Red Eye with a 2 year old

[lcarlson90]

We have decided to go to Orlando with our 2 year old DS. This will be his first time flying. We are flying from Los Angeles so it will be a 5 hour flight. We are trying to decided if he would be better off with a red eye or a day-time flight.

On one hand, he might sleep on the red eye. But if he doesn't sleep he will be miserable the next day and I don't think people are as understaning on red eye flights because they want to sleep.

If we go during the day he probably will not sleep and we will have to entertain him for 5 hours. Does anyone with toddlers have any advice and/or experience with this.

Thanks :)

[Hello Kitty]

I don't think people are as understaning on red eye flights because they want to sleep.

I'd agree with you on that point ;) That's why people take the red-eye.

Although, I fly from Chicago to Orlando a lot, and I just know there are going to be kids on the plane. Not too many people are going for business, most are families ready for fun, there are usually groups of cheerleaders, screaming kids, etc... So I dunno. I usually plan that my flight is not going to be this quiet, peaceful ride, and that's helped me get over it. I'm assuming you wouldn't be the only one with a child on the flight.

[MrsSmith]

I'm not a parent, but am a frequent passenger and would suggest the daytime flight. Red eyes are tough on everyone, passengers and staff. I just took one home on Tuesday and there was a small child crying and screaming the entire way. During a day flight, it honestly wouldn't have bothered me. But it was tough to sleep and even the flight attendants seemed annoyed.

[SiValleySteph]

FWIW, I love to fly red eyes with my toddler. He sleeps the whole time in his carseat.

Does your son sleep well in his carseat?

[HeatherFL]

I'm not a parent, but am a frequent passenger and would suggest the daytime flight. Red eyes are tough on everyone, passengers and staff. I just took one home on Tuesday and there was a small child crying and screaming the entire way. During a day flight, it honestly wouldn't have bothered me. But it was tough to sleep and even the flight attendants seemed annoyed.

Ditto. I am also a frequent flier and I can tell you that the last couple of my flights from the West Coast back home to Florida on the red-eye were AWFUL because of screaming children. I am not a parent, but I do have nieces and nephews I ADORE and understand that children will be children. BUT in my experience kids just seem to do better on daytime flights.

Hav efun at Disney! :)

~H.

[Marisa]

We took a red eye home from Hawaii last spring with our two year old -- a 10 hour flight to NJ -- and it was one of the worst days of my whole life. Joey slept for only about 2 hours out of the 10, there was nothing to do, the DVD batteries died after a while and the in-seat tv loop just went off after a while. He spent a good 50% of the flight crying or trying to crawl under the seat. He even dozed off on the floor once, when I was just too tired to fight him anymore.

I'd recommend taking the daytime flight. And pack an extra battery for the DVD player. ;)

[lcarlson90]

Thanks for all your replies. We booked a morning flight. I decided it would be a horrible way to start our vacation if none of us got any sleep the first night.

Thanks

[meatpie]

Glad to hear it. That flight is too short for a redeye. If your child is still napping I would have suggested to book the flight during his nap. We just got back from France from LA and the flights (9 hours there on a redeye; return was 13 hours during the day) were surprisingly wonderful.

Anyway...have a wonderful trip!

I'd also think about using Tylenol or Benadryl to help your son adjust to the time change. It helped with Jack (14 months) while we were away