So, I'm going on this trip.
It will involve air travel and a hotel stay. Neither of which I have ever done with the Crazies.
My question is, what will I absolutely have to bring with me???
Here is where I am so far:
- I am not bringing Pack and Plays...that would just be demented. I'm going to ask the time share company if they can provide cribs in our room and pray that they're not death traps.
- I am bringing the stroller...duh. I gate check that, right? Should I identify it with any important information?
- I am considering those little leash/harness thingies for the airport as I know I can't keep them in the stroller the entire time, but I would still really like to keep them from getting abducted. Hmmm...maybe I'll just leave Matt in a poopy/poopie (how the fuck do you spell poopy?) diaper. No one wants a stinky kid! I kid, I kid...
- I do not think I'll be able to haul the booster seats for meals with us. I just think they're too big.
- Can we say DVD Player??? I think that is going to be a must for us.
- What about toys? When we travel, we normally bring a bag of the kids' toys with us, but I don't think that is going to work for this trip. What can I bring instead?
What else? Am I forgetting anything?
7 comments:
Glad you posted this...we are going on our first trip with our twins in November and I have no idea what to bring. What do you do with car seats? Do they count as a checked bag??
Alcohol.
Benadryl.
Earplugs.
Candy.
No really, I haven't a clue. I refuse to fly with my children. Yes, I'm mean like that!
I have yet to travel post two years so car seats weren't an issue for flight but we just rented them with the rental car. (another trip we actually had family who already had a second set of carseats).
definitely bring stroller!!! you can gate check it and I put a tag around the handle and they also will give you a tag. it will be promptly waiting as soon as you get off. My kids were 8 months for first trip and 23 months when we flew the second time. we had them on our lap since they were still free to fly at that point. In regards to the harness unless you currently use them I probably woudn't bring them. They are old enough that they might make a bigger seen if they aren't use to them (but definitely if they are use to wearing thme) I used thme with my kids from about 13months-20months! LOVED them. basically as soon as they could walk we started using them and they were great. I truly think that's why they don't run off even now at 3!!
DVD YES!! if you have two portable ones even better :)
toys...go to the dollar store and pick up a few new things. things they have never seen or used. does not have to be expensive. This way you have "new" toys/activities :) worked like a charm for us :)
Don't know it is possible but we also made a conscious effort to schedule either early in the morning or nap. trying not to fly in the late afternoon (tends to be most kids cranky time).
not sure if you travel much even stay overnight much anywhere but we also lOVE our peapods!! soooo much easier than the pack n plays! they fold up very compact and even fit in your suitcase. My girls have always done great in them!
I hope this gives you a few ideas :)
We haven't flown since our third joined the family (nor do I think we will anytime soon...kids now outnumber adults. hehe)
I was so nervous the first time too and both trips went very smoothly!
Big key is No stress :)
Traveling with little ones is so stressful for parents! OMG, I remember my first flight with my 5 month old son. I WAS TERRIFIED! My husband was even worse. The flight was fine, except for the diaper explosion and his entire outfit was ruined. LOL! What a mess. We have traveled with our toddler numerous times and here is some advice.
1. Make sure the kids have their own seat and if their car seat is FAA approved, take it with you. It's a PAIN, but kids feel like they are just going on a routine trip in the car.
2. Take some new small toys and/or books. Wrap them in tissue paper or gift wrap and pull out if the kid gets fussy on the plane. Crayons and a coloring book can be entertaining. The dollar store will be your friend!
3. Snacks (including lollipops for take off and landing to help with ear pain).
4. Portable dvd players are great. Or, if you have an ipod download some cartoons.
5. Keep in mind there may not be a diaper changer in the restroom so you may need to change diapers on the seats. Make sure the kid is dry before boarding.
6. BEST ADVICE: Let the kids run around in an empty section of the airport before boarding. This will get energy out and hopefully they will sleep on the flight!
7. Relax with a cocktail. If your kids act bad, it's ok. We've all been there before. Some will sympathize with you, others will give you the glare. Just smile and say cheers to them!
Good luck!!!
We just got back from our two week vacation with my two crazies ... that included air travel both ways and a very long road trip ......
The few things that I was SO thankful for were ...
Candy
Benadryl (on the plane ride home) but make sure it doesn't have the opposite effect on your kids BEFORE you are in the air.
TWO portable DVDs
We travel often with our 3 1/2 year old son and it's not as bad as everyone makes it seem. He had been to two different countries before his first birthday, and now has his own frequent-flyer card.
No need to bring the pack-n-plays (probably would exceed the luggage allowance anyway), but bring your own sheets since they don't always provide those.
Stroller - Definite yes. You can gate-check it and at some airports (Atlanta for one) they will take you out of the long security line and to the front. Nice bonus! I do put a luggage tag on it, and they'll give you a ticket for gate-check.
I've never used the harness things, but I only have one to keep up with and he's pretty good at staying close-by.
Definitely bring the car seats. They help keep them contained on the plane, and raise them up high enough to see out the window. They have to be installed in the seats away from the aisle to keep from blocking the exit in an emergency. You'll also need them at your destination if you're using a cab or rental car. They fit nicely upside-down on a rolling carry-on for getting it through the airport.
I have a special 'airplane backpack' that only goes on planes with us. It has books, Crayola Wonder pens and pads (the kind that only shows up on the paper), tiny Play-doh, some cars and small toys (with NO sounds). I add something new each trip and now that he's bigger he loves to carry his own backpack through the airport.
If there are two adults going, have one get on when they call for pre-boarding and get the car seats installed and the toy bags accessible. The other one stays out until the end of the boarding process so the kids can run around until the last minute. No one likes sitting still while everyone is boarding.
You can bring a 'reasonable' amount of juice/milk for them through security. I bring a sippy cup for takeoff and landing, and a couple of extra juice boxes. They'll have to test the sippy cup, so put it in the bin with your cellphone going through security. Don't fill them quite to the top though, as the change in pressure wil make them leak. (I found this out the hard way and ended up with chocolate-milk soaked pants.)
Make sure they have on easy-on/easy-off shoes since they will also have to remove them at security.
Don't forget the camera to document their first plane trip, and have fun!
I haven't flown with Riley in a year, but we travel all the time:
3 times I've stayed at hotels that haven't had a crib for Riley, even when I have specifically requested it. I've learned to call that morning or the night before and "gently" remind them. Two of the times I was trying to get Riley to fall asleep in a regular bed while the front desk said it would take "several hours to locate a crib, if they can find one at all". It only took them 4 hours. It got to the point of me asking management if they could send up somebody to hold my child while he slept since they couldn't find anything for him to sleep in.
Also, when you rent a car, you can rent carseats (yay!) They will not install them for you because libality reasons- just wanted to warn you because of your knee.
As far as the stroller- you check it at the gate, but make sure you get a ticket for it ahead of time. This will have your info on it.
And don't forgot you can PRE-BOARD since you have kids!
The kids need their birth certificates to fly. Don't forget them!
NEW toys that the kids have NEVER seen
I swear by Riley's leash. It's the best thing ever. Get them!
Good luck!
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