Your experiences of long flights with children?

book_lover

Hi there

we're going away for a winter sun holiday mid to late October. We're considering a range of destinations including the Caribbean, Mexican Carribean, Egypt and the Canaries. I think Mexican Carribean is the furthest at 10 hours 40 minutes (it's also, I think, the one we like the sound of the most although am now slightly concerned about hurricane style weather and humidity bothering the kids and making them grumpy).

Anyway, could anyone please share experiences of long flights with kids please? We all managed ok 2 years ago to Greece, 4 and a half hours I think... But like I say, we're considering a more long haul destination. This is the only time we can go and we want some sun and sea :-)

Laura (5) is a live wire, but presuming she'll be able to watch films on the back of her seat for longer flights? She also has a Nintendo DS as of this Christmas.

Sam (2) is my bigger concern I suppose. I guess I could keep getting up and walking him down the plane.

What are your own experiences? Did other people on the plane grumble/sigh/tut? What tips do you have for getting through a long flight?

Cheers :-)

Mr_Lahey

I travelled 28 hours - 1 flight was 9 hours, then the next 14 hours shortly afterwards - Kids aged 4 & 7 - 4 year old watched a film then slept, 7 year old watched films pretty much the whole duration.

Flew 10 hours with a 14 month old, i worked it so he would be tired and he slept.

book_lover

thanks Mr Laney - wow you did well! This makes me feel much better - I know I could also tweak his naps/sleeping etc. so he needed to sleep lots.

NICKYS32

Hi,

I used to live in the US and took my son on his first 11 hour flight at 7 weeks old. I did travel a couple of years ago by myself with 2 children to the US as my husband was already there on business. My kids then would have been 5 & 6 and we flew via Canada as this was the cheapest option. It was hard work keeping them occupied but I gave them a carrier bag when they got on the plane with activity books, travel games, pack of cards,crayons, new story books etc and as I only gave them the bag on the plane they had not seen anything in it so it kept them occupied longer.

I have also in more recent trips got them a new game for their DS. I would recommend keeping the game in your own hand luggage and give it to them when they are getting really bored as it might keep them entertained a little longer.

book_lover

Nicky, thank you, great ideas!

katieclampet

We've travelled quite a bit with 2 gks and found the following helps

*Lots of little toys, crayons, dolls, cars, books, colouring & activity books, novelty type things, hand held games
*favourite doll/car/teddy
*plenty of snacks, fruit, plain biscuits, crispy type snacks
*plenty of drinks, water or fruit juice (not fizzy) especially in small cartons or bottles
*small pillow (sometimes get them on the flight, if at night)
*plenty of wet wipes & some nappy sacks to put all your accumulated rubbish in
*spare change of clothes, especially T shirts
*a small bar of chocolate or chocolate buttons for bribery, if absolutely desperate!!
*Grandma or grandad, those extra pair of hands make all the difference (but not always possible, I know!)

Most people are ok when children get a bit cross and grizzly, especially when they are tired, and the parents are trying to calm them down & get them off to sleep. Hope you have a good holiday, wherever you go.

katiex

space_rider

I`ve done Caribbean and Florida with young children. Best advice as already posted is lots and lots to keep them occupied. We flew to Grand Cayman with BA 2 years ago at the beginning of the summer school holidays and it was packed with children. The cabin crew were brilliant at keeping them occupied with little jobs. I even wrote a letter to thank them. I even managed to read and watch films. Once we got to the Bahamas all the children left and there was a change of crew, but they happily let my 7 year old sit and chat with them whilst they did their job. The flight is just under 10 hours, a very long flight but very worth it.

My daughter has a DS and I got her a new game from currys or Dixons duty free. Early learning centre also had lots of little activity things. I also bought my daughter a little soft bucket for the beach from ELC and it`s done quite a few journeys without getting lost.

book_lover

katieclampet, thanks, some fab ideas! Your grandchildren (I take it that's what you mean by GK) are very lucky to have you!

I'm also going to write in here (I'll refer back to this thread at the time, you see)

AQUADRAW MATS

I saw that on another thread, Sam loves them.

Space Rider, that is SO encouraging, thank you. SO good to know lots of other kids too on the long flights. Guaranteed that Laura will be the whiniest/noisiest ;-) of course, but what can you do.

The new DS game is brilliant idea, like the idea of keeping tricks up my sleeve for them :-))

gill_hc

Maybe I should join the bad mummy thread but I gave mine (age 4 and 1) a dose of mediced on the overnight flight home and they both slept for hours. This was before they decided mediced wasn't suitable for little one right enough.

minimoneysaver

Whatever you do, don't give your children play doh on the plane... I did it! It dries out really quickly and leaves a horrible crumbly mess.

space_rider

gill_hc wrote: »

Maybe I should join the bad mummy thread but I gave mine (age 4 and 1) a dose of mediced on the overnight flight home and they both slept for hours. This was before they decided mediced wasn't suitable for little one right enough.

A child may have had a bad reaction to the sedative component which is why you can't get it on prescription. When my 23 year old was younger you could get phenegran but that's been stopped now as that may have a sedative effect.

My daughter now 9 was prescribed piriton in case she had a reaction to mosquito bites. I am quite allergic to them and I forgot my antihistamine and had some of her piriton. It made me very sleepy and she was fine. It could have been the fact I was drinking rum punch too.