Jet lag question

[Lizzy Lemon]

I know this doesn't apply to us until next year but, we should arrive back at 7.30am ish on Sunday morning. Please tell me the boys will be ready for school and DH for work on the Monday (already keeping the boys off school for a week tagged onto half term don't want to keep them off any longer) and DH has to be back at work, no choice.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

JetLag is generally worse on the way home and it can depend on the individual, plus how well they sleep on the flight etc

The best advice is if possible stay awake for the day when you arrive home, which can be difficult if not impossible.
They are not going to be at their best the day after you get back, irrespective of what the sleeping plans are.

 

[angel659]

Hi

As Johnny said it pends on the individual. I personally feel it maybe a little hard for the child, but your dh should be ok. My dh went back to work the following day after we landed he was tired my daughter was extremely tired. I would see how they are when you get back. You may have to have your lo off for an extra day, pending if its important time of the year I personally dont see an extra day off being a problem. Then I could be wrong.

Michelle

 

[carolfoy]

We usually manage to do a days work the first day back and although it really hits you mid afternoon I just think its better to try and get back to a normal routine. Unless they're drinking, driving or operating machinery They'll be tired but should soon adjust

 

[minnie29uk]

Hopefully all will work out.
Might be leaving it a bit tight if there are any delays in the journey.
Temptation will be to go to sleep back in UK - dont!!Wait till 9PM that evening.
Set the alarm early-have a great shower-full breakfast and you'll probably be in bed for 6 PM on the Monday!!!

But it'll be worth it!!!

Lynn

 

[Yoga Deb]

Wendy,
your boys will be fine, we have always found that the quicker we get back into our usual routine the easier we get over jetlag. When we have had a few days to recover before going back to work/school we tend to sleep in and then we're awake half the night and it's taken about a week or more to get back to normal. When we have come back and gone straight back to school/work the next day we're usually ok after a couple of days.
Although the general advise is don't go to bed when you get home, this doesn't work for me. I usually need about 2 hours sleep when I get back (I never manage to sleep on the plane) I set the alarm otherwise I'd probably sleep all day.This keeps me going for the rest of the day and I then go to bed at my usual time.
After saying all this my kids have hardly had any problems with jet lag especially pre-teens, its me and DH who walk around like the living dead when we get back
Of course the best cure for jetlag and PHD (post holiday depression) is to start planning another trip immediately

 

[gilld]

We couldn't do it I'm afraid. We always make sure we're back by Saturday morning so we have the rest of the day and Sunday and even that's pushing it.

The once we went to work the day after landing, it took us a month to get back to a normal sleeping pattern.

 

[jools]

I agree with Johnny. Try to keep awake on the day that you get back and have an early night that evening. I find that the kids cope with the jet lag far better than us, generally because they do get some sleep on the plane on the way home, something me and hubby never manage.

My friend arrived back off her trip to Florida on the Monday morning and sent her children to school that same day. One of them did fall alseep at his desk, but hey he didn't miss a day off school.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Going West with the Sun is always the best, stay awake and try to get onto USA time as soon as you take off.
Going East is always worst as you loose the sun quicker.

Last day in USA have a more relaxing day, I suggest a water park at Disney, excllent if using Virgin as you can check in your bags then go the the park as it opens.

At the airport have a snack if your flight is around 5pm/6pm. Do not bother with the flight meal and swap your watches to UK as you get onthe flight.

Drink water some not to much so as you need to go often and then try ot get some slip just after you take off. Eye blindfolds help etc.

Yes when you get home try to stay awake but go to bed around 8pm to make up. If really sleepy try ot make it up as soon as you get home, am, but not too much and then stay awake in the afternoon, too much will make you stay in USA time and you will not be able to sleep.

Now my problem always is my ears they always hurt the day after and get blocked even though I keep them cleen and also try a sweet before landing any ideas?

 

[Mr Brit]

Well as im sure you appreciate every person is different and although i agree with the logic posted here, i have some different advice.

I have found with the many times i have been to Florida both on business and pleasure this has worked for me.

The day before you leave i would try to cram as much in as you can to really tire yourself and the kids out, i would also go to bed as late as possible and wake up the next day( the day of your flight as early as possible. again try to keep yourselves busy up until your flight making sure the kids have plenty to do. At this point a word to the wise, do not sleep on the flight. I have slept on the flight and for the couple of hours of instant gratification you get, you generally tend to pay for it over the coming days. In my experience by the time the flight lands and you wait endlessly for our luggage, pick up the car or get your ride home you generally tend to be home for around 10am-12 lunchtime.

Have a bite to eat and send everyone of to bed. You will find that everyone will be so exhausted not only from your efforts to keep them busy over the previous 48 hours but also the excitement of the flight will send them off to la la land faster than you can say Magic Kingdom and they wont wake from their slumber until at least 5 am the next morning. Plenty of time to feed and water your little charges and send them off to school (and work)

i have recommended this to many people and as far as i know all have found it effective, and i find it great because you dont end up loosing a day at the end of your holiday by being forced to take it easy because you know the jet lag will effect you on your return.

I hope this helps, sadly i dont need this now as i live in Florida but i hope it works for you and your family.

Nick

 

[Miffy2003]

We couldn't do it I'm afraid. We always make sure we're back by Saturday morning so we have the rest of the day and Sunday and even that's pushing it.

.

Ditto for me

I have to say my DDs adapt far better than DH & I do.

 

[castanea1985]

After years of trying to 'stay awake' when returning - usually dropping by 5pm,we decided to try a different tactic. Last year, we tried going to bed as soon as we got back, and setting the alarm, so we only have about 2/3 hours. Its a real struggle to get up, but it worked really well. Just having that small nap, was enough to keep us going til 9/10 pm and it was the first time in 40 years (of travelling back from US), that I felt fine the day after landing. We didn't get the usual horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach, and weren't walking round like zombies.
We will certainly try this again!
As regards to kids - I wouldn't like to force them back to school next day. Mine are usually out of sinc for days. As you know, its not as easy to get kids up when they are 'dog' tired.
Hope you have a great trip.
Tracy

 

[Lizzy Lemon]

Thanks for your advice, one or two ides to mull over. We're a very awkward family. DH is a postman who has to be up 4.30 am so looks like bed on the Sunday teatime for him. Glen will be in year 10 so every day missed at school will not be good (but can't have this holiday any other way) Ashley could sleep on a washing line so I'm sure he'll be OK. Doesn't matter about me I'm home all day. I don't want to come home on the Saturday, I'm greedy and want as many days on hols as possible

 

[Jules224]

We sent our DD back to school the day after we got home because we didn't want her to miss any more school but by 11.30am the teacher had phoned to say she kept falling asleep could we go and collect her, oops!

 

[Hilary]

Although the general advise is don't go to bed when you get home, this doesn't work for me. I usually need about 2 hours sleep when I get back (I never manage to sleep on the plane) I set the alarm otherwise I'd probably sleep all day.This keeps me going for the rest of the day and I then go to bed at my usual time.

DH and I always do this. It definitely suits us better to get some sleep in the day than trying to stay awake until the evening when we've snatched only short naps (at best) on the flight home. We'll then go to bed a little later than normal, but get up at our usual UK time the next morning and stick with it from then on.

I think it just shows that there's no hard and fast recipe for avoiding / beating jet-lag, if you get it. Unfortunately, you're not going to know what will be best for you until you're experiencing it!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

As I said earlier I can never sleep on the plane , maybe apart from short naps - the priority is making sure Josh is okay.

To be honest when we get home I tend to unpack and get things as back to normal as possible , by then it's usually getting on for lunch-time.
I always intend to stay awake but often end up giving in and falling asleep.

The problem I find is that after just a couple of hours sleep I often feel worse, hence the 'attempt' to stay awake all day - I guess we are all different how we react.

I could never send Josh to school though.

 

[happytraveller]

Hi ,funnily enough,when my kids went on holiday during term time they went back to school the next day no problems-i am always groggy for days.But last august we went away and they did'nt have to get up for anything inparticular-the difference was amazing!They did'nt recover for weeks.I was actually worried they were ill.This year we are taking the afternoon flight to L.A and the evening flight on our way back getting back to the u.k around 3pm.So hopefully by the time we get in eat and pack ,everyone will be exhausted and sleep soundly and be up the next day,like our other trips.

 

[gems_smiling]

I always have really bad jet lag once we get home coss i cant sleep on the plane. I always try and stay awake as long as i can but usually end up falling asleep on the way back from Gatwick airport and then when we get home i try and stay awake till about 8pm and have an early night. What do you all do about jet lag when you get to WDW? We usually try and stay up till between 9pm and 10pm Disney time then go to sleep.

 

[Lisash]

It seems different every time we go. Arriving is fine we are usually really excited and by the time we've unpacked and gone out for something to eat and to pick up some essentials its 10pm anyway, we're so tired by then we generally sleep right through till early morning (although we still seem to rise early all holiday) Coming home is much harder I can't sleep on the plane and usually just try to stay awake all day then get an early night. You still feel sluggish for a couple of day's but I think some of that is just that horrible had to come home feeling. Have a great time

 

[Miffy2003]

. What do you all do about jet lag when you get to WDW? We usually try and stay up till between 9pm and 10pm Disney time then go to sleep.

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