To let DS watch TV all journey

[happychange]

Flying from London to Auckland, it's a bloody long journey. feeling a bit guilty for letting 2 year old DS watch loads of TV

He honestly never watches TV but we haven't got anything else to do...

As he's far too young to otherwise spend the time writing a critical essay on the negative impact of long haul travel on the environment, (or drinking), it's probably fine as a one off 🤷‍♀️

The alternatives aren't pleasant though are they?
Long haul with irate 'neighbours'?
Keep him quiet!!

Oh ffs. Get over it! it’s one trip. And yes, my two year old watched hours of tv on route to Auckland. And hours on route to Malaysia at 3. And shanghai at 4....

She survived. Holidays and plane aren’t normal daily life so it’s readonable the rules aren’t normal daily ones.

What else are you doing to do, run around outside with him?

Just pray he's interested in it, otherwise the journey will seem even longer.

We had Peppa pig on all the way to Oz with our 2. That and those crappy kids magazines with a free crappy toy, Kinder eggs, snacks and iPad 🤷🏼‍♀️

Just done a return long haul trip and my DCs had ALL of the screen time. Bucket loads of the stuff.

Snack, screens and sleep are the three Ss you need for long haul travel with little ones.

Did a similar long-haul flight last year with my kids, and honestly, it is just one day. It is a long trip, you will be tired, he will be tired, and watching will hopefully get you through it a lot easier.

Best of luck and hope you enjoy your holiday in luscious NZ!

I've had to fly long haul with toddlers many times unfortunately.
My guide is that this is about survival and the rule book goes out the window. You do whatever it takes to survive those hellish hours stuck in a metal tube. The day my dc were old enough to watch movies the entire flight was a joyous one!

Honestly, it doesn't matter a notch in the bigger scheme of things. It's what you do day in, day out that counts. And, like other pp said, what's the alternative? Go with the flow, chuck out the rule book and enjoy your holiday in NZ when you get there

You could talk to him, play games like I spy, draw etc. How can you say there's literally nothing to do? You wouldn't have a choice if you didnt have the screen in the first place.

Frequent travelers here - car journey rules are no screens until we are halfway there. Plane rules are as much screen as you need. Tis the only way.

My 2 year old wouldn't play I spy... Nor find my conversation riveting enough for a long haul flight. Why make your life harder than it needs to be? What are you worried about happening long term?

What?! What do you think is going to happen? London to Auckland is a 'whatever it takes to survive' situation, no?!

Seriously, don't worry about it, it's fine.

Do take other things to do though relying solely on screens will backfire if he's not bothered about it!

Make your own mini goodie bags that you can bring out when he gets restless. Toy cars, lego kits, stickers, magazines are all great for flights.

Can you imagine being trapped on a long haul flight next to a parent who is insisting on playing I spy, or discussing everything that they see on the plane? I'd judge such a parent harshly.

DS (aged 5 at the time) played ipad all the way from London from Hong Kong. He then slept all the way to Sydney. He was quiet, he was no trouble, and it made the journey easier all round. Do it!

Who said discuss everything you see on the plane. Not me.

Well I was just assuming that if someone was playing I spy on a plane, the only things to spy and talk about would be on the plane.

Ok yes I understand, sorry. I still wouldn't personally put my DC in frint of a screen for so long. Poster above suggesting goody bags is good advice I think.

We took a 13 hour flight recently leaving at 9pm and my nearly 2 year old slept all the way (albeit on me). Going home though it was different as the flight left at midday so he was wide awake. Once the battery died on his DVD player I had to keep him entertained for the rest of the journey.
So lesson learnt I will be taking a backup iPad with his favourite programs on it next time. Will also always try and choose a flight that leaves at nighttime! Why make more hard work for yourself then you need to!

Well, hope he naps unlike DS that managed to sleep 4hr in 48 and didn't eat either. He was still bouncing off the walls with energy when we arrived (wasn't on a flight that long obviously).

Check what the airline provides, you get little goody bags, DS loved it and get something a bit different to that as he might not want to watch things constantly.

There really isn't much you can do with a 2 yo on a plane- quiet play isn't really feasible at that age, at least mine wasn't interested in board games... A couple of books maybe, colouring stuff but that's about it.

We also packed a little favourite blanket and his most beloved teddy.

Thank you! Im all about the mummy guilt.

And you're right.. it's all about the survival for this!!

I'm dreading the 17 hour flight from Doha to Auckland!

Oh gawd, please don't loudly mumsplain everything for 23 hours straight. Put the telly on!
Don't forget the headphones! They've stopped giving the proper ones out now and it's all ear buds that won't fit into small ears! Learnt that the hard way...

If you're going via Doha guessing you're flying with Quatar? They are fab with kids in my experience and will make a huge fuss of him.

Qatar even!

I always take little travelling presents, all wrapped up to unwrap every hour, chocolate buttons, a book, crayons and notebook etc just little gifts to occupy them briefly. Have a great trip and of course watching lots of tv is also fine.