How to survive long haul flight with 11 month old

[Strawberries21]

Hi we’re due to fly UK to NZ, just a connecting flight in Los Angeles. Really dreading the trip with my 11 month old who HATES sitting still. He’s not really into toys that much, just loves cruising around, chucking things out of boxes, and crawling after balls. He’ll be infant on lap, we do not have the money to pay for another seat for him. We’re flying American Airlines who have said we’re not guaranteed a bassinet and on their website it says they are up to 9kg anyway which he hasn’t been for a while! We’re also flying with our preschooler who will not be a problem at all.

1. Any tips on sleeping arrangements if we don’t get a bassinet? I’m worried he won’t sleep on me, and if he does do you just have to switch him between you and partner so you get some rest? Could we take a fold up cot thing to put on the floor??
2. Any toy recommendations that may occupy him?
3. Any other tips?

Thanks very much.

Can you pay extra for a bulkhead seat? They’re super useful as it means you have more room for all your stuff, you won’t be disturbing anyone when you need to get up, and your dc can also wander round/play in that area too. It also means you’ll probably be nearer to either the toilets or the galley which is handy with a baby.
Ask the crew to serve the meals to you and your DH separately to make it far easier.
Take far more of everything on board than you think you’ll need, just in case of delays. You can do a click and collect to Boots on the air side of security, if that helps.
As your dc doesn’t sit still for long, don’t take advantage of priority boarding. Instead, wait until the last moment!
Take a spare change of clothes for everyone (in case of vomit!)

I flew back on an overnight flight from the US a few weeks ago sitting across the aisle from a couple with a 10month old. They had a bassinet but he was far too active and probably too big to use it! But it did mean that they had the bulk head seats and were able to put him on the floor on a blanket to play with toys. It was a 3-3-3 seat configuration and the cabin crew kindly moved the 3rd person in their row to an empty extra legroom seat so that they had more space. It turned out the thing that kept him most occupied was watching Frozen on the TV without any sound!!

Thank you. We weren’t able to choose bulkhead seats but if we get a bassinet we will be moved to these seats

He won’t fit in bassinet anyway. They will make you take him out. I can’t imagine a child over 6 months fitting.

We put the arm rests up between me and the 4 year old, which meant there was space for my 18month old to fit in between. We had lots of snacks and stuff downloaded on iPad. They slept a fair bit. I took toys and games but they weren’t that fussed. Made sure we had cosy blankets and teddies to encourage nap times. Husband did a few laps holding 18 month old to get her to sleep.

wasn’t a terrible experience for us at all, though I appreciate mine are a bit older.

Did a very similar flight last year with my 11 month old, think he slept for about 2 out of the 24 hours of the journey. Like yours, didn't want to sit still or stay on our laps, too young to be entertained by TV or iPad or books, so it was basically just chasing him up and down the aisles, letting him crawl around below our seats (gross but hey what can you do) and switching him between my husband and I. He was too big for the bassinet but it was good having the bulkhead seats as others said so worth trying to get just for that. No advice really, it's a terrible age for long haul flights if you have an active baby so just brace yourself and prepare for no sleep for yourself. Cabin crew were really great on our flight at least, offering to hold him, entertain him etc so we could get a short break.

Thank you all, some good tips

Don’t take them up on the offer of the bassinet- he won’t fit and by moving to the bulkheads you won’t be able to move the arm rests and I reckon the key part of getting comfy is lifting them so he can sleep across you. Accept it’ll be hard work and pretty awful but it’s one bad day of your life and you will survive, and NZ will be worth it! Loads of snacks and plenty of changes of clothes for you all, and more nappies and wipes than you think you’ll ever need.