Hi
We're going in Jan with 20 month old & 3 year old. Glad it's only going to be ONE way
Think you pay for 2 year old, but we're getting them both seats, in the hope little Miss will be able to settle.
Personally I think it's going to be a nightmare :scared:
But you never know

That's the idea!

And when you get off at the other end, do you get affected by jet lag?

It hits me hard and I can never sleep on the plane


Bye
Mark

We flew out last year with our then 2 year old and it was an absolute nightmare. Got to dubai and wanted to turn around and come home!!!!!!!! My advice would be definately have a stop over. I would never attempt it again without a break. Oh and we had tried phennegan (for travel sickness but has the side effect of knocking the little cherubs out) didnt work for ours but have heard good reports for some but try before you fly. :scared:

I do get really bad jetlag. I try to stay awake until it's the correct time in local time to go to bed but if that fails and I go to sleep it normally takes a few days to sort out the sleep patterns.

Only thing to do then is not get too stressed (if you are cross, it's impossible to sleep) and I normally get up and do some Pilates/exercise or this year I found out Melbourne Aquatic centre opens at the crack of dawn so I went swimming at 5.30 am. Idea is to get tired and then sleep at "right" times. Mind you, I am not a morning person and the pool was packed so I wasn't sure who was mad, me or them!

The only thing to really get some peace is stay in a 1 (or more) bed apartment - lots in Oz and then you can watch TV or whatever without disturbing the rest of the family.

It supposed to be 1 day of jetlag per timezone crossed but I don't think it is as long as that and after a week, it's ok.

[My advice would be definately have a stop over.




We're planning on stopping over in Singapore for 2/3 days - hubby lived there when he was very young & wants to revisit some places with our children.
I'm not convinced dragging all the cases through customs,off to hotel & then having to do checking in again, will be a better idea. Not sure if I'd rather just get there,even if it is a slog. What if they are both nightmares on the first plane? Might have to take them kicking & screaming onto the next one :scared:
Think I'm starting to got off the idea, might just see how much it costs for the boat ticket in stead

Oh my god!!! I feel more scared about the flight now than ever!!! hehehehe
It was bad emough when its was just me and my partner!!! I take lack of sleep really badly!!! I know my baby is gonna be a nightmare!! running up and down, screaming, playing, giggling!! everything but sleeping!!!

arrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

maybe I will get on a ship!!! Lol

by the way all your comments are soooooooooooo funny!!! you made me laugh so much!!! I really feel for you guys!!! I dare not imaging how hard its gonna be!!!
well done to those of you who have done it, and good luck to those who will!!! Woogle you are in my prayers!!! hehehe

I did it with my 4 kids and it was nowhere near as bad as I had expected it to be. We went to the US to stay with my mother while hubby finished work in Belgium then travelled across the US to LA then on to Melbourne via Auckland. Mine are 16 (I know that doesn't really count) 10,7 and 3 and hubby was on a different flight . The big thing to remember is be prepared for a hellish trip (then you will get a pleasant surprise) with as many things as possible to distract them, dole out little surprise presents (drawing, books little toys, nibbles) at intervals to break things up. Try the travel sickness tablets before hand as they can be a lifesaver, my lot fell asleep in the airport at LA and couldn't wake up properly to get on the plane .
I found the game-boys a life saver as well with lots of cartoon cartridges rather than just games and for the youngest I got a Video now machine which she loved and still watches in long car journeys. Just go with what you know that your kids enjoy and pack for that, also make sure that you have things to help you settle if they all fall soundly to sleep.
Maggie (my 3 year old) spent time when bored looking out of the window for the ship carrying our furniture. The more relaxed that you are then the more relaxed they will be. If they are very young it is worth taking their car seat for the plane as this is often more comfortable for them.
I found the days after the flight while we were all struggling with jet lag harder than the flight itself.
Good luck.
Nicky

The only way to avoid/limit jetlag is to immediately switch to the sleeping patterns of the country you are flying to.
In other words, if you arrive in Oz at 7am, don't go to sleep, however tired you are.
Stay up until the evening then have an early night, say 9ish.
The following day make sure you get up in the morning - don't be tempted to sleep all day. No you don't have to get up at the crack of the dawn, but sleeping til mid-afternoon really doesn't work either. It just makes it tougher to adjust.
The quicker you adopt your new sleeping patterns, the quicker you'll adjust.
I've flown to Oz twice and my parents have been out seven times and none of us have ever suffered from jetlag using this theory.
Obviously you feel a bit tired, but that soon passes.
As for the flight, I always make the most of the free wine and G&Ts.