that long walk to passport control with a toddler and no pushchair

[bettya]

Is it just me or is that walk from the plane to passport control with a toddler becoming more difficult. When she was tiny it was fine I could pick her up for the walk but now its getting almost impossible to pick her up and walk for more than a minute. Anybody else have the same problem and how do you cope? is there any way to get them to bring the pushchair to the plane door?

Gatwick had free pushchairs but people kept stealing them - we didn't see any the other week when we landed.

DH carried DD but I agree, she is getting heavy. A sling you can back carry with might be an option, prob worth it if you fly fairly often. Otherwise I find it much easier carrying her on my shoulders than on my hip (obviously holding both her legs and a hand in case she flings herself backwards!)

I used to just wander along at toddler pace.

Yep nightmare. I will never forget the half hour walk from plane to baggage reclaim with a 10 kg baby, a sick toddler and some carry on bags on my own. I hate Gatwick for that memory. It's as if children and parents' needs are utterly irrelevant to them. But let's definitely have lots more outlets selling novelty chupa chups dispensers and crap makeup selection boxes.

Must depend on the airline/airport then.
When we have dropped the pushchair off at the plane door, as often as not, we have got it back at the plane door.

We have also had a sling (approaching 2), and now either carry (4 and 6), or go slow.

We had a maclaren quest and always asked if they had space on board for it. They often did (business class coat cupboard generally) so always worth asking. I found the ba staff more helpful when flying back to heathrow because they knew the buggy would be waiting with the bags!

Not all airports will deliver pushchairs to the plane and you have to get them at baggage reclaim

That's why it's best to get them in the cabin rather than the hold

It's never that far!

Passports in back pocket so they are easily accessible, toddlers either on reins, carried or a slooooow walk.

Mine is fairly easy to wrangle, but she either walks or goes on my shoulders.

Trunki!

They can have it as their carry on item and they can ride on it through the airport. Also let my DD choose her own toys to bring -whatever she wants but only if they'll go in her Trunki. So our case doesn't get overrun with them!

Well at least I know it's not just me. Addictedtosugar do you remember the airline and where your were flying?

Unless there is some additional issue I can't imagine why you'd need to take up space on the plane with your buggy.

Having landed at the furthest possible gate at both heathrow and Frankfurt I can tell you it can be a long way!! It was fine when we had one with two adults but once our second came along it was a nightmare at times!

Luckily it is a short phase and by the time they are three they were walking no problem.

Worst was landing late at gatwick with an incredibly grumpy 6 yo who just wanted to sleep and a 2yo refusing to walk. Took us ages to get out!

Unless the flight is rammed there is normally space for a small buggy

I considered the trunki but we tried a friends one and she just didn't take to it. It may have been to do with the fact that she nearly fell off backwards a couple of times as we first started off. My bad.

I've seen toddlers on these little ride along toys being pulled. Not sure if you're actually allowed them on the plane. (Toys not toddlers!)

I have tried getting them to let me take my pushchair on board but never had any luck. Do you request at checkin or the cabin crew?

I would say a trunki is worth trying again. We flew a lot with dd when she was pushchair age I never once got the buggy back at the plane door.

We normally leave the pushchair at the plane door when we fly and they promise it will be waiting for us when we disembark but it never is. We always get it at baggage reclaim

The alternative is to take a sling like an Ergo abd put toddler on your back.

But mine used to just toddle along quite the thing. Glad to be moving after stuck on plane

I fly a lot and I think I've had the buggy back at the plane door once.

I just rationalise big time so that I don't have lots of stuff to carry eg coats and bits and bobs. One bag and a toddler is doable, lots of tat plus coats, hats, scarves whatever isn't.

Or even a hippychick hip seat if the sling doesn't appeal?

It can certainly seem a long way. I'm way past that stage but can certainly recall walking heavily pregnant and constant nausea with an almost two year old who was delirious with excitement about seeing his grandparents. I brought riens but he just ran around and around me laughig hysterically. Half way there I wanted to lie o the floor crying.

when the then bump was of that age trunkies arrived on the scene. Much easier!!!

YANBU. The walk from aircraft to baggage reclaim, via passport control, is long even for people not carrying children. It is a very long way when trying to steer a toddler.