9 hour flight with 22 month old

[AlexandraN1988]

We've been asked to go on holiday with our friends who have a teenage daughter to the Dominican republic at the end of August. We would love to go but we have concerns about how to get through the 9 hour flight with our very active, stubborn toddler who will be 22 months at the time and who very much knows her own mind.
Aside from the flight we're also worried about food, heat, mosquito's etc when there. This would be the first time taking her abroad and we're not sure if somewhere so far away is the best option for a first holiday?
Our friends who want us to go are great with her and I know they would help out if needed but it would be nice to here from other people who have done this type of holiday with a young toddler before we decide to go or not.
Any tips/advice would be great.

It's rather famous for food poisoning, have a Google. It has improved in recent years though.

We did Cuba when DS1 was 18 months which was brilliant. Have taken all 3 long haul to the Far East from babyhood onward but it’s a bit different as some of each trip we stay with family there and we have the back up of knowing extended family close by. I would definitely book a seat for 22 month old for that length of flight.

Don’t let your child dominate what you do or you won’t do anything. Obviously your DC will have to learn to be flexible and fit in at some point but I see your concerns about having “that child” on the plane. Can you try and work out what might entertain her in the meantime? Work hard on her doing what you want when you want it. Try and make life easier for you and then you won’t have concerns.

It’s a shame the holiday is DR really. A 2 hour flight to Europe would be less daunting and just as horribly hot. Late August is hurricane season. Not likely to be mosquito ridden but just very hot and humid as the climate changes around this time.

It's not really that long if you get a night flight and lo will sleep for some/most of it. We've done Australia a couple of times with young children and that's 26 hrs... still doable but certainly not enjoyable!

If you want to go, go. It'll be challenging but worth it.

I took a nearly two yr old on a 12 hour flight. I was hanging with tiredness by the time we landed - they didn’t sleep and had to be non-stop entertained the whole time. Time difference then added to the pain with dd waking every morning for first week of holiday at 2am/3am/4am/5am etc until they (sort of) adjusted in second week. I was delirious with tiredness by second week of holiday. Additional stress was heaped on with dd turning nose up at all the food we bought - even stuff she would have normally eaten back home. I didn’t enjoy much of the holiday. On that basis I would recommend holidaying closer to home. But that’s just my experience.

Hi my sil brought her 2 kids to my wedding in Dominican Republic in July. They were 3 and 18 months. She thought the flight was ok, passed it with loads of screen time lol and the promise of getting in the pool "soon". the 18 month old had to see a dr and go to the hospital. My sil said the hospital was clean and they all spoke great English.

Thank you for everyone's advice and experiences!
And I appreciate the comment about not letting her dominate what we do... that is definitely something I'm trying to avoid, the joy of boundary testing is underway.
Thesunrising that sounds aweful and is exactly what I'm worried about!
Our friends are desperate for us to join them but we haven't booked it yet. I think we're edging more towards trying somewhere closer like Spain first before we do a long flight.

You would really need to book a seat at that age for a 9 hour flight which obviously adds to the cost. The days of the nice check in staff blocking a spare seat beside you seem be long gone unfortunately.

My other concern would be holidaying with friends with a teenager. It is easy to forget what holidays with a toddler are like and their idea of fun holiday activities are likely to be very different to yours. Unless you have a very frank conversation beforehand (and even if you do) you could end up with everyone thinking the other is unreasonable. Will the teenage girl be expected to entertain/babysit the toddler? My SILs expectation of this caused massive resentment in our house, being happy to play with a toddler for an hour did not mean they wanted to do it for hours on end but she made it very difficult to say no or enough. Do your friends like long leisurely meals over a bottle of wine. Obviously having an understanding that you may often need to do your own thing would help.

I think your idea of starting closer to home may be a better plan rather than an expensive holiday that goes tits up!

I wouldn’t go to the DR personally as it’s not my thing but we live 9 hours+ flight from all of our families, DD is 23 months and will be making the trip for the 3rd time at the end of the month. Honestly, it’s fine. Take toys, snacks, the iPad with headphones. Book her a seat. If you think the holiday will be worth it then I’d do it without hesitation.

I got back on Monday for Florida with my 22 month old. So managed a 9 hour flight with him. He does not sit still and doesn't even watch tv. But I was pleasantly surprised. Not the way out he fell asleep for 3 hours (as flight was on his nap time) and then ate, played games on entertainment tv and had a few laps of plane. On the way back was a night flight and he did struggle, actually he screamed blue murder for 2 hours, then fell asleep for 5 hours. That was very stressful as it was a night flight and you are aware everyone is trying to sleep but I had a lot of worries and it wasn't as bad as i thought.