Re: Long plane journey

[Guest guest]

> Dear all,

>

> A plea for help! I'm off to Canada next Monday with (9m) and

Lee

> (3y). DH isn't going - it's for my pal's wedding. Fortunately she

and her

> fiance will be sitting with us on the plane (lucky them!!). It's a

9 1/2 hr

> flight, and will have to sit on my lap - Air Canada say he's

too big

> for a skycot but they're reserving us a skycot seat for the extra

legroom.

> I've never flown with children before - would really value your

ideas.

My onyl advice is:

You might check with them if having the skycot (bulkhead, usually)

seats measn that you can't put the arm rests up. That's where they put

me and Calvin (9 months at the time) on the way back from the US and

though we had legroom for me, we also couldn't lie down to sleep. If

they have room, see if you can get extra seats in a place that you can

turn into 2 or 3 seats together for a child to lie down.

No advice for the 3 year old since I haven't done that yet, but Calvin

entertained himself pretty well, along with entertaining loads of

American retirees

Phyllis

[Guest guest]

> A plea for help! I'm off to Canada next Monday with (9m) and

Lee

> (3y

Oooh lucky you!

I did LHR to Ottawa last summer with Steffi, then aged 3.5yo. The

worst bit was it was the first time I had flown with her on an airline

which didn't have seat back individual TVs with a dedicated children's

channel (except for going to Spain and Edinburgh which don't count!)

I can't remember whether we flew Canadian Pacific or Air Canada (I

think they are one and the same now) but they had more legroom than

other airlines - probably could afford to by not having the indiv TVs

and only serving two choices of food. Children's food was not

Steffi's taste - burger and potato faces and she ended up having my

meal instead.

> I've got Lee a personal stereo with a couple of story tapes, which

he's

> never had before, to be given on the journey as a surprise. It's

been

> suggested that I should wrap up some small toys and give them out

one by

> one. What sort of things do you reckon would be good

Does he like having his face-painted? If so you might like to try

some face painting *crayons* (I have taken paints with me but crayons

are less messy!) - I found them useful for drawing 'tattoos' all over

Steffi's legs, arms, face. Also if you get any turbulence they are

handy for encouraging them to stay in their seat.

'Magic drawing boards' the sort you can get for about 50p and look

grey and you write on them with a plastic pointed thing.

We've used the ELC alphabet cards a lot when travelling. Even laying

out a Pairs game at the airport. We've now taught Steffi how to play

poker with her Blues Clues cards.....

Some books for story time. Try www.thebookpeople.co.uk for lots of

cheapy bundles. Or charity shop.

I also take a small pack of wax crayons (like you get in restaurants)

some plain paper, some scissors and a glue stick.

All of this goes in Steffi's own backpack which also has wheels and

can be pulled along. I bought it at a local shop and haven't seen

them since

HTH - have a brilliant trip. Where in Canada are you off to?

--

Sue

Oz

[Guest guest]

Horn wrote:

> I've got Lee a personal stereo with a couple of story tapes, which

> he's

> never had before, to be given on the journey as a surprise. I am sure he'd >

go > wild over something electronic like the Bob the Builder phone (Early >

Learning Centre), but I suspect the beeping etc.. would drive the

> other > passengers mad.

It would have to be very loud to annoy passengers! We got Iain one of

those kiddies' computers for flying to Seattle when he was 4. The

humming noise from engines & air conditioning almost drowned out all the

beeps and things.

A magic slate or one of the more sophisticated erasable drawing boards

are good, but there's often a cheap magic slate in the bag of kiddies'

goodies that airlines usually hand out. Problem with pencils/crayons is

they tend to roll off and disappear under seats. I think you can get

magnetic puzzles from ELC - they did them lastyear. Toy cars roll

away. Difficult age to cater for, isn't it!

Lesley Moor

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 07/03/01 08:33:59 GMT Standard Time,

nct-coffee writes:

Sue W wrote:-

> All of this goes in Steffi's own backpack which also has wheels and

> can be pulled along. I bought it at a local shop and haven't seen

> them since>

>

> I think Argos do them with a small bum bag to go with it. I got the boys

> one from Asda but that was a couple of years ago.

>

What about Magnetic O's & X's from ELC?

> risha

> SAHM to 3 boys

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

First of all, I would kick up a bit of a stink about the sky cot. I flew to

Malaysia (9 1/2 hours) at 33 weeks pg with DD2, when DS was 13 months.

Partly because I was so enormous and didn't have a lap, and partly because I

threatened to go into labour on the spot if they said no, they let me have a

sky cot (like you, I'd booked the bulkhead seats anyway). DS is not a small

child - 80th centile or something - but fitted into it very neatly. I

rigged up a harness from the 5-point highchair harness I had with me, so he

couldn't wriggle out of it - which is their main concern. So basically,

your 9mth baby will fit into a sky cot. Just make a fuss and refuse to go

away until they give you one! It's best to arrive early at check-in for

these things - or even ring the airline in advance and make sure it's done

over the phone.

I also travelled without DH and had 10yr old DD1 as my only helper (!) -

lunacy in retrospect. It was a night flight, so fortunately on teh way

there DS slept most of the time. On the way home I completely mucked up the

time differences so he was awake most of the time . Fortunately, there

was a cartoon channel on the TV screen (which comes out of the arm of your

seat in the bulkheads), and we had plenty of books. However, because it was

a night flight I felt obliged to keep him quietish which was a bit of a

struggle!

I think crayons and surprise games should do the trick - also there are

enough of you to take it in turns to walk up and down. Exhaustion is a

useful tool in these circumstances, too

Hope this is a bit helpful.

Enjoy your holiday!

Vicki

> Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 18:29:47 -0000

>

> Subject: Long plane journey

>

> Dear all,

>

> A plea for help! I'm off to Canada next Monday with (9m) and Lee

> (3y). DH isn't going - it's for my pal's wedding. Fortunately she and her

> fiance will be sitting with us on the plane (lucky them!!). It's a 9 1/2

hr

> flight, and will have to sit on my lap - Air Canada say he's too

big

> for a skycot but they're reserving us a skycot seat for the extra legroom.

> I've never flown with children before - would really value your ideas.

>

> I've got Lee a personal stereo with a couple of story tapes, which he's

> never had before, to be given on the journey as a surprise. It's been

> suggested that I should wrap up some small toys and give them out one by

> one. What sort of things do you reckon would be good? I am sure he'd go

> wild over something electronic like the Bob the Builder phone (Early

> Learning Centre), but I suspect the beeping etc.. would drive the other

> passengers mad.

>

> Please share your wisdom - I have come to rely on this list for bright

ideas

> over the last two years!!

>

> H.

>

> ============

> Horn

> NCT National Home Birth Coordinator

>

> Personal website: www.homebirth.org.uk

[Guest guest]

Don't forget to pack a spare top and trousers for yourself in your hand

luggage! (I had a rolled up pair of leggins and a thinish sweatshirt at the

bottom of my bag in case we got stranded somewhere - but I needed it becasue

DS1 - 12yrs was sick on me!!)

On all the various airlines we used to go to Taiwan and back whilst DH was

there they all had things to give to the children. All had a variety of

things aimed at different age groups so we managed to get three different

things quite often. I wouldn't rely on this though - but it may be a

welcome bonus! Depending on how dextrous DS1 is you might find some keyring

sized versions of puzzles that you can attach to his hand luggage - great

for fiddling/ playing with whilst waiting around at the airport.

Don't know about scissors! but stickers and a plain exercise book would be

an idea. How about a few lego bricks, you might loose some, but they have a

lot of possibilities. You can also ask if he can have a visit to the flight

deck if you think he will be interested, and one of the adults will need to

go with him - if all of you are techy minded then you might have to toss a

coin to see who goes!

Don't forget spare batteries for the 'walkman'. And you may need to expain

that it can't be used for a while around take off and landings. The library

here has lots of story tapes, so you may be able to borrow some - stories

for this age group tend to be on short tapes, usually though they are happy

to listen to them over and over again.

I don't know how fussy your eaters are, but mine are very. We took a packet

of very plain biscuits in a tupperware the second time - too plain to be

very interesting but a vital source of calories if they don't like the

airline food.

Might want to have something to suck on for takeoff and landing. You can

get sugar free boiled type sweets at some chemists, but I have forgotten

what they are called. Might want sea bands or some travel sickness remedy

just incase. (I have 3 sets of child sea bands if you want to borrow a

set).

I always hide away traveling toys as soon as we arrive at the other end - so

that they keep their novelty value for the way back.

Have fun!!

Liz Goudie

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Thank you SOOOOOO much for all the ideas - I am feeling much more confident

now! When I come back I'll write up all these ideas & my experience as a

little article which can be used for newsletters, if anyone wants. Just a

few extra, extra thanks for these ideas:

Thanks to Lesley M's reassurance about the noisiness of planes, I've gone

ahead with my toy shopping spree (good excuse anyway!) and bought the

talking Bob the Builder phone - even if it does turn out to be too noisy for

the plane, it might keep Lee happy at the airports and, being single-handed

for 8 days, I will need plenty to occupy him!

Sue W - I love the idea of face-painting crayons and will try to find some.

The child's travel bag/trolley is a good idea too - off to Argos today!

I've also bought some pipe cleaners, stickers, and mini-ink stampers & a few

notepads. Toy hire sounds intriguiing too - although I doubt I'll have time

to get that organised in 7 days, but is fascinating to know these services

are available.

and Vicki, thanks for all the suggestions about bulkhead seats. I

reserved a bulkhead seat and asked for a skycot, but they told me that Air

Canada's skycots only go up to 6 month olds, but that they'll reserve one

anyway. I shall turn up with a safety harness and an attitude, then!

Vicki, I don't want to hear that travelling alone with sprogs is 'lunacy' at

the moment, thank you!!

Phyllis, I like the idea of being able to let children kip on seats, but

alas both flights are full so I doubt we'll get a chance. However, my

friends who are going out to get married are on the same flight, seated next

to us, and Antonia is Lee's Godmother, while her fiance is 's

godfather - so at least I should be able to get some help there. Foolish of

them to volunteer to sit with us since it is almost the start of their

honeymoon!

is only 9 months old so is still breastfed, & I'll try to persuade

him to feed on take-off and landing, but he's one of those babies who will

only feed when *he* wants to feed.

Liz G mentioned a change of clothes for me. OMIGOD - I had not thought

about that at all. Thank you!!! And spare batteries - of course, but I

would not have thought of that either. eeeek! And hiding some toys for the

return journey too...

Trisha - magnetic puzzles sound good, and I'm off to investigate today!

I have been slightly organised about this in that I'm stocking up on cotton

nappies while I'm out there, as Canada is one of the homes of the modern

nappy. I've arranged for a pack of MotherEase to be delivered to my hotel

and the hotel conference organiser informs me that Wal-Mart sell quite a few

cotton nappies too. I'm going to Calgary, in Alberta - apparently the

temperature there at the moment is between -20 and 0C !!

Thanks again for everything... cross your fingers for us!

H.

[Guest guest]

)

Sorry ! Of course, I didn't mean that *I* think that travelling with

sprogs is lunacy: just that everyone who watched me waddling along with

toddler and pre-adolescent in tow seemed to think so!

I hope you have a great time: you now sound to be far more organised and

prepared than I was!!

Vicki