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?

myother something similar has already been commercialised

I looked but couldn't see anything addicted - that's a wee bit more sophisticated than my suggestion - bet mine could be done cheaper :)

For the can't walk, won't walk or bolter toddler neither a Hippy Chick or a Trunki are any good. They both require some degree of cooperation. Reins are good for restraint but won't get them up steps.
I will say that for the toddler we take less and less every time we travel - because we end up not using a lot of stuff. We could just take the iPad, raisins and spare pants/top in case of accident or throwing up I think.

It can be a nightmare, and all those people saying it isn't are wasting their breath on people who KNOW it can be awful.

I agree with want, the airports just haven't thought it through. On, for example, transatlantic flights, most parents I know would gladly pick the most child-friendly airport between Gatwick and Heathrow, irrespective of where they are ultimately headed in/around Europe. It's not just this tiny bit of the journey, you see. It's the possible flight delay, a long haul journey, possible lack of sleep, in Economy terrible cramped conditions for hours on end, the knowledge of a long wait at immigration, possible long wait for luggage, poor communication at arrivals with whoever is collecting you as not everybody has mobiles which work everywhere.... I mean, it can all go smoothly and when it does it's a doddle (I always wonder why I don't do it more often!). But when it's bad it can be searingly bad. Just hellish.

Airports can and should do more to help people who struggle. It's not a cost issue: most people would pay $5 to rent a stroller or cart at the gate if they could. It's just not thinking it through, and parents not kicking up enough of a fuss. Mostly this is because it's really only between the ages of 2 and 4 that's it's really bad; any younger you can carry, and older they are more amenable to cooperating. But those two years can be nightmarish.

I never flew Easyjet etc with a toddler, but did cram about 8 longhaul flights in when DD was 15 months. I bought A LOT of kit. She loved her LittleLife backpack/reins (put toys and sweets in the backpack), I loved my Hippychick hipseat. I sourced an unusual pushchair called "Take-off by ABC Designs" (it folded down to the size of a pilot bag so I could pop it in overhead luggage on nearly all the flights- they might still be selling them on eBay/Gumtree).

Continuing with the gadget theme, I used to drag DD to nursery on a Microscooter They even have them with seats now www.micro-scooters.co.uk/scooters-model-3-in-1-seat-ages-1-3.html

I reckon could get through an airport if you kept it tethered?

Book special assistance for you and the kids. You do not have to prove you have any particular disability you just specify the areas you need help with - in your case just need assistance with getting through airport to baggage reclaim. You can specify you don't need a wheelchair you will then all ride on the buggy.

Ignore sniffy comments about you being able bodied. It is about you needing assistance in the airport not about disability. It is free and no-one will give you a hard time as it is obviously difficult carrying small children on the link hike to baggage

By the way don't rely on "hitching a lift" on a buggy. They provide enough buggies to seat those on the plane who have requested special assistance. There are only rarely spare seats.

Just request the special assistance! It is for people who need help on the long hike through the airport. Don't be a martyr especially if heavily pregnant.

I'll say it again, it is NOT just for the registered disabled!