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Need encouragement: Air travel alone with a toddler

meechrobimeechrobi
in Success after IF

Ugh. I dont know why this is causing me so much sudden anxiety. I am a very experienced traveler. I could tell you more about airports in this country then you probably would care to know. I have never flown with DS. He is almost 2.5 years old and he is a very good little boy (although, like any toddler, he has his moments). At the end of May we will be traveling from CT to MS for a big event for DH's work. I will be traveling alone with DS (we will be meeting DH down there). I have to fly into New Orleans and then drive. My anxiety is around how to handle it all when we get to NOLA-- baggage (including car seat), stroller, DS, rental car, installing the car seat, etc, etc, etc. 

It is a month away and I am really freaking out. Someone give me some encouragement. How did you handle it alone?  

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Re: Need encouragement: Air travel alone with a toddler

  • krissyh21krissyh21 member

    I think the anticipation is always far worse than what it actually is. Bring lots of snacks for the plane trip (that is always more entertaining for my son than toys). Run him around like crazy before boarding the plane to tire him out.

    Is there a way that your H can take down an extra bag with him so you can just do carry ons and not worry about a bag with clothes?  I would buy diapers on arrival (assuming your DS is not potty trained yet).

    I attached D's car seat to my carry on with bungie cords, packed a small backpack for him with all his toys, snacks and things that attached to the stroller and pushed him in the stroller wheeling the carryon/car seat behind. 

    As you are installing the carseat sit him in the drivers seat of the car and let him push all the buttons - that will keep him entertained enough for you to get the seat hooked up. 

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  • MouseygailMouseygail member
    I haven't done it alone yet...but my first thought is that just be prepared to ask for help and tip some people to help you!
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  • dusk42dusk42

    Pack light (send stuff with DH if necessary) and get straps from REI to either carry the carseat on your back or strap it to the stroller if it fits (the Sceneras fit well in our Peg Aria (between the armrests/sides), so I secure the carseat to the frame with straps threaded through the slot where you would put the seatbelt FF and DD is strapped in the carseat).  Check your bag and just carry a large purse/diaper bag along with the stroller/carseat.  We use a carseat on the plane and it is awesome for keeping her contained (she doesn't fight to get out like she would if she was loose in the seat, she can sleep, etc.).  When you get to the airport, reverse the process - kid in stroller, carseat on your back or with kid in stroller, get back, get to rental car.  If they have a "no lines" option in their rewards club (Hertz does, I think), join that club so you don't have to wait in line to get your prepaid car.  Tell them that you will need a few minutes to get the carseat installed.  Put kid in the front seat with a drink or toy (car off) while you mess with the carseat.  
     
    As long as your hands are relatively free and the kid is contained during crucial times (in the stroller, in the plane seat, in the front of the car), you can focus on getting done what you need to get done.  The only time it gets dicey is when you have to fold the stroller/unhook the carseat in the security line because you need two hands.  I generally make DD stand between me and the belt so she is somewhat contained.  I have also taught her to hold onto my pants or jacket, or there is no shame in getting a backpack/leash.  The only thing she doesn't like is putting the stuff through the scanner because she thinks her drink/toy/whatever isn't coming back, but we talk about it a lot when we are waiting in line (how it is like when we check out at the grocery store, we'll get it back at the end, etc.).         
     
    DD rarely melts down while flying because there is always so much to do (we watch the planes take off, walk up and down the concourse, I let her eat junk and play with new toys, etc.).  It's way easier now that she is 2.5 and can talk and be bribed and discuss where we are going (Grandma's house).     
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  • qtpa2tqtpa2t member

    I took DD to Paris this past February by myself.  It was the first time she had flown AND we had a connecting flight.  Things went a lot smoother than I anticipated, and she was the toast of the cabin.  

    I don't have advice on the car seat angle.  We skipped it because I knew we would be taking public transportation, and I figured on the plane, if it crashed, we would have far bigger issues than a car seat could remedy.  Everyone has a different level of calculated risk they are willing to take, but that's me.  You will of course need a car seat if you plan to drive.  Is renting one an option?  I know there are carriers for them.

    I also skipped the stroller, as G sees it as a toy.  I predicted that if there were a scenario where she didn't get to push it, she would have a meltdown. So I opted for a sling instead.  It was great and allowed me to hold/carry her while having my arms free.  She is very independent and prefers to walk rather than ride.

    We were gone for close to a week, and I just packed light - on the plane as well as off.  I figured anything I forgot, we could buy there.  Believe it or not, I had all her supplies in my small backpack purse - and this was for a long, overnight flight.  I didn't not have any other carry on for us.

    Take off was pretty easy, and I was able to amuse her with stickers until take off.  During the flight, she mostly watched her favorite shows on my ipad.  Landing was a little harder, but hey, if they want to kick us off the flight at that point, I say bring it. 

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  • meechrobimeechrobi

    Thanks guys! The suggestions are great. I will just need to be very strategic in how I pack and only bring what we absolutely need. If I forget something- I will just need to go buy it. 

    Just seems like there is so much to handle for one person. I am sure krissy is right when she said the anxiety/ anticipation of it is usually worse than it really is. That is what I will hope!  

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  • KayJayDeeKayJayDee
    We're flying from DC to Chicago in a couple of weeks and I'm freaking out.  And DH is coming too, so it's not like I'm going to be alone!!  DS has some sensory issues, though, and can really act out in new situations.  Even though the flight is only 1.5 hours long, I have NO IDEA what to expect from him, so that is a little nerve wracking.  We'll all survive though.  Good luck!
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