Flying solo long-haul with a toddler - tips/hacks?

[destinationzoo]

First time flying with my DD2, I'm flying solo 11 hour flight to go to a family wedding/visit relatives. One flight is an overnighter.

Toddler is fairly easy, but heavy & clingy and wants to be carried rather than walk so I think I'll buy a cheap secondhand stroller I can take as carry-on so I can have it the whole time in the airport and abroad.

We have 2 lots of 40kg checked luggage and 2 lots of carry-on luggage available.

I'll have to drive & park or get a taxi to get the airport because of all the luggage, I assume if I get a taxi there and back I can order a cab with a car-seat? (I'm not taking a car seat with me as we won't be travelling by car much while abroad).

I'm staying in a hotel, will get one with a pool and we'll be sharing a room (obviously).

I am travelling on the same flight as some other relatives & their children, but they have mental health issues & are ND and can't be relied on to help in advance (too much pressure) but in terms of getting on/off the plane with DD2 and our carry-on luggage I'll have their physical help, I'm sure, but we won't be sitting together and the expectation is that I am not counting on them helping on the plane, I would think they will at the time, eg entertaining her occasionally if she wants to walk around the plane.

Any tips/advice? I'm an experienced traveller, but I used to just chuck my clothes in a suitcase, grab my passport and go. Can't do that anymore & the level of thinking/organising is a bit overwhelming (I'm ND too) I'm not anxious about the flight itself (it will be what it is) but more remembering what to bring and managing all the stuff I'll have to carry and making sure I have everything I'll need.

2 lots of 40 kgs luggage? Is that really necessary? You will certainly need to employ the use of porters. Book in advance.

How old is DD?

I wouldn't take that much luggage. How long are you going for? I would take 1 x checked in suitcase. So you can wheel a suitcase with 1 hand and push the pushchair with the other. Then a large rucksack as hand luggage so you have your hands free through the airport. Depending on age of dd you could also pack a small rucksack which they can carry with their favourite things in. Unless you are travelling for a month I would expect that to be sufficient.

In terms of a pushchair make sure it fits the airlines dimensions to take into the cabin otherwise you will be made to check it in at the gate. Then the other end you cant grantee to get it back till baggage reclaim.

In relation to more advice how old is dd?

Ekkk!

No definitely NOT taking 40kg x 2 hold luggage!
Sorry that's my ALLOWANCE what I'm planning to take for 10 days!
My fault!

I want to pack minimally but also make sure I have everything to make it as smooth/easy as possible

DD2 is 2 -still in nappies.

for some reason I though DD2 meant 'dear daughter aged 2 years' she's my only child

Get plane handluggage pram. Like babyzen yoyo. That will be x1 piece of hand luggage if you take on.

Take one piece of other hand luggage. Rucksack will leave you hands free to carry pram on one arm and child in other On and off plane.

x1 checked suitcase for everything else. Then you can push pram and pull one case yourself.

Don’t take too much stuff. You can buy nappies there for example for just take enough for 2-3 days max.

Carry on: ipad + headphones with favourite shows downloaded (practice at home with the headphones to ensure they’re accepted), change of clothes for you both, empty spill free sippy cup refilled after security, lots of favourite snacks, dummies if she still has, 24 hours worth of nappies + wipes, colouring and/or sticker book, favourite cuddly toy, any essential medication, calpol in those travel sachets.
Put this all in a squishy rucksack so a) it’s hands free and b) you can put it under the seat in front for easy access. For ears on take off/landing give something sucky like a smoothie or yoghurt pouch. Ella’s do ones that are 90ml so all good for security. Talking of, get a clear plastic toiletries bag off amazon and organise before you go for maximum efficiency. Passports and boarding passes if they’re paper ones make sure they’re on top and easy to grab not buried under all of the above. Wear slip on/off shoes you can easily remove at security if you set off the scanner.

Travel stroller, I’m guessing you mean a YoYo or similar. Practice practice practice folding and unfolding it 1 handed at home so you’re a pro when you have to do it for security and boarding.

Checked baggage: 1 large suitcase between you both for ease of navigating the airport.

If you can prebook a taxi with car seat do that! Beats driving after a long flight on the return. You’d need to call local companies though to see if it’s an option.

On board don’t choose a bulkhead seat, DD will probably want to be cuddled and sleep across you so it’ll be comfier for both of you if the arm rests come up.

The most important thing is packing a good hand luggae

clean clothes for DD for food/drink/vomit/pee/poo accidents, also a clean tea towel to mop up spills, wipes, clean top for yourself in case DD voms/pees/spills drink on you

don’t pack more than 1 big suitcase for the two of you. Bring some washing powder for a quick hand wash if anything at your destination

i have done few long hauls with tots. I am always grateful of the clean top, tea towel/hand towel and clean clothes for kids 😁😁

Are you sure your allowance is 40kg? The usual limit for checked luggage is 32kg for safety reasons so beware!

1 set of cabin baggage.
1 hold case.
1 stroller.

You basically need to be able to carry everything with zero assistance.

DD2 is different to DD(2).
The first is your second daughter. The second means a 2 year old.

Can a relative in the country you’re going to lend you a car seat? I wouldn’t be without one if at all possible.

I've just done a 12 hour night flight with almost 2 year old twins. What worked for us for the plane carry on (in a rucksack so hands are free through the airport)

• Snacks- cereal bars, crackers
• Nappies and wipes for 24 hours (in case of delay or illness)
• Calpol and Nurofen (just in case)
• Change of clothes for all (pjs for toddlers)
• Dummies for take off and sleep
• Bottle of milk (for bedtime)
• Headphones (didn't use they prefer to watch with no sound)
• Tablet (didn't use as the plane TV had everything we needed)
• Paperback books
• A couple of small toys which were new (didn't need)

Before the flight wore the children out all day- the park and then soft play at the airport. Gave them tea in the airport.

As we did a night flight I changed all the children into PJs before getting on the plane. Once on the plane we read a few books. Watched a little TV. Then within the hour it was past normal bedtime and they were looking tired. So changed nappies and put on the sleep bag they sleep in. Gave them milk on my lap and then cuddled to sleep. They then slept till breakfast was served with around 2 hours of the flight left. So gave breakfast. And watched some TV.

Packing wise we brought nappies whilst on holiday so only packed enough for 2 days max. Took reusable swim nappy, so would just wash this out and leave to dry each day. Took some favourite toys in the suitcase for downtime.

40 kg is business class luggage allowance. Does your child have their own seat so therefore each of you gets 20 kg each?

I have done it before. Some good advice in the comments. Maybe buy a special toddler travel pillow/mat so she can sleep well. Manage expectations and talk about the flight in advance positively (it will be a long time but wr will play this/watch this film/have fun snacks etc) and bring pjs for return flight so she understands it’s sleepy time.

bring food/snacks (my kids hate airplane food and never touch it) but don’t feed her too much sugar. Change of clothes and plenty of toys, (new) books and nappies in case of delays. Definitely yes to cheap and light travel stroller.

Is it business class OP? The seats are quite separate so you need to prepare DD for not being able to see you during take off and landing, and make sure she stays put in her seat. We had a few incidents at that age.

I would take your car seat. Even if you don’t travel by car much at your destination you will still need a seat.

and pool toys like a set of plastic cups which keeps my toddler entertained for hours.

Gin.

You need to a travel bag which you take on the plane full of stuff for the toddler. Sticker books, colour pens, we also take a tablet with pre-downloaded TV programs. Headphones are a good idea and our little one likes to hear the TV program.

In all honesty, long haul is survival mode. We also try and create a routine on the plane. Dinner time, bed time etc.

We take PJs, their own blanket/soft toy and get them ready for bed after food. This puts them into the mind set of going to bed and helps them get some sleep.

Also you need to try and get some sleep, which means you need to sleep when they sleep.

All I can say is good luck.

Most of the time we come off the plane absolutely exhausted.

I would take a car seat with you - you can't rely on getting them in a taxi either here or abroad. I banked on this once in Spain, and the pre booked infant seat was a backless booster, totally unsuitable for a toddler!

Apart from that, mine loved those magic water colouring books at that age, plus iPad, all the snacks and lots of stickers!

Definitely not business class, this airline gives that much baggage allowance, 40kg checked each.
I know it's very generous. You should see the baggage reclaim, people take all sorts!

I usually have about a 12kg suitcase. I couldn't imagine getting anywhere near the 40kg

Thanks everyone, great advice, must remember to buy stickers, she'll love those as we haven't really played with those at home yet.
Plus change of clothes for myself, seems so obvious but I wouldn't have thought of that.

The outbound flight is the night-flight, I feel that won't be too bad, she's such a good sleeper, she's a child who really needs her sleep normally and if her ears are ok I'm hoping she will just fall asleep (probably in the most uncomfortable and awkward position for my comfort, but that's standard.

I'm not sure about the car seat, I'm not planning any car travel apart from the 2 miles to the hotel the other end.
I just think it must get so bumped getting on and off the plane about that it must render it useless? The salesperson was very clear that if I ever dropped it etc then I should buy a new one because it will be damaged and potentially not be safe.

@MaggieFS Don't even plant the seed

I always took our car seats when the dc were young. Planes carry them for free so it was a no brainer for me.

Take headphones that fit your toddler & an adapter for the plane. Mine loved sitting there watching tv.

Once my 2yo didn't eat any of the plane food during 27 hours travelling to nz. Luckily I had taken milk & grapes & snacks.

Everyone says take hours of distraction activities for young dc but I never found them necessary.

Change of clothes for both of you in hand luggage- you might not need it, but if you do you really do.

Did you know flight attendants can swap out seats that are covered in vomit? I do. First hand knowledge- bless dd.