16 Hour Plane Trip with 11 Month Old Twins

Keep breathing! Take your car seats and strollers -- no they do not count as bags if you gate check - we always used our strollers as our luggage cart. Food, bring lots of snacks -- granola bars, fishies, you can bring liquids in a bottle for kids -- check the TSA web site for details and the latest -- you do need to avoid jam (PB&J) -- they usually have juice on the airplane and will water it down for you -- they sometimes have milk too. Also good to bring along -- books, toys (new ones - so they are excited to seer them) lovies (special stuffed animals, pillows) When we travelled with lil ones we took very little for oursleves onboard -- mostly two pack backs of stuff for the kids! Travel safely!

I only have 1 15 month old but I just returned last week from a 3 week trip to Mexico. I also traveled with her when she was 6 months. The airlines make it very easy to use strollers. You will actually bring it right to the plane and leave it when you board. When you get to each destination, your stroller will be waiting for you. It's so nice. I know how expensive it is to buy each of them a seat, but my question is, how are you and your husband going to eat or get any rest if you each are holding a baby? Buy them a seat if it's not to late. You will regret it if you don't. Good Luck!

Good luck to you. We flew with our twins when they were about 10 months old. It's a lot of work, but you can do it. You'll probably want to double check with your airline, but when we went the car-seats did not count as checked items. We checked those, then we took the stroller all the way up to the plane. They gate-checked it as we boarded the plane. It was nice because then we had the stroller in the terminal for each of our layovers. This allowed us to take the boys for walks to keep them entertained, yet freed up our arms for other things. I don't agree with those who recommend you gate check the carseats too. Here's why. 1) You won't need them again until you reach your destination. 2) The security check can be a huge hassel. You will have both babies, a stroller, a diaper-bag, and who knows what else to run through screening. Car-seats are one less thing to worry about. 3) You will have to drag them around the terminal during layovers.
Before we went, we received some advice that was helpful. Our boys never took bottles or pacifiers, so we had no way for them to pop their ears on the take-offs and landings. Someone told us to take dum-dums for them to suck on. This worked great, but you may want to have a couple of wet-wipes handy because they can get sticky. We also fit everything we took into our checked luggage, so we had no carry-ons(except for a diaper bag that was a backpack style to keep our hands free). This was nice for two reasons: 1) our hands were free on the plane to deal with the babies 2) it helped us get through security with that much less hassel.
One other thing, (I'm sure you know) but give yourself plenty of extra time at the airport. It takes more time to get the car-seats checked in and the stroller through security than normal.
I hope you have a great trip. Good luck!

I took my two children along with my husand from Portland, OR to Frankfurt, Germany which was a 10 hour direct flight. My oldest was 2 1/2 and my youngest was 2 months. My older child had her own seat and her carseat was one of her carry on's. My younger child had a stroller but that did not count towards our baggage. Each of that ticketed people which was three in our case could have two carry on's. You can also call the 1-800 #'s for the airlines and they will let you know for sure what they allow.

As for on the plane fun I would say have one backpack for them with: small toys, clothes, diapers, snacks, 2 books. That is a hard age sometimes to entertain.

With getting through security I would ask if you can use the handicap line. If there is no one in it sometimes they will let you use it since you take longer to get through. We were able to use it in Germany and it really helped out.

Just a reminder to take as little as possible. Don't over pack yourself since you have two kids, carseats, and a stroller and that alone is enough!

Good Luck!

Car seats and strollers do count and will cost at least 50 bucks if they are over the amount of bags allowed. Have you considered purchasing an extra seat? It would give you much more room to stretch out and it would allow you the extra "baggage". Be sure to bring goodies for the kids that are non perishable and a few of there favorite toys.

If you are flying AlaskaAir, you might want to double check, but when we last flew with lap children, they told us that anything baby related did not count towards our baggage allowance- like car seats, strollers, and diaper bags. I would recommend checking your car seats under the plane so you don't have to carry them if you are taking strollers to the gate. You will have to take the children out of the strollers at the security check point. And depending on the airport, sometimes even have to take their shoes off. I assume you are going thru seattle for one of your layovers, and just to let you know- EVERYTHING is shut down from about 11 pm to 5 am. There is one little area (I think it is on the B concourse, but I could be wrong) that has a little play gym for kids to play at. Hopefully yours will be sleeping, but if not, it does give them a place to expend some energy. Also, sometimes,when you check in, you can see how full the flight is, and then ask them to put an empty seat next to you if they have one. They will sometimes block it off so no one will sit there because people would rather give up the seat than sit next to a child. But that depends on how full the flight is. We live in Anchorage area, and have done a few flights with lap children and older ones. We try to coordinate our flights with sleep time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it back fires. We try to keep them up so they are utterly exhuasted and will just fall asleep. That is the best way to work it, if everyone (the kids) will just cooperate! Good luck and have a good trip!

Hi J.,
My experiances with flying with babies was well before 9/11, so I can't speak to the regulations you may run into. But calling your travel agent or the airline will answer most of those questions.
When you are reserving your seats, try to get them just behind a bulkhead; since there are no seats in front of you there you will have the leg room and the space you will need.
Make sure you have a bottle of juice or formula handy during take-offs and landings as the sucking action will help them clear their ears.
Do diaper changes midflight or when you have time on a lay-over, not any time when seatbelts are needed; hang on to them snugly at those times. (Most of the time, it is not a big deal, but one time we hit a wind shear, during landing, and I snatched my daughter out of the air as she started to float off my lap.)
Make sure you have EVERYTHING before you get off a plane, especially when the transfer is short. (Their dad mad a mad dash back to the plane we got off, after we had boarded our next flight across the large termial, to recover a security blanket. He was successful, though our new flight delayed about 3 min for him to get back. Now with the security restictions as you board, I don't think it would have been possible for him to get back on the flight we left, in time, it was warming up to leave as well. I'm sure he took the half mile each way at a dead run.)
Bring things that entertain them. It will make you much more popular with your fellow passengers. Also figure out how they will take naps. The extra room may be key for this.
As for time zone changes, they will adjust as you do, about as fast and with minimal stress, because it is beyond their comprehension. The disruption in their schedule may even help their adjustment, as they will be much readier to settle into a regular schedule even if it is at a slightly different time.
I hope some of this helps you. It will be a great adventure. And there will be family stories that come from this, even if parts are stressful. When it is rough, think of how the story will sound in 10 years. Try to relax and enjoy as much of this as you can. Mine were one at a time, so twins will double the joys and the sorrows. But the airlines will try hard to work with you when they know you are traveling with babies.
L.

OH, MY GOSH! My heart goes out to you! And my nerves! Wow! You are brave! My husband and I just recently completed a SHORT 2 1/2 hour flight from Portland to LA. We have a 2 year old and 4 month old. They sat on our laps too. Our boys did super but by the end we were so READY to be off the plane and never do it again. Maybe that's just flying in general.

Nevertheless, I want to share with you what we learned.

-Set aside toys weeks ahead so that when you bring it out on the plane, it's "NEW". Also it helps to have two "sets" of toys for each way (or at least put the plane toys away when you arrive at your destination so they are new again) For my two year old, I brought coloring crayons, coloring book, dry erase book, bag of his favourite cars, a big book about machines, LOTS of SNACKS( sandwhiches, apples, carrots, celery, cookies, etc) A friend of mine said a package of balloons was a life saver for her almost two year old on a long flight. My friend would blow them up and Zoe would love watching the air splutter out.

-We weren't allowed to sit next to each other(on a 4 seater plane) cause of the oxygen mask allowance, but I'm sure you'll be able to on an international flight.

-We brought two carseats, a pack n play, an ice chest and 4 carry on bags. We were maxed out. My brother strapped two carseats together, wrapped it in a trash bag and wrapped it all up. They counted it as one check on. The airlines told us we couldn't do this, but they didn't bother with my brother. Anything over 60 inches (length, width, height all added together) is counted as check on.

-Some things I found invaluable: wipes for hands, faces, arms of chairs ets ( I make my own with paper towels, essential oils, aloe vera and vinegar); also liquid deteregent for baby spills that are bound to happen on our clothes and their clothes. Detergent is expensive when you travel.

-The airlines won't let you take water on the plane now. Also, anything over 4 ounces they won't let you carry on either. Everything has to be in a ziplock bag.

-Give the kids extra sleep when you arrive in MS Gulf Coast and back home in Fairbanks. They'll need it and so will you! I was strict with naptimes on our trip. My two year old slept alot.

-A common preventative for jet lag is LOTS of water. Get up and go pee. There are also homeopathic remedies that help ALOT. Also, DON'T EAT THE AIRLINE FOOD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. Bring your own. Often it's full of salt, dries you out. Drink tons of water. Don't be afraid to ask for as many bottled water as you need. I've done two international flights and all of these things helped me.

--Simplify! Simplify!

I can't think of anything else.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Be prepared that they may be miserable after long hours of staying in one place. Just take toys and everything you can fit with in their carry on. It might be good to take some new things that they have never seen before so they are apt to be more excited and spend more time with it. You may get upset yourself if they cry and bother those around them, just remember most of them had young children, too and understand. If you're mentally prepared for the worst, chances are that your trip will be a breeze.

I don't envy your trip at all. The person who told you that your carseats/strollers don't count as checked bags are correct. Most times you can check the carseats at the curb, but my guess is that the Fairbanks airport is pretty small?

I agree about small surprise toys. Bring lots of them. Also, if you let your children watch TV, a portable DVD player with some fun videos (like Baby Einstein) can be a life saver.

Good luck!

Anything you check at the gate doesn't count against your baggage.

I always try to get a bulkhead seat (front row next to the wall). While you lose your table tray, you can spread a blanket out on the floor and let the kids play.

J.,

The strollers and car seats should not count against your checked luggage. When you go through security you will have to carry the babies. The strollers and car seats have to get scanned. We had to take our babies out of the Bjorn carriers.

As for having lap babies. Each row of seats has one oxygen mask for every seat plus one extra per side. So in a plane that has six seats across, there are eight masks. If there is an emergancy there must be one spare mask per row for the flight attendants. If the flight is full you will not be able to have two lap babies seating in one row let alone on one side. Good luck!

Dear J., Your posting got my attention. You say that you plan to have your babies on your laps. Did you know how dangerous that can be? In a crash or even in a sudden stop, babies on laps fly out of their parents' arms. I know this from a member of my family who works for an airline. (Those folks, as part of their training get to see all the bad possibilites we don't know about). It would be worth the additional expense to have your kids in their car seats. Good luck...N. Williams Ph.D.

Personal DVD players and new toys. Go to the store, they each pick out a new toy that they don't get to play with until they are on the plane. If you are changing planes I would suggest checking the car seats, it will be worth it. Also find some place for them to run (a long hallway) during the layovers.

I have a 12 year old girl, a nine year old girl, and a 5 month old baby boy. When my little girls were toddlers I took them on a plane from Seatle to arazona. We just took a lot of little stuffed animals in a big zip up bag. After a while their ears heart, but if they are good with gum, it helps soo much.

Not sure on the cost, but they have these super cool carseats that are also strollers, I think they are also certified for use on a plane. I did see that you are not buying seperate seats for the kids, but if you are planning on renting a car and doing any site seeing, the carseat sroller combo may still be helpful.

Yes a few new toys and portable DVD player are great suggestions too! ( or in your case TWO!)

Hi J.
We learned from our pediatrician that you can protect your children's ears by having them suck on the plane's way up and down via pacifier, breast feeding, or bottle. Also, the car seats and stroller you may leave just out side the plane's door and the airline will load it for you and have it waiting outside the door after you land. I do not believe the car seats and stroller count against number of bags.
Good luck!
J. C

I know this sounds crazy, but lavendar oil (you can get it at a health food store) works like a charm. Put a little drop on a blanket or a bib and they will sleep like babies :-) I will warn you that the scent can be strong, but a mellow baby is worth the stink!

Hi,
Wow, congrats to you for being brave enough to do that. I just flew 2 hours with my 2.5 and 5.5 yr. old by myself and felt pretty proud of myself, now that doesn't seem so big. I don't have many suggestions as far as packing goes other than to remember you can always do laundry while your gone and you can also buy diapers and wipes so don't pack too much. The max weight for luggage is 50 lbs for most airlines. Those suitcases get heavy fast. If you check your car seats and strollers they do count as luggage. I believe that most airlines let each ticketed passenger check two pieces of luggage.
As far as flying goes, as I'm sure others have suggested, try to have the babies eating while take-off and landing to help their ears. If you are comfortable with it you could give them some pain relief medicine to help with that and to also help them sleep a bit more.

Good luck and I would love to hear how your trip goes.
A.

We travel alot with our daughter (yes, just 1) and the number one thing to remember is to relax...they feel anxious when we feel anxious, so that is the key to success. Carry on as little as possible, check the carseats, but the stroller is free when you gate check it. Like everyone said, little toys (just a few), lots of snacks, bottles for landing and take off to relieve the pressure on their little ears, and an extra change of clothes! Security always takes a while with kids, you will have to break down the stroller and send it through the xray, then take everybodys shoes off and then carry the kids through. This is why less is best. Our daughter is really content to look out the window, play with the earphones and play on the itty bitty floor space between our legs, be creative and remember that distraction is the your best friend. Oh, and if the kids get really restless, take them to the bathroom, its tiny but can provide hours of hand washing and mirror looking fun! Think Zen and good luck, your kids will probably surprise you on what great travellers they can be.

We took a 5 hour trip with our twins when they were 14 months old. I know that seems small compared to 16 hours, but I am assuming that is start to finish and not all in the plane. We had a long drive before and after our plane trip - so hopefully some of these suggestions will help. We used Benadryl, pacifers, new little gifts and a lot of patience. We gave Benadryl a practice run to make sure it wasn't going to make them hyper and then once we knew it would work gave it to them after we were up in the air. You do have to be careful because you can only take less than 4oz bottles(I think) of fluid on the airplane - in a ziploc bag. Don't forget a dropper.
Our girls did great with take off and landing, we made sure they were sucking on their pacifers - you can do bottles or nurse or whatever you do for you babies to help them with their ears.
We have two older children and so for them we bought small little gifts for them to open every half hour or so if they were good. We did get a couple for the twins, just so they could have something new to look at for a little bit.
Mainly we just tried to keep them entertained. I know your twins are a bit younger, but if there is something they really enjoy - try and bring it along. ie. Color crayons, play dough, baby einstein videos, new books.
Car seats and strollers do not count as checked luggage if you are checking them at the gate, which is probably what you will be doing.
We did not have any layovers, but I would suggest that whenever possible you just let the kids go - I know airports are dirty places, but if you try and hold them the whole time or keep them in their car seats I think you will find that not only will you be exhausted, but they will be less likely to want to hold still when you need them too. If they aren't walking maybe you could find one of the small play areas they have at some airports and let them play there.
I know that was a lot of info and I don't know if it was helpful, but hopefully some of it will be.
Finally, just try and be calm. Most people are very understanding and you know people love twins so let people help and don't get upset - the babies will feel it and it will only make it worse!!
Good luck!
M.

Hi J.,

I have boy/girl twins too that were born in Feb 2004. What I would do when we would travel on a plane was pack on the neccessities for the day meaning diapers, formula, etc... and then buy the rest when I got to our destination. This cut down an extra bag. we wore the baby bijorns or you could wear a sling to make it more comfortable on the plane. I think at take off you have to have them out of the sling though. If you have access to a washing machine bring less clothes. Especially if you are visiting family, they usually buy clothes as gifts and so you have to figure out how you will bring those things home. It is an adventure and so much fun! Good luck! If you are a member to full house moms, you should post this on their website too.
take care,
G.

Continental and United has set out some new luggage rules so your two bags free may not exist any longer. Call your airlines to verify.

Usually when one airline changes their rules the other airlines like to follow, so please check before you travel and get the agents name and date and time you talked to them just for backup at the airport.

Gate checking your things does not count against your allowed bags. It is the easiest thing to do. You just get a ticket from the person at the gate and when you come off the plane your stuff is right there for you. I found it helpful to also bring some new toys on the plane. When they start to get anxious bring out something new to distract them.

I don't have any experience with this myself, but I just read a couple really great lists at one of my favorite blogs. They seem like they might be just what you need. Good luck!

http://mightygirl.com/2008/01/23/12-travel-tips-for-flyin...

http://mightygirl.com/2008/01/24/9-tips-for-quick-airport...

Hey J., I'm a flight attendant and mom to three. Traveling with kids takes practice. It is harder when they are 2 and 3 years of age! They can be so active! Travel with your own sippy cups that have lids, that eliminates spills on you and the kids. The airplanes do not have microwaves to heat up baby bottles. We can only run hot water over the bottle or put the bottle in a new barf bag filled with hot water. Carry little crackers or cereal with you. It helps to pack a NEW book or toy that the kids will be interested in. A portable DVD player was a easy way to keep their attention on something besides kicking the seat in front of them. Pay close attention to their health BEFORE you leave...most baby ear infections are discovered while the cabin is being pressurized. Have some medication with you and a bottle with juice or water or any other beverage to be avaiable to suck on while the aircraft is in takeoff or descent. Should the babies still cry during that time, rub gently under their earlobes and jaw bone to help reduce the pressure. I would also recommend using an umbrella stroller to use through the airport terminals and it is easier to collapse and be be put on board in the overhead bins. The large strollers have to be checked at the aircraft door, or at the ticket counter with the car seats that you aren't using during flight, and are a bit cumbersome. Some aircrafts have lavs with changing tables. It is a bit tricky changing diapers in the lav, but it can be done. Food has become scarce onboard and I would alway recommend packing snacks for the family. Remember that all kinds of things can add kinks to the best layed travel plans. Keep calm and enjoy the view from the window. Remember that the cups/bottles should be empty going through security and all liquids need to be in the quart-sized freezer bag. You can purchase beverages once you are past security and at the gate. Hope this helps!

I've never trusted the airline to not lose or damage the car seat, so I've always taken it to the plane and they've stowed it for me as I got on the plane and then they've had it waiting for me when I've gotten off the plane. Check with your airline FIRST to make sure they can accommodate you - they are usually great to work with! PS - Northwest is the airline I've used!

Good luck with your upcoming trip! We've taken several trips with our twins, and it was always easier before they could walk since they weren't quite as mobile as walkers are. I'd suggest packing toys in your carry-on that they enjoy but don't take up too much space. Also, if you're bottle-feeding, powdered formula is okay but liquid is not. When we've traveled through airports before, there have been lines for families with small children and strollers that makes it a bit easier. Car seats and strollers do not count against total baggage count... we've always been able to keep our boys in the stroller all the way to the gate where they'll tag it for you and have it waiting for you when you deplane. (Kind of like what they do for people who need wheelchairs.)

Good luck!

Hi J..

You should definitely contact the airline you're flying with to confirm, but normally strollers and/or carseats don't count against your checked baggage limit.

Going through security with little ones can be more than a little frazzling. It's good that you and your partner will be there together. They usually make you collapse the stroller and put it through the x-ray machine. Also, you often have to check the stroller at the gate and you don't always (again, check with your airline) get it back inbetween flights.

You can usually bring snacks and drinks for children through security. That said, I've been asked to open things and taste them. The first time I did this, I had to open all of the little containers and as they weren't resealable, I had a bit of a mess on my hands for the rest of the flight. I'm now very careful about what kinds of snacks I bring. I would suggest things with secure closing lids that can be opened and closed easily.

As for jetlag, I don't have any tips and would love to hear what others have to say. I have had more problems with going East-West than West-East and just did my best not to go crazy in the time it took him to readjust (about a week) to the 9 hour time difference (bedtime at 3am in the beginning!).

Also, a tip someone else gave me for on-flight entertainment. She suggested buying and packing a new toy to bring out during the flight. The novelty should buy you at least 5-10 minutes of calm! Also, be sure to have something to drink for them (or their pacifiers) at take-off and landing, just in case they have difficulty with their ears. I find that sippy cups are slightly better than regular cups in this particular instance because you really have to suck and this seems to work.

Good luck and have fun on your vacation!

Hi J....
I just did a 12 hour trip with my 30 month and 13 month olds the beginning of January. The best thing for us was a portable dvd player and a few movies. I brought lots of snacks like gold fish, toddler fruit snacks (some new things too) and also their blankies, pacifiers (in order to avoid the pressure change issue) and I asked the stewardess for apple juice or milk straight away. I checked their car seats so I am unfamiliar with gate checking a car seat but I gate checked my stroller. The gate check process is pretty easy. You just roll up with your stuff to check and they give you a tag for the item and a claim tag. When you de-plane they bring up the items and you pick it up and get on your way. If you wanted to check your car seats I would recommend a travel bag. I bought car seat bags at babies r us to keep all the straps and such from getting lost, ripped or tangled in something else. They were about 19 dollars each and well worth it! The bag also makes them easier to carry and you can put a few extras in there in addition to the car seat... ie toys, blankets etc.

I gave both of mine a tiny dose of tylenol, like 1/2 the recommended dose. It made them a little more relaxed, but as someone else suggested lavender oil does the same thing. You are allowed to bring baby medicine without hasstle. I would warn you though, the TSA will not allow the kids to bring their blankets and/or pacifiers through the security gate. You will have to put them in a bin and pass them trhough the x ray machine. For me the hardest part was going through security, taking off shoes, putting all the stuff on the conveyor belt then re-dressing and packing when it was all over.

I packed very light in the carry-on for myself as the kids stuff took up lots of space. I agree to pack some new toys for them. New books and a couple new movies were perfect for us.

It will definitely be a long day, but you can do it!!!
That's my two cents. Hope it helps!

Hi J.,
I grew up in Anchorage but live in Oregon now. Baggage check your carseats..they dont count as luggage and you dont want to have to carry them around the airport between flights. Gate check (also not counted as luggage) the stroller/strollers..they will have them as you get off the plane and will be so helpful so you dont have to pack the kids around during the layovers and they might also be able to sleep in them if need be. Carry on: make sure you have plenty of diapers and a change of clothing for the babies (and one for you since they will be on your lap). Depending on what they are doing for food, make sure you pack enough snacks/meals (ie:baby cereal, formula, breast milk or whatever they are eating now)to tide them over for an entire day - 16 hours is a long day (dont forget somethings to munch on for you and your husband). During the layovers try to find a place for them to crawl/walk around so they can stretch and burn off some physical energy as well and wont be so bored sitting on your laps during the flights. Also- depending on what they are eating - make sure during take off and landing the babies are either suckling on you or a bottle or pacifier so that their little ears dont become plugged..it can be painful for them if that happens and then when they clear. The jet lag is going to be a tough one because the time change is a few hours isnt it? Depending on how long you are going for just try to keep them on as close to a schedule as you have at home but slowly moving them to the new time..if your trip is short sometimes this isnt even worth the trouble. Your little ones might be so flexible that they just switch after a few days. You might also want to bring some baby tylenol or motrin in your carryon, books or whatever they are entertained by. Sorry this is so long, my daughter had flown over 15 times before she was three years old and each time I felt like I learned something new on how to do it better. Its hard (especially at their age), but try not to overpack so you dont end up lugging so much stuff around. Good luck with your trip and Im sure your babies will do great as will you.
J.
Another thing I just thought of, if you have flexible flight plans - try to travel on an off day and the flight wont be as busy. I always called in advance to see if there were empty seats available and then asked to be seated there so that I would have an extra place to put baby and stuff. American airlines was always excellent about seating me next to an empty seat if it was available. Purell is a GREAT idea - my child has gotten strep throat, hand foot and mouth and some horrid flu bug from travelling on planes. Have a great trip.