Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Parents, doting grandparents ( that would be us!) and baby flying straight through from Houston to Heathrow in June. Good suggestions to make the flight easier for us and everyone else on the plane are very welcome!

We didn't have such a problem when our kids were young (but not quite this young) as the longest we flew was probably Gatwick to Ibiza :lol:

The flight over is through the night. We leave Houston at 8pm but coming back it will be daytime flying.

Points to make: She doesn't like to nap. She wants to be on her feet all the time and she is very very sociable!

Maybe I can upgrade one of us:nod::whistle::wink_smile::lightbulb:

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

For the flight to the UK:
Does she sleep well at night? As she doesn't like to nap I would encourage lots of running/walking around the terminal before the flight so she will be cream crackered at bed time. Take some snacks so she can eat when she needs to, not just when the airline provides "food". A favourite small cuddly toy and blanket will also help her settle. I seem to recall bringing our youngest over here at a similar age and think we had a sky-cot in at least one direction, though he was almost too big for it.

For the daytime flight back:
Plenty of things to do, that can be brought out over the flight. Some new things, some familiar things, but nothing too noisy! Also get a set of comfortable child sized headphones so that she can watch some the inflight entertainment. There are usually cartoons available. Maybe some UK style baby reins so it is possible to walk behind her up and down the aisle rather than trying to hold her hand?

I'm sure more recent parents will have lots of good ideas that are more up to date than mine.

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Tip 1: let us know which flight you're on so we can be sure not to be on it. :nod:

Sorry, baby's are my least favorite fellow passengers. :(

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

She will sleep fairly well through the night so we are hoping that putting her in her PJ's and letting her cuddle up to George ( her night night cuddle toy)will work for most of the flight.

Like the idea of the reins, thanks:thumbsup:

At least there are four of us for her to be passed around to:lol:

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Hey, old guys with long legs taking up too much space are just as annoying:sneaky:

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

"Old"? :frown: .... I'll have to get JG to educate you. :rolleyes:

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

On the way back let her wander. In my experience it's the toddlers who want to explore and aren't allowed to that become the grumpy whiny ones. If she's happy toddling up and down the aisles entertaining herself let her have it. You can all take turns keeping and eye on her whilst not getting DVT. Win win. I love seeing happy explorers.

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Not sure which is most appropriate but pacifiers, a bottle or lollipops work well on take off and landing (to stop ears popping).

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Mothers Little Helper

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

I was thinking of that also - but for the child... or cough syrup! I'm all for doping children on long flights. I'm not sure I'd have done that to my own, but I'm all for it for someone else's annoying brat.

Ian

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

A spray that could be directed at the offender?

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

Make sure you have a skycot, speak to your airline to ensure you have it booked as 8hrs with a little one potentially on your lap, is a long time! iPad and headphones are the most essential item and stickers and comics can often kill 30 seconds before they loose concentration and move onto the next activity!!! 😉 Walking them round and tiring them out first was a great tip x

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

:goodpost:

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

All seats with skycot were already booked . If there is a cancellation then we may get one:fingerscrossed: The one good thing is she can be passed around as there are 4 of us.

We have already started collecting new little toys to amuse her and some favourite snacks. I imagine the flight back will be the harder one as it is daytime.

Re: Tips on flying with a 14 month old to the UK please.
 

:thumbsup:

I am sure by the end of the flight we will be friends with everyone.:lol:

She has a pacifier, Penelope Penguin. That should help her ears:nod: