys. Be prepared to walk up and down the aisles a lot. Organise shifts with your partner (if he's travelling with you). Make sure you have bottles/sucky cups for take off and particularly landing, or breastfeed if still BF.

Always remember it is only 12 hours. However bad it is, it will pass. Actually, my boys always surprised me and it was a lot less bad than I thought.

Good luck!

[mojomummy]

Ooh are you going to the west coast ? I did a 10.5 hrs flight to San francisco on my own with DD age 20 mths & the end of Feb this year.

We flew out at 11 am & had a good & reasonably easy flight. If you can sit with your Dd along, then you might be able to get 3 seats together - we got 3 bulk heads on the side of the plane which meant there was plenty of room for her to move around. (I didn't pay for her seat either as she was under 2)

This time I odered a special seat as I had to pay. Again we got 3 seats between us, just behind the bulkhead. I cheekily suggested the man move as he wanted to sleep the whole flight & I was concerned we'd disturb him.

On virgin there is Vtots, which keeps them occupied on & off. I would take little light weight books to read. Some washable felt tip pens & pad (my DD likes little pad) Also take cartons of diluted juice (the heinz ones are good). They quite enjoy the novelty of plane food, but DD didn't really like it & it wasn't the right time so I took a small cool bag with sandwiches & fruit. Take milk for take off & landing. Kept well in the cool bag.

We flew back (this time with DH) on a night flight & it's a nightmare. DD couldn't sleep,e even though she was desperatly tired, I was in a terrible mood because I was tired. I would even consider coming back with a different airline next time we go to avoid the night flight.

Hope this helps.

Don't forget they have the pushchair ready for you when you leave the plane - I didn't know this the first time & walked the (several) miles to customs etc, with Dd ambling slowly behind...this time we were at customs in less than 10 mins.

[eleanorsmum]

just remember all those people on the plan who will give you horrid looks etc were all screaming kids too once

and

You will never see them again, so just enjoy the flight and it'll be over soon!!!!

[nannyme]

I believe those that go for the drugs option use Phenergen (sp?) but I know one person who didn't find it that effective.

Sleep, toys, food and a buddy to share the load probably your best options. Also make sure you are well rested before the flight so you have the energy for keeping dd amused. Oh, and only choose books and activities you enjoy too as you will find it mind numbingly tedious otherwise!

[ruty]

i personally wouldn't medicate my child to make him easier to handle.

[mojomummy]

I did consider giving DD something to sleep, but didn't because I was concerned that something might happen - she'd become too sleepy or go hyper active.

As an aside, when looking to take my cat on a flight, vets are very anti sedating them. This is because there is no guarentee of the affect.

BTW Have spoken to a friend who used Medised or tylenol (they are american) & there 10mth old was fine.

[beejay]

Took dd on a 12 hour flight to asia when she was two.
Phenergan didn't work ( i tested it the week before)
It was a day flight and she hardly slept on the way out, but a small rucksack full of new toys/treats helped while away the hours...

On the way back it was a night flight and she slept the whole way

Since then I have decided never to do day flights long-haul!

[redstarfalling]

Same as everybody else lots of new cheapy toys even 99 p ones that you can chuck after and food / snacks indifferent pots and boxes to entertain. One point though check around that non of the reading lights in surronding seats are stuck at on as when lights go down at night may shine in your direction. this happened to us last year two rows behind we ended up using the blanket as a tent to shield dd as they would not move us . - nightmare !