We are taking our 2-year-old daughter to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I'm pretty anxious about the trip. We went down two years ago, when she was just a 4-month-old infant, and it was not terribly difficult, but this was before the new travel restrictions - and before she became mobile, willful, and inclined to fuss and scream when her immediate needs aren't being met.
We're taking a car seat to use on the plane (she is a ticketed passenger), and an umbrella stroller. Any problems getting these items through security (MDW and FLL)? How much extra time should we allow, and does anyone have tips for keeping her entertained and relatively happy during the 3-hour flight?
Answer
You'll be fine. It's no big deal if you plan ahead.
I have travelled quite a bit with both my kids. I've even done it solo. It can be daunting but I have learned a few tricks.
1. It sounds like you already have your trip booked, but just in case, try to book a flight that coincides with your little one's natural sleep pattern so she is more likely to sleep on the flight. Her natural cycle combined with the white noise of the airplane will likely have her nodding off before take off. Even if it isn't her normal sleep time, the white noise makes a lot of kids very groggy.
2. You're smart to take a stroller. If it's a small, umbrella type, you'll breeze through security. You'll have to take her out and collapse it so they can run it through the machine. If it's a bit bigger, it takes a few minutes extra for them to examine it by hand. It's still pretty easy. I actually took a double jogging stroller this last trip. It was no more difficult and actually made my life easier.
3. If she has a little backpack, let her carry it on. If she doesn't have one, find a small bag that can be her personal carry on bag. My oldest loves having his own bag. Stuff it with small toys with a few that she has never seen before. These don't need to be fancy. Just little things. I sometimes wrap a couple like gifts to open to add to the distraction factor. I alway take crayola wonder coloring books and markers. The markers only write on the special paper and they are non toxic if they go in the mouth. If your daughter is a thrower, be wary of things that serve as projectiles with other passengers as the targets. My son loves little animal figures and action figures. Two of those and his imagination keep him happy for ages. If she has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, let her take them on the plane. Don't worry about trying to fit the blanket in a carry on. Just hang it over the stroller or stuff it through a loop on one of the carry on bags. If she's a DVD watcher, bring one of those little DVD players and a couple of her favorite movies. Be aware that she'll need to use headphones and you will want to test the volume to make sure her ears aren't damaged.
4. Bring a sippy cup and her favorite snacks. Most flight attendants will happily pour some juice or water into the sippy cup for you. ( You can't bring liquids through security). A variety of snacks will keep her happy at intervals. Drinking the juice while taking off and landing will help her ears immensely.
5. Leave at least 20-30 minutes extra time. You may not need the extra time, but there are usually those unexpected moments with young children. If you need the extra time, you'll be glad you planned for it.
6. Get a bag for your carseat. They are a nightmare to carry without a bag. Dex makes one with a single strap that lets you carry the car seat like a backpack.
http://www.babyant.com/bv550165.html
It will fit any carseat made. Just put it in the bag before you leave, when you have more space and less pressure in your home than you would outside the airport. Don't worry about taking it out of the bag to lock it in. YOu can just unzip the bag and slide it down the sides of the car seat leaving the base in the bottom of the bag. You will need to plan for a few minutes for this to get through security. Some carseats are too big to go through the machine, so they check it out by hand. You can also stuff any blankets or toys in the bag with the seat to carry.
7. At security be prepared for the following. Everyone, including your daughter, will need to remove their shoes and jackets to run them through. You will need to take her out of the stroller and run that through security. This gets a bit hectic if you have a lot of carry on gear, and travelling with kids usually means you do have a lot of carry on gear. You cannot take liquids through, so any sippy cups will need to be empty.
8. When you get to the gate, inform them that you have a stroller to gate check. If you have a connection, let them know you want the stroller brought up at the connecting airport. They will give you a pink tag to put on the stroller with all of your flight info. You will wheel this down the area way and take your daughter out and collapse the stroller just outside the plane. Just leave it there, and they come get it to stow it underneath and bring it up when you arrive at our connection and final destination. It sometimes take a few minutes for them to bring it up, so no need to rush off the plane.
9. When it comes to boarding, most airlines allow people with young children to board first or early. Even if they don't mention it, push your way through. Getting that carseat buckled in with a line of people behind you is stressful. Give yourself as much latitude as you can to make your trip less stressful.
10. As you're seating yourself, make sure your daughter's bag and your bag with any goodies for her are easily accessi
You'll be fine. It's no big deal if you plan ahead.
I have travelled quite a bit with both my kids. I've even done it solo. It can be daunting but I have learned a few tricks.
1. It sounds like you already have your trip booked, but just in case, try to book a flight that coincides with your little one's natural sleep pattern so she is more likely to sleep on the flight. Her natural cycle combined with the white noise of the airplane will likely have her nodding off before take off. Even if it isn't her normal sleep time, the white noise makes a lot of kids very groggy.
2. You're smart to take a stroller. If it's a small, umbrella type, you'll breeze through security. You'll have to take her out and collapse it so they can run it through the machine. If it's a bit bigger, it takes a few minutes extra for them to examine it by hand. It's still pretty easy. I actually took a double jogging stroller this last trip. It was no more difficult and actually made my life easier.
3. If she has a little backpack, let her carry it on. If she doesn't have one, find a small bag that can be her personal carry on bag. My oldest loves having his own bag. Stuff it with small toys with a few that she has never seen before. These don't need to be fancy. Just little things. I sometimes wrap a couple like gifts to open to add to the distraction factor. I alway take crayola wonder coloring books and markers. The markers only write on the special paper and they are non toxic if they go in the mouth. If your daughter is a thrower, be wary of things that serve as projectiles with other passengers as the targets. My son loves little animal figures and action figures. Two of those and his imagination keep him happy for ages. If she has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, let her take them on the plane. Don't worry about trying to fit the blanket in a carry on. Just hang it over the stroller or stuff it through a loop on one of the carry on bags. If she's a DVD watcher, bring one of those little DVD players and a couple of her favorite movies. Be aware that she'll need to use headphones and you will want to test the volume to make sure her ears aren't damaged.
4. Bring a sippy cup and her favorite snacks. Most flight attendants will happily pour some juice or water into the sippy cup for you. ( You can't bring liquids through security). A variety of snacks will keep her happy at intervals. Drinking the juice while taking off and landing will help her ears immensely.
5. Leave at least 20-30 minutes extra time. You may not need the extra time, but there are usually those unexpected moments with young children. If you need the extra time, you'll be glad you planned for it.
6. Get a bag for your carseat. They are a nightmare to carry without a bag. Dex makes one with a single strap that lets you carry the car seat like a backpack.
http://www.babyant.com/bv550165.html
It will fit any carseat made. Just put it in the bag before you leave, when you have more space and less pressure in your home than you would outside the airport. Don't worry about taking it out of the bag to lock it in. YOu can just unzip the bag and slide it down the sides of the car seat leaving the base in the bottom of the bag. You will need to plan for a few minutes for this to get through security. Some carseats are too big to go through the machine, so they check it out by hand. You can also stuff any blankets or toys in the bag with the seat to carry.
7. At security be prepared for the following. Everyone, including your daughter, will need to remove their shoes and jackets to run them through. You will need to take her out of the stroller and run that through security. This gets a bit hectic if you have a lot of carry on gear, and travelling with kids usually means you do have a lot of carry on gear. You cannot take liquids through, so any sippy cups will need to be empty.
8. When you get to the gate, inform them that you have a stroller to gate check. If you have a connection, let them know you want the stroller brought up at the connecting airport. They will give you a pink tag to put on the stroller with all of your flight info. You will wheel this down the area way and take your daughter out and collapse the stroller just outside the plane. Just leave it there, and they come get it to stow it underneath and bring it up when you arrive at our connection and final destination. It sometimes take a few minutes for them to bring it up, so no need to rush off the plane.
9. When it comes to boarding, most airlines allow people with young children to board first or early. Even if they don't mention it, push your way through. Getting that carseat buckled in with a line of people behind you is stressful. Give yourself as much latitude as you can to make your trip less stressful.
10. As you're seating yourself, make sure your daughter's bag and your bag with any goodies for her are easily accessi
Airline regulations when traveling with Toddlers?
California
We are travelling on an airplane next month with my 2 year old and 4 year old. From the FAA website, I know that I can bring a carseat for my 2 year old (but not my 4 year old who is over 40 lbs), and juice (in a bag) for both. Are there any other limitiations concerning food? We'd normally bring snacks (crackers and fruit), but I can't find if this is even allowed to carry on any longer. Anyone with recent experience?
Thanks!
Answer
When I went to Hawaii with my son (almost 2) and daughter 4 I brought tons of snacks. Crackers, chips, gum, Ruby's cheeseburger and french fries, etc. They even allowed me to bring baby applesauce on with me. I also brought some strawberries and raspberries but had to eat them all before we got off the plane. (Rules of Hawaii) One thing that helped was I brought empty sippy cups and as soon as we got on requested cans of apple juice. Then you don't have to worry about them spilling the flimsy plastic cups.
Some toys that my kids liked were those magnadoodle and aquadoodle. Just fill up the pens with water on the airplane. You are allowed 3 ounce of liquid but why bother. I would rather not be held up with security with two kids.
If you bring baby food make sure to tell them about it at the checkpoint.
I ended up checking a bag with snacks, water, and juice boxes so we would have some ready when we got off the plane.
Also about carseats. I checked my carseats. My son was under two and didn't have his own seat. And airplanes do not let you use booster seats. It was nice not to have to lug those up to the gate too. If you think it will help your 2 year old sit still then I would suggest it. Get a carseat carrying backpack. It is so nice!! I fit a carseat, booster seat, and huge pack of diapers into it. I got mine on www.babycenter.com
You can take your stroller all the way up to the gate. This was nice because we used it to carry our bags too. At the gate they put it underneath and then when you get off the plane it is waiting for you at the door of the airplane.
Oh...one more thing. Have you and your children wear shoes that are easy to take on and off.
When I went to Hawaii with my son (almost 2) and daughter 4 I brought tons of snacks. Crackers, chips, gum, Ruby's cheeseburger and french fries, etc. They even allowed me to bring baby applesauce on with me. I also brought some strawberries and raspberries but had to eat them all before we got off the plane. (Rules of Hawaii) One thing that helped was I brought empty sippy cups and as soon as we got on requested cans of apple juice. Then you don't have to worry about them spilling the flimsy plastic cups.
Some toys that my kids liked were those magnadoodle and aquadoodle. Just fill up the pens with water on the airplane. You are allowed 3 ounce of liquid but why bother. I would rather not be held up with security with two kids.
If you bring baby food make sure to tell them about it at the checkpoint.
I ended up checking a bag with snacks, water, and juice boxes so we would have some ready when we got off the plane.
Also about carseats. I checked my carseats. My son was under two and didn't have his own seat. And airplanes do not let you use booster seats. It was nice not to have to lug those up to the gate too. If you think it will help your 2 year old sit still then I would suggest it. Get a carseat carrying backpack. It is so nice!! I fit a carseat, booster seat, and huge pack of diapers into it. I got mine on www.babycenter.com
You can take your stroller all the way up to the gate. This was nice because we used it to carry our bags too. At the gate they put it underneath and then when you get off the plane it is waiting for you at the door of the airplane.
Oh...one more thing. Have you and your children wear shoes that are easy to take on and off.
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