4-5 hours on a plane with a 1 year old, how to keep him busy?

[b0redom]

You can let them roam up and down the aisles.

Not if he/she has just turned one.

TBH I wouldn't worry too much about it, most people are quite understanding. In my experience the kids who are kicking the seats in front etc. are WAY more annoying.

If you wander around with the baby rather than your Mrs, you'll also get bonus points from the staff/other parents.

[Dareos]

Never had a problem with kids that age. Babies cry, they are supposed to. And 4 or 5 hours ain't that long(for everyone else, not the parents) All I can suggest is pay plenty of attention to your kid, play games just as you would at home or in a car, most children settle easily when flying.
If some passengers feel the need to complain then I think you would find that the air stewards would very much be on your side.

Ps: I read Zak's post before writing this which is why I didn't suggest handing the little nipper to the pilot and telling him/her to push as many buttons as possible...

[GoNz0]

we've all been there, long flight with the screaming baby nearby stopping us sleeping, driving us mad, can't concentrate on the crossword etc. the solution is to always fly with a decent pair of noise-isolating in-ear phones and an ipod and connector adaptor to use it on the in-flight system too (NB to take volume limiter jack too so it doesn't deafen you!)

No parent wants their baby to disturb others. They find it as annoying as the next man - and are probably more sleep deprived to begin with. The solution is family flights with specific booths for this kind of thing. But that kind of crazy thinking is anethama to airlines. Just like giving people leg room and sensible seat widths. It's all about profit they say (yet neglecting to tell you publicly that they don't make ANY profit from economy class - it's merely damage limitation, and more importantly - flying people so they don't go with a rival airline!)

Even worst, it's a Thomson airways flight, I can't have extra legroom seats with a baby
On the plus side I have a coupld of pairs of Bose noise isolating headphones but no inflight on short haul as Thomson suck.

Not if he/she has just turned one.

TBH I wouldn't worry too much about it, most people are quite understanding. In my experience the kids who are kicking the seats in front etc. are WAY more annoying.

If you wander around with the baby rather than your Mrs, you'll also get bonus points from the staff/other parents.

Good tip ta

Never had a problem with kids that age. Babies cry, they are supposed to. And 4 or 5 hours ain't that long(for everyone else, not the parents) All I can suggest is pay plenty of attention to your kid, play games just as you would at home or in a car, most children settle easily when flying.
If some passengers feel the need to complain then I think you would find that the air stewards would very much be on your side.

Ps: I read Zak's post before writing this which is why I didn't suggest handing the little nipper to the pilot and telling him/her to push as many buttons as possible...

Aww ffs, I want to know what he said

[Ttaskmaster]

Tried, They said even if he has a cage with ample water and snacks it is a no go.

Well of course they said no - You don't actually TELL them what's in the case...!!


But seriously, I wouldn't be too worried about it, especially on a comparatively short flight. You'll probably find he sleeps through most of it, anyway.

[GoNz0]

lets hope so, it's only 20 mins to the airport so thats a car nap out the question

[ik9000]

has no one invented baby sedatives yet? if not why not? ok I can kind of already see the answer this would be chaos. But could they be limited to use by professionals only? With a doc on hand at the departure gate to administer... peaceful flight for all. This could also be used on hyperactive children and drunken adults. I know someone who can't fly without being heavily sedated due to ear issues. It's not that different...

[GoNz0]

Mrs G already said no to slipping a 2mg diazepam in his bottle in departures

[ik9000]

Mrs G already said no to slipping a 2mg diazepam in his bottle in departures

Ah - well you see your mistake there don't you...

[b0redom]

You can probably give him Piriton which is an antihistamine. It also makes some kids drowsy. My kids all have eczema, we go through bottles of the stuff. Doesn't make them drowsy though!

[claireod]

I saw a really cute thing before where the parents handed out little sweet bags with a note to nearby passengers. The note said something like "sorry if I'm loud on this flight, this is my first flight and my ears might be a little sore"

[Hoonigan]

Don't do it is my solid advice - why put everyone through it?

[b0redom]

The OP won't. The child will be 3 now.

[peterb]

I guess that one year old might be about three now!

I saw a really cute thing before where the parents handed out little sweet bags with a note to nearby passengers. The note said something like "sorry if I'm loud on this flight, this is my first flight and my ears might be a little sore"

Ah yes, use the cute appeal to advantage and get the sympathy vote, Good plan! (And welcome to HEXUS!)

[Dareos]

we never did get an update of how the flight went though...