To ask for your long haul travel tips with toddlers?

[PollyIndia]

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!

Not a longhaul but with ds I took his reins and walked him up and down the aisles when they were quiet to help tire him.

Take some little toys he's never seen before, get them out one at a time... Space them out. Lots of snacks and drinks, iPad or DVD player. Give calpol half an hour before take off and landing to dull any ear pain (go told me that one) my very lively (challenging!) son has always been fine flying though - did 9 hours at 8 months and 5 hours at 13 months and several since x

I flew from the US to Ireland and back on my own with my 2 year old DD a few weeks ago. It wasn't as bad I was expecting but I was expecting it to be pretty bad. Don't count on him sleeping on the night flight. I thought that too but it was hard for my daughter to get comfy and she ended up finally falling asleep (after a lot of screaming) only 2 hours before landing.

I downloaded some peppa pig episodes and a couple of new games for my iPhone and bought some kids headphones on amazon which helped to keep her occupied.One thing that was a lifesaver was a portable battery pack that can charge your ipad/phone if there are no power sockets at your seat. She loved those peppa and ben and holly magazines with toys that you can buy in the airport. They usually come with stickers which my DD loved sticking all over the seat.

On the way back I upgraded to business class and to be honest it wasn't hugely better. You still end up walking around loads and because there is more space in front, the tray table pulls out from the arm of the chair which made it a tight fit with a toddler on my lap so eating was difficult. I'm sure the set up is different on other planes/airlines so that might not be an issue.

How did it go, Polly?

Hi everyone. It was fine! Well, he was easy - fell asleep in the airport in the pram for an hour though woke up when we had to check the pram in at the gate. Fell asleep about half an hour after takeoff and woke up when they out all the lights in about 90 mins before landing.
I didn't manage to sleep much though as it is pretty uncomfortable with a 2 stone toddler on your lap and we had a 3 hour transfer at Mumbai before another flight to goa and 2 hours in a taxi so all in all I found the journey tiring. He has been clingy since we arrived and not quite his normal bubbly self so I think he is a bit discombobulated by it all. He ate a bit of dinner though, and is sleeping and napping fine so I am sure he'll be ok by tomorrow or the next day.
Thanks all for your excellent tips. I will be pulling this thread it for the day flight home!!