lexxity Posted October 28, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 28, 2006 I have read all the advice about entertaining your toddler at dinner, but to get to dinner we have an 8 hour flight, followed by a layover for an hour and a half and then a 2 hour flight before we even get there! How do I entertain a 13month old on a flight that long? I am planning on taking his favourite toys, books and snacks and as he is at that cruising age I imagine we will be pacing the cabin like mad. What else can any other parents suggest to keep our little Boddler* happy? *Boddler - a word made up by my husband because our DS is not really a baby anymore and not quite a toddler yet.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Cruise4Ever Posted October 29, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Wow!!! You're going to have to be VERY creative and bring along some extra patience with you. I flew with my "Boddler" when he was a little over a year old and it was a nightmare! And, that flight was only 3 hours. In addition to his favorite books, toys, etc., bring some new toys and books that he's never seen before, too. You can reward him with something new for having good behavior. And, try to do the same routine you do at home when getting him ready for a nap. It'll be a really rough day for all of you. BUT, you'll have a wonderful cruise when it's all over to reward YOUR good behavior!! :D Come back here when it's all said and done and let us know how it went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crusinmama06 Posted October 29, 2006 #3 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Whoa that is a long time. My oldest daughter as a "boddler" would have been fine. We actually drove with her to one cruise and it was 21 hours in the car. My current toddler has a hard time making it on a 3 hour flight. Just bring lots of snacks...lots of new little toys. And I guess there is no way to fly overnight? That would be your best option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebr.cruiser Posted October 29, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 29, 2006 How about bringing a portable DVD player and some of his favorite DVD's. While I don't normally advocate much tv or videos for young kids, this is a time when you need all the help you can get! Anything that can keep him occupied for a while will save your sanity. And will earn the gratitude of other passengers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
on board Posted October 29, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I agree with all that has been posted, especially the portable DVD if he is a fan of TV! Make sure he runs and plays as much as possible on your lay over! (Wear him out good)! Try to feed him only what you would normally feed him, new foods are sometimes hard on them! Nap time- try to make it the same time as normal! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexxity Posted October 29, 2006 Author #6 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Thanks for all the replies! We are thinking about changing our flights to a direct one, it will still be 7hrs straight, but at least we will be "there" then. Also I have a bad foot due to a work accident, so a layover is now just about out of the question as I can only hobble for a little while. :mad: Still going to try the new toys and we don't have a portable DVD player (yet), we are going to (foot permitting) buy one in NYC. He's not a great one for watching TV, but he likes a couple of things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Cruise4Ever Posted October 29, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 29, 2006 How old is the little guy? When my DD was born, we bought the "Baby Einstein" series of videos and she absolutely loved them for a little over a year. She was about 4 months old when we took a road trip (10 hours). While we were packing the car (which took about 2 hours), she completely entertained with the Baby Einstein "movies." You might try that one. They're not really movies, just bright colored objects moving slowly across the screen set to music. She still likes them some today and she's 4 now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cs1 Posted October 30, 2006 #8 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I have done long flights like this with my children. We have gone direct and with stopovers. Without a doubt, go direct. My son was always a great sleeper so he would sleep on overseas flights. I figured my daughter would be the same way, but no not so. She was awake all night on the flight when she was 1 and then when she was 2 she slept for a couple of hours. So, I would go direct both ways and bring a suitcase for toys only. Included should be a portable dvd, lots of snacks, stacking cups, hand held games, dolls, new toys, old toys, favorite toys and benedryl. Good Luck it will be worth it! CS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warm Breezes Posted October 30, 2006 #9 Share Posted October 30, 2006 You might want to take some orange triametic to help with the ear popping. My doctor suggests it everytime I tell her we are flying. I also agree with DVD player with some DVD's of his favorite show. Good luck.:o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English muffin Posted October 30, 2006 #10 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Hello Lexxity Nice to see I have a neighbour who uses this site. I am also from England I live in Bolton. I have no toddlers, boddlers, babies, infants.tiny tots or children, the flight is long enough for us without having to entertain a young child. Just to let you know that we now have longer check-ins at Manchester Airport, so leave yourself plenty of time, only a few weeks ago the queues were very long. On a good note the airlines are very good and normally they have a dedicated stewardess for children and I have seen then giving out special activity packs for the children. Remember that Airlines that are flying to America are still restricting a lot of items on board and some are not allowing hand luggage, go onto your airline web site and check hand luggage allowance. We are flying to Miami on 10 December cruising for a month with Holland America. Its a long journey but well worth it when you get on board ship. Bye for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruhaak Posted October 30, 2006 #11 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Definitely go to a non-stop flight if you can. Are you bringing his normal carseat that he is comfortable in? This is very helpful too. DVD player. Snacks he likes. Is it during the night? That would be a blessing because then he could sleep. Any way you can do a night flight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cusyl Posted October 30, 2006 #12 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I have read all the advice about entertaining your toddler at dinner, but to get to dinner we have an 8 hour flight, followed by a layover for an hour and a half and then a 2 hour flight before we even get there! Bon Voyage on your Transatlantic in 6 days. You must be so excited! You will get a lot of rest on the ship and it will be worth it all for the long flight. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpnut Posted October 30, 2006 #13 Share Posted October 30, 2006 I know neither of my kids at 13 mos old would not sit still for more than 5 minutes to watch TV so we would never bother with DVDs. They wouldn't sit and watch TV for any extended time until they were 3 or 4. When allowed, let him "quietly" explore the aisles. If he becomes a nuisance in the aisles, take him for a few minutes here and there to crew areas (as long as you are not disrupting their food, drink or other services. Also, be sure to have something ready for him to drink (i.e. make him swallow regularly) during the ascent and descent of the aircraft. Small children are especially sensitive to changes in air pressure, and if you are not prepared, the suddent change in cabin pressure will cause him discomfort in the ears/sinuses and he will complain or scream! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexxity Posted October 31, 2006 Author #14 Share Posted October 31, 2006 Just to let you know that we now have longer check-ins at Manchester Airport, so leave yourself plenty of time I know, I work there (for my sins). The reason we were going via Chicago is that I would rather fly with my own. An a/c I know, check in I know and crew I know. Having said that we have set up alternative tickets, so if on the day, little man is having a bad one we can just change our mind and go direct. The joys of staff travel.:D Nice to see you English Muffin, we are in East Manchester, but regularly make the journey upto Smithills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHXscuba Posted October 31, 2006 #15 Share Posted October 31, 2006 Lexxity: When we flew from Phoenix to Jamaica last month, we found out that our airline didn't have milk on the plane! We made do with juice, but if it's a big deal, think ahead about buying some once you're through security. Also, keep track of what's in your bottles/cups as you go in and out of security points. I had a very nice TSA man escort me all the way out of the security area so I could dump a half-cup of water out of a sippy cup. Then back through the (thankfully short) line at the checkpoint while my family waited inside. They wouldn't let me even dump it in a trashcan. If that oversight can happen to obsessive-compulsive me, it can happen to anyone. p.s. I agree with lots of snacks, new toys and especially the DVD player. It saved us! PHXscuba "You can't have everything -- besides, where would you put it all?":D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexxity Posted November 15, 2006 Author #16 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Well we did it. It was all ok until we got to Chicago. One of my bags was missing. The one with all mine and baby's toiletries in it, natch. By the time I had tracked it down, it was back in Manchester, we had missed the 3pm to La Guardia and the four o'clock was full so we got put on the 5pm instead. We then had to get secondary screened by the TSA, who were a nightmare. Then we found our flight was delayed. In the end we opted to call it a night and check into the Hilton on the airport. Without the rest of our bags, they went ahead! The hotel was a bargain and the marriott at LGA let us cancel our first night with no penalty. We flew down the next morning instead. The Marriott were great, they even shuttled us to a drug store so I could buy everything again. Fantastic service. I do have a claim in against the airline for reimbursement. Next time we fly to the US (Jan 08) we are going direct to our final destination. Never again am I transferring.:o:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruhaak Posted November 15, 2006 #17 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Glad to hear you made it okay in the end! Sorry you had so much trouble. Hope you enjoy your cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terpnut Posted November 15, 2006 #18 Share Posted November 15, 2006 Well we did it. It was all ok until we got to Chicago. One of my bags was missing. The one with all mine and baby's toiletries in it, natch. By the time I had tracked it down, it was back in Manchester, we had missed the 3pm to La Guardia and the four o'clock was full so we got put on the 5pm instead. We then had to get secondary screened by the TSA, who were a nightmare. Then we found our flight was delayed. In the end we opted to call it a night and check into the Hilton on the airport. Without the rest of our bags, they went ahead! The hotel was a bargain and the marriott at LGA let us cancel our first night with no penalty. We flew down the next morning instead. The Marriott were great, they even shuttled us to a drug store so I could buy everything again. Fantastic service. I do have a claim in against the airline for reimbursement. Next time we fly to the US (Jan 08) we are going direct to our final destination. Never again am I transferring.:o:rolleyes: Sounds like the flight itself was the least of your problems! So, how did the little guy do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexxity Posted November 21, 2006 Author #19 Share Posted November 21, 2006 He did just great, he was still smiling and waving at everyone whilst I was ready to kill someone. He settled with a little trouble once at the hotel, but after such a long day I wasn't surprised. I just did what I did at home and he went off for about 6hours, woke up and I put him in with us for acouple of hours then he went in his own cot for another few hours. We were in bed for 6pm and up again (jet lag:rolleyes:) by about 4am, which was ok as we got the first flight down to La Guardia. That night he went down with a little moaning, but he was sufficently exhausted to let us order a take out to eat in room and watch a movie.:eek: Next time we do longhaul it will be when he is two and a half (nearly) and a whole new ball game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
English muffin Posted November 27, 2006 #20 Share Posted November 27, 2006 Hello Lexxity Nice to hear from you. I am fairly new to these boards it has taken ages to find you again, but I think now I have cracked it! I love this site some of the boards are so funny. Glad you enjoyed your trip, even with all the hiccups, how was the QM2. Our baggage was lost last year but it was on our way back,so i wasnt all that concerned we got them back after 4 days. We did the same last year , two stops with AA, makes it a long journey. We are off on December 9 with BA flying to Miami direct from Manchester via Heathrow on HAL Westerdam/Maasdam for Christmas & New Year. Smithills is just a few miles from us we live in Bromley Cross.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexxity Posted November 27, 2006 Author #21 Share Posted November 27, 2006 Hi EM, the QM2 was FANTASTIC! I have submitted a review and it tells all, hopefully it will be available soon. It's a shame you have to go through Heathrow, but AA aren't doing the direct Miami anymore. Just a tip, be nice to the BA staff at Manchester, they are all set to be made redundant in March. Sad times. (I don't work for them.) Have a fabulous cruise, I'm sure you will. I spoke to customer relations regarding replacing my toiletries and they said they are happy to authorise a claim to reimburse me the extra cost. So that's good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assist2sell Posted December 8, 2006 #22 Share Posted December 8, 2006 Age 1-6? A DVD player is a must have for planes and dinners + don't forget all new shows! MOST IMPORTANT: Do not forget an extra battery as your DVD player will fizzle after 2-4 hours depending on the type. If you are on a long flight this could spell disaster! I got a portable dvd battery online at walmart for around 40 bucks- it gives another 4 hours juice and is a godsend. My daughter age 2.5 has done 8 hour plane rides with out problem. We leave for 10 hours to Hawaii on Sunday. Rest assured moma has every thing possible to make it through :) Now is not the time to worry about to much TV. PS FOR NCL cruisers I undersatnd no cartoons in room on your tv, so bring alot of DVDS! Happy Crusing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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