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South Florida Babies
Flying alone with two little ones . . .advice?
Hey all, I just booked a trip to visit my family in NJ, and I'll be going by myself with my two kids (ages 3 and 1). DH will be staying home to work.
I'm a bit nervous about flying by myself with them, and I'm wondering if anyone has done it and has any tips. I used to travel with Cedric a lot when he was an infant until around 18 months, but since then we've only flown with both kids when DH and I are both traveling. I've never done it by myself!
I only have the two seats (Graciela will be a lap child--yikes), and I am not planning on bringing a car seat on the plane (family has seats for me up there), so I'll have both seats to share with the kids. We're traveling JetBlue, so I think the tv screen will be a good distraction on the flights. I'll bring snacks.
Not sure about whether I should take the double stroller to get through the airport with them or try to carry Graciela (maybe in my K'tan) and make Cedric hold onto the carryon to save space. Family also has a double stroller up there that I can borrow, so I may not need the stroller. Just not sure how to handle everything myself. I plan to use one large checked luggage for most of our stuff.
But I'm so excited!! I haven't been up there for a year, since Graciela's baptism, and I'll get to see my new nephew who was just born this month!
Anyhow, so any tips?
Tania
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Re: Flying alone with two little ones . . .advice?
Taxbride,
I say take a lap dvd player and lots of snacks. That's all the advice I can give on that, I've never flown with a little one before. How is your nephew doing? I was going to post, to ask you how he is. How are your Brother and SIL doing(hope I got the relation right). How long was he in the Hospital for?
Have a great trip!
T-I have no tips...although lollipops always kept Aa calm for awhile and things maybe to draw with. You are a brave soul and I bow down to you
love ya
B
I suggest the CARES child aviation restraint system for the older one. My DS is almost 3, we took him in a car seat once but his feet could touch the seat in front of him and he kicked the seat in front of him for 3 SOLID HOURS. Needless to say that was not a good flight. We bought the CARES restraint and it was wonderful. he was strapped to tghe seat without the hassle of a car seat (he is so active and i couldnt imagine not having soemhting to strap him down with).
The BEST thing to have is a portable DVD player and every movie he could possibly want to watch...and snacks...lots of snacks.
GL!
totoloche,
Thanks for remembering my nephew. He is doing GREAT!! Seriously, this kid bounced back and is developing so well. He is even almost turning over (rolling to one side) at only a few weeks old! Unbelievable.
nicole,
I never heard of the CARES system, but I'll look into it. I dread the seat kicking thing, so that's an idea.
I'm skipping the DVD player b/c when we've taken it in the past, my kids just hit all the buttons over and over and then ask what happened to the movie (sigh). So that's one reason we went with JetBlue so I'll have the tv screen right on the seat.
I like the drawing stuff idea, Beth!! Good one. Although I imagine Graciela eating her way through all the crayons like she tries to do at home
Well, it won't kill her as long as she doesn't choke on it!
First off, GOOD LUCK! The last time I went to Miami, I flew with Carley by myself and we managed. With one kid it's not bad, but I don't know how I'd do with 2 since I haven't gotten there yet. Anyhow, make sure you bring headphones (or a couple dollars to buy them at the gate. I think they are $2 each). I managed to fit everything into one checked bag for Carley and I, and I used my diaper bag as my carry on. If you're family already has a double stroller, I wouldn't bother bringing yours...unless you think Cedric is likely to get lost or run off if he's not strapped into a stroller. Make sure you bring plenty of snacks (although, the flight attendants have always been really good with us when we fly with Carley). JetBlue offers unlimited snacks and drinks throughout the flight, so don't be embarrased about asking if it will keep the kids calm/entertained.
Again, good luck! I'm sure you'll figure it out when the time comes
Good luck Tania!!! I can't think of anything else that wasn't already mentioned.
I have a friend who moved to London for a few years because of her husbands job. She decided she wanted her miami doctor to deliver her 3rd baby so the whole family flew down for the birth. Her husband had to return for work rather quickly. So she ended up having to fly back by herslef with a newborn, a toddler and a 5 year old. If she managed such a long flight with 3 kids, I KNOW you will be fine.
Great to hear your nephew is doing well! How exciting - we're taking our annual visit to Jerzey next month, travelling with all three kids for the first time should be interesting. I say bring the double stroller and the K'Tan to the gate. The airports are big and hectic. Plus, what if your gate is super far and Cedric gets tired of walking? Then you'll have to carry both kids and whatever you carried on. Jet Blue is great b/c of the TVs and headphones. I also bought them each a new toy, books to read, coloring books, plenty of snacks. Just in case, I brought that ear medicine in case their ears popped. The only other advice I can give is take your time and don't let other people rush you or the kids. And have fun! We always play the Cloud Game with Eli - find clouds that are shaped into something for example a car, dog, etc.
I've only gone on a plane once with A but the stroller is a must. And with two kids, I reeaaalllyyy recommend you take it. Flights can get delayed, the airport is crowded, I just wouldn't go without one (just take it to the gate and let them take it from you there). Snacks and if you want to give them a drop of benadryl to calm them down before the flight, that helps. Books, crayons, w/e keeps them entertained.
GL! I hope you have an amazing trip:)
Hey stranger! If it were me (and my 3 year old usually listened and wasn't an avid stroller sitter) I would put the baby in a sling/carrier and let him walk. Worse case you'd have to pick them both up at some point but it wouldn't be for long. Check as much as you can luggage wise. The less stuff to drag onto the plane, the better. Bring snacks that are new and different from what they usually get. Not necessarily junk food, just different things. The TV on the plane will help with Cederic a lot. Pack as much patience as you can and try to breathe. Remember that they seem far worse to you than others.
The one aspect that would make me nervous is screening. They'll make you take off everyone's shoes and go through the metal detector. Be sure to have slip ons and again with the simple carry on so that process isn't any more complicated than it needs to be. If you decide to take the stroller, realize you'll need to have that checked at screening as well which IMO is a total PITA! Good luck!
Mel, you are thinking what I'm thinking--how to get from the car to checkin with both kids by myself. When I was alone with Cedric dozens of times, I had it down pat, but add that extra kid and I'm thrown for a loop!!
UMWife, thanks for the reminder about the "endless" snacks on JetBlue--I will likely take advantage of that.
Jess, I can't imagine flying with 3 on such a long flight! Wow. Although newborns are really easy to fly with.
melly, I like that cloud game! Have to remember that one. Don't know about the ear medicine. Am curious as to whether JetBlue provides earphones or if they sell them. Have to find out.
Dawn, I think that Cedric would stay close, but I am still deciding on the stroller. He'd want to either hold my hand or be carried (he gets nervous in loud large places), and I would need my hand to pull the luggage, so the stroller would be familiar to him at least and keep my hand free. I'm imagining using a backpack for the plane, like I always did with him. Easier in airports. That leaves me with one hand to push the stroller and one to drag the one suitcase for all of us. Maybe let Cedric carry his small backpack with toys/books/crayons for the flight.
hmm. Thanks for helping me think this through, ladies!!
Hi there!
JetBlue charges for headphones, but any ones that you have will work fine in their jack, so we usually just bring a few pairs. Liam usually won't let us put them on him yet, so he ends up watching movies on DH's laptop (with a keyboard lock on so he can't turn it off!) with the volume coming from the speakers so he can hear it.
If your DH (or maybe just a friend) can take the time off to take you to the airport, JetBlue might be able to provide him with a pass to go through to the gate with you to help get you on the plane. My sister took her 9 month old and 27 month old to the UK by herself last summer (baby in a sling, toddler in a car seat) and her DH was able to go with her to the gate because of the pass (this was on Continental) so she didn't have to deal with that part of the trip by herself.
To get the kids to swallow and not have ear problems, we've found that having a variety of snacks on hand helps so that if LO doesn't want one particular thing we can move to the next. The best one lately for us has been the Gerber yogurt melts.
Crayons are great, but when they get dropped they can be hard to retrieve (or roll away completely) sometimes, so bring plenty. I've also found stickers to be very useful and on the most recent trip we made it through multiple delays fairly happily having lots of little board books (love Target $ bin books) to unwrap every 15 minutes or so.
Flight attendants are usually very helpful once you're on the plane when they see single parents, so you should be able to get some assistance there if you need it for a bathroom break, etc.
That's all I can think of for now - good luck!