Anyone do a long flight (12+hrs) with LO?

StarlitRN

DH and I have an opportunity to go to Japan for our anniversary in October. DH was stationed there many years ago & would love to go back....and I have always wanted to go!

I am terrified though of the flight! We would fly non-stop from Houston to Tokyo (13hrs) with DD who will be 15-16mo at the time. We have flown with her 12X since birth (longest trip was 5 1/2hrs) and she does pretty well.....but we are talking about a walking/talking active "almost" toddler and half a day on a plane! YIKES!

Has anyone done it? Is it worth it? Would I be crazy to do this or would we be crazy to not? Any thoughts? We have to make a decision pretty soon so DH can put in for leave during the time and we can get tickets! 

panicked228

I haven't done it yet, but we are PCS-ing from Korea to the States in less than two months. Our LO will be 6.5 months old at that time. From what I've read, it's best to schedule the flight at night, so they will *hopefully* sleep most of the time. Good luck!

Brooke81

I flew from Europe to the US with DS by myself this summer. He was that same age. The flight is a little shorter (8-10 hours) but definitely wear comfortable walking shoes because DS spent most of both legs walking up and down the isles. Bring lots of snacks and get LO their own seat and bring your carseat. I used ours RF and it helped a lot to keep him somewhat contained. I think it is definitely do-able with 2 parents to chase LO. Just don't plan on getting much sleep or time to watch movies.

amnda1130

We moved to Singapore from Chicago when DD was 8.5 months old.  Its a long 24 hours to get here but we survived.  We had a seat purchased for DD so that we could have her car seat.  It did help keep her contained for some of the time but we spent most of the trip with her in our laps or walking the aisles.

For me the flight is the easy part, its the jet lag upon arrival that nearly killed us!

Good luck and enjoy your trip.  I would definitely do it!

flippy1234

I flew to Australia when my older DD was 2, it was 24 hours of travel. We were fine, the worst part was our layover in the LA airport at 11pm. I'm flying to Lonion in April with the whole family, I'm more worried about the jet lag than the flight honestly

StarlitRN

Thanks! I think we have decided to go for it. DH put it in perspective when he said this would be the easiest time since later on we would just have more kids to worry about! Haha! As it is I might be pg for this trip (if everything works out)

LouiseB2001

Good luck! It is a great opportunity to travel when they are small. The ups before 2 is that they cost virtually nothing but the downs between 1-2 is of course their mobility. I am going to Shanghai in March with DD by myself (we are meeting DH there and travel back all 3), similarly long flight but we have flown back and forth between Europe 3 times by now. What we do when I travel alone with DD is we buy tickets on air miles and are able to get business class tickets. It is such a luxury but makes all the difference for a night flight with DD. I know this might not be a possibility for you but just in case. Also, if she still fits in a bassinet, remember to call the airline early to make a reservation for this. I called too late once and had to sit with her on my lap when she slept. Have a good trip :-)

Uiowachick01

I did it with DH and DS last summer, we went to Romania.  I actually leave to go alone in a few weeks, DS and I.  

I say do it!  It's one day and then your there, and 1 day and then your home.  When I went with DH, DS traveled as a lap child, we took turns walking, wearing and cuddling.  This time we used our air miles and got DS a free seat of his own.  I can't imagine flying alone lapping DS for 13 hours, wearing him for 5 and getting on a second plane for 4 more, and lapping him alone.