Flying to FL with My 2 and 4 Year Old Kids

anything you don't need on the flight..send thru UPS or Fed-Ex..a week prior to flight..best bet..you don't have to drag it and it will be there when you get there...send home the same way

I fly w/ my two children all the time. DO NOT bring all that stuff - do as another poster says and UPS it. Due to the new fees It will cost less than checking it and you will not have to worry about it. Trust me on this one!

Also - yes, it is very cute to see a little one pulling a suitcase- but if you've ever paid attention to any of the families doing it you'll quickly notice:

1) unless you've been practicing ( A LOT!) w/ him/her they are not very adept at balancing the pull along and it tips over CONSTANTLY causing your trip thru the airport to be 2 - 2.5 times longer than it should

2) most parents end up having to carry the little children's stuff themselves. So factor that in when deciding what you will carry b/c if you allow your 4 YO to wheel at some point you WILL be carrying it yourself.

3) the kids w/ their own bags ALWAYS get caught up in the seats, etc when trying to walk down the aisle. Very hard to unhook your 4 YO when you've got a car seat and a two YO in your hands.

4) most of the times passengers and crew help - but not always! Don't count on it as part of your game plan.

5) may I suggest that if your child MUST carry something (b/c of the anticipation that has been building) could you change it to a SMALL back pack w/ a few of his toys?? If it is truly small then the straps won't catch on the seat arms and he'll even be able to walk down the aisle himself.

After spending three years traveling w/ young kids I've really watched re: what works and what doesn't work (vs. what's cute!!) and I've decided that the small back pack is the best solution for honoring their budding independence AND making our trip easier (not to mention that of your fellow travelers). Good luck and have a great vacation!

Isn't it crazy how the new process makes you so anxious that you think about this stuff two weeks ahead of time? I know that the airlines are charging for checked luggage, but I think if you pay the extra $10 (despite how you may feel about doing it) it will alleviate a lot of concern. You might also want to consider using a back pack instead of one of the suit cases, which will free up your hands. If you could also use a small stroller (like a $15 umbrella stroller), it will be a whole lot easier to maneuver around the airport, and break down and set up is so easy with those things. I used to travel for work and took my then toddler with me everywhere. We did this for 2 years. He used to ride on my rolley suitcase, so I didn't need a stroller in the airport. I just checked it. I built up great biceps, he loved it and the other passengers got a kick out of it. Sometimes you just have to be ingenious.

If you're determined to bring the suitcases on the plane, I would just make sure you have plenty of time and I swear (as a much seasoned traveler with a toddler) if you need help, someone will volunteer to help you. Hopefully you're avoiding the commuter/business flights and flying in the middle of the day (10a-5p). The business travelers tend to be an uptight group (in general) because they've overbooked themselves and are constantly trying to save money by doing several meetings crammed into one trip, but even they can be very helpful if they see you struggling.

As long as you give yourself plenty of time, even with all your stuff, you will get to the gate just fine. So relax, and have a wonderful trip.
S.

Hi,
why don't you check in the two carry on suitcases, that way you have the four year old help you with the diaper bag, while you stroll the little one in the stroller and hold the car seat? I know you'll have to come out and wait for the luggage, but it will be easier on you to check them in rather than drag them through the terminals. You can have the 2 year old in the stroller while you and the 4yr old keep an eye out for the suitcases :) I know they will hold the stuff for you in the plane, but I think it might be easier to let go the carry-on bags. Or if you don't want to do that, then rent one of the carts, and put everything in there, I just don't know how far you'll be able to go with that. Make sure you get to the airport very early, about 2 hrs before your flight would be ideal, so if anything happens you still have time to fix it or make changes to your convenience.

I did this about 4 years ago from MD to NH with my then 2-yr old & 4-yr old girls. We were meeting my husband in NH and this was their 1st EVER flight. To say I was a bit anxious is an understatement! I had gotten my girls cute little matching backpacks and told them that whatever they wanted on the plane needed to fit into that bag and then had them help pick the items and pack it. They were so excited to be “big girls”!

I was dropped off at the door, rolled a large suitcase behind me while pushing my 2 girls (each with their own carry-on bag of activities/lovies) in a sit-n-stand stroller carrying a car seat for the 2-yr old, and a backpack diaper bag. I checked the rolling suitcase and then went thru security.

Security was not as bad as I had anticipated - and this was the week after all of the liquid restrictions went into place, so my biggest problem was dumping my hand sanitizer that was attached to my purse & showing them the printout from the FAA website that allowed milk & juice for babies & toddlers. I talked my girls thru EXACTLY what they needed to do when it was our turn and had them take their shoes off while we were in line. They got out of the stroller, we put everything on the x-ray belt (including the stroller) THEN I sent the girls thru - after our stuff was on its way (so I didn't have one girl on each side while I was still putting stuff up). Once on the other side, I plopped them in the stroller, grabbed everything and rolled out of the way to get shoes back on and everything situated.

I took my car seat onto the plane for my 2-yr old to sit in, checked the stroller at the gate and just made sure I was in the early boarding for those with small children or needing assistance (Southwest) so I had plenty of time & room while getting on the plane and getting the car seat strapped in (next to the window). My biggest suggestion to you is to DON’T STRESS! The kids can sense your anxiety and then they will get uptight. Consolidate the rolling bags into one, check what you do not need on the flight, practice collapsing the stroller quickly and you will be fine!

Have fun!!
~ B.

There is a wheeled thing from BBRU, or onestepahead that you can attach to a carseat, to wheel it through the airport. Kids can even ride in the carseat while it is being rolled. Then you can check the stroller. I would also check the carryons other than what the kids need/diaper bag, etc. Can all that fit in one of the carry-ons that your daughter will pull, and then you can just have the diaper bag, wheeled carseat, and two year old? Then you should be able to throw everything on the belt in security, take off everyone's shoes, and not have to deal with the stroller and extra bag. Then when you get through security, you can strap the 2 year old in the carseat and wheel him through to the gate.

Airlines won't charge to check the carseat, so I'd check it at drop-off, roll the 2-year old up to the gate in his stroller and check it at the gate. Put the diaper bag in the bottom of the stroller or strap it to the handles. Maybe see if you can get a velcro strap to attach the handle of your rolling luggage to the other handle of your stroller, so all you have to do is push the stroller and keep an eye on your 4-year old. If it looks like it'll be overwhelming, maybe ask if you can ride on one of those carts for the handicapped?

take as little as possible. think back on the last couple of flights are there items you can cut out? MD to FL is not a long flight and with the drink cart and bathroom trip (this will be very hard) there isn't really too much down time.

when you are schlepping down the ramp and someone offers to help, let them. nobody wants to steal your carseat. you are not putting them out by accepting their help. you are helping them get to their seat faster.

strap everything together at home and do a dry run. assume your 2 yo is sleeping for this part.

if no one is going to walk you into the airport use a skycap if you can.