Jet Lag

We travel all year long. I try to keep the flights as fun as possible. I bring several DVD's and recently began bringing Books on CD's that that are interactive, the child can listen to the story and when they hear the bell they know to change the pages. My three year old never hits the mark but LOVES the play of it. There are also large old school head phones that work best for their little heads. I bring a couple favorite small toys and books and also wrap up new surprise items, a new book or two or small something I can wrap in pretty paper for them to open. A little car or puzzle, no matter, it's just in case they hit the wall. I bring loads of snax, all liquids can be asked for on board but bring a sippy cup, it is soooo much easier. I nursed still at that age which was heaven! All the kids were instantly calmer while I could still nurse them. I think once I stopped planning our flight and began planning to be prepared it all fell into place. All kids are different. I do always try to keep them asleep for as long as possible, even on our flight to Australia, twice a year, every flight is different for each of our kids. Just relax and go with the flow!
Good Luck!

Well I have traveled between CA & Boston many times and can give you advice of what NOT to do! I once tried ignoring the time change (as it was only a brief trip), putting him to bed at 10 pm local time, 7 pm CA time. Worst thing I ever did - he still woke up with the sun, his body was trying to adjust. I've since found that he's really adept at adjusting, must be the light - he just gets tired when it's dark and wakes up when the sun comes up. So, I'd say, try not to manage it too much and follow his own rhythms. He might be tired from the travel too - even if he sleeps on the plane - so that will help.

Best of luck!

R.

I've done this sort of trip several times with toddlers. At first, I used to keep the lights low and nurse all night so that he/she would feel sleepy. This time around, with 3 kids ages 5 and under, I tried a different strategy: I put them all to bed around 6:30-7:00- thet crashed. They woke up at 3:30 am, and I just let them get up and watch tv quietly. Then I tried to be active during the day, putting them down for a nap at 9;30 am. Then they made it till dinnertime, and basically it was all it took. My key change was not to fight it!!!!
Good luck

We did the same trip when my oldest was nine months old...that first night he was just WIRED...it was almost comical how excited and awake he was all up until about 4am in the morning when it was finally his about his normal bedtime at home. We just did our best to get through that first night and then after that, he seemed to figure it out...he did sleep a little more than normal during that first day, but there was enough going on that kept him up and helped him reset his clock.

Good luck!

Please find out the answer to jet lag and write a book about it. All we every have been able to find that helps is watching all night TV or cartoons.
B. v.O.

We took our daughter to the UK when she was 12 months old. She slept most of the way there on the plane because it was our nightime. So I though she wouldn't sleep when we got there. However, I think travelling and all the stimulation tires them out as well as us. She went to bed in the UK around her normal time or maybe just a little later, and woke around 2am. She was wide awake for about an hour. My husband and I kept the lights off (or v. low) and just "sat" with her, not really engaging in any play or talk. We gave her a bottle of milk and a Baby Einstein video (which relaxes her), she went back to sleep again eventually. It took about 3 nights for her to get into a proper routine. The same for when we returned to the US! Good luck and have a great trip.