To take a 1.5 hour flight alone with a toddler and 5 month old?

[farmertom]

Considering going it alone and taking a short flight to see parents with toddler and baby.

Terrible idea?

Has anyone done this and managed ok?
Any tips?

do they let you travel alone with 2 infants under 2? You'd need to check with the airline

sorry you didn't specify the toddler age, did you? What age are they?

At only 1.5h is probably risk it.

How many seats would you have, and would you have a car seat for take off/landing? I was travelling once and a lady had a little baby and a 2/3 year old. The three year old utterly refused to sit - the plane had to abort landing and circle! In the end someone else took the baby so she could physically hold the toddler in his seat. So for me it's less about the length of flight and more about how you ensure you can control/secure both children for take off, landing, turbulence etc.

By the time you’re on the plane, it will be over. Go and enjoy.

I've flown a few times solo with my now 3 & 5 yr old, and it's always been fine. Think the first time we flew alone they were 1.5 and 3, and it was okay, I was anxious though! I found the airport the most stressful part as they were both walking and I needed eyes I'm the back of my head trying to keep an eye on them/luggage/buggy (the younger one was refusing to sit in!) I'd say take a good baby carrier as that will make the airport experience so much easier. Or if toddler will accept a buggy board, last time I went managed to bribe younger one into buggy, had suitcase laid down on buggy board, and eldest sat on top of case! (couldn't fall off, as buggy handle worked as a "belt" 😅) this worked beautifully as everything was there, infront of me, and no chance of escape for either of them! I've always found everyone is very eager and happy to help solo travellers with kids, unsure what it's like in the current climate, but due to fly in a few weeks solo again so can let you know. Take colouring/sticker books for toddler for the plane, and you should be fine. 1.5 hours will fly by 😁, baby will most likely sleep if they're the type to fall asleep in the car as the plane creates a similar movement for them. Oh also, my toddler once spent an entire 2.5 he plane journey "cleaning" the tray and her toys with wet wipes... It's the simple things!?

Go for it! You'll never know if you don't try. Even if it's awful it's a couple of hours of your life and you'll know to wait until they're older next time. If it's great you'll be able to do it more often

i did it with mine, 13 month gap, eldest was not quite 2 when we went. another woman was doing it, clearly a seasoned traveller and she had a buggy for the older one that she kept right up to boarding plus a backpack for the little one that she wore onto the plane. so the baby was sorted whilst she held the toddlers hand. the worst bit with 2 little ones is at the other end when there's no pushchair and a long walk from the aircraft to baggage reclaim. having a backpack makes it so much easier. oh and she travelled very light, no massive baby bags or anything. a toddler backpack and her pockets basically. i was in awe, she made it look effortless. that was a 2 3/4 hour flight

I’ve travelled 24 hours alone bough ways with a 7 week old and 2.5year old. It’s hard but fine. I wouldn’t even question getting on a 1.5hour flight-it’s nothing.

I've done it lots and with more than 2. It's fine.

Thanks everyone this is really building my confidence up!
Toddler is 2.5 and will have his own seat. I'd bring a stroller for him and carrier/sling for baby.

Oh and no car seats to bring on.

Oh yes, I’ve done it lots of times, starting from when my youngest was very, very tiny. It’s absolutely fine, but you have to be organised.

If you take a buggy through the airport you need to ensure that 1)you haven’t filled it full of stuff that you then have to remove at the gate and 2) that you don’t have anything else in your hands at the gate except a walking child’s hand and the folded pushchair.

Most airports are stairs down to the tar Mac so you won’t be able to push the pushchair right out to the plane.

You will need a sling/carrier for the baby.

You need to have the toddler well schooled in advance that they must sit down with the seat belt on. Practice this and tell them plenty of times in the lead up.

Put the toddler by the window 1)so they can’t escape and 2) so they can try and find your house and wave to daddy (or whoever) as you go up.

Have some toys/stickers whatever. Don’t take them all out at one time. It’s worth packing additional stuff in case of a delay. We have a fold up black board from Crayola I think as well as a travel aqua doodle thingy. Good for the actual airport.

On the plane, have a small bag (I used to use the small M&S bags for life, the little teeny one), with snacks, wipes and a nappy for each, so it’s immediately to hand. Keep it down the side of your seat. Don’t put anything on the floor, you won’t be able to reach it.

Have a nappy bag or two to hand for rubbish. (Wipes, snack wrappers etc, it’s easier than chasing it all down)

Use bulldog clips to clip pages to the table for colouring.

Make sure both babies have had a change of nappies immediately before the flight, and you do a pee.

Have a small change of clothes for everyone (you too).

Know where absolutely everything is in your bag. It really makes things easier.

At the airport, if you have a push chair, it will have to be separately screened. Your toddler will also have to be separately screened. Prepare them for this...!

Oh also at the airport, take a zipped hoody or whatever with preferably zippable pockets, for you to put your watch,coins, phone, whatever else in for going through security so they aren’t floating around the bottom of the container.

Ask the person at security not to put your stuff through until you are ready. I’ve had a few times where the iPad is through and I’m not, and it’s too much to worry about.

People are generally helpful. If someone offers accept it!

My only thought would be in a coronavirus climate, will cabin crew or helpful other passengers not be able to hold one while you deal with the other?

I’d say with baby in a sling they’ll be no issue which then just means you have one toddler to keep an eye on, that sounds ok to me.

Mine are two years apart and I’ve done it at least once a year since they were born, like you to visit family. Similar flight length too. It’ll be fine!

I pay to book seats and always choose the back row as you’re near the loos and flight attendants on our airline - that’s worth looking at!

Now they’re older, they’re so confident and blasé about flying having grown up with it. I’d say absolutely go for it!

Oh also, I take a backpack (with all the stuff) and a very small cross body bag. In the small bag I have some change, my debit card and the passports and phone. Nothing else.

It means all the essentials are immediately to hand and safe.

Depends on your toddler ime. Mine was fine, but dn was always on the go and was no more capable of sitting still with stickers/colouring/anything for 1.5 hours than he would have been flying to the moon.

Thank you much @Luckystar1 these are amazing tips! I am now thinking I will just book, it's last minute and for tomorrow though 😱

You’ll be fine! Get it booked, and then do a quick dash into town for some bits and you’ll be good to go! Have a great time!

Thank you 😃 thanks everyone! Have booked and we are leaving tomorrow. Very excited and nervous 😃😱
Re reading the thread

I've done it, make sure the toddler has a seat. People are very helpful when you travel like this I;ve found! lots of snacks and magazines, sticker books etc for the plane and you'll be fine.

I imagine you will have thought of this, but have you got passports for both kids? Also, if they're not traveling with both parents and you're going abroad, you might need written confirmation that their dad gives permission for you to take them. I've never been asked in the UK, but the border officials in my home country ask without fail.

I've done it with a 5 month old and that was quite easy, I'd be a little more nervous about the toddler but at 2.5 they're hopefully old enough to be bribed with an ipad or sweets if needed! Go for it, hope it goes well!

Exhaust the toddler before you get on the plane, running games in a quiet part of the gate area. ”can you run and touch that window and then come back and kiss mummy” etc

Take some extra baggies for rubbish/sticky clothes/vomit

Lots of wipes

Tell your toddler about the zoom and woosh at take off and the big bump when you land so that it isnt scary

Take gummy sweeties or a lollipop on a stick (whatever he can safely suck/chew on for a while and take it out when you start to taxi and give it to him when you line up for takeoff. The chewing/sucking helps the ears. Dont forget to take enough for both flights and takeoff and landing

Feed the baby at take off and landing

If you have reins, take them for the toddler and make him walk as much as possible with a buggy for backup

Lots of wipes 😬