Posted by
mumbloxy
18 yrs ago
Hi, will be travelling to UK with our active 17-mth old and am wondering about his sleeping on the plane. Will I be able to bring on his car seat? HOw else can he sleep if he's too big for the bassinet? I'm worried as he's used to falling asleep usually by rolling around in his cot with his favourite soft animal and he's never been one to fall asleep in our arms. Have also been suggested cough syrup to help settle if necessary.... any advice pls?
Please support our advertisers:
I had a flight of 12 hours with my daughter which is quite the same as your boy when she was about 2 years old. I dreaded her not sleeping for all this time and crying because she is tired and so on. So I just let her sleep also on my seat. Yes I was standing most of the flight, but it was good for her. I could be an extreme example though. I know of the cough syrop which makes them sleep faster and better, it could be a good aid BUT just make sure you won't overdose, that could lead to worse situation.
At this age they get a seat of their own.
Please support our advertisers:
We flew 17½ hours non stop with our two kids (then 2 years and 6 months respectively). The little one slept like the proverbial baby in her carrycot propped on her seats. The older once cried hysterically for over an hour and then slept fitfully.
Which one will your kid be? No way to tell.
Bring some familiar toys and cuddly animals. Try to be well rested (both of you) before the flight.
"Will I be able to bring on his car seat? "
If your son has his own seat, yes. If he doesn't, no.
"HOw else can he sleep if he's too big for the bassinet?"
Curled up in the seat works sometimes. If you lift the armrest and use a pillow he can have his head in your lap and be stretched out over his own seat. If you're lucky there are free seats and you can lie him across two.
If you didn't buy a seat for him and there are no free seats you can either stand up as omaharrison says, sit on the floor, or have him in your arms.
"I know of the cough syrop which makes them sleep faster and better, it could be a good aid BUT just make sure you won't overdose, that could lead to worse situation."
This would be Benadryl (US trade name). As mentioned use a low dose if any. Also try at home before you leave. Some kids don't become drowsy, rather the opposite.
I am not one for medicating my kids unnecessarily but in this case I feel that it helps the child relax and is better than hysterical crying for hours.
Finally: Ignore the people looking down their nose at you at the least sound from your child.
Please support our advertisers:
xox
18 yrs ago
There is some excellent advice that I took from previous threads.
I found a small DVD player with their favourite dvds worked very well.
My toddler is also hyperactive and I found that bringing loads of fun toys and small gifts wrapped up to be helpful (eg. crayons, stickers, books, playdough...)
As for medication, it can work the other way. Benadryl, Piriton and Phenergan (unsure of correct spelling) can be used. But, be careful.
I flew with my 18 month old (at the time) night flight on the way to Sydney and day flight on the way back. I found the night flight to be great. She also managed to sleep in the bassinet OK. I guess it depends which airline you fly with. Some bassinets are bigger than others. Flight attendants (CX) are also great with kids.
I also found that when I was relaxed and not that stressed, she was better behaved.
Have a happy and safe flight.
Good luck!
Please support our advertisers:
"Flight attendants (CX) are also great with kids."
Not all of them but typically yes.
"I also found that when I was relaxed and not that stressed, she was better behaved."
Indeed. Kids can smell your fear. ;)
Please support our advertisers:
axptguy, what's a carrycot? Is it different from a normal travel cot? How does it work? Is it set on a floor (in which case we must get the bulkhead seat) or you set it across 2 seats? Does it get secured to the seatbelts? Do you think it provides more comfort than car seat? Sorry lots of questions, many tks.
Please support our advertisers:
That is so true! The more stressed you are the worse they get! If things go wrong, check yourself and make sure you're not tense because you're worried about other passengers. Calm yourself and the child will be better.
Remind anyone who complains that somebody will have to pay for their pensions when they're old.
Make sure you get a few good nights' sleep before the trip and even some sleep during the day before you fly so YOU are not overtired and unable to stay up all night with stress.
Prepare your child for the trip as something exciting (you get on a plane, you're goind to visit granma/cousins, you're going to see London Bridge, you're going fly above the clouds and all that-what a treat!)
Also, be careful of the seats you are given as you cannot lift the arm rest on some seats at the front row, which they usually give people w/kids (kids tend to kick the seat in front of them, which can be seriously annoying)
If you're going for the new toys trick, make sure they're not the loud noisy ones, as it will add to the stress on other passengers.
If your child has a serious screaming and kicking tantrum, get up if you can and walk to the back of the plane, there is room for stretching your legs, never mind if he screams all the way there, at least you're trying something and the change of scenery might do him good.
An remember: we've all been children and thrown tantrum, your child's tantrum is nothing to be embarrassed about, it's just something you have to deal with!
Hope this helps!
Please support our advertisers:
"axptguy, what's a carrycot? Is it different from a normal travel cot? How does it work?"
Something like this http://www.amazon.com/Phil-Ted%2527s-Sport-Cocoon-%252d/dp/B000U27G0U/ref=pd_sbs_ba_img_2.
Too small for an 18 month old though. Our daughter was only 6 months so we put her in this, zipped it up and slid the seatbelt over and through the handles. This would only work if you had two seats available or (as in our case) a biz class seat just for the baby.
"Do you think it provides more comfort than car seat?"
Not for an 18 month old. This just replaces a bassinet. And it's not really designed for air travel specifically.
"Remind anyone who complains that somebody will have to pay for their pensions when they're old."
Hehe. I normally just say something like "yes, because I'm obviously having a great time and I love it when my kids cry..." As usual one needs to remember the old adage: "Never argue with an idiot; he'll drag you down to his level and beat you with experience." The idiots being the big whiners.
"An remember: we've all been children and thrown tantrum, your child's tantrum is nothing to be embarrassed about, it's just something you have to deal with!"
Yepp.
Please support our advertisers:
Thank you all for your encouraging and comforting words. Some of the tips are great. Guess it's just so hard with all that pent-up energy and limited space, can't blame the kid, can't blame the passengers!
Please support our advertisers:
I always take a small bottle of bubbles to blow while you are waiting to get on the plane - toddlers race about trying to catch the bubbles and you get to sit in one place. Yo do have to put them in that special liquids bag now but for me they saved so many pre flight meltdowns and filled in part of the hour at the gate before you get on that plane.
Please support our advertisers:
:-))
18 yrs ago
Great suggestions so far.
I've been there many times with my two children, last time being 16hrs to Chicago with 18mo on my lap. There have been a few difficult moments but it is never as bad as you imagine it could be, especially if you try to relax yourself and treat it as an adventure for your child.
At that age, they can understand a lot, so you can tell your child, "We're going to sleep on the aeroplane tonight - there are no cots so you will have to sleep in my arms/curled up on the seat. Just let me know when you're tired and ready to sleep and I'll help you go to sleep" (by reading story, singing lullaby, giving milk, whatever you normally do). The last time we flew, which was only short-haul to Singapore but we came back late at night, at 23mo she did have a problem going to sleep because at home she likes to roll over onto her tummy with her head squashed against the toddler rail of her bed, which obviously we could not replicate on the plane, but we just kept repeating, "I know it's a bit different to your bed at home but just close your eyes, you will soon be asleep, Mummy's right here..." and she eventually dropped off!
If your child enjoys books you can never have too many of them. Get some small thin ones which are not too heavy. Have a great trip!
Please support our advertisers:
We flew to europe with babywhen he was 10/11 months old, and he was sooo well behaved that other passengers actually complemented us.
He kicked up a big fuss when i flew with him for the first time and he was much younger, so i was expecting a nightmare journey, but had nothing to worry about.
We were very quite apprehensive before the journey though.
I asked the ped about those cough medicines, and she was veeeeeery disapproving and said DONT.
Please support our advertisers:
"I asked the ped about those cough medicines, and she was veeeeeery disapproving and said DONT."
This depends on the ped. In the US it's much more accepted than in many other countries. Not that either way is wrong I suppose. Of course, in the US medication policy is always more aggressive. ;)
To be quite frank crying hysterically for 3 hours isn't good for a child either. Saving her from that trauma is well worth breaking our "no drugs unless absolutely necessary" rule.
Please support our advertisers:
cd
18 yrs ago
If you go down the medicine route try before hand, we tried phenergan once on our son, he didn't sleep for 48 hours.
And usually the fear of the flight with a child is worse than the reality, especially on a night flight.
Please support our advertisers:
yup i think the anticipation is much worse than the reality. but then it's good to be mentally prepared for a difficult flight.
a friend of mine flew to taipei with her baby who's just a few weeks older than mine and said that he screamed the entire one and a half hours.. so u never know with the little ones.
Of course, in the US medication policy is always more aggressive:
sure the corporations, insurance firms all have to make money so it's let pour it down any throat that's available...
Please support our advertisers:
Okay, I've just spoken to Virgin and they say we cannot take on a car seat even though we are paying for a child's ticket. They have these new child seats which you can see on their website but there's only TWO available per flight, which of course are booked. Anyone flown Virgin to London?
Please support our advertisers:
can you not insist on them getting hold of another baby seat?
or is it like the bassinet, that can only be fixed in certain parts of the plane?
Please support our advertisers:
Car seats do improve things but the problem is not really when the child is sitting down. An 18 month old is quite capable of using an adult airline seat. The problem is when he/she wants to move around. So I wouldn't worry too much about not being able to bring a car seat.
Please support our advertisers:
I remember flying with my son when he was a toddler and I had been given this tip, which proved priceless. Bring an empty water bottle and some laundry pins. My son enjoyed putting them in the bottle for hours (I only acted like I enjoyed it though).
Please support our advertisers:
"My son enjoyed putting them in the bottle for hours (I only acted like I enjoyed it though)."
You made my day with that comment. Priceless! I love my kids but it is true my mind does sometimes tell me: "And for how much longer will we have to smile?" :)
Please support our advertisers:
re car seat - yes, the kid wont stay in it unless asleep - we just did 5 hour flight (not too bad) and they (and subsequently us) ran up and down the plane for 5 hours!! clothes pegs - what a good idea - wonder if mine would fall for it - nothing short of tying them down to the seat, keeps them in it for longer than 5 min!
Did not know Virgin had a HK- London flight - will look it up next time - I do prefer them to BA!
Please support our advertisers:
In regards to a car seat, not each airline has their own regulations. Only approved car seats can be used on planes. You will need to check whether or not yours is approved for use on the plane.
Please support our advertisers:
Our flt was just as I had anticipated....long & dreadful! Sorry..hope it's not like that for you.
My 18 mth old just does'nt sleep well except in his own bed, so in the 24 hrs it took to get to the U.S (including layovers) he maybe slept 3 hrs! He's used to sleeping 15 hrs a day.
He was restless most of the trip. Fine one minute & irritable the next. Seems like nothing I did kept him pleased for very long. But I was calm 99% of the time :)
Poor thing was so exhausted by the time we got to my moms that he could'nt sleep & cried for over an hour until he finally passed out.
I barely managed to stay awake on the flt myself...going in & out occasionly with him on my lap.
The flt attendants tried to help (3 of them) by giving him lots of attention & coos...but that actually made it worse as it seemed to stimulate him.
I hope the return flt will be better...sigh.
I'm seriously considering giving mine something to help him sleep.
Please support our advertisers:
Ouch. Well at least it is over. It is so hard to know how they will react. This is one part of having small kids that I do not like.
And yet we're getting on a 5 hour flight on Saturday. Cue the premonitory horror movie music.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail