This weekend, the hubs, Abbers and myself will be taking a little trip “up nort” to a family member’s wedding. We’ll be staying in a hotel for the first time with our little firecracker. I’m nervous, but it’s only one night, and if she hates the hotel’s crib she can always crash with us in our bed. Assuming we got a king. And a ice bucket full of sleeping pills. (FOR ME, jerks. I wouldn’t give any to her. She wouldn’t need it if I can’t hear her through the Ambien haze.)
Anyway, any fear I originally had for this weekend is being grossly overshadowed by what will be happening in roughly 2 weeks. We’re taking her highness (and ourselves) on a plane to the land of Rice o Roni.
I keep trying to think about all the crap we need to get/buy/do/plan for to make this flight land safely and not with me on a stretcher in a 4 alarm panic attack. Luckily we’ll be staying with my Uncle & his family (including 4 year old twin boys and an older brother she’s never met), so many items we’d need they’ll be able to supply. But we’re planning on renting a car. Do we just rent a car seat? Bring ours with? If we do, do we check it in? Or check it at the gate? Do we bother bringing juice boxes for her only to be accosted at security for bringing liquids? Do I shave my head now to avoid pulling my hair out when she cries incessantly on the flight? WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DOOOOO?!?!
great, now I made her cry.
Yes, this is a cry for help. I’m looking for any and all advice about traveling with a toddler. Please and thank you.
srsly… just accept defeat now. do it. just… woosahhhh, dude. that’s the only way to get through it. you’re going to have a small terrorist on your hands, and if you accept it now, it’s better. buy her her own seat, first and foremost. take your own carseat, and have her sit in it in her own seat- if they are traveling in something they are already used to, it makes it easier.and snacks dude. get lots of snacks.
Bring your own car seat and check it plane side. That way you know it makes it! Don’t bring juice boxes, just her sippy. They should have juice to fill her cup on the plane. You will be aloud an extra carry on for her so take advantage!
Check with the airlines for their policy on children under 2 for identification. Some want a birth certificate or passport to verify they are under 2. If you can afford the extra ticket then do it. If not don’t stress, bring lots of snacks and plane friendly toys and ignore any looks! Hello have they never had to travel with a little one before?!?! Good luck! She will do just fine!!
bring a portable dvd player and her favorite shows/movies, bring a couple of her favorite toys and a couple brand new never-before-seen toys to surprise her with on the plane. crayons, books, whatever will keep her busy. And be prepared to get up, often, on the plane. We usually bag-check the car seat and gate check the stroller, on Southwest, neither count as “baggage” against your count. Oh, and somebody told me to bring lollipops for them to suck on during take-off/landing so their ears don’t hurt, I don’t know if it works for that, but it certainly gets Z excited about flying bc he knows he’s getting a lollipop. Good Luck!!
Christine recently posted..you learn quickly GRASSHOPPA!
Yes on the DVD player. We had a car seat that was approved for planes and since we always got him his own seat we just used it on plane. I always bring something to suck on for them like dum-dums. They’re also a reminder of my mental being. Dumb. Bring a new toy in your carry on that she hasn’t seen. Then if you NEED to break it out in desperation, you can. The sleeping in the hotel has always been a nightmare. We usually try to get a suite so we can at least stay up and watch tv when the kids go to bed so early.
When i flew across country for my old roommates wedding, with a 4 month old, by myself, for a weekend (yes i had a death wish)… I too rented a car but I also rented the car seat. IF i was with the hubs I might have brought ours but really why pack an extra item. It came with the car in a nice sanitized bag and she was fine!
Get a portable DVD player (or i-pad), elmo, etc are your friends!
LOTS OF SNACKS, enough said.
Have passy/bottle/sippy cup ready to help with ear pops.
Bring extra clothes on board for YOU AND your baby.
If she’s sitting in your lap for the flight then bring one of those sleep neck pillows, it will work well to rest your arm on/let her rest on, etc. OH AND a blanket of some kind. The airline ones suck and often charge now and she’ll want it!
traveling with a toddler?!?!?!
what is this crazy talk?
erm yeah- we travel by car because i’m incabable of only bringing 1oz of lotion on the plane. haaaa.
good luck!
t.bird recently posted..5 months old
Thanks for all the helpful hints! Seriously – every single one of these comments is helping to calm my worry-butt down! Thank you!!