Flying on my own with 2.5 yr old & 1 yr old - how do you manage?? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Flying on my own with 2.5 yr old & 1 yr old - how do you manage??

90
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2012 - 14:49

Hello,
Looks like I'll be flying to Oz with my 2.5 yr old son and 1 yr old daughter by myself. I'm trying to think of the best ways of doing things, both at the airports and onboard, but just keep ending up in a confused panic each time! My son is extremely active, stubborn, and although slightly better at doing what he's told when in public compared to at home there's no telling what he might be like when tired and stressed....My daughter is pretty relaxed but is in the 'crawl everywhere, touch everything' stage. Any tips, advice, practical suggestions gratefully received....! Thanks.

3863
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 24 May 2012 - 14:29
His Mum asked him to leave me be however he was adamant he would sit on my knee. It never bothered me one iota and to be honest it was lovely and tugged at my usually none maternal instinct. When we got off the plane he screamed his head off as he wanted to come with me :-) Well let me know if you're planning on traveling to Oz anytime soon! :-) Haha i am not sorry unless you would like to pay the fare ;-)
90
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 May 2012 - 14:21
His Mum asked him to leave me be however he was adamant he would sit on my knee. It never bothered me one iota and to be honest it was lovely and tugged at my usually none maternal instinct. When we got off the plane he screamed his head off as he wanted to come with me :-) Well let me know if you're planning on traveling to Oz anytime soon! :-)
3863
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 24 May 2012 - 14:05
I've travelled with 2 under 2 on my own and can see why most airlines don't permit it - exhausting . Putting a CARES aviation harness on my eldest was a huge help as he couldn't wriggle out of his seat and he slept in the seat like he does in a carseat . It's not popular with non parents but I nappy change my baby in the seat discretely . I put my almost 2.5 year old in pull -ups because chances are there will be a queue at the loo when he needs to go and by the time I'd have picked up the baby and struggled down the aisle it might be too late . It hasn't happened but imagine trying to clean up a toddlers no2 accident in the tiny loo whilst holding a baby . That is if there isnt any turbulence and you are allowed, it wouldnt bother me if i was sat next to you and you had to change your baby.. I remember being on a flight from Thailand to Dubai and there was a little boy in front of me that played bee boo all the way home. He took a huge shine to me and decided he wanted to sit with me for the duration of the flight. His Mum asked him to leave me be however he was adamant he would sit on my knee. It never bothered me one iota and to be honest it was lovely and tugged at my usually none maternal instinct. When we got off the plane he screamed his head off as he wanted to come with me :-)
3220
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 24 May 2012 - 14:03
Book Marhaba or Ahlan services,so that you have a porter carrying carrying and pushing your luggage for you and easy transfer through immigration. Also book a night flight as the little ones wont have as much energy and the cabin light is dimmed too. I worked as cabin crew and have seen mothers travelling alone with their kids on OZ flights...they look like death when they arrive,so do whatever is needed to make it easier on yourself even if it costs a little extra. Good luck.
90
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 May 2012 - 13:57
Thanks! Wasn't thinking of taking a car seat as I wasn't sure how I'd be able to carry it as well in the airport... Re. CARES harness - it's good to hear. I had looked at it online on amazon but seen negative reviews about kids being able to slip out from under it so was a bit put off.
668
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 14:08
CARES aviation harness That's really neat, is it available here?
305
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 14:01
I've travelled with 2 under 2 on my own and can see why most airlines don't permit it - exhausting . Putting a CARES aviation harness on my eldest was a huge help as he couldn't wriggle out of his seat and he slept in the seat like he does in a carseat . It's not popular with non parents but I nappy change my baby in the seat discretely . I put my almost 2.5 year old in pull -ups because chances are there will be a queue at the loo when he needs to go and by the time I'd have picked up the baby and struggled down the aisle it might be too late . It hasn't happened but imagine trying to clean up a toddlers no2 accident in the tiny loo whilst holding a baby .
63
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 14:01
Are you booking seats for them? If so, bring a car seat for the little one to rest in - or car seats for them both. That way, when you go to change one, the other is in a car seat.
90
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 13:59
Many thanks busybee2. Really appreciate the response/advice. Can I just ask how you managed toilet breaks - both for yourself and the children? Mine are both in nappies but not sure how it works having two in those plane bathrooms - and my 2.5 yr old would be way too big for the table. I guess you just have to ask someone to watch one for you?
4747
Posts
EW MASTER
Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 12:03
Hello, Looks like I'll be flying to Oz with my 2.5 yr old son and 1 yr old daughter by myself. I'm trying to think of the best ways of doing things, both at the airports and onboard, but just keep ending up in a confused panic each time! My son is extremely active, stubborn, and although slightly better at doing what he's told when in public compared to at home there's no telling what he might be like when tired and stressed....My daughter is pretty relaxed but is in the 'crawl everywhere, touch everything' stage. Any tips, advice, practical suggestions gratefully received....! Thanks. its pretty stressful. been there done it many times. lots of new toys for the older one, bring a dvd/tablet with lots of their fav programs (in case nothing on the plane that they would watch). make sure that you have headphones for the watching of the dvds, not rely on the plane ones, as they are too big, and then you may need to have an adaptor to actually watch the plane ones too. night time flight is better as they may be cranky to start with but eventually they should get to sleep, keep them awake as long as you can before you get on plane so they will sleep better. take a bag of new stuff for the older one, new colouring, new anything etc and take out every so often to keep occupied. also take favourite sweets/foods.
 
 

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