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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how to manage a baby and a toddler on flight?

36 replies

MumsKnitters · 04/11/2019 21:45

Sorry to ask on AIBU! I did ask on travel section first. My daughter is going to fly over from the States with a just turned 2 year old and a 3 month old. What is the best way to manage this with one pair of hands?We can't afford three seats, which would have helped a lot. It will be a 2 leg journey, so navigating an airport without another adult to help is also a factor. Should she have a car seat for the baby? A sling? A straitjacket for the toddler? Both are breastfed so will need access to her lap at some point in the flights She can't be the first to attempt this! Any tips?

OP posts:
Orangedaisy · 04/11/2019 21:48

Sling for baby, pushchair for toddler and an iPad with headphones for the toddler. Ask for help from kind looking people (no one can steal a baby at 36000 ft) and just try to relax into it. Plenty of spare clothes for everyone.

Original poster
MumsKnitters · 04/11/2019 21:58

Thanks Orangedaisy! She's managed some difficult journeys before, (heavily pregnant with vomiting bug & 17 month old) but seems to be really daunted this time - maybe due to the last time!

OP posts:
thegrumpallo · 04/11/2019 21:58

check and double-check with the airline about where the pushchair will be brought to once the flight has landed.

years ago i flew with my similiarly aged first two dds on my own and not having the pushchair by the door of the plane made everything ridiculously hard. trying to carry a baby and walk a tired toddler across an airport isn't funny at all. and strangers can be terribly unkind while travelling.

also make sure to get a bulkhead seat with a babybed. again- not all airlines are fastidious about making this happen for you.

BellatrixLestat · 04/11/2019 21:59

Double buggy that she can take to plane steps?

thegrumpallo · 04/11/2019 22:00

...and managing luggage too!

blue25 · 04/11/2019 22:01

She travelled with a vomiting bug??

I hope she’s sat next to a very tolerant person on the flight!

thegrumpallo · 04/11/2019 22:02

...posted too soon. managing luggage across an airport with the two will be a challenge - unless it's all checked through?

my double expensive double buggy was destroyed by the airline. crushed in the hold....😱

GrumpyHoonMain · 04/11/2019 22:02

Sling for the baby and request a travel cot for the flight so she can have free arms at some point. I would suggest that unless the flight is over 8 hours long not to breastfeed the toddler during the flight but to do it before and after, and focus breastfeeding on the baby. This will make it easier for the baby to cope with air pressure etc. Toddler can have lollipops to relieve ear pressure.

AllTheProsecco · 04/11/2019 22:04

We were able to take our pram on the plane as hand luggage - babyzen yoyo. Meant we could put our toddler in as soon as we got off the plane.

Eddie16 · 04/11/2019 22:07

I flew long haul with my dd when she was was 2,I made sure she was fed and changed before we got on the plane and that we had lots of snacks and drinks to keep her happy. I also found helpful if you can fit it in your hand luggage some small stuff from poundland like a stuffed toy, drawing stuff so crayons and small colouring books plus a fully charged iPad and headphones if she will wear them.
Open a new thing every hour or so and I found the flight attendants also helpful in getting on and off the plane.
Pushchair for toddler at the airport,you check the pushchair in but you can take it to the gate where you the fold it and it's the last thing on and first thing off. I reccomend a bag for the chair,look at genesis footmuff on facebook if you are uk based,fab service,reasonable prices and protects the chair in the hold! Sling for baby and check airline if you need a car seat or can the airline organise a sky cot for baby?
Feeding on take off and land help ears and make sure you have nappies and wipes in hand luggage plus a spare outfit incase of accidents. Good luck 👍🤞

Polly99 · 04/11/2019 22:08

The two year old needs the seat so the baby can’t sit in a car seat on the flight.
She needs to get a bulkhead seat and then the airline will provide a seat that straps to the table - thingy (technical term) on the plane.
For hand luggage she should take a backpack so her hands are free. Toddler on reins if need be or a buggy board. Baby in pushchair. Or book transport at the airport.
I’d have some small items wrapped in gift wrap for the plane- bring them out periodically for the 2 year old. Snacks like little boxes of raisins are good as they take little fingers a while to eat. iPad full of pingu.

If it’s a night flight she could try one of those plane pal things so the 2 year old can sleep.

Ask for help. I travelled to South Africa with a 1 year old years ago (I was pregnant as well) and virtually everyone was helpful. One man (travelling for business away from his own kids) even let DD use his arm as a pillow and have her his blanket.

Longdistance · 04/11/2019 22:10

I had a sling for dd2, buggy for dd1. iPads, magazines, books, snacks. Change of clothes, plenty of nappies. Night flight so both tired and sleeping.

Pilot12 · 04/11/2019 22:11

I've just traveled with a three year old and a four month old. Baby went in a sling (Ergo 360), three year old in his pushchair and I had all my changing stuff etc in a large backpack which I wore over the sling straps. When boarding I had the three year old in one hand and his trunkie in the other!

Original poster
MumsKnitters · 04/11/2019 22:14

Luckily she sat next to a lovely person who was really helpful! She was already in the air before she started to feel sick, so it was unavoidable.

Last time her buggy went missing on the first leg, and she really struggled around the connecting airport. I have bought her some reins to have in her bag just in case, ans suggested she pack as light as she can for hand luggage.

I'll ask about a bulkhead seat with babybed. i didn't know that was a thing Grumpallo Good tip! She doesn't have a double buggy yet, as she lives in the mountains where everyone drives everywhere.

OP posts:
FenellaMaxwell · 04/11/2019 22:18

Babyzen yo-yo for the toddler, sling for the baby. ALL THE SNACKS for the toddler, and remember to put things like calpol in the hand luggage.
Request the bassinet seat so there’s somewhere to put the baby.

CameraTime · 04/11/2019 22:18

It used to be possible to pay a bit extra to have someone meet you off the plane and escort you to your next flight. Could she look into that? I'm not sure whether it still exists.

She should also make the cabin crew aware that she could use some help, and try to sit next to kind-looking people (suss them out in the departure lounge).

Someone I knew put a post on Facebook or somewhere saying their elderly parent was going on a flight from x to y on z date, and would anyone happen to be going on the same flight and could give them a hand. Someone volunteered, and they arranged to meet at the airport for "handover". It's far-fetched, but could she try something like that?

If all else fails, when she's given the option of sitting together or not sitting together, she should pick "not".

thegrumpallo · 04/11/2019 22:22

i think the correct term is skycot, as someone said.

Original poster
MumsKnitters · 04/11/2019 22:24

Wow! Loads of great ideas - thanks everyone! I take heed of what might happen with a brand new double buggy - I think a cheap stroller is the way to go. Unfortunately, the luggage wasn't checked through last time. We're enquire before choosing the tickets this time.

I'll get her to read through the thread.

OP posts:
ChipsAreLife · 04/11/2019 22:27

I would get a pushchair that goes in the overhead like a baby zen but there are cheaper ones around. Think I've been on one flight where you get the pram as you get off the plane, rest of the time it's at baggage.

Baby in a sling!

Air stewards are really helpful and will assist if she needs the loo etc.

Original poster
MumsKnitters · 04/11/2019 22:27

My favourite so far - don't sit together! loving that CameraTime!

OP posts:
ChipsAreLife · 04/11/2019 22:28

Oh and also pack spare clothes for them all. My baby was very sick all over me on a plane and I had to sit in it for four hours.

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 04/11/2019 22:33

Depending on the airline/cabin crew she may have a tricky moment when wanting to use the loo. There's usually only two masks in them so she may be prevented from going in with both children. This happened to me and I was furious as I'd only just managed to get the baby to sleep in the sling, and then couldn't take him in with me when the big one needed the toilet. he screamed. A lot

CrotchetyQuaver · 04/11/2019 22:40

If you can get a backpack thing for the baby to go in which she is able to take on the plane (not taken into the hold) that is an enormous help. It will leave her with both hands free. Remember you've paid for 2 seats so she can still take hand luggage on from the other seat. Full of clothes and nappies And the Kitchen sink for the journey. She's very brave, a solo trip to Spain with 2 tots aged 10 and 23 months was stressful enough for me! You could also give the older child a little back pack for their favourite bits for the journey.

Sashkin · 04/11/2019 22:52

Definitely get a seat with a bassinet/sky cot - she might have to phone up the airline to request it but it will be free.

Sling for the baby, I put DS in the sling in airports and he’s nearly 3! It’s just so much easier to have your hands free and be able to walk at normal speed instead of toddler speed! Stops them running off as well.

Then just snacks, books, iPad with some Peppa or whatever already downloaded (you won’t have WiFi on the flight, toddler is too young to watch a whole film on the plane). Snacks for when your toddler doesn’t want the plane food. Change of clothes definitely. Mini inflatable travel pillow if your toddler is likely to sleep. Take everyone on toilet trips - it keeps them out of mischief and gives them a chance to stretch their legs.

Marmighty · 04/11/2019 22:55

Another reminder for her to take spare clothes for herself on the flight, as well as for the kids, I had a horrible experience with baby poo on the flight a few years ago. Most us-uk flights are overnight, which might make the whole thing easier although she wouldn't get much sleep as she'd have to hold the baby. Take a couple of cheap pillows for the toddler and to lay the baby on across her knees.