Long-haul flights with young children

Yeah, agree with this. Tv, iPod touch, extra clothing, late night flight and optional antihistamine (do a dry run first!) and you're good to go!

Just saw this and thought it might come in handy with the holiday travel season coming up

http://blog.swiss.com/2011/10/travel...-children.html

Don't most people take their hols in the summer?

Useful info, though.

After being stuck in London last Winter Holiday, I REFUSE to fly in winter. My 6year old is still traumatised, she refused to fly anywhere!

I take alot of the little Pixie books to keep them busy, and crackers for hunger attacks. The Apple puree sold in Migros is great as well, its in a bag, and they can just suck it out, no spoons, no mess, no spills

We are going for the first time on a 6 hour plane trip with our toddler (to Dubai).

What is your experience with little ones on the plane? Is there anything I mustn't forget?

I guess the infrastructure in Dubai is quite convenient. The flight back to Zurich is at 2am though.

I've merged this so that any new info you get will also appear in this same thread. There are a couple of links to other threads within this one too, so please take the trouble to read it through to see how much of it is applicable in your case.

Good luck.

After recently spending 13 hours on a night flight with 2 children behind us who were between 6 - 8 years of age, and who's parents were unable to control them, I can only say it was truly the worst experience ever. The kids screamed on take off, fought, argued and kicked our seats for almost the entire trip, and screamed again on landing. The parents were oblivious to the behaviour of their loin fruit, and impervious to our and other peoples complaints and request to control them, and they just made for 12 hours of purgatory... the missing hour is when they were eating.

I'm sure your nipper isn't like that and the trip will be fine, but please take plenty of entertainment for them to keep him/her occupied, make sure they are well hydrated, BUT he/she is like the hellbrats above.... consider drugs.

And before the groans come in yes I have 3 daughter, and they travelled by air.... a lot, and were well behaved as the ex mama G and I ensured they were, but she always had some Calpol her bag.... J.I.C

Thank you for the most thorough suggestions ever! I don't have any kids, but I learned a few things for long flights I had not thought of before.

I am a huge fan of the window seat and always book one, if possible. On long flights, it is recommended that one gets up every couple of hours to stretch and avoid the possible development of blood clots below the knee. On long flights, are people more understanding of this as a necessary part of the flight so when I have to crawl over the middle and aisle passenger are they more likely to give knowing nods or stab me in the leg with their crossword puzzle pencil as I go past? Or do I have to give up my beloved seat location for the aisle seat which I hate--or perish the thought...get that unholy middle seat.....

I have always found it fascinating that the rest of the world (outside USA) travels internationally quite often.

While my family has driven coast to coast several times within America, I got a passport just this last year. I cannot wait to travel to Switzerland, but was wondering if an overnight flight is preferable.

Can anyone offer suggestions?

I opt for the aisle seat so that I can get up whenever I want to. I have no objection to getting out of my seat for others to get past at any time, except when I am asleep.

But, occassionally I have ended up in the window seat. The first time, I stayed sitting for about 9 hours. After getting up, I walked about 4 metres before fainting. I won't ever sit for that long again. I have now found that if others are sleeping, I can generally crouch on my seat, then walk over the other seats, standing on the armrests to get to the aisle, causing minimal disturbance.

Reading pother earlier coments, I still think it is just plain WRONG to drug children on flights just to keep them docile.

They typically go for the artery so you don't do it more than once so you have to be agile and have good timing.

I always take the aisle seat so i can get up and stretch, go get water, go to the loo, etc. The only downside to being in the aisle can be that you get bumped by every 'wide load' that goes by. If you're trying to sleep, it's annoying.

Have someonelses poorly behaved kid/kids kicking off at 4am after you've been in the air for 10 hours and see how sad that makes you!

Sometimes thinking others can be an alien concept I know, but you wouldn't think twice about meds if your child was travel sick, had a headache, or whatever. Some children are problematic on aircraft because of the pressure, some get stressed... so if they are playing up, what on earth is the matter with a spoonful of Calpol and everyone getting peace?

Seen it. Heard it. Doesn't change my mind. Strongly believe that drugs are for illness, not for convenience.

I'll bet that was the same attitude as the parent of the kids on our flight back from Thailand, maybe that was you .... like I said, concern for others is an alien concept... to some.

You don't drink or smoke, do you?

Agreed. I try to remember to keep from leaning towards the aisle - especially to not have my feet stretched out at all.

I gave up smoking at twelve ( couldn't get the inhaling thing going ) and you are right, I don't drink alcohol.

I'm not sure where I stand on this general argument, but ... there's a difference between an adult deciding for themselves to have some alcohol and an adult giving alcohol to a baby. Not sure about you, but I wouldn't be impressed if a smoker gave a cigaratte to a 3 year old child, either.

Wrong. My children have been adults for decades!!!!! I am actually an Old Grumpy Person.

I think the concern for others includes have some understanding for the parents who are generally trying hard to keep there little ones quiet on flights.

A helpful thing to do, could be to offer to take someones toddler for a little walk along the aisle, to give the parent a little peace. The distraction of a different adult also works at times, to calm a noisy little child. ( that is why cabin crew do thatwhen they have the time.)

Another helpful thing is to offer to help with a child or carrying luggage for a parent trying to disembark with a child or tow, plus all the bags they have on board ( most of those bags being full of stuff necessary for keeping a child quiet enough to not disturb other passengers.)

One of the most enjoyable times I have had going through the Paris airport( actually, the only time I have enjoyed anything at that airport ) was helping a Dad, who had travelled from Basel and was transferring to another flight. He really appreciated the assistance with his two delightful little tots.

We have just travelled zurich/frankfurt/singapore/malaysia with two under two. I'm glad that we have brought my Babybjörn in my hand luggage. Reason being is my 9-months-old daughter didn't want to stay in the bassinet. So we used the baby carrier. The baby and I both get some sleep. Ipad with Barney and Friends worked extremely well with my 22-month-old.

I wasn't either, just pointing out his overly general comment about drugs only being for illness is generally a bit hypocritical in the west were we condone cigarettes, booze, etc. People tend not to think of these as drugs simply because they are socially acceptable.