Long haul flight worries

[tigwig]

We are going to Florida in 6 weeks and I am dreading the flight with our 3 yr old. Do any of you have any fab ideas on how to keep her entertained on the way there and how to get her to sleep on the way back!

[Bewlay Bros]

Make him as tired as possible beforehand so as soon as possible after take off the little scamp will sleep!!!

[cazzz1975]

why not make a special fun pack of things she can do, colouring, jigsaw, mini dvd player with fave progs, a few small toys, make it special and make it nothing she has played with for a long while so she wont get bored quickly

make sure there are a few snacks and drinks,

try to keep her awake a bit so she can have a nap on the plane

[jno]

At 3 she'll hardly know she's on a plane and will behave pretty much as when she's at home. Security blanket, favourite dolls etc to make her feel comfortable, maybe a colouring book to keep her occupied (some airlines provide stuff like this). Phenergan is good for encouraging sleeping.

[annie0000]

we took our two to new england when they were 3 and 4. We made a pack of small things to do such as colouring and drawing and also bought one of the leapster things which they took turns of - remember to take headphones so that you don't drive the other passengers loopy! They also enjoyed little mini lego sets or magnetix. With a girl though, I would imagine that a new doll with dress up clothes and hair to brush would keep her occupied for a good while - also a little nail set so that she could give you and herself a manicure.

A bag of snacks such as raisins, dry cheerios etc breaks up the journey as well. Coming home, we had lots of delays and only just made the flight from newark, so they were pretty exhausted and dropped of straight away. Not as much of an nightmare as we were expecting.

[scoobydooby]

Don't know who you're flying with but Virgin give the smaller children rucksacks containing things to keep them occupied. For the return night flight, they dim the lights and encourage everyone to sleep - so your little one won't be able to do anything other than sleep or sit still quietly. Have a lovely time - I'm so jealous, have to wait until August.

[lou 26]

My advice would be to take a couple of of favourite small toys then when youre at the airport buy her a couple of comics or a new book to keep her entertained for a while, but from experience she'll probably be watching what everyone else is doing! Try not to dread the flight, Im sure it will be fine. I wojuld think its a night flight on the way back so youll probably find she sleeps anyway. Good luck and have a fantastic holiday! xxx

[aims1202]

the best thing i did on a flight from uk to Australia with a 3yr old was to have some new little toys wrapped up and i'd would bring one out if he started to get bored with what we'd brought.
Would keep him occupied for longer as its new. I took a pot of playdoh and my garlic crusher which also kept him amused for a while. as well as a walkman and some favourite tapes. Take some favourite snacks. I wouldnt try and get them to sleep just have fun playing and dont worry too much about sleeping they will when they need to. best thing to do is to just try and sleep yourself if they do.

[New Judge]

It�s too late now, but my advice would be not to go. This is for you and your daughter's benefit and, more importantly, for that of your fellow passengers.

Long haul flights are bad enough when only adults are involved, but when children are present they are a nightmare for both the children themselves and for those unfortunate enough to be around them.

jno has hit the nail on the head when saying that your daughter will behave exactly as she does at home. And thereby rests the problem. Children simply cannot behave as they would at home when on board an aircraft.

Just imagine if you tried to force your daughter to sit in a cupboard for nine hours at home (with the occasional trip to the loo for amusement). Would colouring and drawing keep her amused for nine hours or more? Of course not and it is foolish to imagine that it will when flying.

I have had a number of flights completely and utterly slaughtered by the presence of children who became bored and irritable before we�d taxied to the end of the runway. It�s not their fault. Flying is simply not designed for today�s children and their participation in it should be discouraged as far as possible.

Out of interest, why arrange to do something which you are dreading so much? Surely you must have realised before booking that this would be a problem.

[sense4all]

I have sat next to stinky - loud - drunk - swearing - shouting- overexcited - petrified ( kept crossing themselves and muttering mantras ) with no social skills or boundaries ADULTS on flights - give me a three year old anyday ! Don't worry not everyone else on the flight should be considered hostile! lol , especially those who have had to travel with kids ourselves.

[tigwig]

new judge I am not dreading the holiday just the flights! I do believe that when we get there and see the delight on her face when she goes to the Magic Kingdom and meets mickey mouse it will be well worth it. She is so excited and for those people who think she is too young I don't agree. She begs me to put the rides on the computer on a daily basis and squeals with excitement when the advert comes on the tv or in the Disney store.

[cazzzz1975]

What a lousy attitude judge?! I sincerely hope you dont have kids, They would probably be not allowed anywhere for fear of upsetting someone.

I bet your a pile of laughs on a flight yourself, muttering to yourself and giving everyone evils.

[kwicky]

What about a portable DVD player and some cartoon DVDs. You may need an extra battery.

[lou 26]

sorry new judge but it seems like youve just had some unfortunate flights! ive been taking my daughter to florida since she 5 months old! Shes now 5 and has been there 7 times. She has never once misbehaved on the aircraft. She does get bored and she does get fidgety and fed up but she doesnt run riots or scream or become a nuisance to other passengers because I dont allow her to!

[New Judge]

I'm pleased to hear it, lou!

Alas, from my experience you seem to be in the minority. As for being unfortunate, you may well be correct. However, most of my friends and acquaintances have reported similar problems so we must all be equally unfortunate or (as some seem to suggest) equally hypersensitive, or perhaps a little of both.

However, anybody who expresses displeasure at sharing surroundings with irritable children in completely inappropriate circumstances is always portrayed as a miserable curmudgeon, so I should have expected nothing less. The needs and requirements of the little kiddies must come first, of course.

I�ve not been to Florida (having purposefully avoided travelling there for precisely this reason). From what you say, I should give it a try!

[lou 26]

lol you should give it a try, its well worth it. Theres a lot more to Florida than just the theme parks. I dont want to hear "rowdy" kids on flights anymore than you do and i think parents excuse of "theyre excited" is a poor excuse sometimes. They should be taught to respect other people no matter what their age but on occasion it cant be helped, especially with younger children.

tigwig im sure your daughter willl love every minute of the magic kingdom, we were there last year and it truly is magical for young and old alike

[dot.hawkes]

I do agree with the judge, i have been on several long haul flights and paid out for extra leg room for my party and it has been ruined more than once by kids running in front of out seats or jumping over our outstretched legs, on more than one occasion on one flight a boy of about 11 nearly broke my shin!! The flight to Florida is probably full of kids though, and i guess the in flight entertainment would be geared towards them. just take plenty of fluids.