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!

I have a number of health issues, if I saw a mum with three small children I'd have my radar key in my hand and wish you good luck.

I would call the airport /airline and see if there is assistance available, rom their point of view it is probably easier for you to travel on a buggy rather than struggle through the airport.

I'll take their birth certificates with me then. Ryanair have said they are unable to offer special assistance as it is for people with mobility problems which I do understand.

You sound awesome, op, good luck!!
I’m sure if you can get about London on and off buses or tubes then the airport will be a cinch.
I third? Fourth? The recommendation of reins for the 2 year old.
re security id try go through yourself first with baby then call them to you. Maybe less likely to run off that way.

You should take a letter from their father giving his permission, signed by him with his passport details and a contact number - why aren't you doing that? A BC only proves who their parents are. It doesn't prove the other parent has permission.

Could a friend of partner wait with you at the airport until boarding? Sounds impossible to me

My tip for travel with this age group is dental floss. Presuming the airport don't think you're going to use it as a garotte or something, toddler sits there and just spools the floss out of the holder. There's metres and metres of it, no noise and you can easily scoop it back up into your hand.

Hi @titchy I am going to do that but what happens if the other parent doesn't have contact with their child or is dead? (not my situation but must happen) I have flown a lot with two of them on my own and never been asked for any letter of permission. @cottagegardenflower I don't have a partner! @PineappleWilson dental floss idea is inspired and I'll be doing that, thank yoouuuu!

Either a specific issues order from court or run the risk.

I just wanted to add, having flown with a 3 yr old and 12 month old alone last year you wouldn’t believe how helpful most people are when it comes to it. Was a bit stressful but really does help improve your faith in humanity as a whole! Make sure passports and flight tickets easy to hand as you have to show them multiple times, don’t put anything in the seat pocket when on the flight as in the getting off chaos you may forget it (lost my purse this way 🤦‍♀️) lots of snacks and a screen if your older ones will watch for this desperate times.

No seat pockets on Ryanair!

Best of luck OP. I would say security is likely to be the most stressful bit so pay for fast track if you can - it is generally less frantic. And on the way back under 12s can't use the standard fast track route so we were directed to the crew lane at Stansted and were straight through.

Pee at the airport so you hopefully won't need the loo on the plane. Put the older 2 in pull ups for the flight if you can.

Are you heading to somewhere like Carcassonne or Beziers? If so your flight will probably be full of young families heading for the coast and someone will be willing to hold a baby or catch an escaping toddler if needed!

Do you have a sling that will do the 2 year old OR the baby? Like an Ergo, or a Mei Tai or something? I'd make sure I had one of those, so I could prison the 2 year old if needed (on my back). Baby will be easier in arms.

We've never been given the buggy back before luggage reclaim, and it was tough with bigger age gaps than you.

3 kids and a suitcase and a backpack is A LOT to manage. Enlist help from anyone and everyone you can!

@titchy You should take a letter from their father giving his permission, signed by him with his passport details and a contact number - why aren't you doing that?

Do you use this tone speaking to people in person? Absolutely extraordinary.

I don't use text speak, abbreviations or emojis when talking to someone face to face either but I do in text communication - your point?

My post may have been brief, and blunt. But it was useful. Not sure why you think it 'extraordinary'.

With Ryanair at Stanstead they've always given me back by pram as soon as getting off the plane. They often help you unfold it and stuff too.

I have to say I've never taken anything relating to permission to fly when flying with dc only and no one has ever asked for it.
I've never seen or heard of anyone else being asked for it either.
Not saying it doesn't happen but isn't a frequent occurrence in my experience.

@sunshineandsuddenshowers yes I have an ergo! so can put either baby or 2 year old in there. I've packed and my suitcase fits under the buggy so should be ok so long as I have the buggy. If I don't have the buggy, I'm throwing 2 year old on my back in ergo then carry the baby in one arm, wheel the suitcase in the other (with backpack on top) and keep a close eye on my 3 year old/get her to hold onto suitcase. Not ideal but just about doable i think.

OP, you have my utmost respect for managing to pack even the bare essentials for 4 of you into two bags!

I also had a full set of baby/toddler kit at my parents' but still struggled the time we went on the train and I packed one cabin suitcase between us. I had that, a cross-body handbag and the pram (DD was only 3m). People were lovely and helpful to me on that trip!

We flew to France recently and the buggy only came out at baggage claim. Be prepared for it to happen. Also we had to take the wheels off going through security and there was something else with the buggy as well but I can't remember . I just remember being stressed to bits

Fingers crossed for you. I flew to Geneva with DS when he was 1. Unfortunately they lost my pushchair and had to deliver it to me in a gite 2 days later 😭. No one gave a shit at Geneva Airport. They shrugged and pointed to where I had to claim.

Ours is still somewhere in Ryanair land after my husband took a trip to Sweden, hes been home since Sunday!

Haven't read the whole thread but we flew stansted last week and was a breeze. I'd recommend getting priority passes though - made things so much easier. The other queues weren't massive though I just couldn't imagine queuing with a toddler!

Oh and take a sling. You won't get the buggy back until through security. Good luck!

I live in a European country and to leave or enter with minor children you need birth certs, a permission form signed by the other guardian and copy of identification of the other guardian.

I’m often asked for it as my surname differs from my children’s last name. I’m not always asked but I wouldn’t risk not having the documents.

It would be similar if I was living in France: www.service-public.fr/telechargerPdf?location=/particuliers/vosdroits/F34070&audience=particuliers&lang=en

It’s to prevent children being taken out of the country against the other guardian’s wishes which unfortunately still does happen.

That said OP, I regularly travel alone with 2 and could do 3 too. Nothing different than travelling around London plus you are guaranteed to have a row to yourself.

I use a 35+10L backpack as carry on to keep my hands free when I don’t check it in. Best of luck.

Hey OP, I've flown often with two babies 19 months apart, first time the youngest was 3 months and oldest 21 months old. Longhaul, from Europe to South America. So a flight under 2h sounds easy peasy even with 3, don't worry ! The most challenging for me was keeping them busy during a 13h flight (sometimes longer).

I recommand putting the older 2 in nappies even if normally toilet trained. My eldest is terrified of airplane toilets and the noise of the water being sucked out. I struggled to change his diaper in there, no way in hell would he have peed/pooed there of his own free will.

Don't worry about security, it's mostly about being organized and making sure the kids don't run off.

Do have permission from the dad if there's a dad on the BC. If you can look at getting a permanent notarized permission from him so as to not have to beg every single time for that piece of paper.