How do I entertain on a long haul flight

[annobal]

I'm flying to Australia with ds1 (2 1/2) and ds2 (1) in a couple of weeks. Any suggestions re toys, drugs gratefully received...

for your elder child take one of those scribbler pads instead of lugging paper/crayons etc about.
You can buy them alomst anywhere, but we got ours in the ELC \link{http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-40492\here}
Also, I'm sure they'll have inflight entertainment. We had a childrens channel on when we flew with Virgin to Florida, with a good mix of kiddies faves.
Good luck on your flight.
p.s don't go in with the thought that they wil sleep, DS1 (was 15 months at the time) and didn't sleep one wink in a 14 hr flight. He slept on the way back thankgod!

Good luck! We're getting ready to do the same flight and have been gathering info.

One friend does Oz every year. She says that her journeys have been much easier since she told her kids that they are not allowed out of their seats except to go to the loo. Says its the law on planes! The first time she did the trip, she said that she was exhausted trailing up and down the aisles with hers and that they have settled much better since being chair bound. Obviously you will want to get up sometimes, but it can be at your demand not theirs.

I have one other friend who drugs her kids for the trip, but have heard that it can make some kids go hyper. Don't think that I would risk it.

I flew to Australia with ds1 (2 years) and a good trick was to have tiny present to open every hour or two (they don't have to be expensive or big). It worked well and the novelty of a new toy kept her entertained.
I tried the medicine once - it did make her more hyper so I can testify to this (she actually fell asleep - through exhaustion as we were coming in to land)

We flew to Australia with dd (4) and ds (2 1/2) last year. Although we had the bag of little presents, ours were very well entertained by Hi-5 on the seat-back TV screen.

Easy .you go in business class and put child in economy

Check Travel as well. This topic comes up on a fairly regular basis, and you might find what you're looking for there.

Thank you for your posts. I like the idea of going into business class!! I wonder how I could slip that one on the visa...

I find\link{http://www.excite.co.uk/search/web/detail?_f=%2Fsearch%2Fweb%2Fresults%3Fq%3Dflight%2Bvest%26offset%3D0%26o%3D%26c%3Duk%26qs%3D2066&_t=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.familiesonline.co.uk%2Farticle%2Fstatic%2F312%2F&_q=flight+vest\this} is very useful with ds on planes. It keeps them in the seat without the restriction of the seatbelt and stops them falling of the chair if they go to sleep.

food tends to keep mine amused - boxes of raisins and the like. Also it's worth asking what food they'll give your dss. I will never forget dd being given a box with umbongo to drink, chocolate and sweets in it (might have been a sanwich buried in it but dd wasn't going to notice) I was really annoyed. large amounts of sugar, toddlers and long haul flights DO NOT MIX. I found a new small doll, with a few clothes, including dolly nappies, a plstic spoon and bowl for pretend feeding (which you'll probably have anyway) worked well for me on one flight. I thin kthe key thing is to have a variety of stuff, keep it hidden and bring it out periodically to stave of imminent melt downs. And be impervious to disapproving looks. for no matter what you do someone on the plane will think you're doing it wrong.