For those experienced fliers out there - what is the best time to fly with a 3 year old? Two semi-short flights, about 1.5 hour each. Should we fly during naptime or fly before naptime?
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My kiddo fell asleep on the plane for a late nap with similar flights but she was a beast when we had to wake her up! We brought her car seat and she passed out and then was so discombulated when we got her up that she screamed for 20 minutes in the terminal. So I say prenap.
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I think it depends on if your LO is a good sleeper. Mine is not so even when I have thought she might nap, she doesn't because there is too much to be excited about! So my vote would be pre nap.
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I think it's really hard to plan around naps. My LOs rarely nap when they are supposed to when we travel. I say buy tickets for whatever is convenient and hope that she naps but prepare for if she doesn't.
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Before:
Best case scenario: She is awake for the 1st flight and layover then crashes during the second flight
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I vote pre-nap bc it can just be a super stimulating experience going through the airport and being on an airplane so napping most likely won't happen. I'm also a big fan of getting to the destination as quick as possible bc you can always put them to bed early if there's a missed nap. If they don't nap and/or there's a delay, it could push bedtime later and result in disaster
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With those flights, I agree pre-nap. We flew to England with an 18 month old over naptime (obviously, I guess, with an 8 hour flight) but there was just so much going on that he only slept for 45 minutes and then was a wreck.
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When I traveled with DD alone, I took a late flight so she could sleep on it (it was a 2 hour flight). She was too excited and stayed up the whole time. So I agree with @lamariniere do it when its convenience for you.
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Pre nap time for sure. I think it's better to schedule flights way before bedtime to account for any possible changes/delays to flights, traffic, etc. she will most likely be pretty stimulated by the flight and best case scenario she falls asleep during the second leg.
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Before! Less risk of baby getting over tired and a screaming mess.
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Doesn't matter for my LO - she sometimes sleeps on a plane and sometimes not, no matter when the flight is. She's never been a rigid napper though, so that might be part of it. I'd just do whatever is most convenient/cheaper
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Pre nap, at this age especially! When LO was little I always tried for naptime, but now that she is older she just won't fall asleep on a plane- too much going on.
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We fly as early as possible - LO is always more resilient for travel in the morning (even if she misses a nap). Late in the day/edging toward bedtime has always been a MASSIVE clusterf*#&.
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The only "rule" I have is that we should be at our destination in time for bed for domestic travel.
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I think it doesn't really matter, but in general if I could pick i'd go for pre nap, early in the day.
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I wouldn't plan around my LO's nap, since she doesn't really nap on the plane/when travelling anyway. I'd just go as early as possible, in case of delays, so I'd arrive in time to put her to bed at a reasonable time.
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Do whatever works best for you, but don't count on a "timely" nap either way. I would consider DS a good sleeper and he was a baby baby flying during a nap was great. He fell asleep no problem. Since about a year it's been really hard to get him to sleep on a plane. There is just too much going on. The only time he slept was when he was so far past nap time he literally passed out. Missing a nap didn't seem to make him too cranky tho!
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Probably before? Mine is not a great sleeper, so I never count on a plane being nap time. He'd much rather look around or watch something on the iPad.
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17 comments