Tips for long haul flight with 1 year old

[MayMi]

I'm looking for any tips/experiences people might have about taking a baby/toddler on a long haul flight. My daughter will be about 1year/15 months old at the time we fly if we do go ahead with this.

How to deal with sleep, entertainment, nappy changing, feeding, luggage, the jet lag afterwards, covid tests, recommended airlines etc anything you can think of on this subject please!

I haven't booked anything yet but if we go then we're looking at a Japan to UK return flight which is currently about 18+ hour journey including one stopover.

I was a frequent flyer Europe - Japan.
My advice do not book with ANA (All Nippon Airways) , they have the tiniest seats of all.
Why are you doing a stopover? Direct flights, depending on aircraft, are roughly 12 hours.

So there are two of you adults and one baby? I’d say do it quick before she walks! If she’s started exploring everywhere I don’t know… for me the stage from crawling around to 3 years was the most difficult for long journeys, and for holidays in general.

If you are determined, you need to bring a buggy which can be folded at the airplane steps. Travel really light. Wear clothes like lounge or sports wear as you will get food on you probably. Bring change of clothes for her, and a small bag full of new toys she’s never seen before and snacks that take a while to eat. Bring an ipad or phone to play kids tv. Plenty of drinks and snacks. Most can be bought after security in the shops. Be prepared to go up and down the aisle with her until you are really so bored. Be patient with her. She may well cry and get fustrated, try and not worry about anyone else, just focus on her wellbeing and sleep when she sleeps. The best airline you can afford…

@Kaiken I would do a direct flight but due the Russia-Ukraine war, post-pandemic situation and as Japan is only starting to open its borders, there doesn't seem to be any direct flights going right now. Many flights have a long stopover as well but I'm going to go for as short of a stopover as possible.

Ah that's a shame about ANA, I'll bear that in mind though.

I did something that was odd, but worked. I packed a ziplock bag for ever hour of the flight, a small 'thing' eg a tiny 50p toy, a small snack eg a freddo or dried mango and a tiny slip of paper with a task - eg make the cabin crew smile or whatever. Worked a treat :) Lots of distraction and anticipation lots of fun 😂

@CherryBlossomAutumn thanks for the tips!

It might be just one adult (me) and the baby 🙈 I may manage to get another adult to come with me but it's unlikely. DD can 'army' crawl and can pull to stand on some things.

@badbaduncle I love that idea!

sorry to be a party pooper but unless it’s essential, I wouldn’t go on a flight with a small child. Yes it’s a tough experience for all involved but also I wouldn’t fly unnecessarily for the sake of the environment and deffo not with someone who won’t ‘gain‘ much from it, for want of a better word. x

I guess you're not looking for advice such as - don't do it!

Sorry, but seriously, don't! Unless there is a pressing family reason why you have to be in Japan at that time. If at all possible my advice would be to try to go sooner- ideally under 6 months.

Otherwise, better to wait until DD is about 3 or 4, when she can reliably sit in front of a TV for an extended period of time.

Long haul in between those ages is just hell on earth.

If you absolutely have to do it, make sure you get her her own seat, be prepared for neither of you sleeping for the whole journey, try as hard as you can to bring a second adult, book the best seats you can afford.

HI. Frequent long haul flier - 12hours plus - with four kids from tiny babies to now teens.
15 months can be challenging but so too can a 13 year old when the tv screens don't work and their tablet has run out of power etc. I wouldn't let age stop you going. I look back now and know of course it can be challenging but also I am glad we have travelled with kids when they are small as they are great travellers now.

My tips :

1. Clothes changes for you and baby
2. Have really comfy clothes and layers for you both. Bring a baby blanket too for little one.
3. Pack stuff in easy packing cubes and have a bag for everything to make it easy to find stuff. Invest in a good travel bag that you can easily get things out off.
4. Bring some lavender oil to sprinkle near you if baby struggling to sleep
5. Plenty of puree food packets so they can suck themselves so you may manage something to eat too. Pack a few snacks for yourself too
6. Bring some plastic zip bags - empty large ones - incase of accidents/sick etc
7. Invest in a hip carrier or baby sling for walking up and down the aisle as you will need to stretch your own legs
8. If travelling on your own ask hostess when you get on if you need to use the bathroom they will sit with baby or hold baby for you
9. Bring a facial spray that can cool you and baby down quickly if needs be
10. Lots of backup of fav cartoons on a tablet and make sure you know the power plug used on plane
11. Get baby used to headphones if using them
12. If baby is crying and upset - don't get upset and bothered . Anyone who has kids understands. Those that don't you won't see them again so try not to worry about other people.
13. Jetlag is unavoidable but kids are a lot better at bouncing back than us adults. So just sleep when you can and once you have arrived stay up until bed time and it will pass. Don't put pressure on yourself.

Safe travelling and enjoy making memories.

@iltdu thank you, these are amazing tips 🙌🏻

I flew BA direct London to Buenos Aires with the dad with our 14 month old.. We were well prepared with food for her and home comforts.
We were seated to accommodate her pram cot just behind first class just behind the service area and the crew spoiled us rotten.

Your very welcome @MayMi 😀

Loads of great tips already.

I think travelling with littlies is wonderful and have done long haul flights with both mine from the age of 9months+.

What I will emphasize is that the cabin crew are brilliant and really help out where they can. It's been the case on every flight.

The flight won't be restful for you, but is parenting a 15 month old ever restful?

Happy travels.

I wouldn’t want to do that much travel when mine were that age. Now mine are 10 years plus I happily travel with them. Personal preference

It’s fine honestly

Book a night flight if possible

Book a bassinet. If you absolutely can’t get one get a sky baby mattress you hold them in but a bassinet is much better. They work up till two I think.

Get some baby sleep spray stuff. Use it at home before you go, and then use in the bassinet so the baby associates it with sleep (also good for hotels etc)

Do as much bedtime routine as you can - into Pjs, story, bottle, and into bassinet. Take familiar blanket and toy.

Obviously the cabin will be dark at night but I think there are black out things for bassinets. Worth trying.

If you are two travelling together, book either side of the row. The middle is always the last to get booked so you might get a whole row to yourself. If someone does book, they will happily swap to sit on the ends.

More fluids than usual, the cabin is dry.

Bring plenty of familiar snack foods, don’t assume they will eat the airline food. Do order children’s meals - they are a massive point of interest if there’s no pressure to eat them.

In waking hours a tiny new thing wrapped in tissue every hour - presents are good. Familiar books and toys, plenty screen time (remember baby headphones!)

Regular supervised walks / crawls round the cabin.

Changes of clothes for baby and parents - and layers, the temperature can get v cold, but also changes a lot.

People are helpful it will be fine.

Thank you so much to everyone giving their tips and advice, it's so helpful to hear from people with experience.

I feel a lot more confident about going now. Just need to sort out the money!

I’ve done a lot of travel with mine at around that age and over 1 it’s all been pretty good. Non negotiable would be them having their own seat unless you’re in first/biz class. If I couldn’t afford the extra seat, I really would not go. There is no point to a basinnet as they won’t fit and they are too big to comfortably have them on your lap for that long. Book them a kids meal. Take loads of favourite snacks. An empty sippy cup you can fill after security. Ipad with cartoons download and headphones (practice with these at home first). Mobile charging pack to recharge. Enough nappies and wipes for 2 days just in case in hand luggage. Change of clothes for you, 2 changes for them. Several dummies if they use one and sanitising wipes. Story book and a sticker book. No toys because if there’s something that genuinely occupies an under 2 for long enough to be worth the carry on space and won’t result in me crawling under the seat umpteen times when it gets dropped, I’m yet to find it. Jet lag I’ve genuinely never found to be a problem but my experience is mostly with transatlantic flights.

We're doing a ten hour flight with ds who will be 13m when we go. We've upgraded to premium economy so we have a pair of wider seats and more leg room for dh and i plus a bassinet. Ds can then have more space to crawl / toddle. Defo defo take a yoyo pram they're a godsend at the airport.