Seeking Suggestions on Travel to Hawaii with 1 Year Old

We did London to Dallas when our youngest was 13 months old, it is a 6 hour time difference (Dallas being 6 hours behind London). We had him nap on the plane but only for a few hours of the 10 hour flight (like a normal nap for him). When we got to Dallas we tried to keep him up until his normal bedtime, had dinner and then bedtime. The first couple of mornings he was up VERY early (like 4 or 5 am). But each day we tried to limit the naps and keep him up until normal bedtime so he would sleep later the next morning. It usually only takes him a few days to get back to a normal schedule.

One tip on the trip home with the time difference. He almost always needed a snack of milk late at night before he would sleep all night through. Since midnight in London was 6p in Dallas he thought that was dinnertime and wanted something. Our first day back I let him nap a couple of hours and then kept him up till bedtime again to try and get him back on schedule.

He's 3 now and we just did the Dallas trip again last week. It took a couple of nights for him to get back to a normal bedtime but I was also making sure to wake him in the mornings and tried to limit the naps so he would be sleepy at night and go to bed on time.

Be sure to take toys, and food. I see so many mothers flying with nothing to keep the baby entertained or having snacks for them. Try to book the bulkhead seat at the front of the plane you will have some extra room for your little one to move around.

Have a wonderful flight.

Yes, we did the Dallas to Hawaii trip a couple of times when my girls were really young. And, mine too, were fairly "seasoned" fliers. The time difference is difficult. It took 2-3 days to get them really adjusted but they did fairly well. I brought lots of snacks so that helped with time confusion and I let them take naps in the daytime so they could stay up later in the Hawaii night time. Coming back, believe it or not, was easier. I think because they are coming back to their home and easier to get back our normal routine. Have a great trip!

We've been to Hawaii a couple of times with daughter. her first trip was at age 2.

I highly suggest upgrading to first class. Seats are larger, more comfy and the service is not like it was 12 yrs ago but still good. When she was 2 they made ice cream sundaes and every time we would fly after that she wanted the Sundae seats, LOL.

The flight back....we would take the 10pm flight nonstop back to DFW and sleep all the way.

Daughter was also a seasoned flyer and usually does well. With that flight being so long...the upgrade was FAR worth it.

I second buying the cheap umbrella stroller after you get there.

This is how we handle the car seat situation in the airport and in the plane: http://www.burbmom.net/how-to-fly-on-a-plane-with-a-toddler/

We just got back from Hawaii with our 5-year-old who has been an excellent flier. On the outbound flight, we took DVDS and activity books along with something new that a friend of mine had suggested we buy him for when he started getting restless. That worked beautifully. I prepared him from the beginning about how we would "spend the night" and sleep on the plane on the way back, so that was fairly easy--it took him awhile to go to sleep, but he slept on the way back. He had no trouble adjusting to Hawaii time--he had a nap on the airplane, so I kept him up until bedtime Hawaii time the very first night and I think that helped. Plus, we pretty much stayed on the same schedule as him. We went to bed with him and woke up with him so we were all rested and on the same page. We arrived back home on Thursday morning and we are all still struggling to get back on our schedule. Tomorrow will be interesting! I'd say make sure you take and use a lot of sunscreen--that sun is awesome but very strong there. I kept reapplying it to my son and he never got burned--the waterproof, sweatproof spray in 70spf was awesome and easy to use. I did use a cream on his face AND SCALP as well. He also sometimes wore caps, sunhats and sunglasses during the hottest times of day. Also, the swimsuits and swimshirts (rash guards) with SPF (even Gymboree sells them) are wonderful--they truly protected his skin and dried superfast. You might want eye drops--by son kept rubbing his eyes so I don't know if it was salt water, suncreen or sand, but that came in handy. A shovel, bucket and other sand toys, along with an inflatable life jacket kept my little guy occupied for hours. You might be surprised how much your little one enjoys that too--the sandy areas were full of toddlers and little ones loving the sand and water. We had a great time and hope that you have fun too! By the way, in response to the car seat suggestion. I have to tell you, with all you have to carry with you, I'd leave the car seat at home. We never traveled with one even when he was a baby (you might check airline requirements). We just rented them for a small fee with our rent car and it was worth every dollar. It is much eaier than dealing with another item to carry and put through security. You will have your hands full already. Also, we left our strollers home too and went to nearest Walmart and purchased a cheap umbrella stroller for less than $15 that we just left behind. Again, worth every dollar not to have to deal with it. I'm sure many would disagree, but we like to travel light and avoid shoulder and back pain. All our vacations and trips with our son have been so easy due to this philosophy!

As an ex-airline employee who used to fly regularly, I recommend to everyone whose ever asked, to stay up as long as you possibly can on the day you get there. You will be tired, but try to go to bed as close to Hawaii bedtime as possible. Then, get up on Hawaii morning time every morning you are there. I've been there and this worked wonderfully for me and my buddies. Good luck! B.