Travelling long haul with 3.5 yr old and 7 month old...any tips?

[elsieG]

I'm travelling to US with our two daughters on my own (may be slightly crazy). Hubby is travelling out later to meet us. Any tips on dealing with security/airport/flight etc with the two of them? It's a night flight so I'm hoping they will actually sleep but am probably more worried about lugging 2 children and hand luggage/buggy etc through the airport!

Any tips much appreciated!

Where are you flying from/to (I ask that as facilities at airports can vary a great deal and at T5 Heathrow some pax do get on a bus to their plane) and what airline is it?.

Have you got bulkhead seats?.

What time does the flight depart, I only ask that as many flights to the US leave during the day itself. They may not sleep or if they do only for part of the flight.

Portable DVD player is good for eldest along with a book (also do not take tiny things that can get dropped or lost too easily) and a fave soft toy to cuddle.

Do not rely on the airline to fully provide re food/snacks for children; bring along foodstuffs that they would like to eat.

We're flying BA to Boston so I guess it will be T5. Still sorting out the seating but it should be bulkhead and I'm hoping some kind of cot for the little one. The flight is well into the evening. We did do London-NYC with our eldest when she was 18 months but there were two of us and only one of her and now the ratio is the other way around!
Portable DVD player sounds quite a good idea.

Would contact BA about the cot and the bulkhead seating asap.

T5 is one terminal where many pax also get bussed out to their planes; I would prepare for that particular eventuality so if you have a buggy make sure you can unfold/fold it quickly with one hand. Hopefully your plane will depart from T5B instead (which is where the train takes you across to the other terminal).

Portable DVD player with rechargeable batteries may well prove to be a godsend; the childrens programming on such flights can be a bit limited.

Again don't rely on BA to fully provide re food for the children; bring along some things for you and they that will be enjoyable to eat.

Giraffe cafe at T5 is child friendly and there is also an Eat, Pret A Manger and Boots there. If you want to take formula phone Boots and ask them to put it aside for you in advance of travel.

As you are travelling with a baby you should be able to log onto BA.com and book your bulkhead seat now. They go very quickly so I would do it sooner rather than later.

If you don't manage to book a bulkhead then try and book the row of 4 across the middle. If there are spare seats on the flight you will hopefully then get a row to yourself. The crew are normally very good at identifying that you need extra room.

You can look up the kids programmes online in advance here..

www.britishairways.com/travel/entertainhighlights/public/en_gb

On that flight you will be served a hot meal about an hour or so after take off. You can request a childs meal for your 3.5yr old - this is normally something like chicken nuggets and mash!! I would say to take some snacks with you too.

Oh and if you have a small stroller ask the crew if you could possibly put it in one of the wardrobes as you are travelling by yourself.

Good luck and enjoy your trip to Boston. I love it there. :)

ps meant to say... if you pre order the childs meal it will be served before yours so will be easier to manage.

If it's a night flight try to feed them at the airport so you're not waiting for food for them to be delivered by the crew & they're not getting tired & hungry waiting. Try to wear them out at the airport, let them run off steam & you could try to stay at the gate for as long as poss so you aren't cooped up on the plane for longer than necessary. Try to keep the youngest awake as much as poss (but don't get her over tired!)

Get them into pj's asap (depending on flight time) so either as soon as you get on the plane or maybe easier to do it before you board with 2 of them & see if you can get them to sleep asap. Tell the eldest she can be a 'big girl' & stay up a bit later than her sister & watch tv/dvd while you settle the baby & take a sealabe cup so she can get some milk or just drink in general. Even give them some calpol to make them sleepy (take sachets so they don't confiscate them).

If your 3.5 year old isn't in nappies, consider putting her in 1 (pull up even) cos nothing worse than little one who needs loo when there's turbulence & might make it easier for you than having to go to loo with her when you have another to look after (although I'm sure the crew would help out)

Can you get/borrow a trunki for the 3.5 year old. They are good & she can zoom around on it herself & occupy her if getting bored at the airport & in the queues. If you go for the trunki it can have all her stuff in & be her big girl hand luggage.

Have you thought about a sling/carrier for the baby? Might be easier than having to manoevre hand luggage/buggy/3.5 year old or if you did still take the buggy, you could always have baby in sling & 3.5 year old in buggy around the airport or to/from plane if she's tired or you need to get somewhere fast. If you don't use a sling & just take a buggy you should be able to stick some luggage on the buggy to carry & you could always try to get a rucksack for your hand lugagge to make it easier to carry.

DVD player great idea (or laptop) with fave dvds. Take plenty new stuff to keep occupied (if they decide not to sleep!). Stickers are great, small books, colouring stuff, fave teddy, some cheap stuff from asda, pound shop so if it goes missing it doesn't matter. Take plenty snacks & spare bottles for baby & take more milk (& nappies) than you think you need (& baby food in pouches are good)

If they have smallish pillows or blankets take them.

Make sure you have a change of clothes or 2 for the kids & at least a spare tshirt or something for you. Also crocs are good for the eldest if she needs the loo during the flight, easier to get on/off than shoes for the lovely aircraft loos . Ziplock bags are good to put smelly/dirty clothes in.

Don't be frightened to ask the crew or even pleasant passengers for help during the flight.

Blimey, sorry for the essay!
Think night flights are easier, the noise seems to soothe them. Have fun!

Blimey! Thank you all for your tips, they are so useful. I've booked our seating and we've got bulkhead seats so at least we will have a bit more room and the possibility of a cot attached to the bulkhead for my youngest.

I hadn't actually thought of DD1 needing the loo when the seatbelt signs are on but had planned to put a nappy on her to sleep. Definitely think a baby carrier/sling is a must as it least it gives me two hands free.

For you eldest you may want to get some kids headphones. I have these JVC ones here for my DS who was 2.5 when we last travelled to Australia - they were brilliant don't slip off like airline ones and are also sound limiting so can't turn volume right up. Also when he was asleep I used them as very comfy - in fact may buy some for myself for the next flight. You can then use them with your DVD (which I would also recommend) or the inlight tvs although may only get sound in one ear as they have those 3 pronged headphones.

I mean the airlines usually have 2 or 3 pronged headphones - these are 1 but they definitely still work. Really can't recommend them enough! And good luck.