Advice: Kids and late flight?

[Anonymous]

We have a late flight that won’t get us to our hotel until around midnight. I’m stressing out a little, and I would love any advice on streamlining this part of our trip and making things run smoothly!

Not sure if any of this matters, but I’ll mention them:

We will have to eat dinner at the airport around 6pm; our flight leaves at 8, we anticipate arriving at actual hotel around midnight.

I plan on packing snacks to eat before bed at the hotel because I anticipate everyone will be famished. I doubt the airport will have food available so late, and there isn’t anything close to the hotel.

I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

I’m just worried we will all be overtired and it will be chaos! I’d love any advice!

[Anonymous]

How young are the kids? I would just assume it’ll be tiring and everyone will be cranky or sleepy. I would let kids fall asleep in their travel clothes if that seems easiest, skip teeth brushing, and sort everything out in the morning. But there’s also the chance the kids will be wired from the novelty and up half the night. Either way, it’s just one night. It’ll be ok.

[Anonymous]

I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

I really want to wash the travel crud off of their bodies. Should I really skip this step?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

I really want to wash the travel crud off of their bodies. Should I really skip this step?

Yes of course. They can shower in the morning.

[Anonymous]

How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

I really want to wash the travel crud off of their bodies. Should I really skip this step?

If you want. This is something that you just wait and see how everyone is feeling in that moment, and make the call then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

Two. Seven and nine

[Anonymous]

You’re showering kids who are exhausted at midnight? That’s insane.

Unclench would be suggestion #1. Everyone will be tired. Go to the hotel and go to sleep. You won’t be famished FFS. You’ll live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

I really want to wash the travel crud off of their bodies. Should I really skip this step?

Yes. Wash their hands. What “travel crud” is under their clothes? It just sounds like a manifestation of your anxiety about travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

Two. Seven and nine

Oh wow. From your post, I was picturing 3 year old septuplets or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

Two. Seven and nine

Take a deep breath. They'll be fine. You'll be fine. We've taken our kids that age on redeye flights and they've adjusted amazingly well, better than us adults.

Yes to packing plenty of snacks. No to rigid expectations that everyone showers at midnight. Go with the flow and trust that your family will be ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

Two. Seven and nine

Oh wow. From your post, I was picturing 3 year old septuplets or something.

I’m honestly more worried about my 7yo. I think my 9yo will enjoy the late nite, but my 7yo isn’t a night owl. AT ALL.

So it’s established I will just let them go to bed.

Any other suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll want to shower each of the kids and my/ourselves after traveling.

This is psychotic. You want to shower your kids at midnight?

I really want to wash the travel crud off of their bodies. Should I really skip this step?

Oh goodness yes! Sleep is way more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many kids are there?
How old are they?

It's just one night, under special circumstances. They will be fine.

Two. Seven and nine

Oh wow. From your post, I was picturing 3 year old septuplets or something.

I’m honestly more worried about my 7yo. I think my 9yo will enjoy the late nite, but my 7yo isn’t a night owl. AT ALL.

So it’s established I will just let them go to bed.

Any other suggestions?

This will vary by kid, but I couldn't let my seven year old fall asleep in the uber from the airport to the hotel. Because that fifteen minute nap would reset him and he wouldn't be able to sleep again at the hotel. (He couldn't transfer while asleep after his first birthday.). Other kids, it would be fine to nap in the Uber and fall immediately asleep at the hotel. So go with your instinct!