Longhaul flight with active 2 yr old - should we do it?

[kimberley100]

My DH and I are thinking about a trip to USA with our 2yo DS. The flight will be about 10 hours. DH will be working for the first week (hence the cheap holiday idea) so I will have to entertain DS. Then we can take a week or 2 for a proper holiday. DS is very active so i'm worried about how we might keep him entertained on the flight.
Do you think were bonkers to even consider this?
Anyone got any travel hints or tips?
Any advice would be very welcome thanks!

yes do it - I did it on my own with 2yo to NZ. 26 hours!!!

it was piece of cake, take some colouring etc & I took a few TV shows on ipod.
You might find night flights are better - its really exciting for 2yo to sleep on plane!

Thanks HipHopOpotomus...i'm starting to feel a bit braver!

Watching with interest, we'll be taking 18mo DD to Egypt in November.

Already seriously contemplating an iPad purchase if I magically find enough money in the meantime...

My active DS2 was very nearly 3 when we went to the Middle East via Paris. He watched Toy Story 3 3 or 4 times on the trot....and for once I didn't object!

Go and enjoy, but be prepared to work hard on the plane...I once walked pretty much non stop up and down the plane when DS1 was 7 months and we went to Gibraltar!

Do it, as they'll be two adults.
At least you're not stupid brave like me,I'll be travelling on my own with dd1 2y 9mo, and dd2 13 mo from Oz to the UK.
Do go on a night flight. It is so much easier when they're asleep.
The longest part of my flights are night flights.

Do it! Since mine were 3 months old we have been doing 2 x Atlantic crossings each year (grandparents in Canada / USA) and I promise you will survive!

Colouring
Books
New toy (small plastic tat) to be opened mid-flight
Raisins
Crackers
Chocolate buttons
Favourite teddy or blanket for

Try to fly BA or an airline with seat-back screens with kids shows and cartoons. Pre-order the children's meals. Take advantage of pre-boarding to get yourselves settled. Go for "walks" up and down the aisles from time to time - but stay out of the way of the trolleys.

My in-flight philosophy is that they can do whatever they want as long as it keeps them quiet and non-fussy!

Talk to your DS about the trip several times beforehand, you can even play "airplane" where he can line up all his soft toys as if they are sitting on the plane - this is where you can "teach" him that you sit and stay in one place for a very long time, that he should not kick the seat in front (although he is probably too little to reach!) and that people around you might enjoy some quiet. We used to practice doing our Airplane Voices and everything.

And when all else fails, an exhausted and pleading smile in the direction of the flight attendants usually results in some hands-on assistance.

Go - You will have a wonderful time!

Oops... Favourite teddy or blanket for encouraging sleep

It will be fine!!We've taken our children to the USA every year from when they were 12 months old and I honestly think they cope better than we do!! My hints would be..... Lots and lots of snacks given out at regular intervals during the flight (prob not the healthiest 10 hours of their lives but hey-ho!!! ;0))

Also, we wrapped up lots of individual little toys (toy cars, crayons, stickers, little men etc) and they got so excited about choosing something from the bag and played with it for ages then when they got fed up, they got to choose something else.

In addition, we found a personal DVD player to be worth it's weight in gold so they could watch all their favourite cartoons (would second the iPad idea for sure, but DVD player is a cheaper alternative).

We have always found that our children slept for at least 2-3 hours minimum (last year our 3 year old slept the whole way home from LAX on a night flight!!)

And lastly, make a big deal out of the take off, drinks service, food service, going to the bathroom, taking a wee walk around the cabin etc etc.... It's all so exciting for children that this can easily amuse them for a while!!

Good luck and happy holidays!! :0)

yes take food/snacks.
DD doesn't eat plane food (even on 26 hour journeys flights). Which is weird as she should be genetically programmed to love it :)
She's done the whole journey on a large bunch of grapes and some goats milk (as 2yo)

Take a change of clothes for vomiting incidents (bless).
Did you know they can simply remove the seat pad and bring a new one? Well I do now ....

Do it!
BUT... think about how you'll be getting from the airport to your onward destination, especially if a night flight is involved. If you haven't slept properly because DC has been...ahem.... active, you'll be in no fit state to drive anywhere or make big decisions.

Wow thanks everyone. This is my first ever post (on any site, ever!! forum virgin!) and you've all been really helpful and kind. So far I'm feeling good about going and general consensus seems to be;

snacks
dvd
toys/books/colouring
night flights

This is great - thanks again! x

Oh yeah HipHop.... Changes of clothes for EVERYBODY!! My husband learned that one the hard way after having to sit for 8 hours with orange juice spilt on his lap!! And lots of baby wipes and tissues!! Haha!!

All fabulous advice. Night flights are much easier, as it's very hard for a 2yo to stay awake! We've done lots of long haul with our two (now 4.4 and 22mo). I would add

1. a couple of changes of clothes - for sickness, wee/pooaccidents, spilling food etc. - and 2 or 3 more nappies than you think you will go through. I swear the pressure changes made both of mine poo more than normal!!!
2. pyjamas and toothbrush and usual bedtime story/blanket/cuddly toy so you can do as much of the usual bedtime routine as possible to signal it's time to sleep
3. do not stress if he makes a noise, just be very calm speak in a low voice, but be firm, and try different things to entertain. If you get stressed, your child will feed off that. Calm, calm, calm and you'll be fine.
4. ensure you both take it in turns to be the 'on' parent and the one who gets a rest. It is knackering travelling with a LO if only because you have to be alert the whole flight, so it's important that you each get a chance to rest
5. new books or toys that can be saved to be whipped out during a particularly sticky moment are a good idea
6. both DH and I have no qualms about using tv, iPads, phones etc to entertain for the whole flight if necessary. A flight is not the place to worry about how much screen time they are getting - if it keeps them quiet and happy, it is absolutely fine.

I have loads of friends who won't do "long" flights with small children (i.e. over 4 hours)

We are travelers by nature so have always traveled with the dcs from birth. Longest trip was 48 hours in total.

My tips would be:

Clean clothes in hand luggage (for adults and dcs) as children can often be sick on themselves and you.

Wet wipes (lots of them)

A new toy / toys, something cheap and exciting from ELC that you can pull out when they start to get a bit grouchy

Marshmallows (if they're sick doesn't make too much mess)

We ask the flight attend for ice for take off and landing to suck to help with ear problems. You could take jelly babies for this if dc doesn't like ice.

Pushchair is great for airports, even if to just carry your bags. Ask if you can take it directly to the plane door and pick it up just as you come off the plane.

Remember you can't take any kind of fruit into the US so make sure you eat or leave behind any bananas, apples, oranges etc.

We actually prefer day flights as we don't get to sleep at all during night flights and end up more exhausted. If dc is unsettled through the night flight you might find it more stressful than a day flight where you can walk around the plane / distract him. Both have pros and cons.

Also, those long reins / harness with a long strap for airport / immigration queuing times when ds doesn't want to be in the pushchair but you don't want him to run off. We had a nasty experience one time with a 2 year old and an airport Prada shop...

Don't be a wuss, one active toddler, pah. Do it in my sleep.
I did an 11 hour 8-time-zone flight with (ready for this?):

1 broken arm in plaster (mine)
1 x 22 month old
3 other kids age 5-10
whilst I was suffering from swine flu, or something similar that kept me feverish & sicky.

We flew just before New Yrs which meant the flight was half-empty & the stewards were great, they looked after the toddler a bit while I dozed.

Oh, forgot to say, I flew that leg without helper adult; I was only adult nominally in charge of the 4 kids.

It'll be fine. And even if it's not, it's just ten hours out of your whole life. Expect the worst and you'll probably be very

(Oops! Posted too soon.)

.... pleasantly surprised.

we did two 14hour flights in two weeks about three weeks ago with a month old and a 2 year old. 2 year old ds honestly slept for most of it.

i had lots of snacks and games we never used just lots of book reading and Disney films. you'll be fine go for it.

and I would seriously suggest you TAKE YOUR OWN CAR SEAT!! Not on the plane, but with you - check it in. You use the car seat to get to the airport here and you will need one at the other end. Airlines don't charge for them, they check them into the hold, and its there at the other end with your bags.

I don't know why more people don't do this? I think they think it will be a major hassle, but the only "hassle" is getting it from car to check-in, and from baggage claim to car at the other end. No problem!

How old is the 2 year old - just 2? 2.5 or almost 3?

We took my 'active' almost two year old on a short trip to spain - we just about coped but were pleased to get off!!!! He just was not interested in dvds, colouring, stickers etc - but then wasn't home so made no difference that we were on a plane. This was an early morning flight though and he was so full of beans. Had taken him abroad at 6 months - piece of cake :) and his sister travelled lots as a toddler too so we were quite used to travelling with kids/babies.

I think it depends on their temperament......and definitley do the night flight!!!!