Any tips on a short flight with 1 and a half year old and 3 year 8 month year old ??

[tvqueeen]

Sorry to be so lame and specific about ages, it probably doesn't matter, but older DD will be 4 in Jan. Little DD is 18 months.

I have a flight coming up ( very short flight ).

Any tips ? Everyone is saying I shouldn't brave it alone with them, but I think I will manage somehow.

Has anyone else done this ?

I'm thinking about taking absolutely minimal hand luggage, plus a buggy that goes in the overhead compartment and a baby carrier for 18 month old in case I need it when I've collapsed the buggy, ready to go on the flight.

I'm also thinking of a buggy board for older DD, I have just ordered one ( so I need to see how big it is ).

The flight is less than an hour. Older DD gets a seat and little DD will be ok my lap.

Anything advice ?

I'm also considering putting warm jumpers on them and putting hats / scarves and jackets in the checked luggage to avoid lots of faff and stuff we don't really need.

I've done a few flights alone with DD and my biggest regret was that I just had too much stuff to carry. A couple of small toys should entertain them enough for the flight/ perhaps the iPad.

You’ll manage. Not worth investing in the buggy board. Don’t take the buggy on the plane as it will then count as hand luggage. It’s free and will be taken off you as you get to the plane. You will pick it up at baggage reclaim so you will need a carrier to walk there at the other end. Assume the older child will be ok to walk.

its not as bad as you think. Mine were fine flying when tiny it’s only as he’s got older that ds (now 8) has decided he hates flying

I think it will be a lot easier to put the buggy in the cabin.

from experience, I think the buggy in the airport on both sides is key to make the whole thing go smoothly. I don't care about it being extra hand luggage or whatever. It shouldn't be an issue anyway ( it wasn't before ).

Fair enough, I’m not sure why you’re asking for advice if you’ve previously nailed it though?

I've never taken two kids... on my own. It's completely different isn't it.

Also I never said I nailed it. I've had some experience at travelling with children and my main take away is light hand luggage and keep the buggy as long as possible..

Your plan sounds pretty good, except I'd loose the buggy board (can you even get a buggy board that will fold small enough for hard luggage?)

Also, one suitcase if you can. Juggling a pushchair plus a suitcase plus keeping tabs on a 4 year old is hard work. 2 cases makes it tripley hard.

I think you are over thinking it. The airport before the flight is likely to be the hardest part. I would try and fit in a meal at the airport if possible and then snacks on the plane. Bring colouring or tablet for the plane too. Its a short flight so by the time you are up it's nearly time to come back down again.
You've got this, you know you have.

Oh also, if you go into it thinking it will be awful, it probably will be! Try and think about the exciting bits for them.

I have taken 18 months and 6 year old, so bit different. I took little wrapped gifts that I gave out at intervals - they loved that. Also took and read favorite books.

Yes definitely one suitcase. I hadn't really thought about the bit where we drop off the suitcase and how I'll manage them both through that phase. It will depend if there's a long queue. Usually not so bad for this type of flight. But I could be unlucky. Ideally my H would stay with us for that bit, but I think it's unlikely and my kids would also get upset once they realised that he's not coming with us. Best case scenario would be someone dropping us off at the airport and helping with that stage. Taxi will also be tricky because of the lack of car seats situation. Ideally I would drive myself to the airport in my car. That would be the least stressful option.

I'll need to see whether I can do that..

If your buggy is one piece and fully collapsible, most airlines will tag it and allow you to keep it till the gate, then put it in the hold for you, so you don't need to use your hand luggage allowance for it.

I found the queueing for passport control, security, luggage etc more stressful than the actual flying bit. Some airlines have "family lanes" for some of those bits, but if they don't staff them right they're often slower than the regular queue!

Who are you flying with? Ryanair have always let you take the buggy to the steps, they put it in the hold, and then hand it back to you as you exit the plane.
I used to order the snack pack to keep DS occupied. He enjoyed fiddling with all the mini portions of cheese, biscuits etc and it took up most of the flight.
And it sounds obvious but use a rucksack as hand luggage; easier to carry.

I've done this too many times and been let down too many times at the door on the other side when I was told that I can collect the buggy with the other luggage. This has really caused huge issues for me and my family in the past, so I will absolutely not trust the airline to return it to me at the door. The only way I am doing it, is if I can have the buggy in the cabin and I have no issue if it counts as hand luggage or whatever. Never had a problem with that before. I tend to fly with the big airlines, rather than the budget ones and I was able to take the buggy plus a bag and no one charged me anything.

Out of say 10 flights we've taken with our kids, the actual buggy was returned at the door for half of them and the other half they didn't bother and it really messed things up for us. Especially when I was on my own with heavy hang luggage, no baby carrier and an 18 month old refusing to walk. That was fun. You live and you learn.

Backpack for your in flight things.... ideally one that can fit under the seat in front.

So if you've done this 10 times, and are set on what things will and won't work for you, why are you asking for tips?

I'm guessing you have a smaller stroller type pushchair?

I usually fly BA and the last few flights have been sufficiently busy that some passengers haven't been able to store their hand luggage in the overhead lockers and had to be put in the hold at the last minute. That would be my concern if you're relying on the buggy being stored in the cabin.

Another vote for no buggy, it's just a huge thing to carry at times and they'll be wanting to get out etc.

A carrier for the younger one. Hold hands with the older one. Pack hand luggage as light as you can, one small backpack. 4yo has a kid's backpack with snacks and toys.

It'll be very quick really.

Another time I came prepared with a buggy the correct size etc and for some Covid related reason the airline decided that they can't let me put the buggy in the cabin because it needed to be inside a bag. 🤦‍♀️

There was no info online about it in advance or anything. So they took the buggy from me at the gate and promised to return it. When I landed they said because of Covid they couldn't return it to the door...

I was not prepared for this. I think I had a baby carrier that time but my hand luggage was so heavy, it was exhausting to walk the three miles in the airport..

So I'm packing my hand luggage this time, in case they decide not to allow the buggy in the cabin. They could do that any time really ( if say they the flight is really full and no space in the overhead compartments ).

The risk is always there unfortunately. They'll then say they'll return it to the door, but form experience it's a 50/50 and I'll be really stuck if I have really heavy hand luggage and both kids.

Sounds like you're sorted really.

@SockQueen for gods sake. Can I not ask for advice anyway ?? Maybe there's something I've missed ???

I've also not travelled BY MYSELF with TWO children before. So it's completely different.

Sorry I have asked a question about something I have varied experience about and I'm sharing that. I just don't get why you need to be shitty just because I know some stuff about travelling and I'm also asking for advice ??

I think it will be really difficult to carry an 18 month old in a carrier for the entire journey ? She's quite heavy too and will want to get out the whole time. I feel like I would rather her be confined in the buggy for as much as possible? Have you done that yourself and was it ok ?

Don't worry too much, you'll be fine! I've found that when I travelling alone with my 2 children, staff and other passengers were all much more helpful and pleasant than when DH was around. I think people do recognise that it can be hard for a lone parent to handle 2 children alone and they are happy to help.

I would pack more diapers than you think you'd need, lots of snacks, and a change of clothes for your hand luggage.

Yes this could happen and is a concern. Hopefully I would manage if I have very light hand luggage and a baby carrier.

With two that age I would have:

• Pushchair (handed in as we board. I 100% disagree that getting two kids to stay sat in the seat without bothering others whilst you fold the buggy up and stow it is easier than just waiting till baggage reclaim)
• Big backpack (packed with passports, other documents, money, snacks, drinks bottles - filled after security, change of clothes for all 3 of you, iPads/devices, headphones, carrier, nappies and wipes)

And that's it. Zip up jackets rather than jumpers (easier to regulate temperature). And no buggy board. Keep the wintery bits at the top of your checked case so it's easy to grab once you need them.

If you decide to keep the pushchair with you onboard then you can always put the eldest in that and baby in the carrier if they're being a pain waiting at baggage reclaim. But they'll probably follow everyone off the plane and follow nicely through to baggage reclaim cause there's so many people walking in the same direction.