A Peaceful Plane Ride

when you get to the gate, check at the desk for seating. if the plane is not full they should switch your seats to have empties around you. this saved us on the way home from pennsylvania, our son could lay over two empty seats. invest in a portable dvd player and extra battery. if your kids are like mine a movie will keep them content for at least 45 minutes.
good luck

Ohhhhh, so much fun to be in a confined space with kids! If you can, if it's not too late, get an early morning or late night flight - yep, book the red eye and let those kids SLEEP!

If you can't do that, like everyone would say - plenty of NEW activities. Get a few new toys - get gum for the 4 y/o to help with his ears and maybe a sucker for the 2 y/o. My son freaked (age 5) on a flight because his ears hurt, so I gave him tons of sips of water (because we didn't have gum) and that helped.

But my best tip is planning the flight during their nap times. Good luck and have fun :)

E.,
I have a one year old who has been on a plane about 20 times since birth. The key is to keep a bag of "tricks" under your seat. If you can I would recommend flying on Frontier because they will each have their own TV to watch so they won't argue over which cartoon to watch. Keep in mind there is a 5 dollar charge per television but highly worth it. Also, put away a few of their favorite books or quiet toys about a month before you leave. That way when you pull them out on the plane they will be happy to play with them again and they will be exciting. Take a snack that they can have anytime so your not waiting on the cart and the flight attendants You may want to invest in some of the game systems from Leap so that they have something new and fun to keep them busy. If they have these already perhaps a new game for the plane. Also, be sure to fly at the time when they are best rested so they aren't cranky and irritable. Unless they are strapped into a car seat they probably won't sleep on the plane. As far as trying to make it through the airport by yourself you may want to take a stroller for the two year old. Keep in mind though that it does need to be screened so I recommend an umbrella type thats not too bulky. YOu can take the stroller all the way to the gate and they will check it right before you board and unload it first so its ready when you get off. There are also some travel solutions for carseats if your coming. You can search the net for a backpack type strap to attach the car seat to your back while traveling in the airports. YOu can buy car seat bags too if you decide to check them with your baggage. They keep them clean and prevent them from getting damaged.

Good Luck!

I always get a small backpack and pack it with coloring books, snacks, juice boxes, color crayons, and a couple of small but favorite toys. Sometimes a favorite book too. This usually keeps mine occupied and has since my oldest was about 2. Good luck! Oh and try too hold off the nap till you get on the plane. I always did that and after playing with the stuff for awhile she fell asleep.

Ask your doctor but my doctor said to give my daughter benedryl to help calm her in the begining to help with the pressure in her ears. (Sometimes it helps with a little nap too) If you don't like that you can use sippy cups or lollypops to have them suck during take off that will help with the pressure too. I usually do both. I always bring a bag of essentials. Food, water, juice, books and a bag of toys my daughter haven't seen in a while (none noisy) with at least one new toy to help in a pinch. Also I like to bring a pitcher album, one with extra pictures I don't care if she plays with. She can play that for quite awhile. Make sure the kids are dressed comfy, even PJ's. hopes it gives you ideas.

I only flew once with my first born when he was still an active infant. Under one years old. He sat in my lap and I did my arm lifts with him in the air, and he was nursing , that helped alot. He slept in my arms because the flight attendant said his car seat did not have the right label on it. I think some car seat strapped in , would be better than none at his age on a 5 and half hour flight! I did not enjoy flying much after that, so I took the cross country train via Amtrak from the west coast to Chicago and on to the east coast. It was so relaxing, I did it with baby 2 also. Lot of leg room in the downstairs cars, and sight seeing cars and lounges. It does take more time granted(4days , 3 nights), but I exhaled once seated and the train leaves the station. No stress for mom. I loved it as both of my children do now too. WE love the trains. I was a stay at home mom so it made no dif to me.

BRILLIANT IDEA!!!
buy a dozen or so "gifts" at the dollar store and individually wrap each one.[like christmas & birthday presents, and the harder to unwrap the better!] every hour or half hour give the "AIRPLANE" presents to the kids. by the time they get bored after unwrapping each gift and exploring it, several minutes to half hour has passed and its time for another present! makes for some paper mess, but well worth the enduring happiness of the kids and sanity of other passengers. good luck!
I have travelled alone with my then 3 year old, but our situation was a little more complex, she is in a wheelchair, but not the kind the FAA would approve for travel so I had to carry her special needs carseat and our luggage, and push her in her wheelchair with her medical equipment etc. alone. yuck! an experience I will not revisit.
take care, T..

MY daugter and I flew back and forth from Japan a few times and my husband was only with us of one trip. It takes between 11.5 and 13 hours to get there. Get the latest flight you can. that way they may sleep. If that doesn't work, get a mini dvd player, it can go with you on the plane and your children are close to the same age so they can enjoy the similar movies. Also, be sure to bring lolly pops or gum as the children will have a hard time equalizing the presssure in thier ears.

first and formost I recomend getting a baby harnice for your two year old if you don't have one yet to keep your sanity intact.they have some very cute ones that look like animals are hugging them:)and bring lots of snacks,things to color and read. All there favorits,blankets,pillow,sippies,(well maybe not all).Let them pick what they want but you can set a limit of how many.Good luck and I hope that makes sence. Oh yeah don't forget purell and airborn for you and the kids.there are lots of colds around those airports.Have a safe trip.

Bring several different activities. If you can afford new things, that makes them more exciting. Some ideas include, coloring books, play dough, travel games, flashcards, books, and books on tape, a portable DVD player(borrow one if you don't have one). Like the above mom suggested keep each item a secret and only let mom get in the bag.

Another suggestion is to bring Hershey kisses for the other passengers around you. Pass them out to say thank you for their patience.

Also let your flight attendant know if you will need help getting to any connections.

You sill survive. I had friends who just returned from Africa with two under 4 and one on the way. There trip was 12+ hours and I am certain it included several connections.

Leapster!
I suggest having something they can do that you don't show them before hand. If you can get them on board, have a snack, then chat for a bit, once you are in the air you can whip out a surprise. Pack some crayons, or a new book. Whatever your kids are into really. But I have found that if it is new it lasts longer. If you bring a leapster, make sure you have extra batteries (and a tiny screw driver) and head phones. If you have a laptop, you can get a "spliter" so the kids can each have headphones.
Good luck. And have fun!

I am the mom of a very talkative boy, you know the type, they don't even pause to take a breath. We found a few travel toys that have been sanity savers. First an mp3 player keeps him occupied for hours, the next thing is a to from the grocery store it was $3.00 it is a little metal tin with face and magnets on it. This is a quite easy to travel with toy that can be picked up in seconds. I have found that with work books they can cause motion sickness if used for too long with traveling. Also rubix cubes are wonderful as well as any electronic games. Make sure you are well equipped with snack food and a comfort item. I know it will be easier once your there. Good luck, I know you can do it.

try to hide toys a few weeks before flight (or buy new ones) so they haev something new to play with. the color wonder markers are great because they only work on the special paper, not on the seat backs :-) also new/fun snacks they never get to have, even a portable dvd player with headphones for a movie (they are getting cheaper--about $79 at wal-mart--also a laptop that is fully charged will work). if you can schedule the flight around naptime the 2 year old may sleep, but that never works for me. i do better in the morning when my son is feeling good, and then i let him sleep in the car on the way home. they will be enamored with the plane, the people, etc. so don't take too much stuff (part of the stress of flying with babies is keeping track of their stuff). don't sweat it if it isn't perfect, and actually you might enjoy it! good luck!

Oh Mama! Kudos to you, but you CAN do it. I had to fly with my one and two year old and it was tough but we survived. I'm sure people on the plane were annoyed, but whatever. Try to bring stuff that will keep them entertained. Don't show them anything until you actually pull it out too. ( that way it's more exciting.) also make sure they are chewing on something during take-off and departure. It will help with the altitude. Good Luck! Happy Travels!