May Fly to Texas-need Advice

Hi M.,

I recently responded to someone asking about holding her infant on her lap during a flight. I realize this is done all the time, and the usual logic is "if we crashed, a carseat wouldn't make a difference." That's really not the issue to think about. It's what happens to your sweet girls if you hit some turbulence, which happens with some regularity. They are SO much safer in their carseats. You'd have to call the airline on which you intend to fly to ask about whether they count as carry on luggage, but I would doubt it. On Southwest, passengers traveling with young children are allowed to board first so they can install their carseats, etc. I have flown and driven with young children, and a lot depends upon how far you have to travel each day. Two or three days of being in the car is hard for kiddos, but if you can spread your travel time over a week and do some sightseeing on the way, that can be fun. All other things being equal, I'd probably fly! Just keep your babies safe in any case!

C.

i also have twins and we moved across country when they were 9 months old. We have since then flown back and forth many times and it got a bit harder as they got older - the best thing is to pack new toys that they haven't seen so that they are new to them - we also bought the portable dvd players for each of them - just plugging in the cords and pushing the buttons kept the busy, not to mention the movies they saw - i took einstein movies and headphones for them -- we put them on our laps which you are able to do until age 2 - wasn't bad -- you'll have a much shorter flight than what i am used to - we do california to illinois so california to arizona will be manageable -- i take plenty of snacks. i don't mess with bringing the car seat - you have enough to carry already. and to be on the "good side" of any crabby passengers sitting next to us - i always "apologize ahead of time" before we take off for anything that might happen with my girls -- this usually lightens the mood for the people who you sit next to and who obviously freak out when they see TWINS sitting next to them. best of luck!

Hi,
I have a 10 and 3 year old and have done a ton of air traveling with both of them at every age. I won't lie to you, it's not easy with toddlers. They are the most difficult. BUT it can be done. I really can't imagine a car trip for that long with them. That would be an enormous amount of time spent tied up in a car seat. I say, just bite the bullet, fly, and know it will be over in about 3 hours. You can take car seats on the plane if you plan on using them in the seats. Which means you have to pay for two seats. Technically they can fly as lap children for free because they are under 2 years old. That means you hold them. Since you have two, I would buy 3 seats, a whole row to yourselves. They will want to stand, sit switch laps, be able to move around a bit. If you have a whole row to yourselves you won't be worried about some stranger sitting next to you. I never used the car seat on the airplane.
Here's a a couple of tips. First, (and I will get alot of flack from many mother's I'm sure) give them a little benadryl. It is totally harmless and will either help them sleep on the plane or just make them alot calmer. It makes a huge difference! Then, if you have or can get a portable DVD player, or use a laptop so they can watch some of their favorite videos. They may not be glued to the screen the whole time (toddlers usually aren't) but it will help alot too. Have a lot of little snacks and make them the fun kind. The kind the will be excited to sit and eat. Books are good. The light weight paper kind, not the board books. small amounts of playdough. I always buy a couple of new things they haven't seen yet. When you pull them out of your bag on the plane they will be far more interested than if it's something they have played with a million times. The other thing they will love to do is pull the window shade up and down 50 million times. It's good entertainment. You need alot of stuff and will feel loaded down but it is worth it. When my son was a toddler and very energetic I always took the latest flight I could find at night. I gave him some benadryl and he would sleep almost the whole flight and that IS HEAVEN!!
Good Luck.

Hi there, not sure how long the flight is to Texas, but sometimes it is easier to do a shotgun approach with a flight than a long drawn out car drive - which is probably harder for a 15 month old.

Car seats are optional - you can check them in as luggage (they are over and above your 2 piece max) - I have also seen some people with car seats on planes, but not so much for that age group. They can just sit on the seats. I try to book the flights around my son's nap time, so he gets super-excited about being at the airport and looking at the planes and by the time we board he usually conks out after taking off. If not, I use motrin - works like a charm. Good luck.

Hi! You will be fine flying.. I have a one year old now, and we have always taken him with us flying, Utah, Las vegas, Mexico,... hes "usually" fine... You do need a car seat, and if the airlines has open seats they give your baby and her car seats priority~ so even if you didn't pay for a seat ticket you get a seat. But thats only if it's not a full flight. And I would say yes take it as carry on, in case any luggage is lost you do NOT want it to be a car seat...imagine after check in, flight, waiting for luggage, and then not being able to leave the airport because you don't have a car seat. no way. Also my advice is bring plenty of snacks for them and toys to keep them occupied during the flight. And I always give my son a little tylenol before the flight...I guess I'm kinda drugging him.. but better that than a screaming baby for however many hours you'll be flying.. And one more thing try to feed them or get them to drink something during take off and landing so their ears clear. Good luck!!

I have been flying with my children since they were born. Up to 2 years they can fly free as lap children. They are not required to have carseats. Some airlines do have infant/toddler fares (you will have to call to get a price, not online) and then you can bring the carseat aboard as carry on. You can check strollers at the gate as claim luggage. That does not count as part of your checked baggage. There is no extra baggage allowance when you travel with a "lap child", so consider that when you are packing. Maybe you can borrow items from people on the other side. Also, be sure they have something to suck on or eat, i.e. pacifiers, sippy cups, crackers for take off and landing. It helps equalize their ears. My girls enjoy flying and get excited when they can wheel their carry on bags to the plane (and its quite cute still!). I haee flown with my son recently and am about to do it again across country. Flying is easy if you can reamin calm! :-)

You check the strollers and the car seat as luggage, they do put plastic bags around it and a luggage tag. If you do fly children under 2 are free and you dont buy a ticket for them they will just set on your lap. Good luck. Flying with small children is alot easier and faster. Children little legs just hang in the car set. Trust me, i flew a few times when my daughter was 2 mos old and when she was 18 mos old and 2 yrs. Have a great day

We 1st started travelling with our twin girls (now 5) at 8 months. We flew to Hawaii and held them our laps. At 15 months were commuting back & forth from Sacramento with them and the key is to have a "bag of tricks" for them. Texas is a little further, but to consider driving vs. flying...I think I'd rather have bamboo shoved under my fingernails! At 15 mos they definitely won't appreciate the scenery and you will probably find yourself sitting in the backseat most of the time to keep them entertained.

You can still fly them free as lap children. Bring a bag filled with little wrapped gifts to keep them happy. The flight attendants can give you cups of ice with lids on them to entertain *don't laugh, it really works!*.

Also remember to bring a change of clothes for you and your husband for the spills.

Good luck! I belong to a twins club in Orange County called Orange Coast Mothers of Multiples. Check out our website at www.ocmom.org to learn about joining. We have a Yahoo message board and there are TONS of postings about travelling with twins at all ages.

hi- two things you were absolutely want to bring with you....

car seat for each!!! a must for safety as well as ease. it is a pain to tote around, but makes life on a plane a breeze. not to mention the safety of the child.
and i believe is not included in carry on limits.

some sort of sippy cup or drink with a straw.. for the ears.. you will need it for the landing even more than the take off.

- ask your doctor but i believe you can do a small amount of benedryl (childs) or from health stores some sort of motion sickness thing that has made a huge differnce for our family.

we have flown many times with small children and each time is different. - if you can flow with the punches.. you will be fine. ( and ignore the glares you will get from the other passengers! )
safe travels
L.