Flying alone with baby and toddler - any advice? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Flying alone with baby and toddler - any advice?

4062
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 16:22
A couple of years ago I did NZ - Dubai alone with my three children who were 6 months, 2 and 4. I didn't get an extra seat for my baby, we got bulkhead seats with a bassinet. It was actually fine and as Feefmick said, the thought is worse than the reality. You just need to be super organised and expect to get no rest so anything you do get is a bonus. I've always found cabin crew really helpful when travelling alone with children. As bizarre as it sounds, I actually had a really nice journey with my children with no problems at all. Oh apart from going to check in the night before and discovering the second leg of my flight had been cancelled! I got it sorted quickly after a bit of hyperventilating. I always avoid night flights, my children don't sleep well so I'd rather be entertaining them during the day than trying to keep them quiet at night. Even if it doesn't go so well, it's short term pain for long term gain, think how lovely it will be to see your family :) <em>edited by Daza on 13/05/2013</em>
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 16:09
You can have marhaba family service on dubai airport.They will meet you at airport entrance with porter service. So you will not have to carry luggage. They will do the check in and all so you dont have to stand in que. And they will drop you and the boarding gate in a cart. You can get a stroller for your elder one on the airport and can keep your little one in baby carrier. As for in the flight I would say if possible buy a seat for your little one too as it would be difficult to hold him for such a long time.
1370
Posts
EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 15:48
As long as only one is under two you are ok. I did NZ to Scotland with 2.5 year old and a 5 month old a number of years ago. The thought was actually worse than the reality apart from changing terminals in Heathrow when the toddler was asleep and the baby was in the Baby Bjorn. I had trouble getting the toddler to wake up enough to walk but a love,y Danish guy ended up helping and carried my bags for me. The actual flights weren't great but not as bad as I had expected. I just kept telling myself that it was only 24 hrs or whatever and that by the next day it would be all over. Emirates should be good for the two year old as lots of cartoons and on board entertainment. I always preferred overnight flights as at least they would sleep some of the time. Travelling on my own also meant I used to have less trouble getting a bassinet. Every time my DH flew with us I had to argue more for a bassinet than when I flew myself. Only once did I not get a bassinet but I flew around 20 th Dec. Daza - I'm impressed!! The hardest is when one sleeps and one doesn't. As soon as you land the sleeping one wakes when you are desperate to get to sleep. I always insisted on getting picked up rather than immediately renting a car in case I was too tired to drive safely. <em>edited by Feefmick on 13/05/2013</em>
52
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 15:18
Hi all, My husband expects to be too tied up with work this summer to travel home to the USA with me and our two small children (12 months and 2 years old). I am considering flying alone with them on Emirates, direct to DC. Has anyone done something this insane? Have any advice or kind words of support? Is it even allowed? I'll buy a seat for myself and for my 2-year-old and hold the baby on my lap. I'm open to the possibility of deciding that it's too hard and not going, but I really hate the idea of having them miss out on their one trip all year to see their grandparents and 6 cousins. We haven't been back since last year in July. Thanks much, ladies. B
 
 

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