Travelling alone with 2 toddlers and a baby

[cfh2287]

I'm flying from Stanstead later this week with my 3 children aged 8 months, 2 and 3. Any and all tips gratefully received! With all the news about how bad things are at airports how far in advance should I arrive at the airport? I'm not checking anything in and have booked meet n greet car parking. I don't want to get there so early I've got hours where I have to contain the kids before we get on the plane but then don't wanna be stressed and running through the airport trying to make the flight!

How are you going to go to the toilet? Also, having recently flown after a year of no flying, the walks in the airport are very long for a 3 year old. I would say, buggy for 2 and 3 yo, sling for the baby, and only a backpack, no suitcase. You will need two hands to hold your two children's hands, and a baby in the sling. Consider adult nappy (?) as you won't be able to use airplane toilet and you won't be able to leave your children unsupervised.

Thank you @Queenie6655 for your positive words! You're right , I can do it and it will be fine and that glass of wine when I get there will have never tasted so good. Thanks for all the advice, I am going to get there early, go through and find a corner to sit in with the kids/have lunch until we board. Also interesting to know airports are busiest around 6am, I would not have guessed that. My flight is at 1pm so hoping it won't be too bad.

I'm pretty sure my suitcase will fit under the buggy too and planning on only relinquishing the buggy when I have to get on the plane. Will then chuck the baby in the sling, the 3 and 2 yeard old can walk onto the plane while I carry the small suitcase, baby and rucksack. Fingers crossed I'll get buggy back when we land rather than it coming through baggage reclaim. Sorted!

I take all mine into the disabled toilet if it is free and always nip in and out as quick as I can

I know it is not ideal but what are you supposed to do

I always had kind strangers come and help also (even just holding a bag or putting pram together)

You can do it

Yes 6am appears to be super busy for most airports (had a 2am wake up today to get my flight in time)

Very best of luck xxxxx

Hahah @microbius I hope you are joking on the adult nappy?! I'll just go to the bathroom in the airport then I'll be fine until we get there. I've flown with two of them before and just asked the flight crew to watch them while I went to to the toilet. The 3 year old is almost 4 and never goes in the buggy at home and we live in London so walk everywhere. I think she will be fine in the airport and if not she can perch on top of the handlebar of the buggy which I've done before (it's a mountain buggy duet). Anything I've forgotten?!

You’ll be great! Sling/lots of things to keep then occupied and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Have an amazing time. ❤️

Some of the gates at stansted requires quite a bit of walking to get to. I regularly travelled with my dc and dc couldn't manage the walk to some of the gates until they were 5- we always used a trunkie. Give yourself lots of time to walk to gate and try and get help from members of the public. There's usually a few flights of stairs to get down to the plane so tricky for little ones (with everyone else bouncing down with bags). Good luck!

:D I actually wasn't joking. You are a brave woman. I have a 3 yo, nearly 4, and I know she'd request to be carried on long transfer. Also having flown with her at 8 months, 2 years, etc, can't imagine doing it with three alone. So I was trying to think out of the box, i.e. I used adult nappy when going to the hospital to give birth in case waters broke on the way. I just got terrified by your post but I also know women can amazingly do all sorts of stuff and I am sure you'll manage

Just be prepared for the buggy to come through baggage reclaim, we've just got back from France flying from Ibiza and both ways it was on the luggage reclaim.

thank you @microbius !! I am a bit nervous but I'm used to being on my own with the 3 of them and navigating London so hopefully that's given me some good practise. I'm going to get there 3 hours early!

@Daisy95 if that happens I think I will probably cry!

I echo a pp's suggestion to get to the gate as soon as you know which one it is, or even if you have an inkling. They tend to be big empty spaces with plenty of spare seats until just before the flight time. Just make sure you've got plenty of food with you in case you're delayed.

At 3 years old my DD started carrying her own rucksack for things like this so you could give her the 'important job' of carrying the entertainment (paper, crayons, a small building toy) and sandwiches for all of you.

Regarding going to the toilet, pretty much every adult I know would be happy to hold a baby for five minutes so that a mum traveling alone could go to the loo!

Take a sling for airport after you relinquish the buggy. This will leave your hands free for if you have to walk up steps to plane.

At security, U used to send my eldest through, then younger one then me. I didn't fly through Stansted but the Gatwick security guards helped me by making sure they didn't wander off (they were 2&4 when I started).

People are nice. Honestly, I had so many offers of help with bags while I got the kids sorted.

I travelled a lot when mine were little. Top tips from me.

Write your mobile number on the childrens arms in marker and tell them to “find a mummy” if they get lost and show their arm.
Dress them in the same outfit in bright colours, if they’ll wear it but matching hats. This makes them easier to see in a crowd.
Small snacks in your pockets plus dummy or lollipops for takeoff/landing.
Ask someone to watch them while you are in the loo/nappy changing (try not to on the plane it’s ridiculous.
Small entertainments (stickers/sock puppet/sunglasses are good, don’t get stuff which you have to keep picking up)
Clear packet for passports/boarding passes either round your neck or somewhere very accessible.
Beware the child that canters ahead in the plane when you first get on. People let them by but not you and they can dodge back down the other way at the toilets.
Take a clean T-shirt and a large scarf and perfume. 🤣

Honestly it’s easy

Good luck!! Def ask for help, god what I'd give to hold a baby on my lap for an hour again!

I had that once, no pushchair at the plane when landing, it was supposed to be there as I couldn't physically carry DS. The passport hall was full and a queue out the back and thankfully an airport member of staff saw me crying and whipped us past the entire passport hall to the front. 😳

dublin airport had a really poorly signposted family queue for security- I'd definitely ask when you get to the airport. Bring loads of snacks for the plane. Personally I wouldn't want to be on the plane too early because the 2 year old might want to explore. I'd aim to start with baby in the sling so you do all the queueing with the 3 year old in the buggy. Get the kids little back packs for their drinks/snacks. Pack your bags for security- so I put all the liquids together and all the books together etc and then redistribute to the correct bags at the gate. Get those EXTORTIONATE cebeebies magazines, every child I know is obsessed with them and the rubbish that comes with them.

I'd also consider a trunki- it's happened more times than I can count that the buggy's go to the baggage claim so plan as if you don't have it. Would you manage carrying the 2 year old as well as pulling the pully bag? Also I'd be all over the kids behaviour on the plane- really obvious parenting because the only times I've ever been offered help is when I've got my shit together- if someone could take the wheels bag or rucksack if you've no buggy I'd take that offer.

I would check in the bag tbh, you will likely need to get pushchair off luggage carousel anyhow the other end.

stanstead - I think it’s a shuttle to gate, allow extra time for that.

I just flew solo with an 8mo and 2yo and would definitely second PP’s advice to check in your wheelie suitcase - the less stuff you have to wrangle through security and onto the plane the better! We also didn’t get our buggy back until the luggage carousel.
Pack more snacks than you think you’ll need, wear something with an elasticated waist so you’re not fiddling with your flies one-handed while holding the baby in an airplane loo, and get the toddlers excited about helping you on a big adventure. Good luck!

I would have a plan in case you don't get your buggy back as you get off the plane and have a long walk to baggage reclaim. Your 2 and 3 year olds may refuse to walk, especially if you've been delayed and they're tired and fed up. Presumably, it's going to be difficult to carry them, the baby and the case. As a fellow passenger though, I would volunteer my DH to carry one of your little ones in that case, so it may be that other passengers will help out if they see you struggling.

Also, you'd be better checking your bag and taking a little wheelie case for your older two to share pulling. We've found when travelling that having his own little wheelie case to pull along really motivates our DC for the long walks through the airport.

I've already paid to bring the small suitcase on board. I thought if I checked it in I would need to be at the airport even earlier to join another queue to check in my bag plus wait at the other end for it to come out. I'm not sure if I can change it now. No, I won't be able to carry all 3 kids plus wheel suitcase but in that eventuality someone will just HAVE to help me otherwise I won't be able to leave the airport! I've just done the online check-in and now Im looking forward to the adventure.

IT's not a "disabled" toilet its an accessible toilet meant for people who have difficulties accessing the other toilets. A person with a double buggy plus another child comes under that heading.
Plus they often have the changing table anyway

I used to fly frequently with my oldest 2 when they were very little (from Stansted). There is a family lane, ask when you get there.

As to the double buggy. Are you ok with it being flung onto the plane? Without a bag? If so, then my tips for bringing a buggy are: do not pack anything loose in it. Everything will have to be taken out at security (including rain covers, toys, seat insert things), so make sure that anything in or on the buggy is very easily removable.

Remember, you will have to fold the pushchair at some stage yourself with the children ‘loose’, so use any moment when they are sufficiently distracted to do this.

Carry a small bum bag/cross body bag with: phone, passports, some loose change and your bank card. It saves any faffing for these things at the airport.

At security, everyone will have to be out of prams/slings. Have your liquids out, don’t wear anything with a belt, pack watches or anything you are removing into a jacket packet so it’s not floating loosely in the little basket thing.

You can get a small roll up chalk board (I think it’s crayola) I used to pack it in my bag for the airport.

All nappies changed before the plane.

On the plane, I would have a small bag (I used to use the smallest M&S bag for life), that I kept on my seat with a spare nappy, wipes, and zip lock bags.

Each child had their own ziplock bag with snacks and a smaller bag inside it for rubbish. This bag would be bull dog clipped to the table to easily deal with rubbish.

I never used tablets or iPads. They are more hassle than they are worth with taking them off for take off and landing. Stickers, books, games were better. Constant engagement is required and it’s tiring!

It’s also worth noting that, we have found cabin crew much more hands off since covid. When we fly in Sept, my husband got shouted at for walking our baby up and down the aisle and I got shouted at for queuing to bring the middle child to the toilet.

Also, husband recently flew from Stansted, he said it was very busy with big queues for eateries, donuts worth bearing that in mind too.

Best of luck!

Good luck OP. I think you are marvellously brave - I think we managed to take an entire 15kg suitcase for our single DS 😂 one carry on between 4 of you is epic! Just to echo PPs, check the buggy situation. The 2 times ive flown with DS we haven’t got it back until checked baggage reclaim. But I would definitely be volunteering myself or DH to carry one of your DC - I’m sure lots of other passengers would too. Have the best trip!