Air travel to USA with a young child
Jun 23rd 2007, 10:04 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Air travel to USA with a young child
Hi all,firstly this is my first time posting on this site.
I used to live in the States,but have been back in the UK a while and am now married and have an 11 month old baby.
We would like to visit some friends in the States in the next month or two,for a two week stay,but are worried about the 6 hour time difference in that it may affect our baby's sleep pattern.
Does anyone on here have experience of the above,i.e did they find it affected their child's sleep times and was it hard to get them to adjust?
Our concern is that the baby won't adjust,and all we will do is mess up his routines both when we get there,and when we return.
Any advice/experiences appreciated.
I used to live in the States,but have been back in the UK a while and am now married and have an 11 month old baby.
We would like to visit some friends in the States in the next month or two,for a two week stay,but are worried about the 6 hour time difference in that it may affect our baby's sleep pattern.
Does anyone on here have experience of the above,i.e did they find it affected their child's sleep times and was it hard to get them to adjust?
Our concern is that the baby won't adjust,and all we will do is mess up his routines both when we get there,and when we return.
Any advice/experiences appreciated.
Jun 23rd 2007, 10:07 pm
#2
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,181
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
Hi all,firstly this is my first time posting on this site.
I used to live in the States,but have been back in the UK a while and am now married and have an 11 month old baby.
We would like to visit some friends in the States in the next month or two,for a two week stay,but are worried about the 6 hour time difference in that it may affect our baby's sleep pattern.
Does anyone on here have experience of the above,i.e did they find it affected their child's sleep times and was it hard to get them to adjust?
Our concern is that the baby won't adjust,and all we will do is mess up his routines both when we get there,and when we return.
Any advice/experiences appreciated.
I used to live in the States,but have been back in the UK a while and am now married and have an 11 month old baby.
We would like to visit some friends in the States in the next month or two,for a two week stay,but are worried about the 6 hour time difference in that it may affect our baby's sleep pattern.
Does anyone on here have experience of the above,i.e did they find it affected their child's sleep times and was it hard to get them to adjust?
Our concern is that the baby won't adjust,and all we will do is mess up his routines both when we get there,and when we return.
Any advice/experiences appreciated.
But do you really want to put your life on hold for fear of messing up your baby's sleep patterns? Those are so unpredictable at the best of times...
Elvira
(who got the T-shirt...
)
Jun 23rd 2007, 10:11 pm
#3
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
It's true. Even moving to a new house affects their sleep patterns for a while.
Jun 23rd 2007, 10:19 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
We know that,we just moved
It did not affect him whatsoever.It's the 6 hour difference we are thinking about;we are fortunate in that he is a very predictable sleeper for one so young.(which is most of the time like his Dad!)
Last edited by Modus Operandi; Jun 23rd 2007 at 10:22 pm.
Jun 24th 2007, 3:09 am
#5
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
Let me guess. This is your first baby
Jun 24th 2007, 3:19 am
#6
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Joined: May 2006
Location: In the middle of two worlds
Posts: 501
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
My son and daughter-in-law just visited me here in Florida from the UK (5 hour time difference) They brought my 10 month old grandson and they too were concerned how the time difference would affect his sleep pattern. Turned out to be no problem at all. They arrived at 2pm local time, which was 7pm to them, and baby's bedtime. But the activity and everything going on around him actually kept him awake and alert, and we managed to keep him awake until around 9pm local time then put him to bed. He slept soundly through the night and awoke the next morning happy and playful.
However, different story going back to the UK. He was fine on the overnight plane journey home, slept most of the time. But they said it took him a couple of days to get back into his UK routine.
I think I read somewhere that travelling East to West is always easier than travelling West to East, something about jetlag being worse West to East.
Just wanted to say I can relate to your concerns, my daughter-in-law fretted for ages prior to bringing our baby transatlantic, but it all worked out just fine.
Hope you have a great trip
However, different story going back to the UK. He was fine on the overnight plane journey home, slept most of the time. But they said it took him a couple of days to get back into his UK routine.
I think I read somewhere that travelling East to West is always easier than travelling West to East, something about jetlag being worse West to East.
Just wanted to say I can relate to your concerns, my daughter-in-law fretted for ages prior to bringing our baby transatlantic, but it all worked out just fine.
Hope you have a great trip
Jun 24th 2007, 3:21 am
#7
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
I've always found 'mind over matter' worked for me...maybe it was just luck. I'd be determined my baby would be no trouble and settle down quickly...she wasn't and she did.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Jun 24th 2007 at 3:32 am.
Jun 24th 2007, 4:22 am
#8
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
My son and daughter-in-law just visited me here in Florida from the UK (5 hour time difference) They brought my 10 month old grandson and they too were concerned how the time difference would affect his sleep pattern. Turned out to be no problem at all. They arrived at 2pm local time, which was 7pm to them, and baby's bedtime. But the activity and everything going on around him actually kept him awake and alert, and we managed to keep him awake until around 9pm local time then put him to bed. He slept soundly through the night and awoke the next morning happy and playful.
However, different story going back to the UK. He was fine on the overnight plane journey home, slept most of the time. But they said it took him a couple of days to get back into his UK routine.
I think I read somewhere that travelling East to West is always easier than travelling West to East, something about jetlag being worse West to East.
Just wanted to say I can relate to your concerns, my daughter-in-law fretted for ages prior to bringing our baby transatlantic, but it all worked out just fine.
Hope you have a great trip
However, different story going back to the UK. He was fine on the overnight plane journey home, slept most of the time. But they said it took him a couple of days to get back into his UK routine.
I think I read somewhere that travelling East to West is always easier than travelling West to East, something about jetlag being worse West to East.
Just wanted to say I can relate to your concerns, my daughter-in-law fretted for ages prior to bringing our baby transatlantic, but it all worked out just fine.
Hope you have a great trip
Mothers Little Helper worked fine when flying across country, not a lot of difference.
Jun 24th 2007, 5:04 am
#9
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
We/I took my eldest daughter from the US to UK and back when she was 2 months, 8 months, 15 months and 2 years and never had any real problems. We are hoping to go back this Oct with her (now 3) and my youngest daughter who will be 19 months then.
Ash
Ash
Jun 24th 2007, 5:07 am
#10
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Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
Helpful hint- I know this is costs a little more but I highly recommend getting baby his/her own seat not only safer but gives baby their own room... less stress all round.
Jun 24th 2007, 5:16 am
#11
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15,455
Re: Air travel to USA with a young child
I didn't get tied to a routine - too restricting. Reax and enjoy your trip.
