Can we talk time zones - what age kids does it get better?

[Anonymous]

My kids are 4 and 7 and I've never taken them to another time zone. I'm terrified because they are good sleepers at home and not really "go with the flow" kids. We have been putting off a trip to San Diego (to see friends) and also a trip to England/France for the simple reason that I can't conceptualize how they will adjust to the new time and get enough sleep to make the trip pleasant.

Yet I know that families do this everyday and manage just fine. So can someone break it down for me? Especially if you/your kids are used to them sleeping 10/11 hours per night at home?

[Anonymous]

My kids are 9 and 7 and we took them to London for the first time last summer. They are not go with the flow kids either, although on vacation they seem to be more so. At home they sleep about 9 hours a night. It was their first major time zone switch (1 hour in Mexico did not count!), and they did fine! We took the day flight, so we got in around 9 that night. We ate a late dinner, checked into the hotel, and the finally got to sleep around 1 am. We dragged that first day, but after that, they did fine. It helped that we walked all over each day, so they were worn out at night. We did go to bed late each night - usually around 10, and they slept until 7 or 8 the next morning. Coming back was easy, too. They adjusted back easily. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Anonymous]

We fly regularly with our now-5yo DD to visit family on the west coast (so 3 hours earlier). Between the travel and the excitement, the first day is usually pretty long. Rules are seriously relaxed (sure, you can have crappy treats at the airport, no problem, watch as many movies as you want). We usually stay for about a week. The first few days start early and end early. DD did not have trouble napping when she did nap (dropped the nap at about 3 but we've been traveling out there since she was born).

[Anonymous]

If you are travelling east, try to shift your routines a little earlier before you leave. If you can, move your wake up and your bedtimes a couple of hours earlier in the week prior to departure--so instead of getting up at 7, get up at 5. And then when you are there, be late risers and late to bed. If your kids normally go to bed at 8, have them stay up till 10 and wake up at 9am.

If you are going west, it's only 3 hours anyway. Think of the first night as something like a late night at home.

Also, build in lots of down time in the first couple of days. Time in the mid afternoon to hang out, read books, nap if anyone wants to, and just chill.