Someone once compared long haul flights with young children to childbirth: you think the (considerable) pain is over when you’ve landed, but then the jetlag begins!

If you’ve endured a gruelling 24-hour flight with little ones (and inevitably ended up sitting next to a businessman fully intent on sleeping the entire trip) you’ll know what I mean. But experience has taught me well after many such flights and I’d like to share my survival tips with those who are planning the challenge for the first time or who

want to make it better the next time (especially if your one gurgling, angelic infant has turned into a squirming toddler plus a screaming bub).

Bring it on

First of all, be prepared and bring everything you need with you. For babies this list is huge. You’ll need a change mat, lots of nappies, wipes, disposal bags and nappy rash cream.

Bring all the food you need (and more). If your baby’s bottlefed you’ll need enough clean bottles to last the flight because there’s no dishwasher for washing or microwave for sterilising. Package up your powder formula in single serves or indulge in premixed sachets (more expensive but less fuss). Check the airline security requirements to make sure you can bring on the volumes of fluid you need and in what kind of containers.

Even if the airline assures you they provide baby food, bring along plenty your baby knows and loves. Also include rusks, baby spoons and face wipes.

Breastfeeding mums are at a distinct advantage here as far as equipment goes, but remember you may be very close
to your nearest neighbour, so for their comfort and yours you might like to take along a good-sized muslin wrap.

Pack a security blanket or favourite toy, and a duplicate if possible, teething gel and a couple of spare sets of clothes.

For moving around the terminal, boarding and disembarking, and for settling onboard, babies travel best strapped into a carrier or sling so you have your hands free. Get your baby used to this before you depart.

Toddlers in tow

Teach your toddler to pull along his own onboard bag or case. He’ll love it and it will be one less thing for you to carry (and will mean he’s less likely to ask to be carried). Toddler leashes are a lifesaver in crowded airline terminals when you have your hands full. I remember boarding a plane to the US from Malaysia with 6-month-old Sebastian in a baby carrier on my front, a pack on my back, a carry-on in one hand and a leash attached to wandering 3-year-old Marcus pulling his own carry-on in my other.

Eating tips for tots

Bring some favourite food standbys for toddlers and preschoolers. You’ll need to order children’s meals in advance when you book (and remind the airline when you confirm the flight and at check-in) but be aware your kids may not like the look or taste of what they get. I don’t order the children’s option these days, I let the kids pick at the adult meal and also bring what I know they’ll eat.

Here are some more tips:

• DO NOT EVER wake a sleeping child on a long-haul flight when meals are served. Give him something you’ve brought along when he wakes up.
• Bring some noodles in a cup to add hot water to when the kids wake up and it’s six hours until the next meal.
• Cheese sticks and cheese wedges that don’t require refrigeration are great for a protein hit en-route.
• Ask the flight attendants to put drinks (water or milk, not juice or soft drinks) in the kids’ sippy cups to stop spills.
• A lollipop can ease ear problems on take-off and landing.

Dressed for success

Dress babies, toddlers and adults in colours and patterns that won’t show stains (white won’t stay that way past take-off) and remember that planes tend to be cool. Bring spare clothes, not just for the children, but for you too.

What to do?

Suspend all TV-watching limits because those little individual screens are your saviour on a long flight. Make sure you fly on an airline that has them as littlies can’t see the ones above their heads.

Little ones like routine, so take along pyjamas and a favourite book, and when it’s time to sleep get ready for bed like you do at home. Sometimes this will settle them down into sleeping mode.

If not, some airlines give children a little bag of goodies when they get on the plane but you shouldn’t rely on that lasting the duration of the flight. Instead, turn to your pre-packed entertainment options courtesy of the discount shops you visited before you left. I buy all sorts of inexpensive little toys and wrap them up – choosing a wrapped gift is more fun (and takes more time). See box above for more ideas. Steer clear of musical instruments unless you want to be lynched by other passengers. Also, Lego and beads for threading will be entertaining but searches for missing pieces will soon have you on edge.

If you have a stopover, carry balloons and find a quiet corner to blow them up, tie them and let the kids chase them to work off some energy.

No, we’re not there yet

The meals have been served, the snacks exhausted, the toy bag thoroughly ransacked and five minutes of sleep is over and done with, what now?

Gulf Air has the coveted Sky Nanny who assists with children on flights and even entertains them in the lounge

www.gulfair.com/air/skynanny.asp

But since Sky Nanny can’t always be there, maybe you could keep occupied making plans for the next trip, when you bring Nanna and Pop along to help so that you can get some shut-eye, even if the kids don’t appear to need any!

Boredom busters
for little hands and minds

• Playdough: fantastic entertainment value (and a great stress-buster for parents)
• Colouring books and crayons
• Lacing cards
• Cars to drive around the meal tray
• Stencils or etch-a-sketches
• Squeezy balls that light up
• Padlocks with keys
• Little water games where you push buttons to shoot hoops.