no, honestly. tomorrow morning i fly out to ohio with zade. without hubby. as most of you all know, hubby does the real work in this relationship. he does almost everything. i've never been alone with zade for more than just a day (never overnight). i'm frightened. by not only that, but the idea of traveling alone with my 18 month old daughter. my god what am i going to do?
honestly - tell me how i should do this? here's what i'm planning right now. but it isn't really going to work. anyone have good tips for traveling solo with a toddler?
- pack one small rolling suitcase that will be checked through to my destination
- carry on z's diaper bag with essentials and tuck my purse inside it
- bring z's car seat and diaper bag through security on one of those rolling carts, with z strapped into the car seat so i don't have to carry her
- at the gate, pray for an extra seat for z and if not, check the car seat only to our next stop and then hope again for an extra seat
- if i have the car seat at our stop, as quickly as possible find one of those cart thingys and strap z into the car seat and the car seat to the cart
- pray my daughter doesn't vomit, poop or throw a massive fit on the plane, but rather sleeps angelically the entire 6 hours in the air
- upon arrival, hand daughter off to sister for much needed mama break (aka hitting up the first bar i see in our arrival airport).
so - what do you think?
Sounds like a reasonable plan. Just make sure you only take in the diaper what you absolutely must have on the plane & in the airport. You don't want to have to handle a heavy, overflowing diaper bag AND a toddler! A few years ago I traveled with my youngest to Puerto Rico and only had enough food/formula to get me there. I literally had to stop at the store upon arrival to buy more food, formula and diapers.
Good luck - you'll both be in my thoughts and prayers!
Posted by: Beth | 10 March 2006 at 12:41 PM
First of all, you'll be fine. Breathe!
I'm not a mom, but I've travelled with my niece. She flew cross country and overseas at 4 months. I think Zadie might be too big for this, but we had a babytrend snap-n-go that turned the car seat into a stroller and collapsed to be checked at the gate - that way you can wheel her right to the plane, check the stroller and/or car seat at the gate and pick them up when you land. Not sure if these are only made for infant seats.
The most important thing for keeping things OK on the plane is to make sure she's got something - bottle, pacifier, whatever - to help with the inner ear pressure at takeoff and landing. That's what will freak the kids right out. We just stuck a bottle in katie's mouth each time so she was sucking and swallowing and keeping her ears clear. It threw her eating schedule off a bit but was totally worth it.
If you can afford to get the seat for Z, do it. It's worth it - she'll be able to crash in her car seat and you won't have to hang on to her the whole time.
Good luck - you'll be fine!
Posted by: laurel | 10 March 2006 at 12:42 PM
Oops - I meant to say "... only take in the diaper BAG ..."
Sorry!
Posted by: Beth | 10 March 2006 at 12:42 PM
Bring earplugs! We always bring a box and offer them to all the people sitting near us, just in case M gets too rowdy. Most of the time, no one accepts them, but it gives them a chuckle and creates some good will because we are acknowledging that traveling near a shorty isn't always fun.
Have a good trip!
Posted by: AmericanFamily | 10 March 2006 at 12:47 PM
When we flew up to see American Family, we had an empty seat next to us...but Zoe would not sit in it for more than a minute or two. She wanted back in my lap. Though it was soooo nice to have a free seat there.
Bring a clean shirt for yourself on the plane. Just in case Z spills or vomits on you.
I'm getting ready to fly in a couple weeks w/ Zoe and I'm already dreading it. She is a good traveler, but it is still difficult. I bet y'all will do great. Just keep telling yourself that it will be over soon. That is what I do. ;)
Posted by: Michele | 10 March 2006 at 12:53 PM
go tonight and buy a few small toys/activites that z has never seen. pull them out only as needed. they'll catch her interest and distract if she's veering off into fit-land.
Posted by: mamaloo | 10 March 2006 at 01:25 PM
We just recently travelled with E. from NY to CO. She was 9 months old at the time.
I don't know if this is true everywhere, but in Denver we weren't allowed to bring the rental cart through security.
And I second the new toy idea.
One of our planes had onboard radio and free headsets. E was totally entranced. She listened to the radio for a good while.
Posted by: Karin | 10 March 2006 at 01:52 PM
You'll definitely have to unstrap her to put the car seat through the security x-ray machine. Also, if she's wearing light-up shoes she'll have to take those off or they'll set off the buzzer at security.
Posted by: Moxie | 10 March 2006 at 02:04 PM
How was it? I have tons of experience since I've travelled to Brazil (9-10 hour flight) 3 times alone with my sons, but I got here too late to give you any adviuce...
I hope it was OK!!
Posted by: Lilian | 10 March 2006 at 10:08 PM
Why not just just stick your kid in a box and put her under the plane? Or, better yet, just leave her home with your husband who has already spent way more time with her.
Posted by: hell to the no | 11 March 2006 at 10:10 AM
Hope your first flight together went well!
Hopefully the airlines will give Z her "wings" (a certificate to commemerate her first flight). Jacob received this and we put it in his babybook
Posted by: Overwhelmed! | 11 March 2006 at 12:31 PM
Good luck and my heart is with you guys.
Posted by: The Aitch | 11 March 2006 at 10:59 PM