Tips for a long-haul flight to Mexico with an 18-month-old

[JessParrish]

Looking for advice from people who’ve actually done a long-haul flight with a toddler! 😊

We’ll be flying from Heathrow to Mexico in November with our daughter, who will be just under 18 months old. It’s around a 10-hour flight and she’ll be travelling as a lap infant. The flight there is daytime annoyingly but the way back is a night flight!

We’re currently booked in economy and have requested a bassinet/bulkhead seat, although I know that’s not guaranteed as it depends on availability and younger babies may get priority.

We’ve already got a cabin-approved pushchair, are looking at headphones (the soft headband style ones), and I’m planning on taking plenty of snacks, toys and activities to keep her entertained.

For those of you who’ve done something similar:
✈️ What were your absolute must-haves?
✈️ Any toys or activities that kept your toddler occupied for ages?
✈️ Any tips for naps or getting them to sleep?
✈️ Anything you packed that you couldn’t have done without?
✈️ Any advice for take-off and landing with little ones?

I’d love to hear anything you wish you’d known before your first long-haul flight with a toddler!
Please keep it positive. 😊
We’ve already booked the holiday, so I’m not looking for opinions on whether we should be taking her—just practical tips from those who’ve done it. Thank you! ❤️

For toddler:

All the snacks.
More snacks.
Downloaded miss rachel x 20 billion on your phone.
Those bandz earphones (you need to train them to wear.them.pre flight)
Mini magnatiles
Finger puppets
More snacks - cheerios are great.

Little strolls up and down aisles to leg stretch

For you
Hydrate
Pray for good luck

If you feel the stress rising do something silly my ho to is "oh my god you are making mummy go Cra-zzzzy!!!! She is going to go co-co lo-cooooo!!!" In a silly voice which somehow makes me feel less fucked off as I have spoken my truth without yelling in my child's face 🫠
And / Or i punish them by eating their feet / hands (which ever is the least gross at the time) cookie monster style "NOM NOM NOM!!!"
.

Take spare clothes and lots of baby wipes
iPad / tablet
Take calpol just in case
Take layers, long haul flights can get cold

I admire you. I did eurostar with my daughter on my lap for 4hrs at 18 months. It was hideous. I would pay any amount of money for a seat for her. Books, screens, much food! Not that helpful, but I would really look at whether you can afford a seat.

Honestly, a seat.
We flew to the east coast US when DD was that age, and there is no way that we would have survived with her on our laps; she was just too big and fidgety. She was in the 90th percentile and so would not have been able to go in a bassinet.

When we had 2 I did consider it as we may have been able to put them both in the one seat, but then decided that the cost was worth it.

I'd say not just snacks but a packed lunch of food you know that they eat, if that is sandwiches, freeze them and put in a cool bag, they should have defrosted nicely by the time to eat.

Also yes to a seat - the lap is hideous for 10hrs

You need basinette as a minimum

Thank you so much! 😊 This is exactly the sort of advice I was hoping for.

I’d actually read about getting her used to wearing the headphones before we fly, so we’re definitely going to start practising over the next few months. Hopefully she’ll be a pro by November! 🤞🏼

I hadn’t even thought about Cheerios though! She’s never actually had them, so that could be a nice little novelty to keep her entertained on the flight. I think “all the snacks” is definitely going to be the theme of our hand luggage at this rate! 🤣

I also really appreciate the reminder to make sure we look after ourselves too. It’s so easy to focus on packing everything for the toddler that you forget you’ll cope much better if you’re hydrated and take a few minutes to reset when things get stressful. I actually laughed at your ‘crazzzzzy mummy’ and Cookie Monster tricks! 😂

Thank you again for taking the time to reply - it’s really helpful.

-We took our old carrier/sling which she eventually went to sleep in (after a couple of hours of screaming!)
-swallowing equalises air pressure in ears so something they want to drink (juice) to sip during take off and landing
-Melissa and Doug sticker WOW - game changer
-make sure you have a good travel pillow so you can be comfy and supported whilst you hold them
-agree with pp - get them used to headphones before you are on the plane!
-lots of books

Have a great holiday :)

All of the above and changes of clothes! We did it with ds at that age and it was ok. Pace treats and new toys it is a long flight and have a spare bag of new treats for the flight home. We took bath toys like cars and fish that ds then played with on the beach. Also have calpol with you, useful if ears hurt or they get really upset. Take a blanket too for them to snuggle in. It is long but it is totally do able.