Traveling with 2 kiddos...tips or product advice?

BabyCakes3

We are going to drive 3 hours to a cheaper airport, fly 2.5 hours, then drive 4 hours. They will be almost 2 & 4 when we go. I'm trying to decide if we need to take a nice umbrella stroller, a double stroller or just the puppy leash for DS for the airports. Even consider getting out my Moby wrap to assist me in carrying him.

We'll already have all the luggage, a booster & a car seat with us. Unless the car rental place has them....is it safe to rent those?

Any advice on things that may make the trip easier?

 

ToBeMrsT

In August we drove 4.5 hours to a different airport, then had flights that were 3 hours and 3.5 hours.  We brought the Maclaren for DD and let DS walk.  We brought a backpack that DS could carry and put all of their toys in it.  I think I packed the monkey leash for DD just in case, but I didn't use it.  Lots of snacks were important.  I could usually distract them with something new to eat.  We also had a nintendo DS and a dvd player.  The dvd player helped them fall asleep on the plane rides.  They were both so wired that they wouldn't settle down, but when they focused on the movie they were able to relax.  My kids aren't easy so it was kind of awful, but we made it there and back.  

Pesky

We took 2 umbrella strollers -- a nicer one for DS and a cheapie one for DD just in case.  That way we could use the stroller for carry-ons if DD wanted to walk and if she didn't, she could hold her carry-on in the stroller with her.  So I would judge by how much your DD uses the stroller now when you go out.  If she is content to be in it and uses it enough, take the double -- it's an easy containment system.

Carry lots of snacks, cups and water bottles, favorite toys and a few new, fav books and a few new, comfort items and if you don't have one, consider investing in one or two portable DVD players.  They have something where you can suspend it from the back of one of the front seats in the cars too so it can go in the car. 

KatFCo

We take 12-hour drives several times a year and have since our 4.5 y/o was a baby. Lately, one thing she's liked are books on CD. We can pop those in and they read to her.

Small toys like matchbox cars; crayons and coloring books; think about what toys you take that you can make multiple games out of.

When driving, plan to take a 15-20 minute stop for every 2 hours you're on the road. Make the kids jump/run around as much as possible during that time.

penguingrrl

I would not get a moby wrap. They're great with tiny babies, but once my kids was 15 lbs it kept stretching out and wouldn't stay secure anymore. I would definitely bring an umbrella stroller. Even if the kids don't use it it'll help carry stuff.

As far as renting a carseat, no. For the exact same reason it's considered unsafe to buy a used seat from someone you don't know, renting a seat is a very unsafe option. You don't know whether it has been in an accident or someone has used harsh cleaning agents on the harness (anything stronger than mild dishsoap renders a carseat harness useless). Also, anyone I've known who rented had nightmare experiences. Infant buckets as the only offering for a 4 year old, backless boosters for 2 year olds, dirty, expired and recalled models.