Travelling alone with 3 year old and 4 month old...what am I thinking? What do I take? Advice please

[UmSami]

Am returning to UK from Saudi for 6 weeks at end of March. I'll be travelling without dh but with my 2 kids, DS will just be 3 at date of travel, and DD 4 months. I'm very excited but now reality has hit...what the hell am I thinking?
Dilemma 1...
Do I take my precious Phil and Ted (shiny and lovely, big and heavy, great for 2, can tie them both down!) or Maclaren Techno and Baby Carrier (Old and battered, light and compact, bit of a faff with 2)
2...
Do I take a travel cot on the plane (we have 2 here) or buy one there?
3...
DD carseat, do I try and blag it on the plane with me...in the hope that there is a spare seat next to us for dd, or do I let them put it in cargo? Will be a pain to carry but hate the idea of it being thrown around...so many questions!
Any tips for the flight (7 hours ish) also helpful...I've always taken loads of toys for DS, and he's always been a star...but now with 2! PANIC!

Good luck with it all! I used to live in Oman so travelled back with my dd quite a lot, although only had her at the time. Re the car seat - I used to check it into the hold, but wrapped it all up in that clingfilm stuff first to protect it - I'm sure you know the stuff I mean, you pay them to do it at the airport for you, they normally wrap people's suitcases for them (v bizarre but quite useful). Only problem is having to unwrap it the other end before being able to use it! Esp w no scissors ... but if you're being picked up by someone, they'll be able to help you with all that.

I wouldn't bother w travel cot, you're bound to have masses of luggage already. Could you buy one online and arrange for it to be delivered before you get there maybe?

Phil and Ted's is tempting, esp at the airport, but might be a terrible faff to get on the plane! Esp as they don't fold up that well or click together nicely or anything (I've got one, can you guess?). And of course will go in hold anyway. I got a Mclaren specifically to take on the plane!

Anyway, don't have any tips to help really, just wanted to wish you good luck. Hope at least it's a direct flight!

Cant help with the rest but TAKE THE PHIL AND TEDS!
I took mine when i travelled abroad last year and it was sooooo much easier. They let me take it right to the plane door and then I just folded it down and put some bungee ropes round it to keep it folded (if you have a ravel bag even better).
It was in perfect condition after 4 flights in 10 days so no problems at all!

Dont forget you'll have 6 weeks without it if you dont bring it, not just the travelling!

V good point greeneggs, if you want the P&T with you while you're home, then yes, take it! Bungee ropes brilliant idea.

Can you book a sky-cot on the airline you're going with?

Hi ladies, thanks for sharing your experiences...

hairy I know exactly what you mean about the plastic wrap, quite bizarre but v. useful...good advice about the scissors...would never have thought of that...you've saved me from stressful moments with 2 over tired kids, a set of car keys and a few curses! THANKYOU. And yes, thank god it's direct...flew back alone with kids via dubai at nearly 8 months preganant with dd, ds was 2.5...big mistake! We all survived, but only just!
Greeneggs, its a good point about the 6 weeks without a p&t...
I see pros and cons to both...
P&T perfect in most instances, but it's so pretty and new ...i've seen what airlines did to my previous pushchair, and bags, so i'm a bit hesitant.

I'm considering the travel bag but it' so expensive here...over £100...and when i looked at it (5 months ago so cant remember well) it seemed v bulky, i cant imagine carrying it til plane...do i remember correctly?

I too bought my maclaren for traveling with ds, love it, has lasted brilliantly...the temptation in taking it is that 1 i wont cry if it gets smashed, 2, part of trip is in london, and crazy lady that i am, i'm thinking tube...figure i can just about manage baby in carrier, toddler in pushchair, and bag on back, our local tube station has alot of steps and i cant carry p&t, but i can carry baby & maclaren & get toddler to walk...just the steps?!
Oh FGS will someone please tell me I'm an idiot LOL

As for sky cot...I did a local flight recently with the same airline and I booked a cot, the damn airline sat me at the back of the plane and when i asked about the cot and what they expected they said i could put it in the aisle or onmy knee?! thank god i had the infant carrier car seat with me, so they shuffled the plane, got 4 seats together, and i strapped thecar seat in. It was only a short flight so no prob. a friend had the same prob with a different airline but she was coming from australia! hence worries about car seat...I just cant do that with 2!

Oh just noticed...I'm fibbing its a maclaren quest not techno...thats the other thing, think its suitable from 3 months, but could be 6...if it's 6 months it'l obviously be the P&T...anyone know?