What do we need for UK-Asia flights this xmas with 7 & 2 yo?!

[PayPennies]

Visiting parents and family halfway across the world this Christmas after FOUR years. Me, spouse, 7 yo and 2 yo who’s nearly 3. 7 yo super well travelled as has always gone to my conferences and business travel in the before-times. But ……Needless to say the 3 yo was born at start of first lockdown and has never been anywhere near a plane!

we have 1 BIG flight, 1 3-4 hour layover and 1 regional flight. We are really scared that other passengers will hate us by the end! What do we need to pack for the journey do you think?

so far I’ve got -

1. Both tablets fully charged
2. Downloaded episodes of stuff they like
3. Seating me and spouse between them to avoid fighting over resources. This does lead to dilemma that they will develop preference for daddy/mummum at the same time and cause trouble anyway :/
4. Those puzzle word search type books for DS who’s 7. He loves maths and is ace with that sort of thing so comic/puzzle type things maybe from WH Smith
5. What do we need for DD who is nearly 3? Crayons? Stickers? Have completely forgotten what we did with DS as toddler when he travelled with us!
6. Infant calpol
7. Spare attachment objects for DD (her blue blanket if lost will lead to murder and mayhem)
8. Snacks -they eat constantly and I am dying at the thought of massive bags of snacks and crumbs everywhere. What snacks would you suggest?
9. DD Out of nappies for a year now, though wears pulls ups at night. Should we put her in pull ups for the flight/airport? It’s not going to somehow make her regress to nappies suddenly is it?

I had a nightmare last night that we’d showed up with all of the above but with none of the passports and home country sent us back to UK.

To think - in the before times, we traveled to all manner of places for my work with portable baby/toddler DS without batting an eyelid. I’ve done talks with him in a sling! And now / post covid - despite having solo travelled for work - travelling with them is making me feel like deer in headlights.

also - we currently have the issue that they both have a MASSIVE humongous preference for Dadddyyyyy. Both spouse and I are exhausted with this - because it’s unsustainable and they scream murder if Daddddddyyyyyyy isn’t the one feeding/cleaning/playing/reading. I can see this might be extra inconvenient on this 18 hour each way journey.

sorry for essay - thanks for help - and I almost don’t want to go and see my family after 4 years!

Crayola used to have these magic pens that mine liked on planes, also took puzzle books (dd1 was particularly fond of mazes) plain paper too for hangman and boxes.

Yogurt covered raisins were my kids snack of choice, mostly they ate the airline food though, as we mostly flew ba, they had a good snack store back then.

No such thing as tablets in my day but don't forget headphones, nobody wants to hear their tablets!

Clean clothes for everyone. Assume you will get puked on

Amazing ideas. no idea what magic pens are do you mean those magnetic doodle pad things?

also the headphone point is brilliant. Need to sort ones that they will actually tolerate …

And this is literally why I needed to ask on here. Wouldn’t have crossed my mind. I SO don’t want to go now :(

Definitely headphones. I travel a lot - would never mind a child crying or shouting but would hate a child watching a tablet without headphones (or an adult…)! Make it a non negotiable if they want to watch the tablet

I did UK - USA with 3 under 5 many years ago. I bought lots of little toys, crayons, colouring books etc and wrapped them all up in Christmas paper then gave them to them through the journey, not all at once. I also took fleece blankets with Father Christmas on to wrap up in. Planes are always freezing cold!

I had everything you had (great list by the way) my child slept the whole time and hardly ate anything

Snacks
Lego sets / duplo sets
carrier bag for wet / soiled clothes
baby wipes
colouring books
Reading books for older child

Wow you are very well prepared! I usually turn up with my 2 kids with only a drawing pad and colour pencils. I think your 7 year old will be fine left on his own, mine was so chuffed with the screen in front of her and unlimited screen time 😁

@PayPennies
I often think taking the clean clothes is an insurance against vomit ! Ie they are more likely to vomit if you are unprepared (clearly anecdotal!)

Take some junior kwells also. At least you have back up if anyone is air sick

Ps you will go and it will be fine. Your youngest will be as well travelled as the oldest and next time will be a doddle!

Good luck

I would put the younger one in pull-ups or at least have them to hand.

Water colouring in books are good. They colour with a pen filled with water, colours show up, book dries, colours disappear and repeat.

If Daddy is favourite consider alternating parent child parent child at times. Might work out for you at least.

Good luck.

Key question

what class are you flying?

Clean clothes for yourself too.

Wipes - baby wipes and disinfectant wipes

Snacks - anything small that they can fit into their mouth without biting to avoid crumbs. Think small pretzels.

Slipper socks

Eye masks.

Where are you flying to in Asia? Some countries still require health declarations (Singapore) and Indonesia requires visa. Wise to take vaccine certificates with you.

Please relax and look forward to seeing your family .
You parent these children every single day , you are more than capable of doing this - you’re resourceful - a long haul flight ✈️ is really not beyond your capabilities 😀

Your list is fine .. comfy blankets as well and you’ll be good to go .
Enjoy yourself .

Calpol!

Watercolour books
Triangle colouring pencils so they don't roll of the tray table
Nothing like Lego or anything with small bits that you'll end up picking up off the floor for the whole flight.

Trail mix is good for snacking or anything else small that takes longer to eat, raisins, dry cheerios etc

The 7yo will be fine. When I did 14 hours with DTs when they were three it nearly broke me. We had a shitty flight time which didn't help. What time are you flying?

Chupa chumps or similar - good for sucking on during takeoff and landing, and they can’t howl when sucking on a lollipop.

Yes to change of clothes.

I wouldn’t use pull ups, just don’t go nuts on fluids and go to the loo all the time.

Firstly, relax. You got this.

I would use pull ups (and recently did for DC in similar circumstances). Sometimes you’re unable to take them to the toilet for a long time and you really can’t do anything about that.

Your older child will most likely just love the unrestricted access to a tablet.

You will need to swap kids at some point because the 3 year old will drive you insane. Mine will use a tablet; but can’t drive it well themselves. So it’s constant nagging to find something else for them.

I personally avoid lots of small toys and think Lego would be a disaster. You’ll be constantly picking things up off the floor.

Don't forget empty drinks bottles that you can fill after security.

Good luck!

Put the toddler in a pull up for sure, you can’t predict when they’ll sleep and take spares. In addition to the ipad and headphones (headphones shouldn non negotiable and practice at home first) I also take stickers, colouring and freezer bag of duplo. Take a favoured water bottle/cup through security and refill on the other side to minimise risk of spills. I let mine choose their own snacks and tat magazine in the airport shops. From bitter experience yes yes to spare clothes for everyone. Power bricks and cables for charging devices. The younger one will be considerably more work so make sure you switch seats with your spouse every few hours.

Unfortunately economy as business for 4 was entirely undobable

Yeah not those countries and have checked - hopefully all fine

Thanks all for the excellent ideas. Lego to be avoided at all costs as too much risk of choking for the little and the odd piece squashed under bums at worst times. But other ideas excellent

Honestly with a not quite 3YO I think that’s for the best! They have to be in their own seat at that age and if it’s business you can’t see each other so it’s a huge ask to have them sit nicely for take off/landing and you inevitably end up being up and down like a yoyo tending to their various requests to open packets, locate a toy, change the movie etc etc.