# Advice wanted: how to survive a long flight with a toddler

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 20, 2012, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399 "2012-04-20T11:24:55Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![StuffLikeThatThere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@StuffLikeThatThere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StuffLikeThatThere)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399/21 "2012-04-21T02:02:18Z")

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> [@TokyoPlayer](#):
>
> And remember what my friend kept repeating to herself when she flew with her **two** toddlers, by herself, from Tokyo to Scotland, with a layover in Heathrow.
> 
> “Others have done this, and this will end.”

Dear Lord. I hope someone was waiting for her in Scotland with a nanny and a very large drink.

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399/22 "2012-04-21T03:47:27Z")

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> [@China\_Guy](#):
>
> Take an Asian airline. They and the passengers that fly them are much more accomodating for children. Singapore Air is one of the best airlines - even in economy…

This is excellent advice. I don’t have kids, but I have spent a lot of time in Asia and it is not uncommon for flight attendants in Asia take toddlers and babies and play with them in the galley for hours on end. I travelled with a friend and his toddler on Silk Air (Singapore Air’s budget airline) and he pretty much handed off the kid to the attendants at the beginning of the flight and picked him back up at the end.

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**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399/23 "2012-04-21T06:38:22Z")

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> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#):
>
> You can try giving her some benadryl. Though you might want to try giving her some as a test before you fly. That might help her to sleep or remain calm, however, in some children it can ramp them up.
> 
> My ex and I flew with our little one 3-4 times and that’s what we did most of the time. We also would get a new toy or two. Hopefully you can get a seat that has a place for a small crib for her to sleep in, I know the long flight to and from Ireland had them.

My first thought was paregoric, but Benadryl is available over the counter, and legal.

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-wanted-how-to-survive-a-long-flight-with-a-toddler/619399/24 "2012-04-24T11:10:36Z")

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> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#):
>
> You can try giving her some benadryl. Though you might want to try giving her some as a test before you fly. That might help her to sleep or remain calm, however, in some children it can ramp them up.

And in some children it can cause explosive diorrhea, which is not a good thing in an enclosed space you can’t escape. REALLY test this if you’re planning to try it.

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