Long Haul Flights With Young Kids
I used to live part time in Hong Kong so I flew (alone!) with my toddler between there and LAX more times than I can count. I wrote a series about it on my website:
http://www.lajollamom.com/tag/long-haul-travel-with-kids/
I am also very happy to help with people traveling w/kids on Cathay Pacific or JAL. Been there, done that a lot!
Helping Baby Sleep
I recently traveled for over 20 hours with my 6 month old (due to family emergency) and he hardly slept a wink the entire time because he was so excited to be on the plane with so many people. When we arrived back home, he was so exhausted (after missing something like 15 hours of sleep) it was horrible. He was practically hysterical and inconsolable and it took me nearly an entire day to help him get a good nap (he usually sleeps quite well).
Here's my question. I have to do another long trip (only 14 hours this time) in about three weeks. I'm totally paranoid about repeating my last experience, but I don't know what to do. I've asked people whether it's appropriate to give a baby benedryl or something like that to help them sleep and they look at me like I'm suggesting child abuse or something. Fact is, it seems more harmful to me to let him go for 20 hours without sleeping!! Has anyone had experience with this? I'm really not set on getting benedryl...
Read more ...
eclipsepearl I am actually allergic to Benedryl so I don't give it to my children but as a Flight Attendant on long-haul flights, I've seen it done. Most times it worked. Twice it didn't and made the child go all wired.
You definitely want to try it at home first and talk to your child's doctor before considering this. Remember too that they're dehydrating, as well as the airplane air so it's a tough combo.
I would venture to say though that your little guy might have been picking up on your vibes since you were flying because of a family emergency. Children are very sensitive to their parents' emotions. This time, I hope it's a real vacation and it's also shorter. I'm sure it will go much smoother!
Passport question for Australian international travellers
Anybody know the regs for Australian Kids travelling O/S? Do I need to get them seperate passports or can I add them to mine. They are 1 and 3 yrs old.
Cheers
humbucker Australian kids definitle need their own passport: https://www.passports.gov.au/Web/Newppt/ApplyingU18.aspx
Advice for long car trips with kids
Hi - I know this is a forum about flying with kids, but I think it applies to car travel, too. We just wrapped up a long car trip and I wrote about advice for avoiding boredom and sibling fights during the trip if you're interested, http://away-together.com/2009/08/18/long-car-trips/. We manage to have quite a fun and not-too-boring drive without resorting to endless DVD watching. My kids are ages 8 and 11, and I wonder if people think this advice applies to little kids too? I'd appreciate hearing other tips/advice. Also, I wanted to invite people here to join another LP Group, Long-Term Family Travel and Sabbatical.
Any recommendations for portable DVD players?
I'm thinking of buying a portable DVD player for my son - for use in the car on long trips and on the plane. Ideally I'd like it to be 'tablet' style rather than clamshell - with straps for attaching to car seats etc. Anyone found a good one?
gusb I take my macbook and iPhone and tag between them depending on where I am (bus/plane/car/etc) but, the most important thing is milking it for all its worth "we will watch Pocoyo soon, once the flight attendant comes pass with the food, and then we put the blinds down, then we turn Pocoyo on OK"?? drag for as long as you can!
lcfranks We have a Sony DVD player that is our savior for flights and long trips. We have Elmo mainly, although recently our 2.5 year old is interested in Nemo etc. We've found that she really prefers to hold the DVD in her lap, although that means she often opens up the player and takes out the DVD... We originally wanted one to tie to car seat and struggled to find that. Good luck!
sarahlavendersmith Have you thought that perhaps you don't need a DVD player on the trip? We had a DVD player in our car when our kids were younger (toddlers and preschool age), and we had a "100-mile rule" where we wouldn't turn it on unless we were going longer than 100 miles. Now that they're older (8 and 11), we've found they really don't need it. I wrote a post on advice for avoiding boredom without DVDs if you're interested, http://away-together.com/2009/08/18/long-car-trips/. Happy travels!
Best airline for long-haul flying with kids
You just can't go past Singapore Airlines if you're flying with really young kids - the service is amazing. They're quick to help get the kids comfortable, make sure you've got prioritized meals, warmed up milk, etc.
vivekw Lufthansa of old was great - and horrible. I remember when they gave me a "kid's meal" of mini-frankfurters. I ended up sick for the entire duration of the 20-hour flight (and I never got airsick as a kid!). On the plus side, the hostesses were incredibly nice to me and gave me a whole row to myself to lie down on. I've heard that their service has gone way downhill, though.
lcfranks Just flew US to UK on United and it was pretty terrible. They don't have bassinets - instead they have these little bags you put on the floor at your feet. Terrible idea generally and particularly if you also have a 2.5 year old running around. So we had to hold baby the whole way... we wont fly United again (although the staff were plenty nice).
We've had great experience with Qantas and BA a year or so ago.
My husband had an amazing experience on Virgin America - one of the flight attendants helped him get our sick 1 year old to sleep while he had a kip. Amazing!
annebe9554 We've done several trips with Emirates over the past 5 years or so and we have always found them very friendly and helpful to families. Our kids, now 10 & 13 love flying Emirates.
Any advice welcome - medium haul trip planning with kids
Hi, I'm thinking of taking our two kids (1 3 years and 1 1 years old) from Melbourne to Fiji (About 6 hours), any advice on keeping them happy on the flight welcome!
rooosterboy Sorry, that's a 3 year old and a 1 year old.. I'll try and remember the magnet thing, cheers
chrisboden A portable DVD player with their favourite TV show is an amazing pacifier - something like this for a couple of hundred bucks will do the trick http://tinyurl.com/c89vsa
rooosterboy Wow, a portable DVD player sounds like the go, are the batteries an issue for the flight time, do most airlines have powerpoints?
katie_f I met a lady who takes a small bottle of bubble liquid (like the ones used at weddings) to entertain kids who sit near her if they get annoying. It's a great tactic in restaurants as well. A pack of cards is handy. I've also found photographs of people you know particularly good for killing some time with the 1-2 yr olds.
Tips tricks and stories about flying with little ones.
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dreamer I read your series a couple of months ago and it was helpful. Thanks!