24 hours in a plane... - Page 2

[quantumleap]

Originally Posted by redvlagrl

Take the offered alcohol.

Bahahaha!

Thanks for the tips/reassurance, mamas.

I'm still apprehensive, but, you're right, its just time. It's important for dd to see her grandparents and uncle, and where they live. Heck, it's important for me to see my parents and brother (it's been three years since I was last there)! I know it will be a really special time together, just, ugh, the travel. Overnight in a hotel it is.

We could put off ttc, but we won't. If we were normal people who get to take for granted that sex leads to babies, sure, we'd probably wait, but, we're not that lucky. So, we work around our donor's schedule, and our schedule, and when flights to the donor work, etc, etc. Honestly, I know the fatigue will make things a little harder, but there's no way I'll be anything but over the moon excited if I have that inconvenience.

[wetcement101]

Having the bulkhead made a HUGE difference on long haul flights because:
DD couldn't kick passengers in front, who invariably recline seat all the way
DD could get down, walk a little
That's where the other little kids were seated- shared toys, snacks, played

That is a heck of a long time to have a baby in your lap, especially if you are pregnant...

[OkiMom]

Ive done quite a few international trips. I live in Japan with my children and husband, all our family is in the states.
First was when DD1 was 4 months old and I was with DH.It was such a breeze even though at the time it didn't feel like it.
2- DD was 16 months old and I was 8 weeks pregnant. Morning sickness from heck on that trip. Just because morning sickness didnt start until later with one doesnt mean it will with the next. Return trip was a little better, DD was 18 months old and I was 16ish weeks pregnant. Hardest thing was the bathroom trips during the return flight. During this trip we also made several domestic flights (Los Angeles to New York with one lay over, New York to Florida with one lay over). This whole trip was without DH since he couldn't get time off.
3- Just recently I did a trip to Florida with a almost 3 year old and a 11 month old then flew from Florida to California and in a few weeks Im flying from California back home. Again without my husband.

Tips:
1) Pack your carry ons light but make sure you bring extra clothes/diapers. For my girls I bring: 3 or so books, an activity book, crayons, a few toys and some stickers. I bring a book for me and the laptop (its my only way to contact my husband so traveling without it isnt an option). If possible Id skip the laptop its a pain to get through security with it.
2) bring a cup with a straw. My girls are great with drinking out of a cup but to avoid accidents I bring a straw cup for both while traveling. Easier than changing clothes in the restrooms.
3) Bring snacks and a small meal type item. Some airline meals arent really something kids (or adults) will want to eat.
4) Allow people to help. You are on a plane so its safe to allow someone to play with your child or watch him/her while you are in the bathroom. Basically if the child isnt bothering the person (I always ask to make sure and keep an eye out for obvious signs of the person getting tired) then let him/her interact with them all they want.
5) Motion sickness bands are great for morning sickness. I got some at Target but they should sell them at most pharmacy areas of stores.
6) Don't stress. Don't freak over anything. Your child will feed off of your emotions. So if you are cool and collected then they will be, as soon as you fall apart they will.
7) Make sure you have your passports where they are easily accessed. I watched a poor woman who had thrown them in her carryon bag have to put her little baby on the floor to search her bags for them.
8) Bring a carrier, or if you cant/don't want use a carrier bring a stroller. My double umbrella stroller was a lifesaver, the carseats went into the stroller with my oldest daughter and my youngest was in the carrier.

Im sure there is more Im not remembering but good luck. I actually have grown to enjoy traveling with my children. When you travel with young children you get to see everything for the first time all over again. Cherish it and enjoy your family time.

[AllisonR]

Originally Posted by Jezzy

Another thing that I always keep in mind when traveling with the kids. ( I have been flying back and forth to Europe (where I live) and to America (where my family lives) for 18 years now. Mostly alone with the kids. When it gets stressy and it can. (once my ds now 17 puked all over the guy sitting next to us who refused to let us have the isle seat so we could get out quickly if needed) This too will pass. It may seem like a long time but what is 24 hours?

You can do it!

hahaha! Thanks for the humor. Sorry for the thread hijack, but I am in the same boat (family in USA, us in Europe) and have experienced the identical thing! The young, childless guy in the aisle who refuses to switch and after 4 hours and 5 millionth in-and-out of the seats, sorrily regrets his decision. Serves him right, and thanks for the laugh. 24 hours in a plane can be AWFUL, but it is only 24 hours, and both you and your dc will live. OP, glad you are going for a month, then it's worth it.

[Thalia]

Lots of great tips here. Just wanted to add that DD loved playing with Post-It Notes on our most recent trip. She covered the entire seat with them. And you can just recycle them after the plane trip. Bring at least two packs: they never stick as well once they've been used.

[*MamaJen*]

This was an awesome thread. I'm writing a feature story about travel with young kids and I'm totally pulling a ton of ideas from this thread. Especially this one:

Originally Posted by redvlagrl

Take the offered alcohol.

[AKislandgirl]

nak

for those that bring DVD players. Does the sound come through speakers? We have an old one but you have to use headphones... my lo won't dig headphones.

[tabrizia]

Originally Posted by AKislandgirl

nak

for those that bring DVD players. Does the sound come through speakers? We have an old one but you have to use headphones... my lo won't dig headphones.

Honestly DS doesn't listen to the sound. He just watches the pictures. He doesn't like wearing headphones, though he will occasionally, we have kid sized ones for him. Generally he takes them off and just watches the movie without sound.

[simcon]

We just did two 20+ flying hours trips from the US to south Asia (well more than that total travel time each way)--one at 12 months, back at 16 months (me solo with him). Our little guy was a stellar traveler, and it wasn't bad at all.

We did have a seat for him, and brought his carseat on the plane--I know a whole extra ticket is too expensive for you, but in that case I'd request a seat assignment next to an empty seat if possible--maybe towards the rear of the plane if you don't have motion sickness issues, as there are often more seats that don't end up getting filled back further.

We brought our ergo carrier--that was great for using the bathroom on the plane (when he wasn't sleeping) and for the airport. We also brought little toys and books, and I'd just cycle through them. Same with snacks. He liked the extreme sports tv show on the plane, as well as the music stations.

I decided against a hotel stopover, just because I was by myself, so I thought it wouldn't be that restful (compared to getting whereever sooner, where at least I could line up a bit of help to catch a nap).

I agree with the "mentally preparing yourself to play the super-parent role" approach. My kids always respond well to my doting on them --narrating everything, totally going with their whims when exploring airports (as long as safe, of course!), reading book after book, making up playful silly games. And expecting neither of us to sleep! I don't sleep on planes anyway, so I was already prepared for that. Lots of nursing if possible.

We also went through Heathrow, and we picked up a coloring book and yummy snacks at--ah, was it wh smith? Whatever that newsstand chain is. Plus there was a super kid-friendly restaurant with great healthy choices--can't remember the name of it, but lots of healthy organic/ethical food choices, it seemed. We had two three-hour layovers in between the three flights, which was pretty much perfect, as it was enough time to run around a bit but not too long.

I'm not sure about your carryon concerns through the US...I had a carryon for our whole trip (actually a backpack, diaper bag, carseat, stroller, and carrier--wore the backpack and baby, pushed the diaper bag and carseat around in the stroller).

I'd also echo the pp who said that it'll all be over in a finite period of time--kind of like labor..

good luck!