International travel alone w/ 18mo - am I crazy?

[bluedaisy]

My DH and I will be traveling to East Africa next summer. My DH is a grad student and got a 3 1/2 month internship in Kenya (where he is from). However, I work at a university and only have 2 1/2 months off for the summer.

So we have two options:

- to travel over together and then my dd (who will be 18 months when we leave and 21 months when we come back) and I will travel back alone and DH will stay for another month

- to have my DH go 2 weeks before us and stay 2 weeks after us. this would break up the time we have to be apart but then I'd have to do both flights by myself.

It will be about 24 hours of traveling - 8 hours to london, 8 hours to nairobi, and then layovers, travel to the airport, etc.

Am I crazy to think I will be able to handle my 18 month old without my DH? She can fly for free if we don't get her a seat - again, am I crazy for thinking I can do this if she has to sit on my lap the whole time?

[tabrizia]

We did India with DS when he was 18 months old, he had a seat we paid for. It was me and DH and my in-laws on the way there and just me and DH on the way back. DS has his own seat. It would have been so much tougher to do the trip with DS not having his own seat.

I think I could have actually handled him solo at 18 months, but not as a lap child. It was just too much traveling, and we had a non-stop 15 hour flight from JFK to India and back. I think it would be possible to do an international trip with just you and your DD. That being said, I would get her a seat, the extra room and ability to put her down will be invaluable. I would actually bring her car seat aboard if possible, we did with DS. Unless she is not a good car rider, since it will give her something familiar on the long journey.

[bubbamummy]

I flew alone with my 13months old (and then back a month later-again alone) from Arizona to London. Thats 15 hrs flying time with a layover in Dallas of 4hrs. DS had a seat, I honestly couldnt imagine flying for a long flight with him on my lap, IMO the money saving isnt worth it, for me it would have been AWFUL. As it was, in his own seat (in his car seat) It worked out GREAT. He was a really good boy (and my son is...ermm..VERY active/noisy/spirited (some may say 'naughty' ) we took toys/snacks etc and it was amazingly easy (apart from the lack of help from the cabin crew no one would help me carry his car seat to his seat as I hadnt 'booked additional help' even though it would have taken them all of 30 seconds fortunately a man in 1st class looked utterly appauled that no one would help me carry a HUGE car seat, carry-on bag and toddler that HE took DS's car seat to his seat!! I could have kissed him )

so, yep, it can be done, pretty easily really. I may have to fly back to England again in Aug with a 3 month old and a 2 year old....we'll see if im still sane after that trip

my advise would be def. get the child a seat of their own esp. for such a long flight, it allows them (and you) to sleep etc

[OkiMom]

I did an international flight (Okinawa Japan to Tokyo Japan to Chicago to Orlando Fl) with my 2 1/2 year old and my 11 month old alone. I definetly suggest getting a seat for your child, it made it a WHOLE lot easier on me.

[MeAndVee]

DH and I flew with DS to India from Charlotte when he was 15 months old. We had a bulk head seat and got the basinet. He barely fit! We didn't get a seat for him but it certainly would have been better if we did. I think 2 year old have to have their own seat anyway. Though not 100% sure on that.

Many MANY years ago my own mother flew from the UK to Boston ALONE with a preschooler, a toddler {ME}, and a baby {nearly one}. AND she was pregnant! She was told her connecting flight's gate was just one over and wouldn't you know it it was actually on the otherisde of the airport! Luck would have it that a man working there had one of those golf cart things and helped her load her bags and most of the kids on it and drove her over to her gate. Made it just in the nick of time.

You could do it. Its just one small day in the scheme of things. Won't seem like it at the time though!

Catherine

[Addy's Mom]

I've done it with a 16 month old (flight to North Africa). I did it without getting a seat for him, but I'd highly recommend one if you can swing it. If not, purchase the seats early so you can get a bulkhead seat (more footroom for her to play/sleep).

Just an FYI, international flights generally charge a 10% fee for a child under 2 if you don't purchase a seat for them. I learned that the hard way. You used to be able to get discounted fares for a child's seat (age 2 and up), but I don't know if that's still an option these days. I haven't been able to get any.

[MeAndVee]

Originally Posted by Addy's Mom

Just an FYI, international flights generally charge a 10% fee for a child under 2 if you don't purchase a seat for them. I learned that the hard way. You used to be able to get discounted fares for a child's seat (age 2 and up), but I don't know if that's still an option these days. I haven't been able to get any.

Even a brand new baby? They didn't charge us. Unless....DH just didn't tell me! DH flew to India Dec 25th at 10 am. We didn't go because frankly we couldn't afford three seats and DH wouldn't dare travel with a busy two year old all by his lonesome. Yet I would...hmmm...says ALOT about my sanity! Next year. DH comes home tomorrow at 4 pm YAYYYY!!!