MommaOf3Princesses

I think it depends on their ages. An active 2 year old would find a 5 hour flight a challenge but older kids might not. Yes, it can be boring but if you have in flight entertainment systems on the plane than it goes really quickly for them. Otherwise bring along a portable DVD player or Ipad etc. 5 hours is nothing for us - try 24 hours to Europe!!

OP said this was their first flight....i wouldnt chance their cooperation for 5 hours on the first time flying ever. I built my kids up to longer flights, but honestly we still dont fly further than 3.5 hours at a time because that is all the younger 2 can comfortably handle at one time. I know many people do it, but just MHO forcing a toddler to sit hours and hour on end being quiet and not distruptive can be challenging to say the least, and a bit unfair and exhausting!

I didnt even make it thru your entire post...but as a mother to dd 2, 5 & 8 (who have all travelled since infancy)...my suggestion to you is DO NOT start your dd first flight with 5 hours long! It is such an experience and they are essientially trapped in that cabin with no where to go. IMHO that is just too long to expect your children to handle on their first flight. How is their attention? Can they make it through a movie? If so then mayne start out with about a 2 hour flight....thwn build on that. At least in a car ride you can stop, take a break, let them run around at a rest stop for a while, etc.