Best plane seating arrangement for travelling with a four and two-year-old

[pontipinemum]

We are going on holidays in a few weeks. It is approx a 3 hour flight.

Our sons will be 4 and 2. I have booked us to sit in the same row. With the boys by the window/ middle then me on the aisle beside them and DH on the aisle beside me.

I am not thinking would it be easier to have a window seat for each child?

Green is what is booked.

Yellow is where two could move to.

Last year younger DS sat on my lap.

Either move two to yellow, or you at window, then the 2 yo, then 4 yo at aisle - DH can help entertain the 4yo. Easier to get them out to toilet if you have the dc as middle/aisle.

''I am not thinking would it be easier to have a window seat for each child?'' - that is supposed to say now thinking

@WhyIhatebaylissandharding I would be fairly sure the 4yr old would go running down the aisle first chance he gets or get hit on the head with trolly.

I would rather have the full row so your not worried about disturbing someone else if they want the bathroom etc

I would stick with the current seats but sit the adult in the middle so you can reach both children easily, and if they're anything like mine separate them to stop arguments/ messing around. On the way back you can switch which child gets the window (and hopefully switch with your DH too).

I think your original plan is best. You don't want them in the aisle. But you and H is the aisle means you can easily manage getting them (and you) out to the toilet without disturbing anyone else. If you need the loo then H can jump into your seat and block either of them from bolting.

Can't really see the attraction wanting them both to have a window. Get them to swap part way through. The novelty will wear off quickly anyway.

We used to do 2 and 2 behind, but ours were older.
Otherwise I'd define put an adult in the middle seat.

Row of 3 with 4yo by window 2 yo middle and you/DH in aisle seats so you can tag each other etc.

Parent who sat with kids on the way out gets to sit alone on way back.

Or

2 and 2 so divide and conquer but ideally one with adult in aisle for seat for toilet trips.

We’ve always done the two and two yellow option since younger DC turned two and has their own seat. It’s easier to keep them separated, have a window each and have 1:1 adult looking after them. We rarely need to get up so don’t disturb the aisle person any more than anyone else would. They love looking out of the window.

We do decide beforehand who is sitting next to whom and pack hand baggage accordingly. DH and I have a bag each with the toys, books, water snacks etc for the child we are next to.

For us this works far far better than one parent having to deal with both, a fight about who has the window (or the aisle!), and stops them thinking they can just get up and wander.

The easiest is surely 2 and 2?

DC 2 and 4 and we always do two aisle seats and two middle seats. Each parent has one kid, but they can still chat to eachother over the aisle parents can pass things along as needed.
DC have the aisle and we have the middle.
Often the other seat ends up empty.

Child parent child parent

The way you have it is best.

What plane are you on? We keep finding window seats are over the wing, so if you're thinking they'll be able to see things you could well be wrong! Aisle seats would then be better so you don't disturb others so much for the toilet.

Green is great, DH sits with the children on flight out and you have the children on the way back. I wouldn't do it the other way round as most men will find a reason to not sit with the children.

we always did 2 and 2. Each parent responsible for entertaining one child. Younger child in back row, so they don't bother anyone else if they start kicking the seat. Depends on the husband but more often than not, you see the 3-1 arrangements, poor mum trying to take care of 2 small children while dad happily snoozes across the aisle..

I prefer the 3 and 1 arrangement. Only 1 person sitting next to a stranger and a row to yourself, so not disturbing others. I usually give eldest the window, youngest the middle. If I've had enough, I can swap with DH mid flight, but usually I bank the shift and have time to myself once we are there and there's a sun lounger with my name on it.

Stick with what you’ve booked it’s not a long flight and you can always swap kids to take turns at looking out the window - I doubt they’ll be that interested once the novelty of seeing clouds passes

Your current seat selection looks good and would be what I would choose. I would put the 4YO in the window as they’re more independent. 2YO in the middle. Adults in the 2 aisles and you swap seats and therefore kid duty halfway through so you each get an 1.5 to relax/read your book.

We do the 3:1... but I now sit across the aisle! The kids still want me quite often (well the little one does) but at least I get some break and it makes it more even. At that age I would put the grown up in the middle.

I always did the 3:1 configuration because the kids wanted to play / chat with each other. a window seat is only entertaining for 10 mins of takeoff / landing and otherwise is dull.

and get sticker books. I found one with about 500 stickers in a mosaic that made for a very peaceful flight (slightly older kids).

We always did 2 + 2, but on our last trip we did 3 +1, and i found this much better.

Mine are older but:

• they share a tablet and switch, so could swap around easily
• no need to disturb anyone else
• could have all the snacks in one bag and not need to pass things back and forward.
• I could chat to DH

Stick with what you've got it's a better set up. The children can take turns at the window seat.

Yes, adding all of this to my earlier points!

Sadly no damn way I could put my terrors next to each other, and no chance I’m sitting between them while DH has a nap across the aisle.

Does your 2 year old still nap and is the flight over that time? Are meals included with the flight? In this case I would definitely do 2 plus 2.

Otherwise it would depend on my kids. If they are likely to fight over who sits by the window or just fight generally I'd go 2 plus 2.

If DH is on the other side of the aisle then you get a turn at that on that way over or you swop mid flight. I'd probably swop mid flight as it breaks it up for everyone and gives the kids a change which can be helpful.

Keep it how it's booked. Adult in each aisle seat. Two children can swap window and middle as needed (assuming the seatbelt signs aren't on). Adults can swap positions in the aisle. Win win.