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Original poster

Long haul flight with toddler

21 replies

Funnyface1 · 05/05/2018 14:58

Please can I have some success stories? We are really desperate to take ds to Florida next year as he'll be going on for 9 and we don't want to wait any longer. Dd will be in the region of 2 years 9 months.

I know lots of people take toddler's to Disney World Florida and other long haul holidays but I never have and no matter how much I try I keep stressing about it. It's a lot of money to pay if it will be a mistake and a total nightmare.

It's getting to the point where we want to make a final decision and book but I just keep holding back. Will she cope with the long flight? What is it really like?

It's the flights I'm mostly worried about, I actually think she'll have a lovely time when we get there.

Sorry for long post, thanks!

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SpicyTomatos · 05/05/2018 19:53

If you fly overnight your daughter will probably just sleep which makes it quite easy. You probably won't sleep which means that you will have a lively jetlagged toddler when you arrive and want to rest, but that is manageable. The main problem is I'm not sure there are night flights to the US.

For a daytime flight you need to bet that hours of kids videos suffice.

frasier · 05/05/2018 20:04

Loads of successful flights with DS aged from a few months to age 2 and a half and going next month to Disney now he is 3.

Practice beforehand! Role play being at the airport and on a plane, checking in, putting on seatbelts, getting served drinks, anything you can think of in preparation. On the flight tell her exactly what is going on and what happens next.

Take playdoh, iPad, crayons, books, new small toys - make a grab bag of wrapped items that will amuse and have a new one every hour.

Ignore all snack and screen time rules!

As pp said, fly at night if possible.

eurochick · 05/05/2018 20:10

A loaded tablet and a bag of stuff from a company called Keep Em Quiet worked for us for a long haul holiday. We found the night flight tricky as she couldn't get comfy but was desperate to sleep but it was fine. Plan for a lazy first day so you can recover from the flight and adjust to the time change without loads to do.

Musicalstatues · 05/05/2018 20:11

We have travelled to Florida every year with our two at ages 1-6. When we went last year we had a 2.11 year old and a 5.11 year old. It was actually really quite an easy flight. Luckily they are both completely addicted to the iPad and can’t believe their luck that they’re allowed to just play on it as much as they want. As pp said just throw all rules out of the window and go with the flow. We take iPads and a few new little toys and books and by the time you’ve factored in food and a little nap it actually goes fairly quickly. I don’t believe there are night time flights for getting there, only for going home.

Original poster
Funnyface1 · 05/05/2018 20:36

Thank you for the replies, it's nice to hear from people who have done this and got along so well that they're prepared to do it again.

We've decided to definitely go for it so the advice is really appreciated.

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afrikat · 05/05/2018 20:51

Yep mine have both flown to Florida several times from 10 weeks to 3.5 years. We go again on Friday! Loads of snacks, toys, unlimited screen time. It's a long slog but it's fine

Hmmisthatit · 06/05/2018 07:53

We found an inflatable pillow that sits in the footwell and allows kids to put their feet up was brilliant. To totally changed their ability to sleep.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/05/2018 08:20

Fly direct is my first suggestion. You will thank me for doing that.

I first took our son when he was just over 2 years of age to Orlando, he did like to walk up and down the plane aisle then. That along with foodstuffs and films helped pass the hours onboard. He's done many more such travels since and further west too.

Flights to Orlando and the US in general always depart during daylight hours from the UK, the return flight is an overnight one arriving into the UK early the next morning.

Take plenty of what they like to eat and leave anything uneaten behind, do not rely on the airline to provide in this area. These planes are usually full of families anyway so it won't be completely awful.

Original poster
Funnyface1 · 06/05/2018 14:50

afrikat Ten weeks! You have my respect, I'm too much of a control freak to contemplate that, although I have heard it can be easier if they are very young? Enjoy your holiday!

Hmmisthatit Yes I've heard about different things you can attach to the seats to almost form a small bed, definitely looking into this!

AttilaTheMeerkat Thank you, I am absolutely flying direct, too much of a stress head not to.

Also, it's interesting what you said about the flight being full of families and small children. I was thinking (hoping) this myself with it being a Florida holiday. I was having a look on the dibb and there was a discussion about how some people received rude and negative comments when people saw them boarding with small children and babies. So I suppose you never know what you're going to get. I think it's so nasty to try to make people feel bad about wanting to take their family on a lovely holiday. I know if this happened to me, especially in front of my kids I'd be really upset.

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Cantchooseaname · 06/05/2018 14:55

Flown far too much with a toddler, without any real issues. Flight staff have always been excellent at doing everything to help out, we have always tried to be considerate, other passengers have always tried to help out too. Just relax and enjoy it.

Aragog · 06/05/2018 15:01

We took dd for the first time when she was 2y4m.

It was totally fine. Honestly.

We had a backpack of treats and entertainment, a mix of new and old. Things like small books, little cars or play sets (playmobil did some little magnetic ones which worked well), colouring, magazines, mini jigsaws, simple games, etc. And some food treats and juices too - just in case they don't like the food options or to top up. Though long haul you are fed and watered fairly regularly. Sweets for take off and landing. Mini sachet of Calppol invade of air pressure pain or illness I flight.

We also made sure dd was able to use children's headphones and took them. This was pre tablets so she spent time watching the tv screen and listening to audio stories as well. And she napped a bit.

It actually passed fairly quick. And on the way home it was a night flight so for part of it she slept.

We've done long haul a lot since then and it's always been fine.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 06/05/2018 15:08

"Hmmisthatit Yes I've heard about different things you can attach to the seats to almost form a small bed, definitely looking into this!"

I would contact the airline in question as well as reading their policy about such seating before purchasing such an item however. Some airlines (and I can think of at least two) actively ban such things from being used on their aircraft under any circumstances.

AnnaT45 · 06/05/2018 15:15

We've just done 13 hours with two toddlers. They were really good! Just go prepared with snacks, keep em quiet packs and understand you'll be watching no films !!

I find the worse but is immigration as they just want to run after being sat for so long.

I would book it. We took our eldest to Disneyland at similar age and age loved it!!!

AnnaT45 · 06/05/2018 15:16

Oh and we also got those cushions to make beds. They're brilliant!! Bet yes some airlines ban them.

Original poster
Funnyface1 · 06/05/2018 15:47

Attila Thank you for the tip, I suppose some may have safety concerns but hopefully I'll be able to get something.

Thanks for all the new replies, I'm glad we hopefully won't be the only young family on the plane!

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Shiftymake · 06/05/2018 16:04

Some info for the carry on bed < info and the Bedbox, not tried this myself but wish I had one when my dc was younger

Pompom42 · 06/05/2018 17:22

Yep I went with a 2 and 8 month old. Good as gold, colouring, sweetie box and earphones etc
9 hours went quickly and 2 hour sleep on plane

LoniceraJaponica · 06/05/2018 17:28

Anna is right to warn you about immigration. We waited in a queue for 2 hours to go through passport control in Orlando, and there is no option for children to run around, unless you want to lose your place in the queue.

Original poster
Funnyface1 · 06/05/2018 18:03

Shiftymake Thanks for the information, looks ideal if they are allowed.

Pompom42 Yay! This is what I'm hoping for. Dd is so sweet, into everything, loves stickers, colouring etc so I'm hoping with enough planning she'll be happy and entertained.

LoniceraJaponica Nightmare!!!!

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Hmmisthatit · 07/05/2018 08:24

I would contact the airline in question as well as reading their policy about such seating before purchasing such an item however. Some airlines (and I can think of at least two) actively ban such things from being used on their aircraft under any circumstances

It's the ones that hang from the seat in front or are solid that get banned. Ours are blow up cushions and I've not seen anything against them.

Original poster
Funnyface1 · 07/05/2018 16:54

Hmmisthatit Thank you, I haven't seen any like that. I'll have a look and see what I can find.

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