10 & 12 on a redeye in economy - give me all your tips!

[Anonymous]

Taking the kids to HI, which seemed like a great idea when we booked it but now that I am really thinking through our 18 hours worth of return travel, it may not have been our best call. Nonetheless, it's booked and we're committed, so please hit me with all your best tips ... 12 is a bit of a fragile flower and 10 has a short attention span, but they're generally pretty decent travelers if I throw enough snacks at them, not that we've attempted something of this magnitude previously.

[Anonymous]

You’ll be fine. We’ve done a redeye return from Hawaii with kids much younger. Bring a pillow.

[Anonymous]

Maybe sit a few rows away from them so you can see them but they can't see you. My kids will complain at me nonstop if I'm near them but will behave like perfect angels if I'm not right there as their punching bag ready to hear every complaint big or small they may have.

[Anonymous]

Melatonin gummies and devices

[Anonymous]

We’ve done England on the red eye a few times. It’s a 7-8 hour flight. I give DD ( now 11) melatonin right as we get on the plane and she konks out.
You’re going the other way but I don’t completely switch to local time. I let her stay up later in England and sleep later so it’s not so dramatic when we return.
On the way back when it’s a daytime flight… screens and snacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve done England on the red eye a few times. It’s a 7-8 hour flight. I give DD ( now 11) melatonin right as we get on the plane and she konks out.
You’re going the other way but I don’t completely switch to local time. I let her stay up later in England and sleep later so it’s not so dramatic when we return.
On the way back when it’s a daytime flight… screens and snacks.

How much do you give?

[Anonymous]

I think they will be fine. They are not 4 and 6. Set expectations in advance. It is a long plane ride but we are going to have a lovely vacation.

[Anonymous]

If you can, get window seats for them so they can lean against the wall to sleep. You don't need to give them melatonin. If they don't sleep and just watch a movie, they'll be ok at that age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve done England on the red eye a few times. It’s a 7-8 hour flight. I give DD ( now 11) melatonin right as we get on the plane and she konks out.
You’re going the other way but I don’t completely switch to local time. I let her stay up later in England and sleep later so it’s not so dramatic when we return.
On the way back when it’s a daytime flight… screens and snacks.

How much do you give?

Get the kids gummies and give 1.

[Anonymous]

I mean they are 10 and 12 not toddlers. Get a neck pillow. Let them watch a movie on plane. And good luck?

[Anonymous]

Eye masks make a huge difference for my kids - plus a small dose of melatonin. Something about truly blocking the light helps their brains relax. But also - you will end up at home after the long flight and they can recover then

[Anonymous]

My teens have taken the redeye to continental Europe and 13hr flights to Asia since they were babies. Before their tween years, I could force them to sleep a decent amount of hours on planes. When they hit their tweens, they couldn't do it, and binged-watched movies until they fell asleep with exhaustion. Now as older teens I don't think they sleep: they watch as many movies and eat as much as they can, and power through the day when we arrive, while my husband and I start flagging due to middle age, even when we get some sleep on the plane.

My kids were always quiet and respectful towards other passengers. The major stress is avoiding nuts during the flight, because one of them is anaphylactically allergic, and the open ocean is not a "stop at the nearest hospital" situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe sit a few rows away from them so you can see them but they can't see you. My kids will complain at me nonstop if I'm near them but will behave like perfect angels if I'm not right there as their punching bag ready to hear every complaint big or small they may have.

no, they are 10/12 don't do this to someone else on their row. What if one of them is sick. Jesus. You shouldn't expect a rando to sit for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe sit a few rows away from them so you can see them but they can't see you. My kids will complain at me nonstop if I'm near them but will behave like perfect angels if I'm not right there as their punching bag ready to hear every complaint big or small they may have.

no, they are 10/12 don't do this to someone else on their row. What if one of them is sick. Jesus. You shouldn't expect a rando to sit for you

They’re tweens not toddlers. No one needs babysitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Melatonin gummies and devices

This