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curiousme
Hi! I am flying alone with my 22 month old toddler on my lap from Houston to London with a layover in Dulles. My flight times are 2.5 hours and 7.5 hours with a layover of 1.5 hours. Since the tickets are so expensive I did not buy a seat for my daughter as I am not required to by the airlines. Now as the time is getting closer, I am nervous how I will manage with her on my lap for the duration of the long flight. Are there any suggestions? Have any of you flown alone wth a 20 month old toddler on lap?
Also, when in the baggage claim area, how would I be managing my daugnter's stroller and also my bags through the customs. Any suggestions on this?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three kids.
That's a long flight, with a connection and a big baby. I've seen some pretty miserable transatlantic flights with big toddlers when I was working!
Are you flying a U.S. company? If so, you can use your FAA approved car seat on board, if there's an empty seat. Will you need a car seat in London? Never check car seats in as luggage. At check-in, be really nice and ask about having you sit next to an empty seat. Sometimes they "block" seats next to babies, using them only if necessary. The other plus; if the seat is filled, it might be an airline employee flying on a pass (thus less likely to complain about a big toddler!)
Take the car seat to the gate, even if they aren't sure. Sometimes, empty seats pop up last minute with "no-shows" and you may still get a seat. Having the car seat will solidify you "reason" for getting the empty seat. If you are unsuccessful, the seat will be "gate-checked" and sent down with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is better than checking them in as luggage. You can then collect the seat and try again to use it on the trans-atlantic portion.
Check at the podium at Dulles and restate your request for an extra seat.
The absolute secret to flying easily with a toddler is to have a GOOD baby carrier. Fiddly Bjorns and other front packs are too small. Look into getting an Ergo, Becco or other soft front/backpack. I saw too many parents dragging sleeping children off the airplane, uncomfortably slung over shoulders, etc. When I finally had children, I had a sling which meant I wasn't one of them!
I actually ditched the stroller and used a metal luggage cart to haul my car seat (with an extra bungee). This worked just as well as an overpriced "Gogokidz" and I could chuck the diaper bag on it. I found with a toddler, a full stroller was overkill. It's just not necessary since the baby can ride on the car seat. The stroller can be checked or borrow one at your destination.
Going through customs, I put the baby in the baby carrier and everything else on the luggage cart. I simply pushed the cart through. Remember too that with a toddler this age, they can walk or go in the carrier. It's tiring to hold such a big baby but at the same time, he's too young to do all that walking. Alternating between the car seat on the luggage cart, the baby carrier and having the child walk was the easiest way (and I fly alone transatlantically with three closely spaced children)
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck!
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three kids.
That's a long flight, with a connection and a big baby. I've seen some pretty miserable transatlantic flights with big toddlers when I was working!
Are you flying a U.S. company? If so, you can use your FAA approved car seat on board, if there's an empty seat. Will you need a car seat in London? Never check car seats in as luggage. At check-in, be really nice and ask about having you sit next to an empty seat. Sometimes they "block" seats next to babies, using them only if necessary. The other plus; if the seat is filled, it might be an airline employee flying on a pass (thus less likely to complain about a big toddler!)
Take the car seat to the gate, even if they aren't sure. Sometimes, empty seats pop up last minute with "no-shows" and you may still get a seat. Having the car seat will solidify you "reason" for getting the empty seat. If you are unsuccessful, the seat will be "gate-checked" and sent down with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is better than checking them in as luggage. You can then collect the seat and try again to use it on the trans-atlantic portion.
Check at the podium at Dulles and restate your request for an extra seat.
The absolute secret to flying easily with a toddler is to have a GOOD baby carrier. Fiddly Bjorns and other front packs are too small. Look into getting an Ergo, Becco or other soft front/backpack. I saw too many parents dragging sleeping children off the airplane, uncomfortably slung over shoulders, etc. When I finally had children, I had a sling which meant I wasn't one of them!
I actually ditched the stroller and used a metal luggage cart to haul my car seat (with an extra bungee). This worked just as well as an overpriced "Gogokidz" and I could chuck the diaper bag on it. I found with a toddler, a full stroller was overkill. It's just not necessary since the baby can ride on the car seat. The stroller can be checked or borrow one at your destination.
Going through customs, I put the baby in the baby carrier and everything else on the luggage cart. I simply pushed the cart through. Remember too that with a toddler this age, they can walk or go in the carrier. It's tiring to hold such a big baby but at the same time, he's too young to do all that walking. Alternating between the car seat on the luggage cart, the baby carrier and having the child walk was the easiest way (and I fly alone transatlantically with three closely spaced children)
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck!
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Title Post: Flying alone from Houston to UK with my 22 month old toddler on my lap?
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Rating: 96% based on 987 ratings. 4,7 user reviews.
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