uk to Sydney flight. What should I take for my 3 and 19mth old?

[anitapatsy2]

We're travelling from Manchester to Sydney with our two DD's, 3 and 19mth old with a four hour stop in kuala lumpur. We've got little presents to distract them along the way and after that, i, guessing what we'll need as I've never travelled to Sydney before. Does anyone have any advice on things we should really take to make the journey as easy as possible? Food, games ... ?? Any advice at all would be really appreciated.

Thanks

I haven't been yet, but have done a lot of research. We're flying to Sydney too with an over night stop in Singapore, ds will be 3 1/2 when we go.

I'm getting him a trunki for his hand luggage, filled with mini playmobil sets ( he'lll play with it for ages and when he gets bored a new set can add to the game) magazines ( keep him occupied for hours), books about aeroplanes/ Australia, crayola 'mess free' sets etc.

Snackwize I'm thinking: individual box of Cheerios ( can be eaten dry or with milk and take a while to eat) mini cheddars, fruit bars, lollipops for take off and landing and maybe sandwiches that won't go off. Also, a sports type bottle for ds to drink out of incase he accidentally knocks it over.

Ds also has an I pod touch so we'll take that with all his apps on and there's always his favourite films on the I pad if necessary!

Hi - we did this trip in April with a 4 & 2 year old. Who are you flying with? Malaysian?

We were with Emirates and the kids tv was very good. Our 2 year old was very happy watching The Wiggles again and again and again. They also has lots of familiar CBeebies shows. Sticker books are good - funny faces ones and anything else you can find. We also took a few favourite books as we found with the 2 year old, this really helped with the "wind down...it's time to sleep now". Ipad was also helpful - downloaded Peppa Pig episodes were a winner as were the games we had (for the 4 year old)

Snack wise - we took loads of organix bars, rice cakes, bread sticks, small packs of biscuits- I like the cheerios and mini cheddars idea. Emirates kids meals were quite good and the bonus was they came with a snack box which was very handy as one of the children was always asleep during meal time and this helped tide them over between meals.

Re water bottles - just be aware that they have to be empty when you go through security. We had night flights so got a food place to fill them up with milk for us before we got on the plane (Giraffe at Manchester airport, have had Costa do them before as well)

Don't take too much stuff as you will find the children sleep a lot on the flight, particularly if they are night flights. Also, you don't want to be carrying loads of stuff. Our 4 year old took hand luggage but we ended up carrying it a lot!!!

For the flight back (not sure how familiar you are with Oz foods) - packs of tiny teddies, and cruskits were a winner with our kids!

Enjoy the trip & good luck with the flight!

A spare set of clothes for you as sometimes dc get travel sick or over excited - even when they don't normally. So usually you pack spare clothes for them , but if they are sick on you you will want to freshen up for the remander of the journey.

Ozbrit: sorry I forgot to add, we'll be taking his sports bottle through security empty before filling it! Thanks for adding that for me :)

Thank you so much for the tips. We're flying with Malaysian airlines so hopefully tv will be on a par with emirates. Oilbeansmummy, are you emigrating too? Thanks again everyone, I'm off to get the mini Cheerios!

For the 19m old take double the nappies you think you'll need! Plus spare clothes for you all in case of accidents - and a couple of empty carrier bags for dirty stuff/rubbish!

Haha Anita I wish!! No were just going for a month for a wedding. We'd love to emigrate but don't have the necessary skills to get a visa :(

Travelling in fortnight with both DSs (5 & 3 yrs) via KL on my own (am petrified ). Forgot about snacks so glad I saw this thread!!

Took DS1 at 18mths to Aus to meet my family and he only slept about 6hrs from Birmingham to Sydney - 2hrs of this in Dubai airport when I wanted him to be able to run around. We must have done several hundred laps of the aisles during the flights... Hoping they will sleep this time, and preferably at the same time so I can. Booked midday flight on Malaysian, with luck they'll stay awake most of 1st flight, run around KL airport then crash for whole of 2nd flight so can get some sleep. Then again they will do what they do...

Entertainment-wise have said they can watch as much TV as they like, got a really good thick little sticker book each with pictures they can decorate (pirate island etc) and will take textas/colouring books. Not sure what else but don't want anything small that will be pain in the proverbial to retrieve between cramped airline seats. Banned anything with electronic noises that will drive me (and others) insane. Maybe matchbox cars??

Any other good ideas for bouncy boys? Does anyone know if plasticine tubs/modelling clay would be okay or am I just asking for security to confiscate???

Following with interest will be doing London Melbourne and back with 2 yo and 8 month old at Christmas.

Last time we flew there dd was 4mi and screamed and never slept!!! It freaked her out so much we were shell shocked when we landed in Melbourne! Our mistake I think was an evening flight - when she would have been going to sleep we were going through security / boarding etc with the bright airport lights. This time we've booked afternoon flights and they'll both be older so fingers crossed!

An thinking of getting 2 yo an etch a sketch as a present on the plane hoping that will occupy a few hours. I'm praying ds isnt yet crawling at 8mo ugh - dirty airplane floor!! :)