The following is written by contributing writer: Fitness Mommy
You did it. You went online, you bought your plane tickets and now, you're scared. The grandparents begged you to come visit and now you have sentenced yourself to being enclosed in a massive aircraft with your two kids--ALONE. What were you thinking? If you are anything like me, you were thinking that you just got a great deal on plane tickets! Now, the reality of actually traveling alone with your little ones has set in. It's not the end of the world. It's the beginning of some crafty planning.
If your kids are anything like mine, they just need entertained. The best way to do that is to be prepared. The age difference between my kids is 4 1/2 years, so what is entertaining for one, is definitely not for the other. I can hand my daughter her Nintendo DS and she's content for an hour. Give the DS to my 2-year-old son, and it's going to end up on the lap of the guy 3 rows behind us.
For the trip we just made a few months back, I had some help from my husband. While one would be happy, the other needed attention and with two parents, it's easy. Traveling alone, well, it's not always the case. Not only must you balance everything you need to do to get on the plane (going through security, being a main one!), but you need to keep your kids happy so you aren't the one apologizing to everyone on the plane for their unruliness.
I'm taking the kids to visit Pa and Grandma in a month and I'm not doing this blindly. I have carefully crafted every step, anticipating all detours that may be in my path, with hopes that this is not only a successful trip for the kids, but for me and the other passengers, as well!
Packing:
1. Find out how much you can bring. If you are flying with an airline that has bag restrictions, as most do, you will want to know what you can bring without being charged. Find out about the stroller, the carseats and what will count as your carry-on. You don't want to start off your trip being frustrated because the lady behind the counter is going to charge you $25 for the carseat you HAVE to bring. Call ahead and make sure you know.
2. Put the necessary paperwork in your diaper bag or purse. You don't want to get to the airport with your newborn (who is clearly a newborn) but the people working there insist that he/she is over 2 and now want to charge you for another seat. Most airlines want a birth certificate, but others will take the child's shot records, too. If you are going to be away from home for an extended period of time, you'll want to have the shot records anyway.
3. Wipes, wipes and more wipes. If you are a mom, you already know why I'm saying this. Wipes will come in handy everywhere...just trust me on this one. While you are stocking up, you might as well grab a pack of antibacterial wipes, too.
4. Be prepared in case the flight is delayed or canceled. Throw in extra diapers, formula and snacks. You know you'll be able to pick random stuff up at the airport, but make sure you have enough of the necessities to last you overnight, in case something happens.
On the plane:
1. The loudest part of the plane is over the wings. So, if you have a screamer, it might not be too bad of an idea to sit there. My suggestion is to sit as far back as you can -- closest to the bathroom, and in the aisle or near the window. For toddlers, the window seat is best because they can look out and entertain themselves for 5 minutes. If you are nursing, sitting by the window will give you much more privacy. But, if you have a lap baby who can get antsy, the aisle could be nice for stretching out and easier for taking walks.
2. Don't be afraid to whip out the portable DVD player (even if it doesn't have headphones). If it gives you just a little bit of peace and quiet, your neighbors shouldn't mind listening to the soundtrack.
3. Pull out treats and activities slowly. Don't throw all the goodies to them at one time. If you have a long flight, it might be nice to have something new to play with or eat every half hour. For me, I love those Color Wonder products. Not only are they easy to transport, you have no mess.
4. Know that lots of other people on the plane have been through what you are going through. If your kid freaks out, do what you can to calm them down, but don't worry about what the other passengers may think of you. You will never see them again, but you'll be with your child for the rest of your life. It's more important to do what you can to tend to your kid, than to worry about what a stranger will say to you. Remember, you'll never see them again...
I’ve driven from San Diego to Pittsburgh and then from Pittsburgh to Tampa in one trip (with two little ones under 5) and while I wouldn't necessarily volunteer to do it for fun, I found that the kids respond to their mother’s attitude and feelings. If you try and make the trip fun and more like an adventure, they will respond to it in a more positive way too. Just don't forget to have fun...and bring lots of stuff...because you can't be a mother without bringing lots of stuff!
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