Traveling Alone with Small Children

When you are boarding the plane, just get a gate check for the stroller and leave it at the end of the tunnel. When you get to where you are going (or your connecting city) they will bring it up for you. It will be right there when you get off the plane.
If you don't need the car seats on the plane, I suggest checking them in as baggage. They don't count as a suitcase and then you can just get them when you are getting your luggage at your destination.
Hope this helps!

Hi A. --

I have twins. And we had to fly with them several times. I'm sorry you have to do it alone, b/c it will be difficult.

Since your baby will be on your lap, I'm presuming you paid for a seat for your boy. Since he's entitled to check luggage, you should check his carseat. For your own convenience, check the baby's carseat too. It will just count as one of your pieces of checked luggage. You can pack your clothes and the two kids' clothes between two suitcases and check them. If your son is very active, and you think you can handle it, carry on his carseat. When my twins were 20 months old, we carried one carseat on the plane and sat one child in it while the other was a "lap child". The one in the carseat sat still and was easier to handle. Just my two cents.

You can then put both kids in the stroller and bring the stroller right up to the plane. At the plane, they'll take the stroller from you and store it, and then it will be right off the plane when you get to your destination.

If you have or can borrow a portable DVD player for the plane, that will help too. We watched endless Wiggles videos on it. And the plane is so loud, no one was bothered by it.

Also, snacks. Bring lots of different kinds of snacks, and make a game out of it. Like, "five more minutes until the next new snack."

Your baby should be a breeze. Mine slept on planes easily. Make absolutely sure she is drinking something on takeoff and landing. It's necessary for her ears.

I wish you well on your journey.

I am the president of the Mother's Club of Hernando County. If you are interested in making new friends for yourself and your kids, we'd love to meet you. Send me an email (____@____.com) for more information.

Good luck,
-- C. king

i had to travel alone with my two girls before many times.. it wasnt super long flights so it wasnt that bad.. i would definitely check the carseats, b/c they are a nightmare, and not exactly necessary. i would also use a baby carrier for the young one, b/c trying to push the stroller for older one and a daiper bag full of toys and snacks. having the baby held w/o tying up your hands will really help. and the stroller is not that big of a deal b/c you use that up until you physically board the plane and then they take it, put in under the plane and it'll be there when you get off.. so no biggie there. i would definitely talk to the ppl about getting you seats in the front if possible so its easy to get on and off the plane. or at least a rown of 2 or 3 seats by yourself, if they arent totally booked. that way you wont feel like you're bothering anybody, and maybe you can get some extra space.. one flight i ended up nursing the baby and rocking the toddler to sleep and i leaned across 2 seats to try and keep them comfortable. wasnt comfy for me, but they stayed asleep so it was easy going. a bottle or pacifier if you use one, will help during take off and landing when their ears pop.. a sippy cup for the older one. that way he still gets a sucking affect and it might not bother him as much.
and dont be afraid to ask for help from an attendant, even when you check your bags, they can have somebody walk you to the gate to help you carry stuff, or if you dont know where it is.. bring enough daipers and snacks, and you'll be good to go.. it will definitely be stressful getting on and off, but you can regroup during the flight, and when you get to where you're going, have somebody waiting with a cocktail...:) good luck!!

You have gotten some great advice. I just wanted to suggest you call ahead and talk to the airline and let them know you will need extra assistance (just like if you were in a wheel chair or something). They always will let you board first so you have plenty of time to get settled. Also, if you are breastfeeding your infant definitely do so going up and coming down. One final thing. Once I was traveling with my infant and didn't know he had an ear infection until we were in the air and he was screaming his little head off. You might want to have the pediatrician check them out right before you leave because believe me, you do not want that surprise! Good luck!

I have added some addtional advice at the bottom for you. Take a portable DVD player for your 21 month old if you can that's the best thing ever!!! I would have your husband drop you off curbside and help you unload your luggage and car seats. Check the baby seat with your luggage (unless you purchased a extra seat on the airplane for the infant). Bring snacks and new toys for your toddler to play with. I would put your baby in a carrer on your chest and use the extra seat in the double stroller to put your bags that you will need to carry on to the plan. We recently traveled with a toddler and infant and it was so exhausting! So much stuff to drag along. If you don't have a good backpack diaper bag, invest in one (that's one less thing you have to carry in your hands it also leaves your hands free to grab your toddler if need be. I am sure there are more suggestions, but that's all that is coming to mind right now. The DVD player to me is the biggest life saver. GOOD LUCK!! Some additional advice. Our 3 yr old seems to get sick everytime we travel. It's always just as we are walking out the door to catch the plane. So pack a therometer for the infant and toddler, also pack fever/pain medications on your carry on. They don't carry much in the stores at the airport. We were stuck with him having a high fever and no medicine the first time we traveled. I learned my lesson. You can take infant liquid medicine up to 4 oz on to the plane. Call your dr. before you leave and tell them you are traveling, IF your infant has a high feve while on the plane, how much can you give and what brand do they reccomend. I always purchase a new box and keep it sealed so they don't ask questions. You can find chewable tablets for your toddler or meltaways (which gets rid of the liquid problem at the security gate). Don't forget to bring extra clothes for you and them. Also, I don't advise checking the baby seat at the gate. We did that recently and we were on a connecting flight, but we stayed on board. They left it in NY and when we arrived in Boston there was no baby seat!! I was not a happy camper to say the least. They don't have much to offer for a 6 week old (that's how old mine was). I got a car seat to use from another airline and the straps didn't work. I ended up renting one from the car rental company and it was out dated and it didin't have the head support for a newborn. Not a good experience.

First of all, you are a brave soul! I have travelled with my 3 year old since he was about 22 months. I purchased a sit and stroll. Its a car seat and stroller all in one. You push a button and the stroller wheels and handles compact and you are left with a great, plush car seat and a great detachable head rest and sun shade for when you use it as a stroller. Great on the plane - strolls right down the isles and once you get to your seat, simply push the button and it turns into a car seat that you sit into the airline seat and buckle across - works the same way in a car. Although you may need a seat belt extender on the plane - the flight attendants will get you one. As for your newborn, I would just use a front carrier, or sling and carry only the essentials. The sit and stroll comes with a great little strap on mesh bag that allows ample room for a change of clothes, diapers and small snack. its FCC Approved and you stroll it right onto the plane. Dont let the attendants stop you and make you try and check it. Most of them have seen it before but a few have questioned me. I tell them it coverts into a car seat for use onthe plane and they have had NO problem with it. Also, USE THE AIRLINE ATTENDANTS on board. Thats is what they are there for. They will allow you to board first and assist you with watching the little one while you get settled in. The sit and strolls are great since you dont have to pack both a stroller AND a car seat. It converts wonderfully. They are somewhat pricey.... but you can find used ones on E-Bay. I ended up buying mine new and have used it so many times. But even if I only used it once, it would have paid for it self SEVERAL times over! Try to schedule a night flight, my little guy ALWAYS fell asleep and it was always much easier than I thought it would be. Bring the usual to keep them occupied. I love the travel DVD players. About $90 at Walmart. Other than that, take a deep breath and a large glass of wine (if you drink) and when AND IF the kids are crying and you feel like crawling under the seat, just smile and know that it is NOT a reflection on you... its just what kids do and everyone on the plane who has a kid will COMPLETELY understand! Good luck and God Bless! PS: Bottle or pacifier for the new born and lots of gum for the toddler, buy it ahead of time, they dont sell them at the airports. Let you little one have all the candy or gum they want to keep them happy. This is not a time to worry about spoiling them :-)

Hey A., I'm going to tell you what I know...I traveled with one small child a year ago and it was not all that bad...so I would think if I had to travel with my now TWO children both under the age of two, this would be my game plan: I would put the car seat of the 21 month old under the plane since it will be the most awkward to carry from gate to gate. You can hold that one on your lap on the plane. If the infant carrier can fit onto the stroller, then that will cut out the issue of carrying around car seats. You can put your newborn in her carseat on the plane as well. The one piece of info I will volunteer is to make sure you keep PLENTY of juice with you and also make sure they are sucking on pacifiers when the plane is taking off and landing. If you need anymore advice (b/c i have a 6 month old and an 18 month old myself) don't hesitate to ask...I might be coming to you for help as well =-)

I have travelled several times with my 21 month old twins. We take our double stroller and check it right at the plane door. And you will more than likely get to board first so take advantage of that and if you aren't running to catch a connector then let the plane empty before you depart. This allows the 21 month old to walk out and you to carry the little one. Also, they usually don't have the stroller available right away so that gives them time to get it out and most airlines will have it open and waiting. You can take the infant seat right to the plane door also and check it along with the stroller. Now, when boarding the flight attendants have always been helpful with holding one while situating the other. If you purchased an extra ticket (which I am assuming you have had to) I would definitely use it for the 21 month old and a car seat. The sit and stroll is great. If you don't want to purchase one of those then use your regular car seat. Babies R Us sells a back pack type device that allows you to wear the carseat as a back pack. You aren't allowed to wear a carrier during the flight so if your younger one is sitting on your lap then you will have to get them out prior to take off. During the takeoff and landing make sure both children pop their ears. For my 21 month old twins I just give them their sippy cup. They are also big thumb suckers right now so I encourage them to suck during the ascent and descent. When they were younger they got bottles during take off or landing and if it was a shorter fight then I used a pacifier. That's the big thing you have to remember. To keep them busy snacks and toys are great. And the dvd player is also a good idea. If you get the chance and with the help of the flight attendant, get up and walk your kids. It helps to let out any extra energy and gives everyone a chance to stretch. I hope this helps, best of luck!