O/T Tips for LONG (8+ hour) flights with kids?

[rkandmjsmommy]

We just drove to and from Orlando
We went to Universal and my DS age 9 fell in love with the Simpsons Ride, so I bought him Season 10 on DVD, it was 23 episodes and he watched it the whole way home. NOW I know kids shouldnt watch that much TV but it worked for us!!!

SO maybe find a show they like and get a seasons worth of episodes?

Good luck

 

[furb & dez]

Duct Tape!

Only for others' children.

 

[gules]

Thanks for all the great advice, guys! Pipe cleaners-- that's brilliant!!! My ODS loves to "create", so pipe cleaners will keep him busy for quite a while. I called the airline about the food options and was advised to bring our own. I'm just hoping TSA doesn't decide to take it! I'm thinking I'll bring those pizza lunchables (although I'm a little worried about the sauce packet-- it's small enough to pass regs, right?). My boys do not like the regular cracker lunchables. I will also pack some sunbutter and jelly sandwiches and plenty of snacks. We've got the DVD player and IPOD that should help for a few hours, and the boys are already used to using headphones, so that's not a problem. ODS has a DS and YDS has a leapster, so I guess we'll pack those, too. We're on a 767, so I'm hoping it will have the TVs in the backs of the seats. Does anyone know if those TVs take regular headphones, or if you need the two-prong kind that they sell? We are willing to pay $$ for the head phones if need be. Thanks again for all the suggestions! --Katie

Just a heads-up: Although the pizza sauce packets are small enough to pass, you need to have them all in one place (in a clear 1-L bag), which will mean opening up the lunchables packs. If you can think of an alternative, you might want to do that.

I would also double check on pipe cleaners. Some places might be OK with it, but with the regulations tightening all the time, some airport security might take it on the basis of being "wires" or something. It's hard to tell with airport security these days.

 

[AmandaNied]

We've been to Hawaii twice- both 8 hour flights, plus a few 1-2 hour connections. DS was 4 and just this past august when he was 7. We brought the ipad with new movies downloaded, notebook and pens, sweatshirt and headphones. The movies they played in flight were not really for kids (Water for Elephants) but DS was busy with the new movies. We got up and walked during seatbelt off breaks, stretching. We packed non-salty foods and also brought on some from the airport. DS is a good traveler (my parents live 8 hours away by car and he's been doing that trip since he was an infant).

Please don't try new medications (ie benadryl) to "make them sleep" unless you know that is the outcome. On one trip to Maui, my friend's mom and dad came. Her dad took an ambien from his wife (has never had one before) and acted intoxicated the entire flight back- never sleeping a wink. He actually broke the door on the airplane bathroom and there was quite a bit of drooling

At the time, it was not very funny...now I can laugh

 

[daughtersrus]

We flew to Oahu last summer for DD's Make -A-Wish trip. The flight there we had to change planes in San Fran. That flight was during the day. The flight home was non-stop from Oahu to O'Hare. It was just about 8 hours. We left Honolulu around 3pm and landed in Chicago around 6am. During that flight, they kept the lights very low and actually told the passengers that they request that you sleep as to not disturb others. Luckily, DD#3 cooperated. We flew United both ways if that matters.

Enjoy your trip! If you're going to Waikiki it might be fun to arrange family at home to watch you wave to them from in front of the Duke Kahanamoku Statue.