Just booked first ever holiday with the kids and am bricking it!!!

[2point4kids]

Been so excited about booking our first holiday as a family, but now its booked I am panicking lol

We are going to Italy in September for a friends wedding. Staying in a sc apartment.

Kids will be 2.11 and 7 months old.

Main things I am now starting to worry about is car seats and pushchairs and sterilising!

Transfer from airport in Italy to accommodation is 2 hours by coach. Will I need to take car seats for both children with me for this?? or should I look into hiring them? Will DS1 need a car seat at his age on a coach - do they even have seatbelts on coaches?? DS1 needs to be rear facing!

And DS1 still uses the pushchair most of the time as he is a runner off. Will I be able to take my Phil and Teds? I suppose I will have to check it in?
I am thinking it might be more practical to maybe take my single pram and hope DS1 will walk on the wrist strap and DS2 can go in pram, but to take sling as well in case we need to put DS1 in pram!
Do you need to have an umbrella fold pram to be able to keep it in the airport and take it on plane with you? My single is a bugaboo bee, so is fairly small but not umbrella fold..

Also....Any recommendations for keeping kids entertained on plane/coach etc? or tips to make holidays with lil ones go more smoothly??

2point4 - WOW - Italy - it will be wonderful.

We, many years ago, took an 11 month and 2 yr old to Majorca - it was interesting They had a whale of a time while my DH and myself worried like you are doing now!

I'm sure someone will be along to tell you the answers to the buggy problems etc. Would rather take two babies on holiday than my DH - he is a pain in the bum and even says 'are we there yet' every few mins!!!!

Have a wonderful, wonderful holiday.

lol, thank you for replying.
Have just re-read what I posted and it is a load of rambling panic oops
Hope it makes some sense!!

Course it made sense love!!!

We go to Faliraki (for the 8th time!!) in June and my DS4 (10 yrs) already knows how many 'sleeps' till we get there and, even funnier, the barman, Nikos who we are in weekly contact with, joins in with the sleep countdown.

It will all be good....deep breathing....in and out, in and out, think of the lovley sunshine and the friendly people (who lurve children) it will all be good.

shabster [green] - I lived on rhodes for 4 years in my previous life before marriage and children! Down in the south though, down past Pefkos.

oops meant

hi 2point4.

italy sounds great. am jealous
italians LOVE babies, so its a v good place to take young dc.

to answer a Q or two...

the sling and single buggy idea sounds possible... how comfy are you actually using the sling most of the time? coz it sounds like ds1 will monopolise the buggy... if only for your peace of mind.
so we'll call sling and buggy optionA... and i would say to take a cheapy umbrella fold buggy rather than (isnt a bee thing expecnsive?) risking your nice one getting bashed about by baggage handlers. (optionA1)

optionB is to take the phil and teds... ive done this, so its doable. i got 2 of those strong luggage strap things, from boots or wherever, to do the thing up tight and took it right up to the gate (then strapped up and handed to man as getting on plane) and got it back off the carousel. it is heavier/bulkier etc, but kinda good to have your own proper buggy while youre there...

if youre not too far from Hampshire you can borrow my now unused we2combiTwin which is lighter, folds smaller etc

re the coach and seatbelts.. i dont know. is prob law that they have them, but think you should check with the co and see what they have to say.

and for on the plane i recomend
prebooking kids meals if poss
taking your own snacks/bottles/treats
some people dose the toddler with medised to keep them calm (i dont feel the need, but im not against the idea)
take a fave book, tesco larger stores have a craft iasle from which you can get pipe cleaners and plasticine and paper and pens etc, a big pack of stickers they can stick all over the seat in front, a small-folding change of clothes for ALL of you, you dont want to bve sat in wet or stinky clothes if you get spilt or spewed on.

have wittered, sorry. enjoy your hol.

oh Furball I know where you mean - we stay in apartments about a half hour walk from the center of Faliraki - so we get the best of both worlds. We have made so many friends (of the local Greek variety!!) We are constantly in touch with them. They do us an amazing discount price for the accommodation.

When we land at Rhodes airport it always makes me cry with happiness, excitement and the thought of meeting our Greek family.

Sorry to hijack your thread 2point4 Yassoo furball

Lilymunster - you have missed your calling in life - you could be a polite, helpful person at the airport instead of the normal type!! Great advice - I knew someone would come on here who actually knew what they were doing

btw extremely unlikely your lo will be allocated a coach seat unless you specifically book and pay for it or that any car seat would fit suitably well (lapbelt only , if you are lucky!). You can take flat folding pushchairs into hold but some low cost airlines may charge.

my calling is nice person??

bloody hell, and all this time wondering....

[arf]

wouldnt worry about sterlisng for a 7 month old to be honest

my bosses took their P&T on a plane it they broke it