We’re going to be flying to the US soon and it’s the longest trip we’ve done with our child. It’s an 8 hour flight entirely during daylight hours, and I am slightly (read: very) apprehensive about the chaos that could unfold. Any tips or experiences?
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Basically anything goes. It’s good to get them to sleep so maybe get your kid up early. Lots of screen time. We walk up and down the plane saying hello to people. Lots of snacks.
Some kids are really good on planes and just settle down. Just think about the popping ears on the way up and make sure their nose is clear.
I’ve never flown with a little one before, but even just flying for myself - having something to suck on to help with rebalancing ear pressure is surely a must.
Thanks, that’s really helpful. Good tip especially on the clear nose thing – that’s not something they can easily communicate to us so we’ll have to be actively checking that. Hopefully our kid will be one of the calm ones!
Once took a recently turned three year old on a two hour flight without too much issue. Obvs at that age an extra year is a huge difference, but he was genuinely loving the take off and once you’re up it’s basically a big ol’ white noise machine. We had a tablet and books handy for him, though he still got restless towards then end
I imagine with yours being younger and the haul being longer it might be more problematic, but I would treat it like any other boring-for-kids situation. Books, activities, hey duggee on the tablet. Hopefully they’ll sleep at some point.
Other than that, just be aware that the people on the plane will be furiously twittering about parents and children and planes. But they’re probably cunts, so fuck ‘em.
Thanks – “boring-for-kids situation” really helps as we’ve had a fair few of those!
I’m an adult, and I still think takeoff is the best part, by far.
Flying with mom for the first time was especially funny. She had never mentioned being afraid of flying (or takeoff, at least), but she white-knuckled the armrests. I was old enough to notice, but too young to realize that the situation called for a bit more empathy on my part.
Do that thing where you let him walk the escalator for a few hours beforehand.
No tips, but I’m sending thoughts and prayers. Godspeed brother.
Don’t.
Yes, everyone will hate your guts - yourself included.
This really isn’t a helpful comment for OP who is already feeling anxious about it.
It’s a bad situation. This cannot go well. For a toddler, an eight hour flight is hell, and they will make it hell for everyone else. The best solution is to reconsider the trip, if possible.
How would lies and phony positivity be “helpful”?
OP needs to hear the unfiltered truth so they can plan for reality.
Because it’s highly likely that they’ve already got the entire trip booked and paid for. and I doubt they’re just going to cancel the entire trip. We don’t even know the reason for it. They’re obviously conscious about it hence the post. They’re just looking for tips to help make the trip as smooth for the kid as possible, not unhelpful comments about how everyone on the plane is going to hate you (which only arseholes would, the huge majority of parents will sympathise).
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Then don’t do it
Dont do it. Wait till they are older.
Was just on a 9 hour cross-Atlantic flight and there was a baby probably 14-18 months old who would not stop SCREAMING crying. Nothing the parents did could console them. I felt bad for everyone involved and eventually my health got worse because of my lack of sleep. I only advise you to try and know of those tricks that get your little one distracted from their upset times and maybe consider a thank you packet for the flight attendants as a general non-kid related thanks for their service.
Also, as an aside, unless it’s an emergency or absolutely 100% necessary for your young baby to join you on a flight - try to not fly with them. It’s stressful for the entire family and makes the day suck that much more because now everything will take longer and cost more time or actual money.
Don’t
