S/o tips for big trip with two toddlers

[Anonymous]

We are flying- for the first time due to covid- with our 1 and 2 year old next week. Cross country flight then some driving (max two hours a day, during nap). Any tips to get through it?

-bringing car seats on plane (thanks DCUM for that suggestion)
-two hotel rooms, one parent will be in each room with a kid
-our 2 year old will happily be glued to an iPad for hours, the younger one just wants to crawl and explore so more worried about him

I'm mostly worried about night sleep for the older toddler who is a horrific sleeper and will be so excited by her new environment I'm worried she just won't sleep. Any tips appreciated! I'm very nervous about how this is all going to go.

[Anonymous]

From traveling with twins, my advice:

Sit in first class if you can. More room for kids to wiggle.
Bring lots of snacks.
Bring little toys with you, stuff for kids to play with on the plane (keys, phone, etc).
Lots of wipes and trash bag for gross stuff

I never brought car seats on the plane and that sounds more difficult to me, but you may have a different experience. Kids that age do not really sit in their seats - they sit in your lap, stand up on the seat, stand up on you, etc. A car seat would make that harder to do (unless you are gate checking them?).

Try to replicate sleep at home (noise machine if you have one, blackout curtains -- use a towel or blanket to cover the windows, maybe ship a pack n play to the hotel?, blankies & lovies they are used to).

[Anonymous]

Vacation sleep is pretty miserable. I’d consider getting one of those privacy tents to try to provide more darkness/privacy. I just got back from a trip where my 2 yo kept trying to climb out of the pack n play- fml.

[Anonymous]

I’d check the car seats. It will be a huge PITA to lug them, diaper bag, carry on and kids on and off the plane. Believe me, you won’t have the space or ease to set those things up, and car seats must go only at window seats so you and spouse may be split in locations on the plane with a kid apiece if you have two car seats. 2yo can sit in his seat with lap belt (buy a CARES harness on amazon if you need to strap him down more); ask flight attendant for lap infant seatbelt to hold baby during takeoff and landing.

Being gallon ziplocks for garbage, dirty clothes, containing random stuff. Extra set of clothes for both kids in carry on. Hand wipes and Lysol wipes. New fun toys (dollar spot at Target) to pull out as needed; all the snacks; iPad preloaded with videos (don’t rely on plane wifi which may suck or not be offered). If flight is during meals pack lunches for them (I do a bento box with stuff that doesn’t have to be cold like PBJ, fruit, veggie sticks).

Since you have two hotel rooms ask for adjoining if possible. Put both kids in one of you can so you can watch tv and talk in other room as they sleep. White noise app, AC on, darkened room works well. Ask for two cribs at check in if older still used to one. Keep routine as similar as possible: dinner, bath, story, bed. Have snacks like dry cereal, pouches, and boxed shelf stable milk ready to go for a breakfast snack in the room when they are up.

[Anonymous]

We went to Europe pre-COVID and our kids were the same age as yours.

1--Pack two to three sets of clothes for the kids and two sets for yourself/DH to have in-flight (kids throw up/throw up on you) and pack an extra pack of wipes to clean up.
2--Bring three/four trash bags on flight.
3--We brought our double stroller (free of charge), but rented car seats from the car rental company.
4--Request pack/play/crib from the hotel for the youngest one and bring fitted sheet and a blanket. Some hotels provide the sheets, some do not.
5--Getting two rooms or a suite is smart...so everyone sleeps/
6--Bring baby tylenol/travel size dish soap/bottle sanitizing bags.
7--Bring a thermos and get hot water from the hotel bar to mix formula overnight.

Our two-year started throwing up in-flight due to an ear infection and we had to take him to a doctor in Europe, but it was cheap like 50 bucks a visit.

[Anonymous]

PACKING TIPS:
Pack at least one set of clothing for each adult in carry-on. And 2-3 sets for kids. In luggage, pack a mix of clothes in each bag. It seems like overkill until the bag with all the diapers in it gets rerouted to Boise by mistake. If you check two bags, e.g., pack half of each person’s clothes and half of the diapers etc. in each bag. In your carry-on, always have an assortment of ziplock bags. Make sure to pack anything you might need if somebody gets sick: paperwork with their immunization records and any other medical info and insurance info, as well as OTC meds. With toddlers, pack chewable zyrtec and honey in case they get a cold. Zyrtec is safe for 2 and up, just check with your doctor, but if they are sick and need to fly home it can be a lifesaver. Also always pack chewable benadryl and cortizone cream in case they have an allergic reaction to something.

If they have a special lovey or stuffy, buy a backup (or three) if you can. If not, bring a clear plastic bag and zip the stuffies away for all transitions—like once you land the plane, they go in the bag where kid can see it but it is attached to mommy’s suitcase until we get into the rental car.

Pack active toys for the airport—I usually do bubbles (like the size you get as wedding favors) and punchballoons. Get there a little before your flight and let them run around exploring everything, and let them chase bubbles or try to hit your hand with the balloons.

FOR THE FLIGHT:
Pack lollipops (I like the Queasy Pops kind because they help with motion sickness too) or hard candies for them for takeoff and landing. Screen time is great, but if they are too young for it, pack a handful of little figurines and wrap each one in several layers of aluminum foil. Pack rolls of washi tape in bright colors—just like stickers but easier cleanup. I have also had success with an empty plastic bottle and a stack of colorful popsicle sticks for the baby to put into the bottle. When it’s full it becomes a rattle (somewhat annoying maybe but better than a crying baby), then you dump it again and let them put the sticks back in. Colorwonder stuff or a magnadoodle is also good at this age if your kid likes to scribble. Or a paint with water set.

FOR THE DRIVE:
Record yourself reading some of their favorite stories so that you can play it for them in the car. Bubbles and punchballoons turn any stop into a chance to run around.

FOR SLEEP:
Choose a hotel with a pool where you can. Swimming really wears them out and kind of cancels out the sitting still of the drive time. I also always pack 1 mg melatonin gummies. You can break them in half for that age. It is enough of a boost to help them chill out at bedtime so they can actually sleep.