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Hiya
Has anyone done a long haul flight with a toddler. We're looking into going back to the UK, and it will be cheaper to go in Feb/March next year, but DS will be 23months. Becuase he's under 2, he won't get a seat or food and I'm just wondering if anyone else has done this and how well it went. It saves us about $1400 so if its not a nightmare to do it, we're really considering it. I'll just take food with us, but I'm not sure how he'll go in one of those skycots for 18+ hours to London.
At that age I wouldnt do long haul with a kid on my lap, not even to save $1400:lol:. We have flown long haul with kids at different ages and have done toddlers at 12mths, 14 mths, 18 mths and each time we have bitten the bullet and purchased a seat - best thing we could ever do.
They move so much and as it is there is barely any room for an adult. The sky cots have a weight restriction of I think 11 kilos so that is something else to think about and my DD2 who was 12 mths when we did long haul last year lengthwise was struggling in it, so a larger baby would not be comfortable at all. Just my thoughts tho.
I did one with DD who was 14mths. You do get food for them, or on most airlines you do.
DD was too big for the bassinet so we were given a seat for her, we were not entitled to it, but if you call the airline and explain that you are happy to give up your bulkhead seat if you could be seated next to a vacant seat.
I did my travel alone, no one to help and my mantra was 'it's only 24 hrs' we did lots of walking up and back the cabin because at her age she had no interest in the TV, at 23 mtgs I think the TV would be more of a novelty.
I personally would do it and am going back to the Uk next year hopefully with a 1 and a 4 year old - alone again!
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We did the US when DS was 18 months. TBH it was much easier than I had expected, but I really had prepared for the worst so anything was going to be good LOL. If you can get night flights that will be much easier cos chances are they will sleep most of the way. We left in the morning and DS slept all of 2 hours over the 14 hour trip. But when we came home (which was at night) he pretty much slept the whole way.
They do give you meals for them, mind you I brought heaps of food on board, I found it was great entertainment (especially sultana's dished out one at a time) and just in case he wouldn't eat what they had for him. I also brought heaps of toys, activities on board, but found we didn't use most of them. The ipad with videos and games on it was a great tool though.
I would also recommend a travel pram that you can either take on board or check at the gate, that was a life saver for stop overs and just transitting the airport, getting luggage etc.
We also dosed him up with Brauers calm, which helped (I think). It was difficult and uncomfortable having a toddler on your lap, but hey it's only X hours of your life in the scheme of things. Mind you we were lucky, DS was under 11kg's and we got bassinet seats, so once I got him off to sleep we'd pop him in the bassinet. It was a squish, but because he tends to sleep all curled up he was able to fit.
Thanks girls!
Luckily, I won't be alone - all in all, there's 5 adults (me, DH, my parents and bro) to help look after DS and DD who will be almost 4, so I'm not too worried about her. I suppose DS can always be passed around 5 adults if we need lol!
We've already got a stroller and will take the carrier too, so if needed DH can carry DS leaving the pram for DD. We're hopefully flying Singapore airlines, and I might take their bathers as Changai airport has a pool, so that should tire them out. Unfortunately, the first leg is an arvo flight, but Singapore to London is midnight onwards so hopefully they'll sleep for a chunk of that.
Sammie - I'll try and remember about giving bulkhead for a spare seat, although I don't want to then be away from the rest of the family, or at least seperate from DH and DD.
Ang - I so much would rather pay for a seat, but as we're scrapping the barrell to pay for the rest of us, plus car hire etc over there, $1400 could go a long way elsewhere :lol:
The other thing another family I know did was at the stop over, if it's a couple if hours, was check into an airport hotel, they bathed the kids just before getting back in the plane.
Re the seat they should seat you all together, so you will all get the bulkhead, if you are prepared to give this up, they may give you a spare seat
My other BIG tip is to order adults meals for the kids, kids meals are full of sugar and they have no avenue to burn it off, I couldn't believe what was served up - she was much better with an adults meal...
Your toddler will be entitled to a meal :)
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We flew to London with DD when she was 22 months - we were lucky as every flight we got on the staff automatically allocated us another seat even though we hadn't paid for it. I think as long as there is room on the flight they are normally pretty understanding with little one's. We also always got lots of food for her even though we hadn't paid for her seat.
We took lots of small toys/games/crayons etc, but the thing that saved the day was our Ipad with DD's own headphones. Prior to leaving I downloaded TV episodes and apps that she just loved. Really was worth the investment as she was so well behaved.
Good luck with your trip! I hope you end up with nice staff like we did who give you that extra seat.
Janie xxx
An iPad is a lifesaver! :lol: We've done many flights with DD but the longest stretch was to Singapore, so 5 hours on the plane plus a couple of hours at the airport then another 45 minutes or so getting to our hotel. Our flight was during the middle of the day so we thought she would sleep as she normally naps for a couple of hours or so but no, she didn't sleep a wink! She went down no issues that night though, lol.
DD was almost 20 months when we flew to Singapore in April (then travelled interstate with two flights in each direction a couple of weeks later) and the iPad was brilliant for her. She loves the Wiggles so we downloaded a whole Wiggles series through iTunes and I downloaded a heap of toddler friendly apps. She loved it. We had a whole row to ourselves on the flight over plus two bassinets :o which was great for spreading out but DD was too big (length ways) for the bassinet. We had a bassinet on the way back but no spare seat so I wore DD in our Ergo after our meals and she happily slept for a good couple of hours, until we landed. That was an evening flight which departed around 7pm.
We've always taken our slings and used them for DD's sleep on flights (she's flown a dozen times already) and that's worked a treat. I love my Ergo now that's she bigger. The hosties won't let you wear them for take off or landing as it's against their safety regulations but I haven't had a problem using my slings during the flight (actually, on two occassions the hosties have let me leave her sleeping for landing ;) )
As PP said, nearly all airlines will provide a meal but you must specify that you want a childs meal when you make your booking, don't assume they'll just give you one. If you book through a travel agent, most agents will do it for you. I tend to book my own travel (I'm an ex-agent) but I forgot to request a meal for DD last time and no, she didn't get one. I always take some Rafferty's Garden sachets and her favourite snacks - plus milk - so she has plenty to eat and drink anyway. I also take a selection of her favourite small toys and books which I put aside for a couple of weeks before we go so they are somewhat 'new' to her again. I bought a $5 Mrs Potato Head from Kmart to take to Singapore and DD loved it! Removing and replacing the body parts on the potato was apparently very entertaining :lol:
The suggestion of a light weight stroller is a great idea however, Changi is so well setup that you can either organise one before hand through Singapore Airlines (awesome choice BTW) or there are plenty of trollies with a toddler seat throughout the terminal. There is loads to do at Changi too so you should hopefully be able to wear the kids out before the next leg. Flying overnight for the next leg is a great plan, as is taking the kids for a swim (double check the pool is located at the terminal for Singapore Airlines though and find out if they hire towels).
Airlines are really helpful to parents with children and do their best to give you an extra seat if there is room on the flight. If you all check in together, you'll be seated together (as best possible) so you should have your entire family around you to offer extra sets of hands. Your DS wouldn't get priority over a bassinet as he'll be too big by that stage (they are reserved for the youngest babies on the flight and the weight limit is 11kg plus they aren't very roomy) so you'll most likely be seated in another part of the plane anyway.
Good luck. I'm sure you'll be fine with so much extra support around you.