When to schedule cross-country flight?

Question

Planning of flying from California to the east coast with a 1yo. Realizing her sleep & schedule is going to be messed up regardless, which is the better time to travel? Depending on which airport I fly out/into, it'll either be nonstop or 1 layover.

Answer

I feel like a one year old might be slightly harder during the day time on the flight but if they dont sleep on the flight because of all the people and movement ect that will be a nightmare.

Answer

It kind of depends, does she sleep in a carrier? I wore by guy and he slept the whole flight! I know it can go either way though, so would you want to chance missing naps or missing night time sleep? You could always pack some fun/new (dollar store) toys and go for the daytime flight just make it super fun to play on your lap.

Answer

I fly solo with our daughter often and always schedule redeye when flying coast to coast. I also always opt for a nonstop flight. Having a stop in the middle kind of defeats the purpose of flying overnight to me. Then they'd have this weird intermission in their sleep and have to try to go back down all over again.

Answer

It will really depend on the kid. We took a red-eye when my daughter was 8 months old and she slept the whole way. It worked well.
Now she’s 23 months old and this weekend we took a “late night” flight (8:30pm-Midnight) and she did not sleep at all. She did okay on the plane, mostly just watched her iPad and lap hopped between me and my husband, but she was A WRECK at the end of the flight and when we got off the plane.

Answer

If you’re thinking about the other passengers, I would vote for the daytime flight just in case your LO doesn’t do well and cries.  People expect to sleep on redeyes, so a crying child is more bothersome than the daytime.  Just something to consider!

Answer

We recently flew & I read it’s better for their ears & the pressure if they are awake, especially for take off & landing.

Answer

I’ve done early morning, midday and late night with my 2 year old. They’ve all been basically the same. I just always picked the cheapest and non stop flight. However I would not recommend spirit with a lap baby unless you get a big front seat.

Answer

I took a red eye from CA to NC when LO was 11 months old, and he slept the whole time. We had a layover that he woke up for, then went back to sleep for another 1.5 hours on the next flight. I didn’t sleep at all, so that was hard, but I do think the shorter night of sleep helped him to adjust back to the time change, so there’s that.

When to schedule cross-country flight?

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