Any tips for flying with 10 month old twins

[TwinMama2322]

Exactly that really, I've heard pack new toys they've not seen before and lots of snacks. Dummy for take off and landing. We are travelling during what will be their 'bedtime' any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

Comfy clothes (baby grow?) they won’t feel uncomfortable or restricted in and easy access for nappy changes (accessible spare clothes for accidents ) ! I always find planes cold so nice cosy blankets if they need to sleep.
Toys/teddy’s/dolls which you can buy the plastic clips so they can be clipped to the toy to prevent being dropped - trying to find dropped toys under a plane seat is hideous 🤣
don’t be afraid to wander up and down the aisle for a change of plane scenery.
definitely dummy’s and anything they find soothing at sleep time - good luck.

Hire a nanny, book twins and nanny into coach, you go in business class.

More seriously if it is long haul and if you can afford it book an airline that allows car seats and pay for seats for them.

Take them in whatever they normally sleep in and I agree with getting blankets.

I'd probably take a box of chocolates for the flight crew.

Take changes of clothes for you too. You don't want to have to sit there with milky sick and diarrhoea on you for hours.

Honestly? I wouldn't do it unless necessary to visit family. We found flying with DS unpleasant so knocked it on the head until DC were 5 and 7.

Make use of early boarding
Gate check your double pushchair
Take dummy clips for the dummy

Board the plane last. Let them crawl/run around as much as possible before boarding the plane to let off energy. Also the aircraft air filtering systems don't run when the plane is on the ground so boarding last minimises the time you are breathing unfiltered, germy air.

Follow the usual bedtime routine as much as possible - put them in their pyjamas, read stories etc.

Take new toys they've not seen before and exciting snacks. You can use something like a fishing tackle box and put different snacks in the different compartments so they have different textures and tastes to explore.

Take anti-bacterial wipes to wipe down everything they will put in their mouth - the seatbelt buckle, the table, the TV remote etc.

You can use the airplane blanket to make a hammock for them. Tie it in a knot through the table in front (fold up the table) then around the headrest, this makes a little sleeping hammock and stops their toys falling on the floor.

Yes definitely have a spare T-shirt for you (and your partner if they are travelling too) as well as two spare babygros for the babies. DH used to mock me for this until one memorable flight back from Geneva when the babies came down with a vomiting bug on the plane and we needed all the spare clothes. Would also have calpol on hand in case their ears hurt.

Its exhausting travelling with twin babies but on the upside (pukey journeys aside) people are usually tolerant and willing to help. I have been given an extra spare seat in a row if there was one available and we were fast tracked through security till my twins were about five. When I have travelled by myself with the children, cabin crew and even strangers have offered to help, people are kinder than you think they will be! Good luck.

Try to book the bulkhead or pay up for premium/extra leg room.

Accept all the help and concessions available.

Don't overindulge in wine!

But do try to relax. Flying is crap especially with babies but it's just one day. You can do it

Going anywhere nice?

Thank you so much honestly that's put my mind at so much ease! We're flying to Dubai so not too far. They don't have air cots for short haul but we did upgrade for the extra room. Very nice thinking about the chocolates perhaps I will do that 🤣🥹 very glad to hear people are nicer than you think I'm imagining worse case scenario - people screaming you name it!

Holiday was booked when twins were born with me thinking it'll be a piece of cake (first time mum and a lot of naive thinking) 🤭 have to say just for the stress it's caused before we even fly I don't reckon I'd do this again until much older

Don't recommend bulkhead seat as you cannot lift the arm rests, so babies can't lie on your lap/seat. And at 10 months they are possibly too big for bassinet, depends on the airline.

Yh they'll be on our laps I'm praying the seat beside us is empty but I won't hold my breath

A window seat may be best if you want to bf on the flight, as you will have more privacy and won't be knocked into by people walking through the aisle.
Take more nappies, snacks, wipes etc… than you think you’ll need, just in case of delays or lost luggage.
Check if your nearest toilet has a changing table. I often even ask as I’m boarding or during the drink service so I don’t head for the wrong one in a time of need! If not, there is usually a good amount of floor-space by the doors at the back. Just don’t forget the scented nappy bags! And don’t chuck the nappy away in the toilet bins - they’ll stink it out. Ask the flight attendant to dispose of it for you.
Have a small “to go” nappy kit so you don’t need to take your huge bag to the toilet.
Take the small Calpol sachets and badger night balm

Please double check the extra leg room. Usually they are at emergency exits which means no kids.

Be aware you and your partner may not be sitting together... maybe one in front or across the aisle. It depends where the oxygen masks are.

Just remember... you are likely to never see your fellow passengers again. So of the babies do scream, you will just be hated for a short time.
And babies are no where as annoying as drunk adults

@PuttingDownRoots :) thank you that's a great way to think about it really have put my mind at ease

@Fivemoreminutes1 that's brilliant I never even thought of a mini bag for that reason now thinking about it no chance I'd be able to fit into the changing with bubba and my huge changing bag thank you!

@TwinMama2322 when you check in, it's worth asking if there are any spare seats and if they can sit you and partner together - for example, if there's a row of 3 seats, so you have an empty seat in the middle to put the twins down. Even if you've already checked in online, ask when you go to drop off luggage.

hello

You'll be fine. I assume you're travelling with someone so you have extra pair of hands.

Just be warned, I thought my DS would sleep on the night flight to Dubai, he didn't fall asleep for 2-3 hours into the flight and then only had a few hours sleep before we landed.

Nice long nap when you arrive and you'll be fine.

Bring a snack box with treats. Pouches for quick easy food. Download some shows onto a tablet. We also wrap up toys to open. Post it notes are great fun at their age.

Just be prepared you might not get much sleep. Definitely try and get the middle row bulk head as there's space for two bassinets there however if you're flying Emirates, it might not work as they don't have them.

You might get lucky and have a row of four to yourself. You could book the middle two seats of a row of four and hope for the best. Book rows that already have the other rows booked.

That might not make sense so it's usually a 3-4-3 formation. So long as the 3 either side of the row of 4 is booked, then you might get lucky with no one sitting on the aisles of the row of 4.

Enjoy your holiday :-)

I second the spare clothes for everyone and a lot more food/bottles/nappies than you think you need.
My DH thought I was being OTT but a 6 hour delay airside in JFK with 4 month old twins and a just turned 2 year old proved me right.
A sling, or 2 for if you need to walk up and down the plane with a crying baby for hours and your arms get tired.
I traveller a lot with twins plus a child less than 2 years older and always prepared for the worst. It was usually much better than expected but on occasions there were difficulties I was prepared.

I just flew with my 10 month old daughter but only to Belfast so just an hour flight. On the way there, she slept the whole way, so it was brilliant! On the way back it was a lot more challenging. She just wanted to be down on the floor crawling around, so keeping her restrained on my lap was tricky! She kept wanting to grab the head of the man in front so I had to keep her entertained!

A couple of things we brought that I'd seen recommended on a similar thread: suction fidget spinners - these suction to the window and can amuse the baby for a while. Similarly, reusable puffy stickers. I stuck them all over the window and she spent a good ten minutes picking them off!

I found it hard accessing things when your bag is stuck under the seat in front and there's no room to move around. In future I'd take a little extra drawstring bag (or maybe one of those reusable fruit and veg bags or similar) just to put toys in so I could have it on the seat or hanging off the tray table in front or something. It was a nightmare fishing around for dropped toys!

Good luck!

It may be different depending on the plane, but just a warning that you may not be able to sit in the same row as your DH and one of the babies. When we flew with two babies we had to sit a row behind each other as there were only four oxygen masks for the row of three seats.

As I say, could have been aircraft specific, but something to be aware of.

Thank you all. We managed to book our seats on the aisle so although we're not next to each other we're just across the aisle from each other

Just purchased some calpol and neurofen just in case they need it for their ears or anything like that hopefully they'll sleep through as we did book a late flight for that reason

absolutely don't do priority boarding for those with small children, I've never understood this logic, it's just more time to keep them entertained in a confined space!

It might be worth taking some sort of sling each, if you need to use aircraft stairs or your pram isn't returned at the gate on arrival.