recommendations for travelling with 2 under 2 (21 months and 3 months)

rosesandpeonies · May 2011

I have traveled with my older daughter alone, but haven't yet with the both of them... (my husband will be with me for both trips). also my older daughter was younger so I need toddler ideas.

I need ideas for both a plane trip and road trip. We are going to be on a two hour plane ride to my sister's high school graduation, then two weeks later we will be going to hilton head for my husband's grandmother's memorial service (8 hour car ride).

On the plane each of the girls have their own seat. I am bringing the snap and go for the infant, and my older daughter has a gogobabyz for the airport for her carseat and we will bring her umbrella seat.

I am scared of doing both trips with the girls...tell me it will be fine, and any ideas would be great!

Brit1017 · May 2011

We did an 8 hour car trip when DS was almost 2 and DD was 2 months to visit DH's family. We left in the afternoon (3ish) which was one of DS's naptimes, so he slept for the first hour. We stopped at about 5pm so that we could eat dinner and I could feed DD. Then we stopped again at 8 to feed DD again and get DS changed into his pjs. Then we drove straight though until we got there (both kids' bedtimes were about 8, so they fell asleep after the second stop). I'd recommend planning to drive during nap/ sleep times as much as possible, and portable DVD players can be a godsend.

Lynn07 · May 2011

We just got back from a nine day trip to Hawaii, so I think I have a little insight! My boys are 13 months apart, and were 5.5 months and 18.5 months when we left on the trip. It was a direct 7.5hr flight both ways. Its good that you have seats for each of them... Even if the toddler needs to get up and walk around a bit, you'll have a safe place for her to sleep, eat, play. DS1 slept the first hour, and then was up the rest of the way there. I had tons of snacks on hand, as well as new toys and books he'd never seen before. I'd bring out a new toy one at a time, and it would keep him busy for 30 min or so. I also put a few Mickey mouse shows on my iPad for him to watch if I needed it. The baby is kind of different... There's not much you can do other than try to get them to sleep or hold them if they are fussy. DS2 would sleep 30 minutes at a time, then be up and we'd just pass him back and forth to keep him entertained. Then he'd get tired and fall back asleep. On the way back we were on a red-eye, and both boys slept most of the flight. Since your longer trip will be the driving trip, I'd schedule it during sleeping times to make it easier on you. Good luck! I was scared out of my mind for both flights because I was afraid it would be a disaster, but they surprised me and did such a good job! The people around us commented at the end of the flight that they had been so great, which was a relief!