by Deanne Whiteley
Terrified of the thought of traveling by plane with your young twins? Veteran traveler Deanne Whiteley has successfully circled the globe with her twins and has some great advice for how to survive the ride!
Is there any need to call the airline prior to our departure?
Even though these days you no longer need to confirm airline reservations, I highly recommend calling the airline you'll be traveling on and confirming the following:
- Flight details, dates, departure times and the recommended time you should be at the airport (then add an extra thirty minutes). Everything takes longer when you have little ones, and the unexpected always happens.
- Confirm your seats and ensure you are all seated together. On smaller planes where the seats are either two or three seats to a row, request rows immediately behind or opposite each other, so both parents can help out during the flight. This arrangement will also make it easier to share a diaper bag.
- I always request the bulkhead on international flights, but it's typically given on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference given to infants twelve months and under.
Should we purchase tickets for our little ones?
It always seemed like a waste of money to buy seats for our twins when they were young enough to be lap children (under two years)-that is, until we actually flew five hours with two squirming babies on our laps.
- For children under two years, you have three options: use your lap child pass and hope there are spare seats near you on the flight; buy one seat for both babies to share or switch in and out of; or, the most expensive option, buy seats for both children.
- It's a personal decision whether you choose to have lap babies or buy seats at a slightly discounted child rate. However, when making this decision, consider the length of your flight, layovers, season (if it's peak travel time, there probably won't be any spare seats) and total travel time to your destination.
We bought airplane seats for our twins. Should we take their car seats on the plane or check them?
Somehow, the plane seatbelt didn't seem to hold our babies in their seats. When our twins were younger, they simply slipped out, and when they were older they quickly learned how to flip the buckle and escape out into the aisle.
- Despite the cumbersome task of lugging car seats around the airport, we have always found it worthwhile at the end of a long flight. Our twins are more manageable and sleep longer when seated in a car seat. On short trips where we didn't use the car seats, we spent the entire time juggling squirmy babies. (But depending on your tolerance level, sometimes it's worth saving the extra money!)
- If you plan on using car seats on the plane, make sure the airline doesn't have any restrictions on their use. Some airlines require pre-authorization for car seats from their head office, which can take one to two weeks.
Should I pack snacks, milk/ formula and food for the flight?
A flight attendant once offered me a box of fifty creamers and suggested I pour them into a bottle! The flight would have been on the ground again before I finished.
- If your twins are drinking milk (not formula), find out if the airline carries any cow's milk on board. Many airlines only offer small creamers.
- Most supermarkets sell small boxes of UHT milk, which don't need to be refrigerated until opened.
- If you have purchased seats for your children, make sure you request an age-appropriate meal (especially on an international flight). In my experience, meals usually come in adult (regular, vegetarian, diabetic), child/toddler and infant.
- All planes have hot water on board, and attendants can wash bottles and sippy cups for you. They also have bottled water that can be used for powdered formula.
- Bring enough formula for your entire travel time and a little extra for emergencies. Also bring jarred baby food or, if your little ones are beyond that, lots of snacks. I often pack a small, soft cool pack with extra drinks and my twins' favorite snacks.
Besides food, what else should I pack in the diaper bag for the flight and transit time?
What and how much you pack will depend on the age of your children and the length of your flight. I'm typically an over-packer and take more than we probably need, but I take comfort in knowing that we'll be prepared if stranded in an airport. I frequently pack two diaper bags in case we're not seated together. You can also split your bags and put diapers, wipes, clothing and a medical kit in one, and formula, snacks, drinks and toys in the other. Here's what I pack:
- Enough diapers, wipes and diaper-rash cream for the entire travel time (flight and transit time) and two to four extras for emergencies.
- At least one spare outfit per child and an extra shirt for yourself and partner. (No matter how careful you are, accidents happen regularly with little ones.) Onesies are great for infants as they are small and don't take up much space. For long-haul flights, you may want extra outfits and pajamas or a footed play/sleepsuit.
- Bottles or sippy cups. Bottles with disposable liners save on cleaning up; you can even bring extra nipples and dump the used ones in a Ziploc bag.
- If your little ones use pacifiers, bring them (and some extra ones). Sucking is very soothing and can also help equalize ear pressure. Alternatively, try having your children suck on a bottle, drink from a sippy cup, eat/suck on snacks or nurse.
- Be sure to pack an emergency medicine kit, complete with pain-relief medicine, thermometer and anything else you think you might need. Benadryl can make children sleepy; it can also have the opposite effect. If you are thinking about using this medicine, be sure to check with your pediatrician first and do a trial a few days before you fly. (The last thing you want is a hyperactive child.)
Can I nurse comfortably on the flight?
I have expressed milk on many flights. Due to our seating arrangements (usually baby in car seat in the
middle seat and I by the window), I'm sure my fellow passengers were none the wiser.
- If you plan on nursing or pumping, consider requesting a window seat for yourself. For added privacy, tie a sarong between your seat and the seat in front of you.
- Many airports have discreet family rooms that you can use upon request.
How can I keep my children entertained?
Surprisingly, gift-wrapping small, inexpensive toys, or toys my twins haven't played with in a while, has received just as much delight as an expensive new toy. Half the excitement is in opening the present, which can take some time for little hands if you wrap it well.
- Bring your children's favorite (age-appropriate) toys and loveys.
- My twins' occupational therapist suggested that for long flights, it is helpful to offer children different stimuli (for example, soft, hard, rough, smooth, stacking, shaking, etc.). She suggested colored sand in a tightly sealed clear plastic bottle, shakers and small, plastic containers that little hands can unscrew or pull the lids off, filled with play dough, ribbons, crayons or toys (whatever is appropriate for your children).
- If you are comfortable with your children watching TV, consider using a laptop or small DVD player to show age-appropriate shows such as Sesame Street, Baby Einstein and Thomas the Tank Engine. Invest in an extended battery and voltage adapter if you are traveling overseas.
Should I take my double stroller or buy umbrella strollers? What about backpacks?
If you take your expensive double stroller to the gate, I recommend placing it in a heavy-duty bag to prevent scratches, tears and other damage.
- Umbrella strollers are light and can be stored in the overhead compartment on most airlines. You can also buy connectors to join the two strollers together.
- A jog stroller can be useful at your final destination, but its biggest advantage is that it is able to carry more of your stuff without tipping. In the past, we have been able to strap the twins' car seats to the back of the stroller, leaving us to carry just the diaper bag.
- Another creative option is to carry your children in backpacks or have one child in a stroller and one in a back pack.
- You can buy special carry bags for car seats that make them easier to lug around an airport.
- If you are a frequent traveler, consider investing in a car seat that converts to a stroller. Many on-line and baby catalogs sell these clever seats.
Additional tips:
- Consider booking an airport hotel if you have a long layover between flights (six hours or more), and be sure to request a day rate. You'll all get on your next flight refreshed and ready for the next adventure.
- Many taxi companies have a mini-van service that can be booked up to a week in advance. There is usually a $5-10 service charge on top of the regular fee, and you can arrange to have them pick you up upon your return. (Beats waiting in the taxi line.)
Deanne Whiteley, a former Human Resources Generalist and active multiples volunteer, is now a stay-at-home mum. When she's not unpacking moving boxes, she spends her spare minutes writing children's stories. Deanne is an avid traveler and has lived in Japan, England, France and America, although she calls Australia home. Deanne recently moved from Boston to Sydney, Australia, with her cheeky twin toddlers and loving husband Chris.
