When traveling with multiples, being organized and prepared for anything that may arise are the only ways to make air travel less stressful. Travelling with infants or children under two years of age can fly free. This idea may sound tempting especially having twins but realizing each child will need to sit on each parent's lap the entire flight may not make for a stress less flight.
Here are some helpful tips to make air travel with child less stressful:
Contact the Airlines
Contact the airlines and ask about their policies in regards to seating arrangements, baby food and formula, luggage and stroller restrictions. Also find out whom to make arrangements with for cart assistance to the next terminal and if these arrangements need to be made in advance over the phone or on the day of travel.
Many airlines have bassinets for babies under six months old. Usually these seats are the bulkhead seats and give more legroom to allow even toddlers the option of sitting on the floor with toys. Parents need to be aware that they will not be sitting beside one another rather across the aisle from each other due to safety regulations.
If planning to take two umbrella strollers, clips are available to attach the strollers together to make one side-by-side stroller. Using this way of combining the strollers may be slightly more difficult to push and is wider than the family bathroom's doorway. However, using this type of stroller is better than not having one at all. Checking an airline's website can give vital information about restrictions.
At the Terminal
Parents should ask the check-in attendant if the plane is full? The attendants are more that happy to arrange the seating to allow the toddlers the extra seats providing there are two open. If seats can be purchased prior and not having to take a chance of empty seats at the gate would be money well spent.
Packing Carry-on Luggage
Making sure the carry-on bag is packed with essentials for the trip is important. Here are some suggestions:
- Take extra diapers above what has been packed.
- Pack a set of clothes for each child in individual bags.
- Pack an extra bottle above what is needed for the trip. If a child is on formula make sure the milk is made and ready to serve. Purchase a cold/hot bag and placing the bottles in the bag with a zip lock bag of ice cubes is a great investment. Of course if a child is on 2% milk then fewer bottles are needed and can be refilled by the flight attendant.
- Make sure enough juice boxes and snacks are packed.
- Pack new toys and some favourites. Buy a few new toys for the trip but make sure to stagger giving out the toys.
Travelling can be difficult for children who are used to the consistency of a daily routine. If the twins are beginning to potty train or wean off the bottle at the time of the vacation, one may consider rethinking these huge changes until the daily routine is back on schedule. Other helpful suggestions for toys and books can be found at Delicious Baby: "Make Travel With Kids Fun".
Travelling with children can be a challenge for the most experienced parent but travelling with twins does not have to be difficult. By purchasing seats for the children, packing enough food and contacting the airlines about restrictions can make flying easier. By being prepared and organized can make flying with twins exciting and enjoyable.
 |
