Wish me luck

[buffysummers4]

I have to fly next week to visit a relative. I will be on my own witha boisterous 4 yr old and a boisterous enormous 1 yr old (on my lap). Last time I flew we had loads of issues at security and on the way back a lady in front of us who kept complaining. I'm only flying because the other options are worse (12 hr drive or 12 hrs on and off about 5 trains). Am dreading it although flight is only 90 mins, but that's a very long time for a 1 yr old who just wants to crawl everywhere!! Not sure why I've posted really, I know in theory all the things to do but it's still going to be really stressful....

Good luck!!!! 12hrs on a plane with a 2 and 3,5yo last week... it all went well (apart from DS1 puking 5 times)

Put your 4yo on the iPad and give your 1yo tiny food in tiny containers (think raisins in duplos).
Do you have a baby carrier for the rest of the time ? Your 4yo should have a massively important responsibility while walking in the airport like spotting a red plane

You'll ace it!

Sorry meant to reply to this at the time. We've now done the flights both ways. Outbound went really really well, through security v quickly, kids v calm and quiet on plane - I used one of those pots with a rubber lid for 1 yr old to fish Cheerios and raisins out of - kept him busy quite nicely.

Return trip was a different story (look away now if you've got a flight with small children coming up.....). Flight was delayed but not by much so we went through security a bit later, then it was delayed a bit more and finally cancelled.... 8hrs after we were supposed to take off they put us in a taxi for the 90 mins trip back to relatives (with no car seats for either child). Early next morning they sent a taxi (still no car seats) to pick us up and take us to a different airport where we flew back and arrived only 20hrs late!!! The actual return flight was fairly uneventful except 1yr old was v overtired from not sleeping much the night before so he cried a lot..... Am still recovering from administering forced cheeriness for 9.5hrs in a small airport.....

Under EU regulation you can claim compensation for your delay, look it up, it'll sweeten the difficult experience I hope. Cross fingers for next time but you did super well!

Yes I'm going to do that when I have the energy... Thank you 😀