To wonder how the feck to entertain a 1 year old on an 8 hour flight???

[SuzanneSays]

Any good ideas? DH seems to think she will sleep a lot...

We took dtds on our laps on a 9.5 hour flight. I wrapped little presents like pound shop things. Lots of little snacks too. Not nearly as horrific as we expected. I wore my moby wrap so I could basically strap dd to me like a seat belt with her facing out. Meant I could be hands free. Plan for the worst and it'll probably be easier than you imagine.

Agree with the poster who advises not to over stimulate them with lots of new toys , films etc.

Run them ragged before the flight. Show them a film they like but already know, over and over again, they will go to sleep out of boredom. No sugar. sticker books for a change of activity, wears them out as they are required to think and act rather than passively sitting and watching.

Split family adult seats across the isle so the 2nd parent is very close by but can take a shift off and then swap easily- we did 3 hour shifts whilst dc were awake on long haul flights so other adult can get rest if necessary. It also means your dc can stand between you and walk a few steps back and fore between you if they want to.

And take a real pillow with you for under 3s. It becomes a bed for them to lay on. This is what we did on a round the world trip (11 flights! Evil parents!)

I have to say I'm with Angel on this. Why would you bother? There's so many close at hand places which will be just as thrilling for a 1 year old. It seems such an ordeal for them to be trapped in a seat/on a knee for hours at a time.
And those who talk of sedatives.... Well to me that's horrendous.

Why would you bother? Everyone has their reasons surely? I took a 4 year old and 19 mo twins. Flights were £5k less than they would be after they turned 2 and we wanted to visit my brother. Totally worth it and no issues.

I am another expat, everyone I know with small children has to take them on flights between Asia and Europe. That is the life of an expat.

When mine were younger I took a change of clothes for all of us in hand luggage. Invariably it was only DH who managed to spill stuff down his front.

It isn't the babies that annoy me as a fellow traveller but the 5 to 10 year olds who kick the back of your seat. Drives me insane on long flights. I'd rather have some crying. I do feel sorry for the parents of babies and toddlers.

YY to the change of clothes for yourself as well as the baby/toddler! DS1 has spilt his drink on me several times (accidentally) and DS2 has spilt something on me as well.

We emigrated out here in 2009 (well DH didn't, he is Aussie) and I've done every single flight back to the UK since without him; we've been back 6 times now, 3 of those with DS2 (at 6m, 18m and 30m).

Reason? to see family and friends. I don't think anyone would choose to do it for fun.

Oh yes, of course talk of sedatives is " horrendous"

It was such a shame that my kids, umm, allergies used to play up when we were flying long haul.

I stand by everything I said. A friend of mine took their 18 month old to the Carribean. Baby cried most of the way there. Took days to adjust to the climate. Then apparently cried when home for days as had to re-acclimatise. But, hey, the parents obviously couldn't possibly wait a few years to that destination.

I though the sedatives were for the parents

On Angel. You poor thing.

We fly long haul several times a year. Our youngest is now 4. Our friends fly too. So out of 30 long haul fights with children, only 2 stand out.

The one where... I got gastro. I think i proposed to the purser at the end for being so wonderful.

The one where my 5 month old got gastro. I have repressed that memory.

Otherwise, it's fine. Kids are kids, drunks are drunks and it's public transport. Sometimes it's disappointing that your idea of a treat (1st or business) is another's bog standard everyday choice but that's travelling with the public for you.

My recommendation to the OP, is sticker books and an electronic game. And a change of clothes for YOU.

I suppose it all depends on your perspective. Planes are like buses here. You want to work, visit family, go anywhere, it's hours of travel.

I wouldn't have taken DD as a baby to the Caribbean by choice; way too hot. But if someone else does? I don't care. Jet lag is no fun with kids but DD invariably adjusts before me.

Long-haul to Italy next year! Looking forward to it.