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Flying with TWIN toddlers for the first time----need LOTS of advice.
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Anonymous
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My DH and I are traveling for the first time with our 20 month old twins to Miami Beach next month. We only purchased tickets for ourselves (couldn't afford two more). We are traveling South West and they allow you to pick your seats. I'm hoping we can get in line early so we get first pick. We are staying with family in Miami and we will be renting a car once we get there.
Should I rent TWO car seats from the rental car company or take my own (and check them since the kids dont have seats). Or bring them and see if there is at least one extra seat? One of my twins are EXTREMELY active. He does not sit still...EVER! What can I do to entertain him while on the plane (besides the snacks, books, and a DVD player). He is not really into movies yet so I'm not sure he will sit still for a dvd. 
Also, my twins have only slept in their cribs or a pack and play. Should I bring BOTH of our pack in plays or rent them (they are too big to share one)? I'm sort of a germ-a-phobe and I'm not sure how I feel about renting something that my kids will be sleeping on.  But then again the horror of bringing two pack and plays seems like torture. The family we are staying with have beds for US to sleep in but not the kids. My kids would roll out of a bed anyway. What else can I use as a bed for them? My son jumps up and down in his crib and runs back and forth before settling down to sleep. I can just imagine him doing the same if not more while on vacation. 
I just feel overwhelmed by bringing TWO car seats, TWO pack and plays and a double stroller for just a long weekend trip (Thursday thru Sunday). Can you offer any advice on what to bring and what not to bring? What would make this trip easier on us? Should I bring the regular double stroller (Combi) or the jogging double stroller (Jeep)? The jogging stroller is so much smoother and would be better on the beach and the sidewalks of South Beach. But it does not fold up small like the Combi. Do most moms check the stroller and let the kids walk to the gate? Or do you use the stroller through the airport (which I prefer...did I mention I have a VERY active toddler). 8) I'm feeling nervous about this trip already. Any help or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated! TIA
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Anonymous
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A few suggestions from a twin mom who has done several cross country and trans-atlantic flights with my now 5yo twins...if you are a germaphobe, do NOT rent carseats or pack 'n' plays. You can pre-ship the PnP which is probably cheaper than paying the extra $$ for checking extra bags on the plane. Check the carseats and gatecheck your REGULAR double stroller. The kids can ride in the stroller (that way they are contained and not running wild through the airport). While the jogging stroller might be smoother, it will be a total pain to bring on the plane and get through security. NOTE: You have to fold your stroller down and have it go through the security screening belts.
Another option for sleeping is to see if someone in your family knows someone through their community that will allow you to borrow two pack n plays. That will solve that problem. As for the plane, you're definitely going to have your hands full with the kids on your laps. Hope for a not-full flight and extra seats, for sure. Otherwise, bring lots for them to look at (a DVD player, new books and a couple new small toys to occupy their time). Another thing I do is bring snacks and candy that I wouldn't normally give my kids. A lollipop for relieving air pressure in their ears (or a sippy cup with juice instead of usual water) will help. I'll be honest, the flights are probably going to totally suck. It's just difficult to fly with two 20 month olds, but they may surprise you. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best is my motto! And once you're there it will have been worth the hassle. ENJOY! |
Anonymous
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Lots of questions but let me see if I can answer them (my kids are 3.5 now). We flew with the kids when they were less than 2. We gate-checked the double stroller. We have done both for the carseats. We rented the seats from the rental car company and recently checked the seats with our bags. It was definitely easier to rent them rather than carry them on our backs while holding kids' hands. I wouldn't bother taking one on the plane but it's enough for me to keep up with them, my purse, and a backpack (your diaperbag). At that age, my son had already climbed out of his pack n play so I cannot help with that. I have rented cribs and it wasn't a problem. Just wipe everything down before you put them in. You can also use an air mattress (we do that at the beach house during the summer). Or...they have travel beds at One Step Ahead if you want to purchase those. My son is huge so I didn't want to invest the money but I have heard great things about them. Oh yeah, let them look out the window if possible. That keeps mine busy for a bit. Not sure about entertainment other than what you have named.
Hope this helps 
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Anonymous
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I only have one toddler, and I get extremely anxious flying with my really active son, so I'm sending good kharma your way. Although I haven't juggled two while flying, these are things that I find helpful:
- I'd check the carseast because a) you are familiar with how they adjust and install; if you rent and need to read up on a different model that could add a lot of time to getting in the car, especially with two toddlers who are full of energy, b) you can check carseats for free (with luggage) so if you buy a carseat bag with wheels and/or backpack straps, it's fairly easy to stuff extra stuff in with the seat, therefore saving room and pounds in your suitcase - Go with a smaller stroller. Personally, the advantages of being able to manuever better in the airport outweigh the pluses that a jogging stroller offer - My 15 mo really liked ripping up the skymall magazine and putting the peices in and out of the barf bag, watching out the window, playing with ice, eating new snacks, and sorting cheerios in different sized stacking cups. |
Anonymous
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I only have a singleton, but we flew w/ him to Florida when he was abut 18 mos., so I hope some of this might be helpful.
You mentioned "getting in line" to get your pick of seats; with S/W, you can (and should) check in online 24 hours -- that's 24 hours to the second -- in advance to get the coveted "A" boarding pass. If you miss this, know that families, regardless of their check-in number, now get to board between the A and B groups. Remember to bring your kids' birth certificates. S/W won't let them fly as lap kids if you don't have official proof they're under two. When you get to the airport, check everything possible. (Including the car seats -- extra seats on the plane seem to be a thing of the past, although I suppose it wouldn't hurt to ask at check-in.) This will make your trip to the gate so much easier. Keep the kids in the stroller unless you're exercising them. (See below.) If you're flying out of BWI, ask at the check-in counter for directions to the observation deck -- it's this totally awesome, kid-friendly, completely free indoor playspace, with lots of stuff to climb on and space to run around. Otherwise be prepared to do laps around the concourse to tire them out before boarding. Preboard ONLY one parent and as much gear as they can carry (including lollies for takeoff and landing and a change of clothes for everyone). They commandeer the seats while the other adult stays outside with the kids, running them around one last time before the final boarding call. Warn the kids in advance that the plane is a sit-down operation. Talk about how they can look out the window, play with their toys, etc., but won't be able to walk around until everyone gets off again. They'll pick up the general gist, and it won't come as such a shock when you won't let them wander in the aisle. When everything else fails, play with the overhead lights and vent and show them how the window shade goes up and down. Florida is the Land of the Grandparent and thus has a crazy amount of baby gear for rent. Seriously think about renting (and wiping down) pack n plays; if it makes you feel better, bring your own sheets. Or check out the Phil & Ted's travel cot, which looks like a PnP but supposedly weighs 6 whole lbs. It's such a short trip that I think attempting to bring/ship two of your own play yards will make you insane. Pack light. Give yourselves more than enough time. And when all else fails, buy drinks for the people sitting around you. |
Anonymous
| We flew in February with my then 22-mo old and his older sister. It was his first flight and we were very worried. We went on JetBlue and he ended up watching TV the whole time. We checked car seats for both kids. We got two seats in one aisle (window and center) and the two right behind it for the four of us - that way the kids could look out the window. They were pretty fascinated by the plane, stewards, snacks, etc. and were really so good. We brought a couple books, a couple little cars and a toy airplane, but not a ton of stuff. We really were suprised at how well they traveled. |
Anonymous
| I also think that you might not be able to all fit in the same row, since the kids don't have their own seats. I'm fairly certain that most planes have no more than 4 oxygen masks in each row, so if the plane is full you would have 5 total (you, DH, 2 kids, plus poor other person in your row). Double check with SW when you board - you'll want to plan accordingly. |
Anonymous
This is true. I have 3 year old twins and have flown with them 10+ times. You can't have 2 lap babies in the same row since there are only 4 Oxygen masks. However, if there is an empty seat, SW will let you have it (for free) to put a car seat in so you can all sit together. |
Anonymous
| We just came back from a trip to FL on Southwet with a very active 2 year old boy and an active 4 year old girl. There is good advice above, especially checking in online exactly 24 hours in advance. Also, I suggest you sit in the last row (take the aisle seats on the left and right side). There's more room to let the kids move around a bit at the back of the plane. We also got a small backpack for each of the kids and packed a favorite book, a coloring book, a few crayons in a ziplock and a favorite small toy our two. Having two extra bags to drag through the airport was a bit of a pain, but worth it because letting the kids go into their backpacks and pick out a toy was an activity itself. Snacks are key. Have a variety of snacks with just a small amount in separate baggies. Don't forget to pack an extra set of snacks in your luggage so that you have them handy for the return trip. |
Anonymous
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You can do this!! It will be ok!
My twins are 25 months and we'll be doing much the same on Wed. but heading north rather than south. We've done a lot of travel with them, starting with flying when they were 10 weeks old. It was SO much easier then. There is some great advice here already. Some more to add: + Don't forget snacks for you and your DH that are easy to eat quickly and with one hand! Also bring at least a change of shirt for you both. Don't drink much -- it'll be hard to go to the loo. 
+ Be sure to get the tags to gate check your stroller as soon as you get to the gate (my vote is for the double Combi rather than jogger), rather than waiting until they call you up to board between groups "a" and "b." That way you are ready to go as soon as you leave your stroller at the end of the gangway. + Stickers are great, as are those wonder markers. + My vote is to check your carseats. There are eddie bauer bags at Target that are so worth it to check them in. You never know where the rented ones have been... Good luck and have fun!! |
Anonymous
OP Here--thank you all so much for all your advice. My anxiety is not nearly as high but I am still nervous. I could not get my 19 month old son to sit still for 5 minutes last night so I could cut his nails. ARGH!! I'm so nervous about this flight.
Question: Wont the kids want to run into the back of the plane where they keep all the snacks and other cool things if I pick the seats at the very back of the plane? Also, thanks to the ppl who mentioned that we might not be able to sit together. I didn't even think about that. Question: If the third seat is empty will they allow us to sit together? Like two lap kids but actually two adults, one kid in a lap and one kid in a seat?? That's still 4 ppl and only 3 oxygen masks.
Can anyone recommend a portable DVD player. This might help as my twins are starting to get into TV. Do any of them have two headphone slots so they both can listen with headphones at the same time? Thanks again for all your advice. This really helps a great deal! |
Anonymous
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OP-here again. Sorry I rad wrong. I thought it was 3 Oxygen masks, not 4.
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Anonymous
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Can't read or write today. That should say..."Sorry I read wrong."
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Anonymous
Re running around the back of the plane -- that is kind of the point. Maybe not running, but there is more room for them to stand up and move their legs a bit in the last row and in the galley or whatever it is called. Our kids associated the flight attendants with snacks, not the back of the plane; they didn't seem to know that is where they were stored so they weren't trying to go through stuff. Also, some of the people who go back there to use the bathroom will talk to your kids, as will the flight attendants, so that can occupy them for a bit. |
Anonymous
| We have a Panasonic DVD player and its been great - look for a long battery life. I don't think ours has more than one headphone outlet, but my husband recently bought a spliter and seems to think that will do the trick for two sets of headphones next time we use it. |