Traveling with Two Toddlers..........ALONE

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Sorry if this is not in the right spot.  Im looking for advice, experience, tips, tell me Im crazy, whatever. 

I am trying to plan a trip to see a friend in the late summer.  I want to bring my boys.  As you can see from my siggy, they are still pretty small.  Charlie will be close to 4 when the time comes, and Matthew will be a few months shy of 3.  The travel distance will be about 1600 miles with one changeover.  I found a flight for a pretty good price changing in atlanta.  The planes all have rows of three seats (you would not believe how hard it was to find flights with planes that had more then rows of two seats.  I was NOT about to make one of my kids sit with a stranger.  That wouldnt be fair to them, or the stranger LOL) So this way I can sit in the middle seat, keep them seperated, and be able to attend to both of them whenver they need me.  Because of this delima, though, Im pretty limited on the flight times I was able to find. 

There is a changeover in ATL that is 2 hours departing and 1 hour returning.  Having never been through atlanta, im not sure if this will be enough time with two small children.  I will prolly have to stop and get them something to eat on the "fly" so the poor things dont starve.  They dont allow you to bring anything through security right?  You have to buy it once you get through? 

My friend and I already discussed, and in order to save money (in the event the flight I get charges for checked bags) I am just going to send her our clothes fedex or ups.  its cheaper and I dont have to worry about an airline misplacing anything.  I plan to carryon as little as possible.  The boys blankets, protable dvd players, and a bag with some essentails; wipes, diapers (matthew?) maybe a change of clothes for each of them, ID.  I also thought I would bring my double stroller, since most airlines i researched will allow you to use it in the airport, and then check it for you at the last minute while your baording.  I am going to have TWO carseats to transport, and i dont know how much assitance the ariports will provide for me.  I would be able to push the kids in the stroller with the bag underneat, and carry the two carseats for the connecting flight somehow. 

And I will be doing all of this ALONE.  Am I nuts?  Should I just wait until the kids are bigger and wont need the carseats?  There is no way I am going without them.  PERIOD.  And Im pretty sure im in the right forum to get understanding on that front.  lol  I just cant bare the thought of getting on a plane and flight hundreds of miles away and being away from my kids for even a couple days, much less a week.  I could see if my husband would go with me, but honestly, it would probably be MORE stressful for me, because the more stressed HE is, the more stressed me and the kids get.  And he does not do well in stressful situations.  Plus this is MY friend.  he knows her and her husband, and we had a great time when they were here two summers ago, but i just dont think its something I want to guilt him into doing.  He made a comment about all of us going once, and I told him.  I just assumed I would be going alone. 

Anyhoo, i need feedback please.  Especially from those who have done this before.  How awful or ok was it?  Thanks in advance ladies.   

[Peony]

I did a cross country trip with a 5 and 1y old a few years ago. It was rough, I won't lie but we had 3 connecting flights, massive flight delays, we got stuck overnight on our way back, lost luggage, full flights where they actually took a seat of ours that I had paid for, bad seating assignments, they had assigned one of my children to sit by themselves on multiple flights and I had to ask people to change seats. The children though, they did wonderful through it all. I was the one that barely made it ! The trip there was fine, it was the just the one back where every single thing that could go wrong did. I say go for it, it is only a day of traveling if things go wrong and you should have a great time visiting your friend. 

You won't really get help from the airlines with the carseats, I put one of mine in the double stroller and had a child walk and pulled the other one behind me in a wheeled bag. You can also get a cheap luggage cart and tie both on them on there and pull it behind you. Ask if you can preboard to install the seats before everyone gets on, some airlines no longer offer preboarding to families which bites. 

[ecoteat]

Would it be possible to borrow carseats from someone at your destination? The thought of transporting 2 sounds terrible to me! I'm sure someone will not like this idea, but could your 4 year old use a backless booster while you are there? That would be simpler to carry. How much driving will you be doing when you are there?

[limabean]

Could your 4yo walk in the airport so you could put one of the carseats in the stroller? 

You can bring food through security, so I would definitely pack snacks to save time. I've even been able to bring my kids' water cups through instead of having to buy water at the airport -- they just wave a test strip over them during the security check, it only takes a few seconds. 

You'll be fine. 

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

No, there is no one we borrow car seats from when we get there.  She has two nephews very close in age, but they are going to need thier seats for the entire week I am there.  Not to mention, the kids NEED to be sitting in a carseat while on the plane. 

 

Originally Posted by ecoteat 

Would it be possible to borrow carseats from someone at your destination? The thought of transporting 2 sounds terrible to me! I'm sure someone will not like this idea, but could your 4 year old use a backless booster while you are there? That would be simpler to carry. How much driving will you be doing when you are there?

I was just told by my mother that if she agreed to it, my then 17 year old sister could come with me and she would pay for her ticket.  So I might not be going alone after all, but taking my sister on the trip I promised her for her senior year a year early.  LOL 

But I will still need to prepare myself for traveling with two toddlers, so for sure ladies, keep the suggestions coming.  Limabean, great idea with the water cups.  Thank you!
 

[vegemamato]

I think you could do it.  Both boys could probably do some walking so you can push the carseats or using a cart to pull behind you.  Have fun if you decide to go!

[limabean]

That would be great if your sister came along. But if not, is a family member driving you to the airport? When my DH takes the kids and me to the airport, instead of just dropping us at the curb he always parks and comes in with us. Then when we're checking our luggage we ask for a special pass that allows him to come through security with us so that he can help with strollers/shoes/etc. They've always given us the pass with no problems, and then he's even able to sit with us until our plane departs if he has time, which is great for being able to use the bathroom, get a drink, etc. I've done it with and without his help and it's definitely doable on your own but of course nicer to have the help. Then on the other end of our trip, my mom parks and comes in (not through security, just inside the public part of the airport) to help me get our luggage off the carousel and take it to the car. 

Of course, since you have a layover there won't be anyone to help you for that part of the trip, but if you could have in-airport help for 2/3 of your trip it'd make things a lot easier. 

[chel]

i agree.  get an assistant pass.

i wouldn't try to carry water.  just one more thing to have to dig out of your bag and then put back in.  but def carry as much food as you think you will need.  having to buy food and transport luggage at the same time is a pain.

[Honey693]

I think you could do it.  4 and almost 3 sounds completely do able, especially if you talk up the vacation and get them excited about flying ahead of time. 

[LuckyMommaToo]

You can definitely do it. Don't count on your DH getting an "assistant" pass, though -- we haven't been able to get one in years, and we've asked. (Mostly flying out of LAX, also Cincinnati.)

Planning will be everything. Having to cart two carseats through Hartsfield is going to be a major PITA, there's no doubt. Is there any way you could use one of the flight harnesses (like this:

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

for your older DS on the plane, and then have your friend buy the least expensive carseat that's acceptable to use there? Just trying to brainstorm for you! Also, if you have an ipod, it's SO much easier to load movies/tv shows onto that than to carry a portable dvd player with all the dvds.

My final thought -- is flying direct a possibility? Since the trip isn't until late summer, I'd wait and haunt the airlines that fly direct (did you check Virgin American, Southwest and Jet Blue, too?) to see if they have sales. A direct flight makes a HUGE difference if you can swing it.

As a PP said, it's only one day. I promise, you'll make it!

-e

[ramama]

No worries!  Take a breath!  My DDs are 23 months apart and I've travelled on planes with them plenty of times alone.  First, don't let your kids know that you're stressed.  Wake up in the morning ready for a great fun adventure.  Make their favorite breakfast, keep them in a good mood.  Have new toys ready for the plane ride.  Or toys they haven't seen in a while, crayons, new coloring books, etc.  Bring some singles and rent one of those trolly things to tote the car seats around on the layover.  I've found that the longer the layover, the better, which is opposite of how I thought it would be.  An hour or two is the perfect length of time for them to run around like crazy people between flights and settle down again by the next flight, get something to eat without rushing, and use the bathrooms.  Ask to board the plane first so you can get the kids situated and put dibs on the few pillows and blankets they have on most flights.  You'll do fine!

[aussiemum]

You are not crazy, this is very do-able!  Sure, the flights may be challenging at times, but in this case the destination is worth the journey, iykwim.

I have never travelled with carseats, as it was not a priority for me to have my kids in carseats during the flight, but as this is important to you, it is very possible to make it happen.  I second the idea of having your older child walk beside the stroller & place one carseat in the spare stroller seat.  Also, if you can get your older child to pull his carseat along, this will be a big help.  As long as you don't have to change multiple terminals, one hour should be plenty of time to move between gates.  Make sure you can check all luggage through to your final destination.  And remember, if it's all going a bit haywire part way through your trip, don't be scared to rely on the (appropriate) help from kind strangers.  I have done multiple long-haul international flights on my own with the kids (starting when they were babies), & sometimes kind people really do help you through the tough parts.  Good luck, and enjoy your visit with your friend! :-)

[zacharysmom]

 ph be aware ATL is a VERY big airport i flew thru there with my 12 year old  and nearly panicked when i saw we had to change not only planes but also  gates  in the airport  we had just over 45 min and we had to run  to make it we only had a back pack each with us as well.my advice would be to ask the the airline for help i think it is called sky cap ( you may need to tip or maybe pay them ) were it me i would try to  look for connections in another airports if i had small kids  as ATL is really really, spread out. try charlotte i flew thru there and had a much better experiance