Our First trip to Barbados I was really worried about traveling with twins, especially as lap babies. I researched and researched and was prepared for pretty much anything, and then I packed and realized i didn’t have room for everything. LOL! So I took out some stuff and kept the important stuff. I figured with all the preparation I might as well make a post to help someone else who is about to fly for the first time with an infant/toddler. The girls had just turned one and were just starting to be steady walking.
We parked our car at the airport and the logistics of parking and putting the luggage,stroller etc on the parking bus and then riding to airport was a negative. So the hubster dropped off me and the girls in the stroller with the luggage. At the curbside we weighed our bags and took out until we hit 50 pounds (yes i did overpack lol). We did this so i wouldn’t have to worry about that when I was inside at the counter. Then we had a bag guy bring in the luggage and place it at the front of the line while i pushed the girls in the stroller. i checked in while hubby parked and he came back just in time to go through security worked perfect!Airline Policies
Always always print out the airline policies from the airline website. When i purchased the tickets they told me that for international flights children under two still pay 10% of an adult ticket, but the trade off is they each got a checked bag. We ended up with three bags and when i got to the counter the lady told me that the babies do not get bags and i would have to pay for the third bag. I explained what they said to no avail, finally i got my phone out and went to the website and showed her the policy online. We overnighted in Miami and i was able to print out the policies that night, again the next day the guy at the counter in miami told me the same thing and i was able to immediately pull out my paperwork stating he was wrong. So don’t assume airline workers know all airline policies.
Getting around the airport:
Backpacks
American Airlines does not allow double strollers over 20 pounds to be gate checked so we used the girls infant seats and double snap and go. I highly recommend any mom of multiples to get the double snap and go it is so perfect when they are in infant car seats. it worked great.
After i checked in we put the girls in the carriers to go through security. This was because we had to put car seats and strollers through the xray machine and they allow you to wear the baby through the security screener. So that saved alot of time in security. All we had to do was put the stroller on the scanner along with our backpacks and walk through the scanner with the babies strapped onto us. We also had to take out our formula/milk bottles to have those screened and that was easy enough. I also had the TSA policy on being allowed to take formula milk through security for children just in case we encountered any problems.
We went ahead and just wore the babies onto the plane and gate checked the stroller and car seats. I put them all into a gate check bag , which i’m so glad i did cause the bag was filthy and torn by the end of the trip so i could only imagine on the carseats would have fared I got that from amazon as well.
I also got this toy because it has a suction cup. the girls r in the throwing stage so i didn’t want them throwing stuff or dropping in so i suctioned this to the tv tray
1) use this to attach them to their car seats.
3) use buggy cord to attach car seats to rolling carts.
In the airport:
we let the girls walk around and explore, yes the floor is dirty that’s why I bring wet ones antibacterial wipes and wipe them off when they are done. They liked exploring a new place and they burned off energy before having to be couped up on the plane. I think that was essential.
Eating out:
These diner mats are great for eating out and roll up well. i have two but one is plenty big for both girls i just put them on the table, and cut up whatever we are eating put on the mat and let the girls have at it.
On the plane:
Activites: quiet time book, melissa and doug caterpillar, small plush toys were all hits. As well as the ipad with their games and fav mickey mouse club tv show. my ipad has a child case on it so they can hold it bang it bit it or spill on it. i scored that at target and it is reallly great. it even attaches to the car and they can play their games r watch a movie on the ipad. I attached it to the tv tray on the plane or just let them hold it. when the girls were sleeping i was able to use the ipad and read my book on kindle. it was perfect
I also had kids headphones for the girls and a splitter so they could both listen to the ipad but actually i found that the girls didn’t even need sound to be mesmorized by the ipad so we never used them. good to have though
Feeding:
We feed the girls bottles during take offs and landings, to help give them relief for their ears popping. They never acted fussy in anyway so i guess it worked.
I brought food pouches which are soooo great no messing with with bowls and spoons, the girls can hold them and suck out the food and no clean up 🙂 also good was baby yogurt that does not need refridgeration. really good for travel
Off the plane
When we got off the plane we grabbed the stroller and car seats and put the girls in so they would be in their car seat when we got outside to the car. Hubby got the bags and I pushed the girls in the stroller.
Breaking up flights
We had a long day of flying as we were going to Barbados we decided that going there we would overnight in Miami. I think that worked out really really good. The girls got a break before the 4 hour flight to Barbados and we got to fix anything that may not have worked on the short flight. For example I was able to print out the baggage policy. Added bonus we got to hang out with friends and let them meet the girls as well 🙂
Coming back to Texas from Barbados we didn’t break up the flights and I could see the girls were a little antsy by the end of the long day of flying, didn’t help that we got back around midnight so their schedule was all messed up
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Excellent info for parents. This is what I needed when the kids were growing up but now the grandkids will benefit from these great tips and advice. This site deserves an award. Well done Bajantexan.