Traveling with 18 Mos and 4 1/2 Year Olds

Are you flying alone?
Will your spouse or someone else accompany you?
Traveling with kids is tough. Traveling with kids alone is worse.
Buy a seat for the baby and stick her in her car seat in the seat. You'll be glad you did.
You'll need snacks and if possible, a DVD player with a new DVD to keep the kids entertained. If you are lucky enough to fly an airline with tv screens, you'll find the flight is blissful. They can both watch Nickelodeon or Disney and be happy.
Be prepared for delays and such. Carry extra diapers and snacks. Try to get a direct flight, because stopping and changing planes can be tough when you can run through the airport by yourself, but doing it carrying kids and all their stuff is down right awful.
As for cribs and stuff - contact the people you are staying with and ask them to find that stuff you don't have to bring it. You might bring your own crib sheet...
YMMV
LBC

Definitely use the carseat, as others have said. I've done both and it is so much better (and SAFER) with the kid in the carseat. She is used to it and will be much more inclined to relax in it.A wiggly 18 mo old on your lap with have you very frazzled in no time. I've never rented anything, but I'd be hesitant to do so.

Bring lots of new things for the kids to play with. I always pick up new books and new little toys. Crayons, paper, stickers, etc. And LOTS of snacks. Really the snacking was probably what DD enjoyed best on planes. I also got some cloth sandwich bags on etsy and "wrapped" a few new things for them. It's fun to unwrap a surprise and this way if security needs to go through your bag, it's not a problem to unwrap. If you do media, a movie on a portable DVD or laptop is great for the older child.

I think you should use a car seat.
And take quiet activities and/or a small DVD player to keep them occupied.
As for renting baby gear--we've vacationed every year with our son and when he was little, I rented cribs, highchairs, etc in every place we've vacationed, and have never had a bad experience with the equipment provided.
Google "baby rental equipment + the city of your destination and check on-line for rates, etc. It's waaaaay better than trying to schelp the stuff cross country!

Highly recommend the car seat for the plane. IT is safer for the child and it "contains" them, so they are not trying to climb over the seats. It is familiar and comfortable. Travel Aqua Doodles are great for traveling with young children because there is no mess! Also, worth the $ is a GOGO Kidz contraption that you can wheel the car seat around the airport in. (doubles as a stroller for the airport!)
I have rented baby equipment in Florida, if you are in a touristy area, you should be fine. I got a stroller, crib and high chair for my DD when we flew down to Ft Myers

When my children were little I traveled with them often. I have three and they are only two years apart so I had to figure out efficient ways to travel. Here are a few of the things that really helped me:

- little backpacks for each of them containing a variety of small toys - including things that would occupy them at the airport like a balloon that you could blow up and they could toss around, books on cd with the accompaning book, music- you can give them music that is soothing and helps to calm them down, snacks, sippy cup, and suckers (for landing).
- I had harness leashes for all of them. Airports are crowded places with lots of distractions and it really reduced my stress levels as I tried to keep track of luggage, tickets, etc. (my kids are teens now and all still remember the leashes and all say they liked them because they felt safe and it still allowed them some freedom that handholding didn't allow)
- I only used umbrella strollers because they were light weigt and easily transported
- my little ones were always in my lap. It was easier for me to keep them occupied. (we were flying space available at the time too so I never really had the option of having them in a car seat.)

Hope this helps. Happy and safe travels!

I would recommend a car seat as well for the little one. Like others have said they are used to it and will relax a bit more. When flying with my kids I always buy special things for them to use, playdough, crayons, Barbie, etc and keep them as a surprise! My older daughter loves to watch movies on the plane, we used my husbands lap top the last time we flew. We also put a few games on there for her to play. It seems like a daunting task to do but in the end it is usually better than think it will be. Good luck!!

Hi,

I recently traveled with my 7 month old and my 2 1/2 year old. Wow, was that difficult! And I'm glad I didn't do it alone (although I am planning on flying with them by myself this spring, so glad I know what it is going to be like.) I took my sit and stand stroller and kept my baby in the stroller, and my 2 year old got to sit or stand, or walk around with another adult. It was rough going through security, but all you need is some patience and it will be fine. I would not recommend the car seat. You are right, I think kids will bust out of there. Also, you can check the car seat with your other luggage before you go through security and you will have less to carry with you on the plane. As far as if you need to get a seat on the plane for your 18 month old or not, that's a tough call. It depends on how long the flight is, and whether or not you think he/she will stay on your lap.

As far as the pack and play goes, I would ask the people that you are staying with if they can find one to borrow. Or maybe they (or you) can find on on craigslist that is cheap and close to them.

And a portable DVD player is the best advice. I traveled on Jet Blue so my 2 year old was able to watch cartoon network if she wanted to watch TV. But she mostly read the books that I had or played with her doll.

Good luck!

Car seat, car seat, car seat for the younger one. A toddler will be wiggly and squirmy on your lap and if the flight is of any duration beyond, oh, 10 minutes, you'll be exhausted and sweaty and frustrated from handling a struggling 18-month-old on your lap. Besides, if we'd put our children in a car seat in a car, why wouldn't we want our children just as well secured on an airplane? Turbulence has thrown adults around; imagine what it could do to a small child. It's more expensive, yes, but we've flown many, many times with our daughter since she was 5 months old and always get her her own seat.

If you do have to go with the toddler on you lap, go online and find a reputable "seat belt extender" specifically for use on planes. Or the airline may have these, but check well before you get to the airport; with airline cutbacks these days, don't depend on the airline to provide these. These belts help hold the baby on your lap. But again, for safety and your own sanity, I'd buy the toddler a seat.

Be sure your car seat will fit the airline seat. Car seats will claim they fit "standard" airline seats but I hear it isn't always true. Call the airline well in advance to check. Some airlines do have lists of seat brands they know for sure fit their seat, or they can give you dimensions of seats that will fit.

Take the kids for a LOT of walking in the terminal prior to the flight and then for a stroll up and down the airplane aisle, if possible with the carts of food etc. going around, during the flight. Have distractions -- we always bring something that our child has never seen before; a new toy, book, etc., or several new ones for a child as young as the 18-month-old, since the attention span is shorter.

Regarding renting cribs: Again, over the years we have had friends with nightmare stories of rental cribs that were in poor condition, and you have no way to know if your rental crib is one of the many recalled ones from recent years. Rental cribs often are old, and may or may not come with sheets, which may or may not be up to your standards of cleanliness. I'd take the pack and play, newer and safer and you don't have to wonder about it.

I just heard from a friend who was delayed overnight getting somewhere last week, and didn't have any luggage, since it went on another flight. So assume that that could happen and be sure you have a carry-on with essentials if you absolutely had to spend an unexpected night in a hotel with none of your luggage!

It's not all that intimidating, really...Have fun in Florida and know that the travel part is only temporary!