https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 17:29:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2428658 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 02:57:50 +0000 BSB 2428658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, flying west to east is definitely tougher. (At least as adults and pre-baby.) I don't have any advice since we usually just take whatever non-stop flights available. Our kids are small so they would sleep after they ate every 5 ish hours. It worked for us last time we flew because it was 5-6 hour flight and we fed them at take off and landing and they mostly slept in between. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2428530 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:08:56 +0000 ALV91711 2428530@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with morning. I always like to be at our destination for bedtime, even if bedtime has to be adjusted earlier/later.</p> <p>Last time we flew our flight was scheduled to land just before bedtime. I didn't think that was a big deal. Until we had delays...We didn't get home until about 11pm and had to be up the next day for work/daycare. DS did pretty good but had a couple of good melt downs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2428524 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 23:02:22 +0000 HabesBabe 2428524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're doing morning flights this summer, too (4 y/o and 2 y/o from LAX to Dulles)! The earlier the better for all the reasons mentioned above. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2428452 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:58:20 +0000 808love 2428452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know you decided already but yes, mornings are the best for long kiddo flights!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2428403 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 21:23:13 +0000 extrasprinkles 2428403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unanimous, I love it!! Thanks so much, all. Even though we're nervous for this first flight, I'm encouraged by other folks' stories of survival. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427624 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:30:15 +0000 MrsSRS 2427624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Morning. Then you have the day to try to adjust naps as beat you can. Plus there are less likely to be delays, and if you arrive exhausted at least you can try to go to bed early instead of it being morning and you having to make it through a whole day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427541 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:42:02 +0000 Ms.Badger 2427541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with everyone here, all my flights with J have been great except the one that was during bedtime. Morning flights have all been awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427532 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:38:02 +0000 autumnleaves 2427532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH flew with LO when he was 13 months and he went with the early morning flight - leaving around 6AM and getting in mid morning. That went A LOT better than taking the redeye home. LO had to get up an hour or two earlier than usual but it was fine. He didn't sleep at all on the way home so neither did anyone around us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427531 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:35:44 +0000 psw27 2427531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done a few Boston to LA/Palm Springs and we do the mornings. LO is typically in a better mood in the morning hours and will usually fall asleep on one of us. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427508 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:20:42 +0000 MOMTOLITTLEB 2427508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't done it myself but I would definitely choose the morning. It would be crazy getting up and out with LO but I agree with prioritizing bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427472 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:48:37 +0000 peachykeen 2427472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do morning as well. With a transcontinental flight it's not long enough to get a full night's sleep and I know my LO wouldn't go back to sleep after getting off the plane, transiting to wherever you're staying, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427468 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:43:58 +0000 yoursilverlining 2427468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would fly in the morning. I would try to avoid overnight/red-eye flights unless you know that your LO is a good flyer. So many ppl try to sleep on red-eyes and I don't want my kid waking them up. Morning flights are fairer game. All in my opinion of course! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427412 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:08:03 +0000 Freckles 2427412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go with the morning. It will be crappy waking him up, but he'll be so tired that he will probably end up napping on the plane. If you leave at night, you're going to get into SD in the middle of the night. Then add on the time to get luggage, get the taxi/rental car, to the hotel, set up the crib, etc. </p> <p>I had really a bad experience with late evening flights when LO1 was 10 months old, and don't want to do that again. I actually think it's easier going to the east coast because you get to sleep in. When you go to the west coast, they're still on east coast time, which is 3 hours ahead. </p> <p>GOod luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427401 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:00:45 +0000 tinyperson 2427401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer to fly earlier in the morning - less chance of delays etc., more chance of getting on another flight that day if something is delayed/cancelled, and LO is usually happiest in the morning. Closer to bedtime and she's cranky. I would go with early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427383 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:51:04 +0000 looch 2427383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never been able to time a flight around naps, but one "rule" that I have when I have options is that I want to be able to have bedtime at our destination. Obviously, it's not always possible, but if I can, I won't travel where it means overnight sleep is on a plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-from-east-coast-to-west-coast-early-am-or-pm#post-2427377 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 10:47:15 +0000 extrasprinkles 2427377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I are trying to plan our first real trip with our little guy - flying from Boston to San Diego when LO will be almost 9 months. Options for flight times are kind of slim -- non-stop flights depart around 5-7am OR 5-7pm. We're assuming that LO's sleep will get crazy (hopefully not too crazy!!) but we're not sure if one option would be any better than the other for adjusting to west coast time ... or just surviving the 6 hour flight in general!</p> <p>I've read that flying back to the east coast is an even tougher transition. Ha, not even going to start thinking about that yet. ACK! :silly: </p> <p>Thanks!! </p>