Flying with a Toddler and Infant

Wear your infant. (You'll have to take infant out for takeoff/landing). Check the infant car seat.

Get a "go go kidz" attachment for the older kiddos carseat. Wheel the 2yo through the airport (use as a stroller). I'd gate check the car seat, which will leave a bit more room for you and the kiddos in the plane. Get a CARES harness for the 2yo if you can. The 2yo can carry/hold a small carryon bag with his/her stuff while riding in the carseat.

Bring snacks and extra clothing for 2yo, and a sippy cup. Bottle or breast for infant. You'll want both of them to be sipping liquid when the plane is ascending and descending.

Pay to check all extra luggage. You have enough to worry about.

I would get a CARES harness for the 2 yr old (wish I knew about that when we flew!). I would also make sure the 2 yr old has quiet toys and that you get the kid's meal ordered in advance. You might also tell them you are traveling with two small kids under 3 by yourself. I would make sure you can take the stroller to the gate to be checked or wear the baby and put the older one in a stroller. If you are not taking a car seat for anyone, that will be easier, but if you are, pack light. Make use of the 2 yr old's luggage allotment, as well was taking use of the diaper bags (use a backpack, IMO) to get as much out of as few paid bags as you can.

check in car seat, bring stroller (you can leave it at the bottom of the ramp like a wheel chair).
snacks, ipad, new dollar store toys
have dad be with you until the security check point.
easily removable shoes (kid can keep theirs on)
change of clothes for kids (mine puked)
bring zip lock backs for soiled clothing
candy treats (save until the end. A lolly pop goes a long way to keep my little ones happy and occupied and I bribe them the whole time before they can get it. )
relax. Prepare for the worst, expect the worst. Then if it goes better than expected, you will feel great. Remind yourself that all the people who are irritated about your crying baby once cried and irritated the passengers next to them. seek out sympathetic faces in advance in case you need an extra set of hands (families with older kids, grandmas).

ask for a bulk head seat, it will give you a lot more room and those traveling with lap infants and the disabled get priority for them.

Something to help you - slip on shoes for going through security, and elastic-waistband pants to make it easier to go to the bathroom while corralling a 2 yr old and holding an infant. I hope you have an infant carrier so that you can wear your baby. That'll make it MUCH easier to navigate the airport and to board the plane. You won't be allowed to wear the baby during the actual flight, but it helps to be hands free for boarding.

If you are nursing, nurse your baby during the ascent and descent, which will help little ease the pressure changes for little one's tiny ears. If you are bottle feeding, feed him/her.

Do you have a portable DVD player or iPad ? Videos are great for captivaitng a 2 yr old on a flight.

Did it.. for 9 hours in the airport!!... but the kids did great. Take snacks, games, etc. Gum for the 2yo when the plane is taking off and landing (ears), feed the baby while taking off/landing. All will be good ;)

Also, though some frowned upon it, I had my older DD in a harness w/ leash. Before anyone freaks out at me, consider this: that is the LAST place I want my baby getting lost. The 'damage' of being in a harness is much less than the damage/trauma that could happen if she gets lost in a big airport.

Seriously, I had a 3 mos old and a 2.5 yo, and our plane was cancelled then the next flight was cancelled, and we stayed in the airport for NINE hours. I got a LOOOOOOT of sympathy! And lots of fun other families that played w/ my girls.

Good luck!! Make it fun and happy, and the kids will make your life better in exchange.

The way I did this was to go through the airport with the toddler in the stroller and the baby in a ring sling. I took the full size stroller so that I could use the basket underneath for the carry-on bag.

In the carry on, take an outfit for each kid, a portable DVD player and kids shows for the toddler, snacks and bottles if you need them.

I was nursing, and I fed the baby during take-off and landing to help the ears. I put the flap of the ring sling over the baby for extra privacy and no one even noticed.

Technically you can bring the carseat on the plane for the toddler since you bought a seat. But I didn't think I could get it through the airport so I did not. And, FYI, carseats are always free checked luggage!

The hardest parts were getting from the car to ticketing with all the bags before they were checked, and then getting from baggage claim with all the bags to a cab. Hopefully you have someone who can go to the airport to help you with those parts. I did not, and so I got a smart cart for the luggage. I folded the stroller and put it on the smart cart with the bags and made the toddler walk for that part (baby still in sling).

Get a baby Bjorn type thing to carry your baby...it's the only way to be hands free for the 2 year old.

It is going to be tough with children that little. But I would make sure that they didn't bother the people around you. Like kicking the chair in front of them or staring at the people behind them. It is cute the first time but it gets old quick to the other passengers.

You will need more than one thing for the toddler to do. I loved magnadoodles, books, and coloring books when mine were little. If you have a ipod touch or computer, maybe you can download some movies for the toddler to watch once you get the OK from the captain. Keep some benedryl and gum in your purse, just in case your toddler gets upset or their ears hurt from the change in pressure.

Wishing you all traveling mercy and a fun time at your destination.