Jet lag question

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I have never experienced jetlag on the way out. I think even though you end up staying "much later" than UK time, getting off the plane into bright sunshine tricks my body into thinking it's earlier than it really is

Yes West is best!!Last year we did Las Vegas got up here at 5am to go to Gatwick, 10.5 hour flight, 8 hours behind us, went to bed at 10pm there time, thats 6am Sunday in UK. The kids went all the way through and we were up in the pool early the next day, the sunlight does help you and change your watches as soon as you are on the plane.,

 

[Midnight Belle]

My 3 children would not manage getting up for school the day following a return flight from the US. We usually stay up for a little while until you just cannot go on any longer, go to sleep and set the alarm for a few hours later, otherwise we would probably sleep until the next day. This method has worked for us. We have tried to stay up until about 9.00pm on the day of arrival home but we still awake during the night, and feel dreadful the next day. We do not manage to sleep on the plane due to our three children not sleeping, well not until we are just about to land and they all decide to drop of!!

Good luck.

 

[tashasmum]

Personally i would say that your children would not be ready for school the day after. If they manage to sleep on the plane you could be in with a chance. We always allow at least one day before returning to school or work. As soon as we land home it is time for bed until about 1 o'clock (we have also tried staying awake to no avail), then we try and go to bed at a normal time (10pm). The following day we are guaranteed to sleep in till lunch time. Dh goes back to work the day after but he is fortunate that he can finish if he is tired.

 

[daipp]

Two years ago, I was very badly affected by jet-lag and I kept taking half-days to go home and sleep. It was a full two weeks before I was back to normal (after a three week holiday).

Since then my wife has been diagnosed with ME so we have to make sure that she can rest or sleep when she needs it. I cannot sleep on the plane under any circumstances so we soon realised we had a problem.

What we now do is book a hotel in Gatwick or Dartford for two nights which means we can check-in as soon as we land, rather than wait for the afternoon. Alright I agree we are paying for a night we aren't there but for the health and safety of my family, it's well worth it.

We are away for nearly a month this year and we have arranged the same for our return.

David