So What Is the Skinny?

Hi J. - you've gotten excellent advice so far!

The only thing I really have to add is bring something to bribe the other passengers. Bring a big bag of snickers or something and hand them out ahead of time - before the flight takes off - and just apologize in advance. Other travelers are going to see your whole family and immediately go "oh great". But if you make a connection up front with them, you stand a better chance of cooperation during the flight if your kids start acting up (which of course they will! That's the job of kids!) - they may help you with distractions and you won't feel so much stress that everyone is upset with you. (which in my opinion is the real problem - not the kids being kids, but the other passengers "passing judgment" that causes us parents to freak about it.)

Good luck!

Hi J.!

Carseats - when you check in at the airport, ask if it is a full flight. If it isn't, they may allow you to get extra seats for your two children. If so, you can bring the car seats with you past the gate and use them on the plane for your little ones. Otherwise, it's best to just check them at the ticket counter. No need to lug them around with yall to the gate if you don't need to. We've always had good luck when traveling with my daughter that we were able to get an extra seat for her.

Entertainment - Invest in a portable DVD player if you haven't already. Those videos on the plane will be essential, especially with them sitting in your lap. Take some books, toys, maybe something new for them that they haven't seen or played with previously.

Snacks - Take lots of snacks with you to help keep them settled and satisfied. Cheerios, mini vanilla wafers, teddy grahams, raisins, fruit cups, etc. will do the trick.

When going through Security, you will not be allowed to take any liquids with you unless they are in a 3.3 ounce or smaller container and all these items carrying on with you will need to be in a ziploc baggy and removed from your bags when you go through the screening. For the children, you can only take sippy cups of milk or formula. If you take water in their cups, they will dump it out (just experienced that last week).

I think that's about all my brain can remember for now. I'll add things as I remember them. Good luck and have fun! Get some rest before your flight, chances are you won't get to nap on the plane! :-)

And don't pack too too much. If you can, take a backpack (one for you and one for your husband), this should hold everything you need.

Take off and Landing - Give them a bottle or sippy cup to keep their jaws moving. This will help. My daughter has traveled a couple times domestically from here to San Diego but has flown three times from here to Finland, all when she was 5 months, 8 months, 11 months, 16 months, and 21 months). She does very well and the pressure has never really bothered her. But having something to drink or eat will help.

-Char

Two things:
Benedryl and umbrella stroller.

We used both and I am so thankful to have them! The medicine helped my son at 9 months sleep and be calm. The stroller was great at the airport. We could check it in right before we got on the plane and it was lightweight and between all of our carry ons, the last thing I wanted to do was carry 20 more lbs!

Benadryl.

Ask your pediatrician if you can give it to the kids about 30 minutes before you take off. If you can, then it will help keep their ears from hurting, keep them calm and make others around you happier.

The best piece of advice I read in Parents magazine years ago was to reserve at the back of the plane and to request seats that are 1 apart. For example, in a row of ABC aisle DEF, reserve A and C or D and F. The middle seats usually fill up last, especially in the back. And worst case scenario (if they do fill up) I guarantee you that middle person would switch with you or DH if you wanted to sit next to each other (or they might move once they see they are sandwiched with two infants ;) ). Good luck...and bottle feed them as you are taking off and landing. That helps their ears.

Hi J.,

I don't have anything helpful to add - I'm actually considering taking my 19mo on a plane next month, so I'm watching your post to see what good tips you get!

You don't say how old your kiddos are, but I'm wondering if any mamas have suggestions for the take-off and landing parts? I read the suggestion about lollipops, but we don't give our daughter candy yet. Maybe there are some other suggestions?

Good luck with your trip!

P.

2 words of advice: heavy sedation. For you, not your kids. Just kidding :)

The only thing I have to offer is you really might want to reconsider buying seats for the 2 little ones. Being in a carseat vs lap is so much safer. A child can suffer serious head/neck injury if severe turbulence is experienced. Just my thoughts.

Bribing the other passengers is a good idea. Lots of new toys for the kiddos would be nice too. Small, non-noisy toys that they haven't played with much or even seen before will keep their interest. Of course, my son had waaaay more fun playing with the sun screen on the window and the phone in the seat back. Oh...and the tray table also provided hours of entertainment, much to the chagrin of the passenger in front of us.

Good luck and have a safe trip!

J. - I travel for work all the time and I fly with my 20 month daughter about once every 2 months. My advice for you is to pack as much as you can in checked baggage. You really need very little on the airplane. Pack three diapers per kid and tons of wipes in your carryon. Pack lots of snack and different kinds of snacks to keep the kids entertained. If you have a portable DVD, bring it on the plane with you. Crayons and paper are good too. Try to avoid loud toys. T

he Benadryl idea is the BEST advice you've been given. My only add would be not to ask your doctor, just do it! I do this EVERYTIME I travel with my 20 month old and she usually sleeps.

Try to avoid brining any liquids through security and keep the carry on packing super light so you can go through security quickly. Another thing I see is a lot of waiting around. As long as you don't travel on Monday morning or Friday evening (heavy for business people) you really don't have to get to the airprot that early. If I am checking bags, then I try to get to the airport an hour and 15 minutes in advance...that's it. This two hour stuff is crazy. Check the DFW airport website as there are at least two play areas that might be near your gate. One parent parks themselves at the gate while the other one takes the kids to the play area that way you know what's going on with your flight should something change. Finally, have your older child go to the potty in the airport...not clean but cleaner than the airplane. Good luck!

Oh you are brave! At least it's only 3 hours. I've traveled with my now 2 1/2 yr old several times a year since he was about 4 months. When he was itty bitty, he'd just nurse and nap. Now that he's a toddler, I like having the car seat because he invariably passes out in it. Also, it keeps him locked down so to speak. Chances are, the flight is booked solid so you probably won't be lucky enough to get 2 extra seats but it never hurts to ask. Otherwise, you're best off checking the car seat I suppose.

Bring your stroller and check it at the gate. If anything, it will help you lug all your gear (including the car seats if needed).

Regarding liquids, I've had mixed experiences. I've had some security guys make me empty out my ds' sippy. I've had other security guys allow a sippy of milk in. I would suggest taking sippies and buying milk or water once you're past security. If you have a sippy w/liquid in it, be aware you may or may not be asked to dump it. I've brought tons of snacks and have never had them confiscated. A snacking child is a busy, happy child in my book. You're lucky to get just one extra bag of crackers on the plane so bring lots just in case. I give always keep a little bit of candy in my bag for dire emergencies. We don't give him candy at home so it's a BIG surprise when we whip out the M&Ms or lollypops (good for sucking on take off or landing btw) when my ds is getting extra cranky.

Bring some new toys and books as well as some old favorites. I found a giant book of stickers at target that my ds LOVED to look at. We never even took the stickers out. Those aquadoodle mats (they're about $10 for 3 little ones) are good too. Magazines can be good. My ds likes animals so I'll bring along Cat or Dog magazines to look at. You'd be surprised, but even the airline catalogue they always have can be a good time waster.

Good luck! I would definitely opt for the 3 hour flight rather than the drive in your case. I hope all goes well. Oh yeah, and pack lots of wipes and diapers and hand sanitizer. You'll be glad you did -- especially if they lose your luggage like we did one time.

Hey J. Just so you know with two on your lap you'll have to sit in different rows. There are only 4 oxygen masks in a row so they won't let 5 of you sit together.
Just be prepared for that.

Love, K.

You didn't say how young your two are that will be lap flyers. As far as the carseats, you can either check them at the ticket counter or you can check your carseats at the gate -- they'll tag them and take them but they'll be brought out right away when you leave the plane.

I tried to do my kiddo on a Southwest Flight from Dallas to Houston -- 45 minutes flight... it was HORRIBLE and I bought him a ticket for the ride back. I think he realized when he was in my lap he knew that wasn't permanent...but when we were on the plane and he had his own carseat -- he knows that means travel and that he has to sit there. The ride home was 1,000 better than the ride out there. :) Hopefully you have a more laid back child than I do.

Also realize that if they're in your lap...when they bring drinks...unless you hold them in your hand, you won't really be able to put the tray down...

I flew from DFW to Denver with my kiddo... was about to turn 2 years old... I took my good stroller, carseat, pack n play, diaper bag (the big one)... I checked the pack n play with the bags, and let him ride in the carseat that was locked onto the stroller (just rigged it.. it's not made that way).... I did not bring an umbrella stroller b/c I'd have felt like a freakin pack mule otherwise... at the gate right before boarding, they took the stroller and car seat with them and I had him, the diaper bag and my carry on. It was still much work.

Good luck -- you're brave, I dont think I'll ever have a lap child unless they're under 7-8 months of age... ever again, just for my own sanity. :)