9 hours flight with 3 kids : need advice!

[Rosilla]

for the 7 years olds GUM, it really does help to avoid the ear poping alot of people experience. The 2 yr old is most likely too young for gum so try something that would be a similar texture(maybe dried apricots?) or make sure if she does appear to be having them try to help her pop them by gently pressing on the flaps in the ears to release the pressure. I had to do that with my 6 month old before and it really did help, and as a child I remember always having gum on my long flights from Toronto to Helsinki.

Also when you are in the plane make sure u sign them up for being a Finnair Junior Pilot Club(I hope they still have it) they should have some coloring books and crayons in a small bag available for kids still (they did last i went but it was 7 yrs ago)

It never hurts to ask a stewardess if it is possible for the 7 year old's to see the Pilot and cockpit(not sure if they still let them after 9-11 but it does not hurt to ask if they can) that was always fun for me as a child and I even got my Finnair Junior Pilot Wings(I just found them in storage, so I just had a big flood of memories flying as a child there)

if it is possible the best seats I find are in the front row at the window, the most footspace and the kids can put down a blanket and stay on the floor at time. It is very hard to sit in the same seat as a child.

Dint be afraid to let your kids walk up and down the isles during the flight, some passengers do not like it but if they can behave(dont run or scream) while doing it it will not be that big of a deal(others will find it better then listening to a crying screaming child). I remember with my son when he was 1 going to Finland an older child kind of kept him company(6 or 7) and was walking him down the isles together(no one minded because they were being quiet and slow) I had a 2 seat by the window and front row so we had floor space there and they happily played games there and coloured pictures in between there walks.

[sinikala]

It never hurts to ask a stewardess if it is possible for the 7 year old's to see the Pilot and cockpit(not sure if they still let them after 9-11 but it does not hurt to ask if they can) that was always fun for me as a child and I even got my Finnair Junior Pilot Wings(I just found them in storage, so I just had a big flood of memories flying as a child there)

if it is possible the best seats I find are in the front row at the window, the most footspace and the kids can put down a blanket and stay on the floor at time. It is very hard to sit in the same seat as a child.

Dint be afraid to let your kids walk up and down the isles during the flight, some passengers do not like it but if they can behave(dont run or scream) while doing it it will not be that big of a deal(others will find it better then listening to a crying screaming child). I remember with my son when he was 1 going to Finland an older child kind of kept him company(6 or 7) and was walking him down the isles together(no one minded because they were being quiet and slow) I had a 2 seat by the window and front row so we had floor space there and they happily played games there and coloured pictures in between there walks.

The seats at the front are business class. On Finnair liesure flights, like the one the op mentioned you can book the good seats but there is a premium, and if I recall correctly you can only reserve the seats form 28 days before the flight (although you can buy the ticket itself long before that).

There are instructions here
http://www.finnair.com/finnaircom/wps/p ... ren/en_INT

it´s not a good idea to wander round a plane more than to occasionally stretch your legs and use the bathroom
Link 1, Link 2 otherwise you should stay in your seat with your belt on. Personally, I wouldn´t let a child wander, even in the care of another, older child.

[Rosilla]

It never hurts to ask a stewardess if it is possible for the 7 year old's to see the Pilot and cockpit(not sure if they still let them after 9-11 but it does not hurt to ask if they can) that was always fun for me as a child and I even got my Finnair Junior Pilot Wings(I just found them in storage, so I just had a big flood of memories flying as a child there)

if it is possible the best seats I find are in the front row at the window, the most footspace and the kids can put down a blanket and stay on the floor at time. It is very hard to sit in the same seat as a child.

Dint be afraid to let your kids walk up and down the isles during the flight, some passengers do not like it but if they can behave(dont run or scream) while doing it it will not be that big of a deal(others will find it better then listening to a crying screaming child). I remember with my son when he was 1 going to Finland an older child kind of kept him company(6 or 7) and was walking him down the isles together(no one minded because they were being quiet and slow) I had a 2 seat by the window and front row so we had floor space there and they happily played games there and coloured pictures in between there walks.

The seats at the front are business class. On Finnair liesure flights, like the one the op mentioned you can book the good seats but there is a premium, and if I recall correctly you can only reserve the seats form 28 days before the flight (although you can buy the ticket itself long before that).


There are instructions here
http://www.finnair.com/finnaircom/wps/p ... ren/en_INT

it´s not a good idea to wander round a plane more than to occasionally stretch your legs and use the bathroom
Link 1, Link 2 otherwise you should stay in your seat with your belt on. Personally, I wouldn´t let a child wander, even in the care of another, older child.

I guess I dint make it clear, by first row I do NOT mean Buisness class, I mean the front row of COACH where there IS the most leg room in that class. The window seats give u room to put down a blanket so the young child does not go around other peoples feet as it is only 2 seats one for you one for a child. And when I say walk around I do not mean constantly, I mean for them to strech there legs out and to stay in the same cabin where I can see them at all times, Im not sure if you have small children and know how long they can sit still, my experience is they can not for long and passengers are much more annoyed to have a crying baby in there ears because the parents do not let them out of there seats at all, just because a grown up can handle it the MAJORITY of children can not. And I have always been able to request seats even if it is not 4 weeks in advance( I just did and I am leaving in 8 days and had zero extra charges on my Finnair flight, of course if someone with medical reasons needs it more then me they do have first priority)

edit: And if I worried about every single possible thing that could or could not happen to my child, I guess they would not be swimming like they do, or climbing trees as long as they have been able to walk, or riding bikes, there are risks in everything, everywhere and it is STILL safer to fly then to cross the street as more people get killed walking across a street then they do flying so I REFUSE to become a SLAVE to every single possibility and drive myself nuts wasting my worries on things that may or may not ever happen to me or my children. My children are free range children and they are very healthy, happy and wise for there young years who have amazing body control.

[Idefix]

Just flew with my 2-year old, a big hit was those reusable stickers he could place on a back ground over and over. And a lot of snacks like raisins, cookies, candy...

Also just pouring water from the water bottle into a cup and then drinking it over and over. And screwing the cap on and off my little wine bottle.