Need tips for managing a long haul flight with an 18mo

[Miss E]

DH and I have decided to take DS to the US to visit family over christmas. He'll be close to 18 months at the time, so I'm a bit concerned about how he'll cope being couped up on a plane for 14 hours and then put on another one for 5 more hours (and how I'll cope ).

I'm thinking I'd like to start buying a few new things for him to have on the plane, but not sure what would be a good idea. I'll probably get some crayons and new books, but with the attention span a toddler has I don't think those will keep in occupied for much more than an hour... So do you have any good ideas?

Also, any other tips you have for long-haul travel would be great. I'm planning on investing in one of those travel prams that folds down to hand luggage size, but what else would be useful?

[Miss E]

anyone?

[Phteven]

I wouldn't bother with buying a special stroller. Lots of airports have them or you can use your normal stroller until you board and then hand it over. I just use the little trolleys to wheel the little darlings around on stops. Other people swear by them but I think they're just extra luggage and not very efficient strollers. Also try and encourage your DS to run around the airport when you stop.
Take a change of clothes for everyone - if you get something gross or a cup of juice over you it's nice to be able to change.
Take some old favourites as well as new toys. My boys like something familiar when things get a bit stressy. Books are good. You will probably get some kind of activity pack on the plane. Pencils are good but only about 5 so you can put them in a cup and enforce a one at a time rule. They roll for miles when they fall. Stickers are fun but only for when you feel like watching like a hawk because it's no fun if they stick them on the wrong place.

Try to fly mid-week because flights are often emptier then and ask when you check-in to be seated near an empty row. If you spot an empty row chuck something on it to claim it or move into it before take-off. Having those extra seats can make the difference between a great night and a night from hell.
Try to find a flight that leaves in the evening - your toddler will probably sleep through most of the first leg if you can do that.

[Miss E]

Thanks for the tips Onyx

Unfortunately we're leaving on Boxing Day, so I think we're likely to have a very full plane DH is a travel agent and has been able to secure us bulk head seating, so hopefully that will be okay...

Unfortunately times to the US are crap. The flights all leave in the morning, so I'm expecting DS to be up for most of the flight and then crash a couple of hours before we land in LA and have to change planes. That's why I want to get the pram, it will give him somewhere to sleep and also the travel bag for my current pram will cost $250 and is pretty bulky. So I figure it's worth investing in a small travel pram that will be easy to put in and out of cars when we're there as well as get around the airport in.