NEED ADVICE! Flying to Israel with 1-yr old

Senior Member Joined: Mar 23 2011 Posts: 237

I'm IY"H flying to Israel with a one-year-old. We were thinking of going at night and hoping the baby would sleep through the flight but I'm concerned that without a crib sleeping will be impossible.

Have you flown with a 1yr old to Israel? Which worked better, flying during the day or at night?

What was your most successful airplane activity for the baby?

I flew to E"Y with my DD when she was 21 months old - so that's a bit older than what you are doing. We also flew with my oldest when she was 16 months - that was more than 10 years ago.

Night flight!

In both situations, I took along a full-size pillow. It helped alot. On the way there, I got three seats for myself and DD - so I plugged up the space under the seat arm with the pillow so DD couldn't fall out to the aisle - then I stretched my legs across the seats - and put DD between my legs and the seat back - and we both slept great.

On the way back, I had bulkhead seats - so I put the pillow on the floor in front of the seat, and DD slept on it like a mattress.

I didn't really take much by way of activity - she slept most of the flight. I packed food for her, spare clothes (she spilled her juice all over), diapers, etc....her favorite doll and blankie. Stuff like that.
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Chayalle

I flew with a one year old plus a 3 week old to ey from la night flight she slept a little brought some of her favorite toys good luck be prepared for a long flight

Senior Member Joined: Mar 23 2011 Posts: 237

twerps you are a braver woman than I!

Senior Member Joined: May 14 2010 Posts: 102

I flew with 15-mo old dd. We flew at night, had a stopover, and then a short day flight.

She did not sleep a wink at night. Dh and I sat a few rows apart and took turns watching her. We did alot of walking up and down the aisles, dd loved all the exciting sights and sounds. The stewardesses wanted to throw us out the window, but better that than a cranky baby and a planeful of annoyed passengers. Then on the 2 hour day flight, she fell asleep with a pillow and blankie across 3 empty seats.

I would say, bring along anything she likes - dvd player, stickers, exciting toys - in case she doesn't sleep. And of course, bring the things that help her go to sleep - blankie, pacifier, etc. and prepare yourself mentally that you might not sleep much on the flight. If you do get to sleep, it's an extra bonus.

Hatzlacha! I hope you enjoy your trip!

Silver Member Joined: Nov 27 2005 Posts: 748

We've flown many times with babies and toddlers and I definitely recommend a night flight. Ours generally sleep 6-8 hours, and they are not the best sleepers. But, WE don't sleep quite so well with babies on our laps.
Bring a few books, if she can color bring a few crayons and papers.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 24 2010 Posts: 1491

Whenever you fly, day or night, request a bulkhead seat in advance. (You will have more room.) And if there are none, complain!!! in advance. I flew w a 3mo, and there were no bulkhead seats, so they gave us 4 seats in a row instead of just 2, and they let us take our own bassinet on board. It was actually a very pleasant flight (considering what I expected.)

Posted: Thu, Aug 11 2011, 8:08 am Post subject:

I would recommend a wrap...
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Gold Member Joined: Sep 22 2009 Posts: 1745

I'll be the odd man out but in my experience a day flight is way better. You never know if she will sleep or not and on a night flight if she doesn't sleep both of you will be tird and cranky. on a day flight if she naps, great if not at least you and her are not tird.

Silver Member Joined: Sep 16 2009 Posts: 553

firstly - the altitude change is very painful for babies make sure to bring anesthetic ear drops (ask your dr) and nurse during take off and landing (or use pacifier)

second - our dr gave us s/t called ahiston don't know what it would be called in the states, but it makes the baby sleepy.
my son was 8 months when we flew from ey to u.s
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I've flown with all of my children from a young age (a few months in several cases) the key for me is a night flight, they're just more likely to sleep if it's part of their natural clock. I like to wind my kids up at the airport, let them play around before getting on the plane don't let them sleep until after takeoff.

If you're breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, do that during takeoff to distract them/allow their ears to adjust and to give them a chance to get nice and sleepy before it's lights out for the rest of the flight.

Don't get tense. Your kid might be the screamer on the flight but you'll make it worse for yourself if you get flustered by it. It's no big deal if it happens and even if people give you nasty looks, just keep taking care of your child.

Anything your child loves, bring two (IE 2 passifiers, 2 special rattle toys etc...) Whatever your child normally clings to all the time will inevitably be thrown to the floor while he is screaming and become impossible to find until a nice stranger stops you on your way off the plane. My first child really liked straws when she was one, I stopped at a cafe and got a bunch to give her something to play with in endless supply that didn't need to be found everytime it was thrown.

If you're flying alone (I have had to a few times in the past) you might want to check and see if there is someone else on your flight (Seminary girls are miraculous) that wouldn't mind playing with your kid for a few hours. Pre-arrange and slip them a $20, it can be a worthwhile investment if you're worried about the flight.

Senior Member Joined: Mar 23 2011 Posts: 237

It looks like the general consensus is night flight. That idea about the seminary girl is a good one.

Thanks all for the suggestions!