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Original poster

To ask for your long haul travel tips with toddlers?

55 replies

PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 16:03

Posting in here for traffic. Travelling on a night flight tomorrow with my 14 month old toddler and there are no bulkhead seats so he will be on my lap. I am a single parent so it is just me. Any tips please to make it easier? I am packing toys, books, food etc. oh and the sling.
I am feeling strangely relaxed, which suggests I have not yet grasped the reality of how it could be!

OP posts:
MamaBear17 · 29/12/2013 16:05

We took an ipad loaded with episodes of peppa pig!

Bluestocking · 29/12/2013 16:05

Direct flight or with a stopover?

Original poster
PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 16:41

Stopover of about 2 hours, but need to collect bags, clear customs, transfer to another terminal across the city then re checkin, so won't be a lot of time for messing around. I have an iPad mamabear so will download some stuff tonight but am really hoping he will sleep on the way out - just not sure how that will work on my lap!!

OP posts:
Rhubarbgarden · 29/12/2013 16:48

Sticker book
Trunki
Lots of mini packs of raisins
Small soft fleecy blanket

LaGuardia · 29/12/2013 17:24

Leave child at home and enjoy your trip Smile

lljkk · 29/12/2013 17:27

I got up & walked around as much as possible; I've been hollered at for this on MN, but it's actually what all passengers are supposed to do to prevent DVT.

Problem is that it's a night flight & ime, he will scream about poor sleep most of the time (sorry, flashback to a dreadful flight I took from DC to LA when DS was 18 months ago & could only sleep on my lap, shudder). I would never ever risk night flight again with a toddler and no bassinet.

Original poster
PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 17:30

Lljkk I requested a bassinet when I booked 4 months ago, but just got told today that my request was denied. Feeling slightly less relaxed having read your post!
Are there no clever ideas for helping a toddler sleep when on your lap?! Anybody?!

OP posts:
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 29/12/2013 17:32

oh god. We had a nightmare with BA and a toddler in bulkhead and wt+

take more food and more milk than you think you will need and Wrap up loads of little toys as a lucky dip. iPad with films,

ask for help as well as much as you can, you should be able to take the stroller to the plane door as well xx

And good luck!!!!

BratinghamPalace · 29/12/2013 17:41

I did it recently. The behind the seat screen was a great distraction. Don't get het up about sleep. If he does great and if he does not, he will when you land!! As mine did. You will be fine. Ge will be fine too!

whatsagoodusername · 29/12/2013 17:41

No trunki - you'll end up carrying it along with your child. Sticker book, iphone/ipad with lots of cbeebies videos. Childsize headphones for said ipad/iphone. Grab a cbeebies magazine or two. Take a trip to the pound shop to pick up some cheap new toys that you don't really care about losing/breaking. Befriend the cabin crew and do not feel bad about asking for their assistance. They will (usually) happily delay your meal service if it is being dished out at a bad time for your child and get you drinks outside the normal drinks runs. Lots of running around at the airport before flight - consider getting there early so you can chill out airside and get some food. Fresh nappy and pajamas just before you get on and sippy cup/bottle of milk for take off. Look at the layout of the plane - there may be some space where DC can stretch their legs without disturbing people (eg right at the back of a 747). Avoid drinking too much as you don't want to be busting for the bathroom with a child asleep on your lap. Take painkillers for yourself as you are likely to ache after the flight after DC has (hopefully) slept on you for must of the journey. Make sure your headphones are within reach so that you can watch a movie once DC has fallen asleep.

Reallynearlyforty · 29/12/2013 17:41

Dress your child in very bright clothes - should the worst happen at the airport and they manage to crawl or walk away from you, it is easier to spot them. Unlikely with your child in a stroller I know, but applies to all ages I think (I still do this with my DCs age 10 & 7). Have a great trip!

SoThisisMe · 29/12/2013 17:42

Unless he's very small he wouldn't fit in the bassinet anyway. Our 11th month old only just fit and didn't have room to roll over so couldn't sleep in it anyway.

Two 7 hour flights will a 3 hour stop over. Was not much fun and I had dp with me so we switched every few hours and took turns to eat and take our 3 year old for a walk around/wee.

What saved us on the way back was a very lovely check in lady arranging for us to have a spare seat next to us. Only possible if the flights not full of course, but definitely worth asking. Also ask for extra pillows as soon as you board.

SoThisisMe · 29/12/2013 17:45

Oh and yes agree no trunki. Backpack is far better, you will end up carrying everything anyway.

goodbyeyellowbrickroad · 29/12/2013 17:45

Take a spare change of clothes for both of you with a couple of carrier bags to wrap up dirty ones in case of sick/poo disaster.

trashcanjunkie · 29/12/2013 17:50

A really simple sling that you can slip on and they can fall asleep on your lap in. Then they are supported in a comfy position and you have free hand/s for eating/drinking/reading. Hang on I'll try and do a link

FreudiansSlipper · 29/12/2013 18:09

have your bag super organised know where everything is i had a bag that goes across my body with a passport/ticket wallet

2 milk bottles (you will have to buy milk at the airport, unless you are bf) ipad would not bother with books, they can be downloaded if you have ipad along with a few games, change of clothes, spare socks and some pj's, cotton sling if you have one, a few sachets of calpol, a blanket or pashmina (always take one on a flight takes up little room), nappies, nappy bags, wet wipes, a small bottle of baby lotion and it is the only time i have used reigns, ds had a little back pack. if he does use a dummy take a spare one

it is surprising how many people will want to help you out, i had offers to take care of ds when i needed the loo/eating my food ds was happy to oblige he likes attention from strangers

we have been travelling on our own and a few long haul flights since ds was 9 months i found it easier than i thought

addictedtosugar · 29/12/2013 18:16

Sachets of calpol in hand luggage.

The sling works really well, but is your small enough to have forward facing initially - DS2 was sleeping in sling, facing me (too heavy to have other way round - ideally would have been on my back), and I was made to at least turn him sideways for take off.

You can take milk in child bottles through customs - they will make you taste it.

Ask for help when you need it.

Enjoy!

Original poster
PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 18:20

Thanks, loads of good tips here. There will be a lovely beach and lots of fish tikka at the other end so even if it is the wors flight imaginable, it will be worth it!

OP posts:
Original poster
PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 18:24

Addicted to sugar, why are you made to turn the sling sideways for takeoff? Could you thread the baby seatbelt through the sling between your bodies maybe? Our flight is at 9 so my cunning plan is to put him to sleep in the pushchair at 7 then move him into the fling at the gate and hopefully keep him in there to sleep for the whole 9 hour flight.

The best laid plans etc etc

OP posts:
Original poster
PollyIndia · 29/12/2013 18:25

Sling not fling

OP posts:
LadyRabbit · 29/12/2013 18:34

Any air miles handy so you could upgrade a leg? I did this when I took a v long haul trip with my toddler on my own and it was the only way I just abou survived. But the jet lag was a whole other story...

Good luck.

addictedtosugar · 29/12/2013 19:22

They didn't want him facing against me, in case of crash, they wanted us both facing the same way, ideally. The lap belt wasn't the problem. We compromised with me loosening off the sling enough so both legs were on the same side of my body rather than across my hips.

redmayneslips · 29/12/2013 19:23

We have travelled a lot long haul with small dc and the best advice I can give is to ask as you are checking in if there are any rows with a spare seat where you can lie him across 2 seats (with the arm-rest up) and a blanket under him, that way he can really stretch out.

We have had some flights where she never slept at all (13hrs, then a 2 hr stop, then 9 hours ) but we just took it hour by hour and she was ok. Staff were excellent (this was with Quantas) and really helped us. And we have had other flights where she slept pretty much the entire way - depends.

Stay calm and remember there is always a kid crying on a flight, might as well be yours! (A friend said this to us the night before our first long haul with a 13mth dd) Great advice!

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