Originally posted July 2, 2008.
Living across the country from family we find ourselves traveling back home at least a couple times a year. Since we have made a number of tactical errors while flying with our children I would like to share a few to help your family avoid some of the pain and suffering that we have endured. A few of these are similar to Sandra’s post below, but with my own twist.
1. If you plan on flying with a toddler, buy a CARES airplane restraint seat. Even if you have to bring the larger car seat for use at your destination– CHECK IT! Do not try and carry a regular car seat through the airport and onto a plane for your extremely active 22 month old by yourself, 7 months pregnant with the dog. The CARES restraint system is tiny, contains even the most active child and installs easily. It costs around $75 and is worth the price even if you only fly a few times. (Plus, I’m sure you could turn around and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist if you no longer needed it.)
2. Always double check that you have indeed packed the most obvious essentials.Diapers are great thing to have for your two children on an all day, cross-country trip. It keeps you from having to send your husband off the plane when you have a lay over to beg diapers off strangers who actually remembered to pack theirs. In case you ever need to know though, a 2 year old can wear a Huggies Supreme diaper for 12 hours without leakage. It never hurts to double and triple check the diaper bag.
3. Pack extra outfits. Notice that is plural. Onesies are small and don’t take up much room – pack 3 or 4. You could realize mid-flight that the new medication your 2 month old is taking makes him poop liquid explosions that escape the top of his diaper. Trust me, you do not want to have to make the call as to which outfit has the least amount of poop on it.
4. Preplan for going through security. If you have children with you at all, you will be “THAT” family, but you can minimize the wait for those behind you by being organized before you ever get to the airport. Don’t put shoes on anyone whose feet won’t touch the ground. Everyone must take their shoes off – even infants. You are allowed small travel sized liquids that will fit into 1 quart sized baggie – per person. Have your baggie filled on top of your carry-on before you get the airport. Clean out your purse before you fly so that you don’t miss your bottle of hand sanitizer or lip gloss way at the bottom that should be in your baggie. You don’t want to be waiting for security to search your bags while your 2 year old runs shoeless toward the terminal because you weren’t allowed to carry him through the metal detector and your stroller is still stuck inside the x-ray machine. (Did I mention that I was 7 months pregnant and holding the dog at that point?) One exception to the baggie rule is that you are allowed formula or breast milk for infants, but it needs to be kept separate to go through the x-ray machine out of your carry-on. You are NOT allowed to bring juice or water. Bring an empty sippy cup and plan on purchasing those when you get through security or asking for some on the plane. Also, it is worth mentioning that each airport is different, some require that you remove the DVD player from its case like a laptop computer and some don’t. Pack it on top of your bag, in case you are asked to remove it. Please check with the TSA website before you travel as the guidelines are constantly changing.
5. Here are few other things that I find helpful for traveling with small children.Special snacks like Larabars, goldfish, pretzels and peanut butter sandwiches are great to have. The Target brand Archer Farms have organic fruit strips that are like “healthy” fruit roll ups. Any food that is a treat or new seems to be especially helpful. I have found that my children rarely scream when they are eating. A portable DVD player or video ipod are lifesavers. (I highly recommend They Might Be Giants “Here Come The 123’s” available on iTunes in both video and audio form.) And a new small toy can occupy a two year old for a long time. A small baby blanket is also nice for chilly airplanes.
6. Plan on the trip taking twice as long as it is supposed to. Bring extra formula, snacks, diapers, etc. Hopefully it won’t happen, but you could end up stuck on an airplane or in an airport for a long time. Be prepared.
7. PRAY! I’m not kidding. Each time I have had to fly by myself with Mark I have prayed that God would bless me with fellow passengers to make the trip just a little easier. It’s come in the form of a business traveler with no luggage to help me load the stroller on the x-ray belt and kind strangers who don’t mind sitting next to us on the plane or helping us with our bags. I don’t know why, but each time I am surprised by God’s faithfulness to meet even my smallest needs. You can bet that I will be praying a lot when I have to fly to Hawaii by myself with two little ones!
Good luck and happy traveling!
1. If you plan on flying with a toddler, buy a CARES airplane restraint seat. Even if you have to bring the larger car seat for use at your destination– CHECK IT! Do not try and carry a regular car seat through the airport and onto a plane for your extremely active 22 month old by yourself, 7 months pregnant with the dog. The CARES restraint system is tiny, contains even the most active child and installs easily. It costs around $75 and is worth the price even if you only fly a few times. (Plus, I’m sure you could turn around and sell it on Ebay or Craigslist if you no longer needed it.)
2. Always double check that you have indeed packed the most obvious essentials.Diapers are great thing to have for your two children on an all day, cross-country trip. It keeps you from having to send your husband off the plane when you have a lay over to beg diapers off strangers who actually remembered to pack theirs. In case you ever need to know though, a 2 year old can wear a Huggies Supreme diaper for 12 hours without leakage. It never hurts to double and triple check the diaper bag.
3. Pack extra outfits. Notice that is plural. Onesies are small and don’t take up much room – pack 3 or 4. You could realize mid-flight that the new medication your 2 month old is taking makes him poop liquid explosions that escape the top of his diaper. Trust me, you do not want to have to make the call as to which outfit has the least amount of poop on it.
4. Preplan for going through security. If you have children with you at all, you will be “THAT” family, but you can minimize the wait for those behind you by being organized before you ever get to the airport. Don’t put shoes on anyone whose feet won’t touch the ground. Everyone must take their shoes off – even infants. You are allowed small travel sized liquids that will fit into 1 quart sized baggie – per person. Have your baggie filled on top of your carry-on before you get the airport. Clean out your purse before you fly so that you don’t miss your bottle of hand sanitizer or lip gloss way at the bottom that should be in your baggie. You don’t want to be waiting for security to search your bags while your 2 year old runs shoeless toward the terminal because you weren’t allowed to carry him through the metal detector and your stroller is still stuck inside the x-ray machine. (Did I mention that I was 7 months pregnant and holding the dog at that point?) One exception to the baggie rule is that you are allowed formula or breast milk for infants, but it needs to be kept separate to go through the x-ray machine out of your carry-on. You are NOT allowed to bring juice or water. Bring an empty sippy cup and plan on purchasing those when you get through security or asking for some on the plane. Also, it is worth mentioning that each airport is different, some require that you remove the DVD player from its case like a laptop computer and some don’t. Pack it on top of your bag, in case you are asked to remove it. Please check with the TSA website before you travel as the guidelines are constantly changing.
5. Here are few other things that I find helpful for traveling with small children.Special snacks like Larabars, goldfish, pretzels and peanut butter sandwiches are great to have. The Target brand Archer Farms have organic fruit strips that are like “healthy” fruit roll ups. Any food that is a treat or new seems to be especially helpful. I have found that my children rarely scream when they are eating. A portable DVD player or video ipod are lifesavers. (I highly recommend They Might Be Giants “Here Come The 123’s” available on iTunes in both video and audio form.) And a new small toy can occupy a two year old for a long time. A small baby blanket is also nice for chilly airplanes.
6. Plan on the trip taking twice as long as it is supposed to. Bring extra formula, snacks, diapers, etc. Hopefully it won’t happen, but you could end up stuck on an airplane or in an airport for a long time. Be prepared.
7. PRAY! I’m not kidding. Each time I have had to fly by myself with Mark I have prayed that God would bless me with fellow passengers to make the trip just a little easier. It’s come in the form of a business traveler with no luggage to help me load the stroller on the x-ray belt and kind strangers who don’t mind sitting next to us on the plane or helping us with our bags. I don’t know why, but each time I am surprised by God’s faithfulness to meet even my smallest needs. You can bet that I will be praying a lot when I have to fly to Hawaii by myself with two little ones!
Good luck and happy traveling!
We got a CARES restraint and LOVE it! It makes traveling so much easier!
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