Hello. We are planning a trip to Europe (hoping to go to Italy or Spain) from US (Pittsburgh). We are traveling with my 19 months old baby. We're hoping for red-eye flight so that she can sleep through the flight. But I'm having trouble finding red-eye flights (after 6 pm) from Europe To US. Are there any? I have no problem finding flights From US to Europe though. Any advice woudl be appreciated.

Because of the time difference, there are no flights that leave western Europe in the evening and arrive in the US in the morning.

There are a few evening flights on heavily-traveled routes such as London to JFK (for example, a BA flight that leaves at 8pm and arrives at 10.30pm), but finding a connection that would get you into Pittsburgh would be very difficult.

Ditto what rizzuto said.

Because of the many time zones involved what you are looking for really doesn't exist. And IF there were you'd be landing in the middle of the night in the States.

So, how do travelers with babies travel? How do you restrain your 1+ year old child to a seat for 8+ hrs? Any advice is appreciated.

From my experience, flying from EU (Paris, London or Zurich) to NYC is about 7.5 hours. Since the time difference btw. Paris and NYC is 6 hours, the flight "feels" like 1-1/2 hour only.

Keep your child in her carseat for as much of the flight as possible. The only time she should be out of the seat is for one or two walking breaks- with you holding her hand. (I've seen too many toddlers roaming with the parent waay far back). Try to get a later flight and deal with a cranky child once you're on the ground

"So, how do travelers with babies travel?"

Only ever fly west to east that way you alwasy get the red-eye

without them.

besides "without them"

Keep the little one up until you depart - NO NAPS! By the time you take off, the child should be with the sandman!

After that, you're going to have to keep the child busy and quiet... taking turns.

Having just done this two weeks ago (with a 20 month old), try to schedule a return flight around your child's naptime. Assume that she will adjust to the time change in Europe - kids do it much faster than us old folks (mine was on Italy time in 2 days). Keep her busy, busy, busy when she isn't sleeping. There will be a mealtime in there somewhere, which will occupy some time. Take lots of things to occupy her with you. We did the one toy per hour thing (all new stuff, or things you take out of rotation for awhile before you go) and wrapped them up as presents. The slightest hint of crankiness and voila, present came out. Take things like coloring books, colorforms, little magnet books, stickers will keep them occupied forever! Don't assume she can't handle the earphones for the tv screen I assume your seat will have. Walk up and down whenever you need to (assuming seat belt sign is off), but do keep close. Hanging out in the back (so long as flight attendants don't mind) can help pass time, too.

Give her some booze - that will knock her out.

On the later departures they still ask people to lower the curtains on their windows so people can watch the movies or snooze, so if a dark cabin is the issue, it shouldn't be that big a problem.

If you don't mind overnighting before getting to Pittsburgh, then one of the planes that leaves, say, London at 8 pm and gets into JFK at 10:30 or 10:45 ought to be in the dark for the second half of the flight, depending on time of year.