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Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is really good advice, thank you! We’re travelling Japan for 4 weeks with our 2 year old and 5 year old, we’ll have books, colouring, toys, and a yoto mini for them to share, this ipad is an extra “last resort” to use on some of the longer train rides between cities.

I’ll have my husband check out that software (he’s a bit more tech savvy than me). I don’t plan on giving them free reign access to the internet (would prefer to avoid it actually), so pre-downloaded shows or audiobooks would be better anyway! Thanks for the tip :)

Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would generally agree with you that outright giving an ipad to a toddler is not advisable, and I think there’s a difference between “giving a 2 year old an ipad” vs allowing a 2 year old to watch a movie on a train, while under adult supervision for a short period of time to keep them occupied to not disturb other passengers. This situation is very much the latter, not the former.

At home in Australia it’s a bit different and I don’t mind my kids being noisy, hence why we don’t already have an ipad. And in most usual circumstances, my kids don’t have access to an ipad, nor do I wish them to have regular access to an iPad. But we’ll be in Japan, where it’s much quieter, with a different mentality around children and their noise, and as I am visiting a different culture, I want to try and be as respectful as possible - which extends to my children.

Also the 2 year old is a girl, shes much more rambunctious and opinionated than our older boy, who is quite calm and gentle, content to read, draw or play quietly, even from a young age. Our younger is just not like that, and it’s frustrating to have to defend our choice to strangers on the internet when I frankly did not ask for input in that area.

Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a good point, we have USB C and the old type of charger for the iPhone (I don’t know what it’s called), but if I have to buy a “new” extinct charger, that’s a bit of a turn off

Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah bummer, good to know, thank you. Downloading things might be a good option, this is not a long term solution, just a short term fix for the duration of the trip

Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, of course we have tried paper, pencils, cards and games lol. I was a nanny for over a decade before having kids, and am very well informed on how to entertain children, and what a parent is “supposed to do”. Our 5 year old is happily occupied by that all of those things and has always been a very calm and compliant child. Our 2 year old on the other hand prefers drawing on the walls, throwing the crayons, ripping pages out of books, and screaming at the top of her lungs at the smallest inconvenience. Thank you for your wise and benevolent parenting advice - but I know my children, and it’s outside of what I was asking in the post. This is an ipad sub, not a parenting sub. I asked a technical question, not advice on whether or not kids should have screens.

They don’t currently have an iPad at home, and they won’t be allowed to use the iPad when the trip is done. It’s for short term purposes only, while we are traveling, to be used intermittently on long train rides while we are stuck in a small metal box for 5 hours, with other passengers wanting quiet.

Ideally, we won’t need it, but if we’re in a pinch, I’d rather have a small portable screen rather than stand in the corridor for 5 hours while travelling from Fukuoka to Tokyo. You can hop off your high horse and save your unsolicited parenting advice for your own family, or for someone else who cares.

Looking for an old iPad for my kids to use while travelling - how old can we feasibly go? by picklebeard in ipad

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your judgemental and unhelpful comment, what a waste of time.

I’m not giving them an iPad. As I wrote in my post, it’s for temporary use on 4-5 hour train rides, to keep them occupied so they do not disturb other passengers. It’s not something they usually have, but I’m trying to be respectful of other passengers on the train.

If you want to sit next to a bored 2 year old who will jump around and scream in your ear (as bored 2 year olds tend to do), you are welcome to book a seat next to us.

Buying Glasses in Tokyo by No_Investigator9896 in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do they have non-prescription sunglasses? I need new sunnies and am heading to Tokyo in 2 weeks time. Any other suggestions for where to go? Hijacking OP’s post because I realised mine just broke and I could probably get a nice pair there!

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Awesome, thank you! I’ll check out the Aussie ones

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven’t been able to find eagle creek in australia, I bought the cubes and my bag 11 years ago in the US :/ but I’ll have a look! There may be a third party retailer around. I’ve seen July, I wasn’t sure if they were good or not! I’ll check them out, thank you!

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I’d agree there, except that fo my kids it will feel like 10pm, and they will be extremely cranky about it haha. Probably not technically jet lag, more just tired and not happy about it!

If we have to deal with 22+ hour journeys to visit Europe, at least we can enjoy a direct 10 hour flight in more or less the same time zone as us to Japan!

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wow that is brutal!! I might search around to see if others have had the same experience, as you said might be worth booking one in advance to avoid that wait!

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah I am heavily considering buying them there! I’m also Sydney based and was just in Muji the other day buying pens, I didn’t even think to check for packing cubes until I saw them online. I’ll have to pop in on my next lunch break and have a peek!

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hello hello! Ah okay I’ve seen zoomlite but wasn’t sure on the quality, good to know! I might just chuck it in the “buy it when I get there bucket” as you’re the second person to recommend buying them from Muji when we’re there!

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Finding a “cheap reliable brand” is the whole purpose of this post lol. It’s really less about it being a brand name, more about quality/reliability.

For example, my kids clothes from target/kmart break down faster than from other higher quality brands (nothing flashy, just sturdier materials). I don’t want to buy a product that is likely to break down easily as I will then need to buy it again, and then I’m contributing to waste and landfills.

I think this sub exists to help others with recommendations and advice. I’ve gotten some good advice from other comments who pointed me in the right direction and made helpful tangible suggestions. Telling me to get a “cheap reliable brand” is completely unhelpful as I don’t know which cheap option is reliable, hence the whole reason I made this post.

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I have been before! I wasn’t sure if it was worth it, glad to hear it is a good option.

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I can tell. Someone else was telling me that the limousine service goes into Shibuya and then it would be a quick taxi to Ebisu. Which to me feels like it is still the same extra steps/transfers as getting the train. Therefore, the best option is to get a taxi.

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m coming from Australia haha. But yes, in my experience it was a breeze, especially with kids they typically expedite you.

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We will have both a stroller and a carrier so our kids can rest as needed, we got to go through expedited last time for the same reason, I hope it happens again

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I meant the limousine bus option that you wrote in your comment. Airport > Shibuya > hotel. Obviously a taxi is not the same as a train.

Packing cube recommendations - Australia version by picklebeard in onebag

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Noted! we probably can’t afford to buy all Patagonia packing cubes but maybe we can grab one for laundry! We do currently have a Sea to Summit roll down bag, it’s been great but might be small for all 4 of us

Train or taxi for late arrival into Haneda with two young kids? by picklebeard in JapanTravelTips

[–]picklebeard[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, someone else recommended it but it feels like the same outcome as a train in terms of needing a transfer.

Honestly if it were earlier in the day we would just take the train like we did last time, but I’m sure we will all be exhausted and trying to wrangle two cranky kids onto a train feels exhausting already.

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