To ask how to survive a long haul trip with a 2 year old?

[NeedingAGoodNap]

We are flying to London from Melbourne Australia at Christmas time this year with a very active 2 year old! We have 3 flights to get through

1. Melbourne -> Sydney (3 hour layover)
2. Sydney -> Singapore (1.5 hour layover)
3. Singapore -> London

Does anyone have tips on what to pack to survive this trip? We are flying premium economy in the hope that some more space might help a little bit!

If you take a car seat, make absolutely sure of all the width and depth dimensions so that it fits into the plane seat. I had some sort of car seat/buggy combo that was a car seat and when you press a button, wheels popped out and a handle extended. It was terrific because I was traveling on my own and I could push my 2 year old through the airport with my actual buggy as checked luggage. He then sat in it on the plane, snugly strapped in. I could leisurely go to the loo once he was settled, which seemed like the pinnacle of indulgence. I love the pool float idea- necessity is the mother of invention! I might substitute desperation for necessity, though.

Changes of clothes for you as well as them! DD vomited all over me about an hour into an Aus-Hong kong flight once....

Have spare clothes for you in your hand luggage. I didn’t, we hit turbulence and my then 18 month old threw up all over me. Finished the journey in airline PJs 🤣

Thanks for all the ideas, they are all very helpful!

@PatriciaHolm and @Hesma - oh my, I hadn't even thought of the possibility of being thrown up on! I will be packing some spare clothes for everyone now...

I don't think a saving of over $12,000 is "a pissy amount" to be fair! Unfortunately at the time of booking most airlines hadn't resumed all routes and only Qantas was doing Melbourne, Perth, London which was extremely expensive

When DD was just under one I flew single handed to Sydney with her. It was fine; but she was still a baby and I do know that is very different to a two year old toddler.

(I took very short haul flight with her at two and it was such a nightmare I won't go in to it here.)

However on the flight to Sydney there was a couple sat near me with a two year old. Their GP had prescribed some king of sedative they could give their toddler to help him sleep. Also they had the seats behind the bulwark with extra legroom and the cabin crew provided cushions with which they basically made him a bed on the floor in front of their seat.

I was deeply envious!

They don't let you do that anymore. You are not allowed to sleep on the floor. Years ago, yes, to my bloody shock when on a flight from Shanghai, my neighbour decide to have a lie in on my feet and several other passengers were doing that. The flight assistants seemed totally unfazed, so it must have been the norm on that route.

OP don't count on being able to put your DC on the cabin floor for a nap. Especially now that you have the entertainment box under the seat. In case of turbulence, DC could smash their face against the metal box or the seat metal structure.

Add a few Calpol sachet just in case, even if only for you if you develop a headache due to lack of sleep.

If you ask for a special meal, you will be served before everybody else, which also means you will have your tray for longer than anybody else, and then you are really limited in your movements. If you are flying Quantas , on some routes, they have the fresh fruit platter which is the nicest of all special meals.

Lots of good advice already on the thread but I just want to reiterate that you should pack more food, drinks, nappies, and spare clothes than you think is reasonable. I have usually ended up using my “just in case” things that I almost didn’t bring because they seemed excessive.

This is very good advice. On a trip to Asia flying alone with my 18 month old, he went through two changes of clothing before we even boarded the plane. One before security and one at the gate. This is also where resealable plastic bags come into play. I was torn between saving his poo stained clothes and chucking them, but I ended up double sealing them in two bags and was able to wash them on arrival.

Hello I’m taking my 22 month old on a 10 hour flight alone as my husband will be following us out after a week or so. I’m a little nervous being on my own with a very active toddler. Please does anyone have any suggestions on how to entertain a toddler for 10 hours. It’s a night flight so I hope she will sleep for most of the flight but knowing my luck she won’t. Thank you

Peelable gel window stickers !

we did the same trip with a similar aged kid
ipad and kid friendly headphones - you do need to start letting them watch screens before you fly - now breaking the habit later??? Good luck 😆
in all seriousness - iPad, playdoug (although be prepared for it being double checked at security), small-ish toys… although make sure they are big enough that you can easily find them when they inevitably go to the floor
snacks, snacks… and did I mentioned snacks? Seriously more snacks that you think
a change for clothes for them and you (learned that the hard way!) - just an extra shirt for you tossed in your carry on will do

Also, backpacks as carry ons!
my DD used to fall into deep sleep with the turbine noise (on landing) so I had to carry her more times than I can count out of the plane… with backpacks, it’s about manageable- if I had a small suitcase and a trunki (or similar) for her I would have never managed it
ask for your stroller to be tagged so you can drop on the airline door and be returned to you on the other side… again, sleeping toddler + carry on luggage it’s not fun if you don’t have a stroller with you

Phenergan. Try it at home first.

I travel fairly regularlt with my baby and toddler.
They will change lots between now and then!
Screens are your friend. Download episodes onto ipad of favourite shows.
Snacks. All the snacks.
Fave toys. I take water painting, board books, the velcro rip and pull activity bored books.
Be prepared not to have a break. I rarely watch anything. Buy sticker sheets and sticker books. Small colouring pens. Have a whole backpack of small toys and snacks.
Preorder kids meal.
Make sure the long part is overnight and invest in a baby hammock to set up.
At the layover, get them to walk and play ad much as possible. Avoid sitting and eating- do this on the plane!! Is there a playground at the airport? Lots do now, google.
Clothes. Mine just got diarrhoea at the airport and we went through 3 pairs of pants before take off. Take spares and comfy jammies for flying. And socks and a swaddle blanket.

Also take your yoyo as carry on so you can put them in it straight off the plane to get through transfer

😁