Traveling to London with 9 Month Old

Oh boy. Well... let's just first say that flying with a child is NOT quite like flying pre-kids when you used to be able to stop and grab a handful of magazines, put on your iPod and tune out for several hours until your arrival! I also have a 9-month old and we have done one long flight with him (when he was 7 months old) and while he was SO good, he is also a very busy busy kid and actually didn't really sleep AT ALL!. Coming back, we were on a red eye, so I thought for sure he would at least sleep for most of it, but he only slept three hours and that was it! At home, he is like your LO - goes to bed at 7 and wakes up at 7 like clockwork, but on the plane, there is so much stimulation, I think it makes it hard for them to sleep.
My advice is this: just assume she won't sleep much. If she does, you're psyched and it will just mean less time to fill. But at least go with the mind frame that she won't so you won't be mentally exhausted by the realization that she's not sleeping! Go to the Dollar Store or some place like that and buy a bunch of new toys and don't bring them out until the flight. New toys are the key. If she's in to books, buy some new ones. As far as a busy book, The Tutoring Toy on Foothill has some, but they are for older kids. Our son played with a $4 set of plastic stacking cups on the plane for what seemed like forever! I highly recommend them!
Second, pack whatever kind of food/snacks you want to have. I didn't even try baby food because even here at home, we leave behind a tsunami of a mess. Luckily, my DS is still breastfed so I relied on that as well as some cheerios and crackers I put in some baggies. The flight attendants will warm bottles for you in the microwave if your LO takes them (ours unfortunately does not!).
Bring extra sets of clothes (for both you and your daughter - if she has a diaper blow-out it might be on both of you!) and an overnight diaper (or two) so you don't have to be changing her diaper all of the time. As far as sleeping, it's tough. I don't know if you plan on getting your DD her own seat (we did not), but it's pretty tough for them to get comfortable enough to sleep on you for a long duration when they are so used to sleeping in their crib. Bring any blankets or "loveys" she might need. BF her or give her a bottle when you see her getting drowsy. Close any window shades, and just hope for the best!
As far as adjusting to the time zone, this is also tough, I'm not going to lie! I'd read that the first day you're there, anything goes. Just sleep when she wants to sleep. The second day, wake her up (if she's still asleep) at her normal time (so 7 a.m. London time) and then start trying to get her to nap at her normal times. Going that direction will be easier than coming home. Coming back, you'll probably have early wake-ups (like 2 or 3 a.m.) which are tough, because you just have to get up with them for a couple of mornings. My biggest bit of advice on early mornings like that is slowly try to stretch the time she wakes up and the time you put her down for her nap.
For example, if your daughter usually wakes at 7 and then goes two-and-a-half hours awake until a nap at 9:30, try to stretch that two-and-a-half-hour window of awake time to get her closer to her "normal" napping time. So when you get back home, if she wakes at 3 a.m. that first morning (which would be 10 a.m. on London time), see if you can get her to stay awake until 6 or even 6:30 (if she's not totally melting!) before putting her down. The next day, 7:00 or 7:30, etc. I know it sounds tough, but for some reason, getting them to nap at their "normal" times helps more to get them back on track than even bed times.
But at the end of the day, you just have to relax and have a great vacation. You might be a bit more tired than you would if you were traveling without kids, but factor that in, try to nap if your DD naps, and just have a great time! When you get back home, you will get her back on schedule. Have a great time and "mind the gap"!! (A little "Underground" humor for you!)

Mindy,
I don't have any experience with flying with kids, but about the benedryl. If you are considering using it, do a trial run at home. I have experienced that it can cause restlessness. One of my boys is knocks out, and it makes the other one hyper. Just a thought. Good luck!
P.

Mindy,
We traveled to London recently with a 2 year old. I would not give your child any type of cold medicine just to help her sleep. Cold medicines are not approved for use for children under 2. They can cause respiratory depression which can lead to death. So, I don't think it's worth it.
To keep our son busy on the long flight we brought a few new toys and a DVD player. There are some Baby Einstein DVDs out there for her age group. Seriously, I couldn't imagine flying with a child without the DVD player. We also brought his favorite blanket. You will need a change of clothes for your daughter and for you (in case she gets you dirty). Don't worry too much about it. In our case the flights to and from the UK went way better than anticipated.
I agree that the UK is not very baby friendly. All of the subway stations we went to had stairs (even the wheelchair accessible ones)and a lot of times the elevators weren't working. You will need the smallest stroller you can find so that you can just keep her in it when you get on and off the bus or subway. Even if you will be getting around by car you will still need a small stroller because their cars are so small! I would recommend a stroller about the size of an umbrella stroller if possible. You will see what I mean once you get there. We found the restaurants in London for the most part were packed with people and very small. If your stroller is small enough you can just keep her in that while you eat if they don't have highchairs at the restaurant.
Also make sure you pack light. It is a little hard to get off the plane, get your luggage, car seat (if you are taking one), stroller and baby all by yourself. Remember you will have to haul all of this stuff by yourself through customs and immigration.
As for the time change...I was pretty worried about that too. It didn't end up being too big of a deal either. You will both be pretty sleep deprived from the flight and find a new schedule once you get there. I don't know how long you will be there but it took us about 3 days to get a somewhat "normal" schedule.
The best advise I can give you is to not have many expectations for your daughter, just take it as it comes.
Cheers!

Hi Mindy-
I flew to London from Denver with my son when he was 8 months old. It was not bad at all. When you are on your international flight request a bulk-head seat. The airline will have bassinettes that attach to the wall in front of your seat. This was great and my son slept a ton. I also gave him a dose of Dimeatapp before we left to help with his ears popping and also to help him sleep. You are most likely arriving in London in the morning which is good if your daughter gets sleep on the plane, just follow your normal schedule. You'll be the one suffering, but I guess that is part of being a mom :) One other thing to mention is that the UK is not terribly child friendly. There are not changing stations in most bathrooms and restaurants might not have highchairs available. Just another thing for you to think about. Have a great trip!

I don't have experience in this area specifically but can tell you my own personal ways of coping with a long flight. Typically I advise wearing the softest, most comfortable thing you possibly can - a favorite article of clothing or PJs. (most favorite) that can be slept in. I am very partial to fabrics when trying to sleep. Familiar smells and soft fabrics go a very long way toward helping me sleep on a plane. I like a large blanket from home too - because it covers my face and darkens the area even if they lift the window shade. You might also start practicing at home a routine for the plane. For example, you can still wash your face, comb your hair, read a story... keep the routine as close to what you do at home as possible - even try it out a few times at home minus whatever you can't do on the plane - see if you can get your child to fall asleep in the position you will be in on the plane (head on your lap?) or even practice this during the day so she knows what to expect. Make a little game out of it - how neat it is that she can curl up small, or sleep differently or whatever.
I wish I could help on awake time, but I don't have much experience with that!

I'm a Flight Attendant & here are my tips. Hopefully your daughter has her own seat. Do bring a car seat as kids are used to being in them in the car & then feel comfortable on the plane with them too. It's also much safer. Or, if you have a bulkhead seat reserved, ask if they provide bassinets. There are no seat belts in them, so you'll have to pick her up every time the seat belt sign goes on! Ask your airline what they have. Maybe some have seat belts in them? I work for United, we do not. For take off, use a pacifier, bottle,anything that will have her sucking/swallowing. Someone said the F/A's will warm a bottle in the microwave. We don't have micowaves. We have convection ovens. What I recommend is to ask the F/A to put the bottle in a sick bag 1/2 full of hot H2O.They should be able to do that in the galley for you. Look for the friendly ones & befriend them! They can sit with your daughter when you need to go the restroom. Just try & ask before or after the drink/meal service! Bring lots of snacks (don't forget the liquid rule!) & an extra change of clothes for both of you & lots of extra diapers incase you encounter a delay. Also her favorite blanket,a stuffed animal & new toys/books.I also agree that a DVD player is great! And simple things....ask the F/A for a few plastic cups for her to play with. That sort of thing. I agree that an umbrella stroller would be good in London. Light, easy to fold up. My rule for jet-lag is when you get in to London in the morning...get out into the sunshine (hopefully!) If you sleep, do so for only 2-3 hrs.
then get up & outside. The sunshine, outside air will wake you up some so you can stay up till evening. Jet-lag is tough, that's why I fly domestic now! LOL Have a wonderful trip, take lots of photos & let your sister spoil your little one!
P.S. Be prepared...just incase your flight is very late or even cancelled that you have enough things incase you have to spend the night (if you don't make your connection in CA.) Better safe than sorry!

HI mindy,
my husband and i flew to London and Scotland in 2007. We did take two kids, at the time, a 19 month old and a three year old. I loved it.
As for on the airplane, be sure to have "dum dum" suckers, if you let her. It helps with the lift off. If your not into letting her have candy, use her passifier or a bottle during take off. It will help the ears pop and not cause the clogged feeling.
When we got to London, it only took a day and 1/2 to adjust to the time change. Be sure to keep her on a normal eating schedule to prompt dinner time followed by bed time.
Have fun! It's a beautiful place!

T.