Have you ever seen that picture of the woman with two kids on leashes in the airport? They are wrapping themselves around her legs with the leashes and she is about to fall over? Or the one where one kid goes one way, and the other goes the opposite way? Yeah. That's about how it feels at the airport with kids. Seriously. I have done it will two kids while one was breastfeeding. So here are some survival tips that make the trip SO MUCH EASIER!
* PLAN PLAN PLAN! It is better to be EXTREMELY OVERLY organized than searching for EVERYTHING! I make sure to carry a small purse over my shoulder. In it I have all our ticket information, car rental information, passports, drivers license, birth certificates (Children will need them if they are under 16 usually for identification purposes), cash, one diaper, a small thing of wipes, a binkie (yes!), maps or any paper item you will need. It won't get in the way if it is a long strapped bag that is flat. They have these all over the place. Invest in one NOW! They are seriously the best! You will have to pull out identification about fifty times at the air port and tickets and passports, so you may as well have them easily accessible.
* Kids need to be in a stroller or backpack. Any child who is under the age of six should be in a stroller or strapped to you in a back pack. This makes life SO MUCH EASIER! They are the ones who like to run away. I give my kids a LARGE snack or a meal to sit and eat while we make it through checking in our bags. That is probably the hardest part of it all. They sit there quietly and you can move around easily.
* Make sure to arrive to the airport TWO HOURS (yes, hours) before your scheduled flight. You never know how long the lines will take with airports. You don't want to stress on top of having kids with you. Make sure to have enough time to let them go to the bathroom the fifth time if they need or get a drink from that cool drinking fountain or even ride an escalator three times (guilty).
*Make sure to check in ALL car seats when you check in bags. Some people carry those things to put under the plane. Don't. It is just extra weight and totally not worth it. Check them in first thing. They don't count them as one of your bags if you fly Southwest (another reason I LOVE them). Get rid of everything you can at that point except for backpacks for each kid and your small purse.
* After bags are check, realize that you are going to have to go through security. This is a stressful thing. Make sure you have all sippy cups EMPTY before you go through. You can fill them up with water right after you go through. Water bottles are okay if they have not been opened up. They do have a family lane because they know it will take you twenty minutes to get through with all your kids. Give each adult a child (or teenager a child) to take care of at this point. If there aren't enough adults, try your best! Make sure the oldest one understands BEFORE you get to the point of putting stuff up in bins that he/she needs to take their shoes off and their backpack. You will have to fold up your stroller and put it through the machine. Start taking kids out BEFORE so you can move through quicker. Don't get stressed! Just try to be calm and move quickly. If people get mad behind you, turn around and give them the mean stink eye. They will shut up. Trust me. Or take longer to annoy them. That is fun also. :)
* After you get through you can sing, do a dance, run in circles...what ever makes you happy! You made it though the hardest part of the whole traveling trip! Next IMMEDIATELY find your gate. I know you want to eat or go to the bathroom or whatever, but find that gate NOW. There is a bathroom and eating place by it. Go find a seat and take turns going to the bathroom and grabbing a snack or drink. You may have to wait a little bit or may be boarding already! Hopefully the first rather than the last. Try to find a window seat while waiting. Kids LOVE to watch the airplanes take off. It entertains them and makes them VERY happy!
*You can keep your stroller up to this point without any problems. Make sure to find a flight helper and let them know you want to check your stroller in to go under the airplane. They will give you a ticket and a sticker to put on your stroller. When you are boarding, there is a spot to leave the stroller folded up. It really is nice to keep the kids in until that point. When exiting the airplane, the stroller will be in the same place so you can put your kids in it before you enter the destination airport.
* After you get boarded and seated on the airplane, immediately lay the ground rules for the older kids. Let them know they are not allowed in their backpacks until you have taken off and are in the air. Most kids are entertained looking out the window or looking at everyone walking in the plane. The closer you sit to the front the better. The turbulence isn't as bad and you can get off faster. :)
*When the plane takes off kids under the age of 3 have a hard time with their ears. I always give my kids a sippy cup with something they normally don't get to drink. This will pop their ears without them knowing and make the transition up into the air a little easier. With a baby, feed them at that point. Try your best to make sure they are hungry. After they fall into this beautiful sleep the whole way to your destination. One less person for you to worry about.
*The kids backpacks should be full of surprises! New snacks, new toys, electronics with new games. Nothing they have ever done or seen before. This way, the back pack is entertaining for the entire ninety minute plane ride. Trust me! It has worked SEVERAL times for me!
* If you have an infant, I like to keep them strapped to me the whole time in a backpack or a wrap. This way they are comfortable and you have two free hands. You are happier and so are they.
*Exiting isn't too bad. Get your kids in the stroller and get your bags. Make sure to use suitcases that are not black or blue. EVERYONE has suitcases like that. It is harder to find your bags if you do that. Cover it in pink duct tape or put a big sticker so that you can easily pick it out. I have a polka dotted pink and green suitcase. I never miss it. Never.
*Make sure you know where you are headed after you get your bags. If you are taking a taxi, renting a car or being picked up, make sure you know where to go. If you rent a car, you usually have to take a shuttle to the place. Make sure you tip the driver. They will help you with your bags getting on and everything. They are awesome!
I hope these tips help a few of you when you fly to your vacation destination! My next post will be about hotels and how to get them for cheap, like $75.00 for six nights at a Marriott. Yeah, I just did that. :) See you next time!
Brianne
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