13 hour flight with kids - neck pillows? What else can I get to help them?

[WoolyMammoth55]

I'm thinking maybe neck pillows to help them sleep - anyone recommend any specific ones? I never got on with the blow up ones myself but maybe something foamy would be useful?

They both have screens and we'll download everything we can. It's overnight so I hope they'll sleep at least a bit...

Just want to avoid feeling like I'm torturing them! We'll be in economy so likely to feel like it's torture myself TBH!

Grateful for any advice xx

I definitely recommend taking sleeping masks and ear plugs.
How old are your dc? For small children, the Trunki neck pillows are good.
If you want them to sleep, try to avoid letting them watch their tablets or the inflight entertainment screens - the light from screens can interfere with sleep.
If you get the chance to choose your seats when you check in online, sit as far toward as you can because it’s quieter.

try a few different kind of ones - the ones with beads and also the memory foam ones.
ear masks and ear plugs if you think they will use them. Or noise cancelling earphones
Favourite snacks.
a change of clothes in case anthing is spilled.
also a water bottle - cabin crew will fill it when asked and it will stop them getting dehydrated- I never find there is enough water offered.

Both my DC have done many LH flights we don’t live in the uk and my youngest is only just 4!

my advice:

Snacks, snacks. And more snacks

Colouring books, surprise toys and the odd sweet.

Headphones that can be used on the flights films (usually the plug in type. Unless flying BC etc).

A few surprises presents when they are getting jittery (one time l asked the AS to give to them randomly).

I always separate our seats, so switching adult every now and again can work on shorter flights (5 plus hours)

In our case (some friends found it didn’t work), flying at night helped break things up, as they would sleep for a number of hours and then we could navigate everything else.

IMO, just ensure they are well fed prior to the flight. If it’s a night flight (they do turn off the lights after they feed you etc), so make sure everyone is wearing comfy clothes/pj’s.

Lots of dry Snacks (such as mini cheddars, biscuits, dried fruit)
drinks bottle
Noise cancelling headphones - can be used with the inflight entertainment system (an investment if you travel a lot.)
lights cotton clothing
spare change of underwear, top, toothbrush kit etc to freshen up.
small surprise to be introduced if getting groggy (magic colouring book etc.)
a blanket as flights can get cold
loose fitting shoes as feet/ankles can swell
long haul flights tend to have snacks available.
Sleep eye mask are good.
never used the neck cushions as they’re annoying to carry and kids tend to lie down and use you as a pillow.
nintendo switch

We took a blow up foot rest on a flight to California and set that up in the footwell, and lay some blankets over it and the seat to make a nice bed. DC seemed to find it easier to sleep. I've heard some airlines don't allow them, and had no idea if ours would, so just went for it. No one noticed or cared.

Everything that previous posters have said and also a travel blanket. These are warm but fold down to practically nothing.

Be careful about ordering kids’ meals (though of course this is airline dependent), we have had situations where the kids’ meals were mainly sweets, biscuits and chocolate. If you can order some kind of “special meal” so it still gets served first we found that the best solution.

Yes to much of the above.
We gave up on presents, and basically went for unlimited screens and snacks. Depending on the age, invest in some over the head, child sized headphones. And get some universal adapters so you know they will fit the airplane socket!

It's fine. DS1 binged on screens most of a flight - day or night- but we had more success just letting him go for it. DS2 at least slept!

I wrapped up different things to do - colour by number books, small craft sets, sticker books, scratch art, puzzle books, new game for the switch etc and they got one every hour. This helped them to see that the time was passing and gave them a new activity regularly. I bought most of the things cheaply in The Works. We did it when mine were 8&9 and when we did another long haul flight when they were 12&13, they insisted I did it again. That was a challenge but they got mindful colouring, word search, sudoku etc. You just have to watch that you don’t bring forbidden items like scissors into the cabin.

www.keepemquiet.com/

This website is fab. We bought our son a 'keep em quiet' bag for a long haul flight earlier this year. Added a few extra toys in, snacks, treats & his own fancy ear phones. You can play games & watch films with them too. Hope this helps. I was nervous about the flight but my son surprised us, he was amazing! He was 3.5 then. Good luck!

We bought memory foam ones for a long trip, they were more comfortable than inflatable but obviously more bulky to carry (comes in a draw string bag that we just tied to hand luggage. I'd also get decent ear plugs.

I've seen adverts for a pillow that is more like a scarf which look good. Sadly they appear to be quite expensive although I did spot cheaper copies on ebay

uk.trtltravel.com/?gc_id=15290765412&h_ad_id=562299570408&gclid=CjwKCAjwt7SWBhAnEiwAx8ZLan204H36sAzMeuEXqVUiWkUQ492Kvc7TngY_iD90cDLWwIuGlbdTpxoCXwkQAvD_BwE

I've travelled on 8 hr flights regularly with my DC and I have to say that the iPad was a game changer 😂 Mine are old enough to have travelled before screens like this and the year DD (2.5 then) watched The Cat In The Hat on repeat was the best flight ever! She did have big over the ear earphones on.

Thanks all! Just did a big order of cushions and plug in earphones and neck pillows... Hope it will help them.

Grateful for the MN wisdom as ever :)