Tips for Surviving a 24-Hour Flight with an 18-Month-Old

[Anonymous]

OP, get some new stuff, like sticker books and water paint books, and bring one out at intervals when your child is getting tired of playing with the same old toys.

[Anonymous]

I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

Why were you required to take a 27 hour fight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

Why were you required to take a 27 hour fight?

I'm not the pp, but presumably because her work assignment had ended so she was moving back to the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

My, my, aren't you a bit too touchy! You posted on DCUM asking for advice and you have four pages. If this was your first time posting then this was a baptism of fire. The obvious question is why you can't break up a 27 hour flight. Frankly, I feel sorry for the other passengers because they are going to be on the flight from Hell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

My, my, aren't you a bit too touchy! You posted on DCUM asking for advice and you have four pages. If this was your first time posting then this was a baptism of fire. The obvious question is why you can't break up a 27 hour flight. Frankly, I feel sorry for the other passengers because they are going to be on the flight from Hell.

I don't think the person you are responding to (the foreign service person) is the OP. The foreign service poster says a 27 hour flight and the OP says a 24 hour one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the foreign service and was posted in Asia. I had a baby while there. Should I have left the baby there because it was cruel to bring her home on the 27 hour flight?

[Anonymous]

The target $5 section or the dollar store are good for little things to entertain: stickers, post-it notes, pencil case-sized box of snacks.

[Anonymous]

I've done 20 hour trips with 15 months and 20 months. It was fine. We've also done similarly long trips at younger and older ages with only one bad experience. A lot of international families make it work.

Does your child like tv? Find out now and make sure you have access to favorite shows. What's available on the plane might not be what keeps your child's attention. Also, books are toys are good, but they're not going to help much on such a long flight. Be prepared to turn on the screens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've done 20 hour trips with 15 months and 20 months. It was fine. We've also done similarly long trips at younger and older ages with only one bad experience. A lot of international families make it work.

Does your child like tv? Find out now and make sure you have access to favorite shows. What's available on the plane might not be what keeps your child's attention. Also, books are toys are good, but they're not going to help much on such a long flight. Be prepared to turn on the screens.

.

Yes, if needed we will do all the screen time needed. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The target $5 section or the dollar store are good for little things to entertain: stickers, post-it notes, pencil case-sized box of snacks.

Haha all stocked up! Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tylenol, inflatable cube airplane bed if you can get the 3 across seats ( but then you need to decide between car seat and seatbelt). Get the very front of seat in case kid kick ( mine does). Lollipops to ease ear pressure. Kids headphone and allow more screen time. Pipe cleaner and magnetic toy like puzzle and blocks you don’t mind losing.

Thanks! All front row seats are booked. We have flown with her before and it went well. Love the idea of lollipops to ease ear pressure.

Thanks

And then there’s the next 23 hours and 30 minutes…

Why was it a he and few posts ago and now it’s a her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you subjecting your child to this?

There is literally NOTHING on planet earth that would make me take an 18 month old on a 24 hour airplane trip. Literally nothing.

This is amazing advice, thank you so much. I'm sure OP is flying back and forth to Disney land 3x for fun

Look I have three kids. Please tell me what is important enough to subject an 18 month old to this for? I can think of one scenario only: her parent is dying and she literally has no one to leave the child with- not another parent, not a friend, not a nanny. OP is this the case? If so you get a pass. Otherwise? This is cruel and borderline insane.

Hmmm.... I dont know, military families? single parents relocating? single military parents? i can thnk of MANY MANY MANY situations.

To answer the actual question
- two changes of clothes for you, including underwear and socks (trust me)
- stroller that goes into the overhead compartment (trust me, nothing worse than not getting your stroller before the connecting flight)
- if not stroller, than one of those bags where you can attach your car seat (if you are taking one) with a strap and then can wheel the kid around.

toys, snacks etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you subjecting your child to this?

There is literally NOTHING on planet earth that would make me take an 18 month old on a 24 hour airplane trip. Literally nothing.

This is amazing advice, thank you so much. I'm sure OP is flying back and forth to Disney land 3x for fun

Look I have three kids. Please tell me what is important enough to subject an 18 month old to this for? I can think of one scenario only: her parent is dying and she literally has no one to leave the child with- not another parent, not a friend, not a nanny. OP is this the case? If so you get a pass. Otherwise? This is cruel and borderline insane.

Hmmm.... I dont know, military families? single parents relocating? single military parents? i can thnk of MANY MANY MANY situations.

To answer the actual question
- two changes of clothes for you, including underwear and socks (trust me)
- stroller that goes into the overhead compartment (trust me, nothing worse than not getting your stroller before the connecting flight)
- if not stroller, than one of those bags where you can attach your car seat (if you are taking one) with a strap and then can wheel the kid around.

toys, snacks etc.

Great suggestion all on my list! We are so excited, it's going to be fun. Appreciate your help.

[Anonymous]

We never did 24 hours, but did 12-15 hour trips. Commercial travel (vs car trips) is where I parented the opposite of every day life. Offer the screens first and let them watch as long as it keeps their attention. Junk snacks and treats on demand until they risk giving themselves a stomachache. Benadryl if needed (but see if they fall asleep on their own first).