{Sacramento Airport}
Travel Light
Luckily my husband was going the same place as us, just one day in advance. So in order to lighten my load, we packed our clothes and he took the suitcase so I wouldn't have to bring that into the airport myself! I had one small bag with toys, blankets and other necessities he couldn't bring, my diaper bag and the kids. I checked the one bag and headed on my way to security.
You might have read that and wondered - but what about car seats?! Some rental car companies rent them with the car, but we had no need to rent a car. So we used a company I heard about just after having our first son. Baby's Away rents all sorts of Baby Products (including Car Seats) to people and has several locations in 25 States. It was $80 total for two car seats for the 6 days we were there. Not bad considering what they would have cost us to purchase. Now, this may not be something you need every trip, or want to do. But this time around, it saved me from hauling one more thing into the airport.
Use Your Friends
I had a wonderful friend drop me off at the airport instead of having to park. That saved me a ton of walking and time! I've seen a lot of Mom's flying solo and often wondered how they did it. This time I paid attention more. A LOT of them still had someone with them until check-in was complete. Friends are wonderful!
Know Security Rules
Because I knew the rules of security, I was able to make that easy on myself. I had no metal on me, slip on shoes, and the kids were the same. No liquids were with us except the bottle, and it was actually a relatively fast and painless few moments. The most difficult was getting the umbrella stroller folded while holding a toddler, and one of the employees actually took over for me.
Waiting For the Plane
I was so upset when I could not find my Toddler Leash
Snacks
I brought: Fruit Snacks, Animal Cookies, Orange Tic-Tacs (a new favorite of my son's) and Bananas. I was worried Bananas wouldn't be allowed through security, but they were. I also got water as soon as we cleared check-in and M&M's (persistence sometimes wins). I refused all snacks on the airplane and did really well. It was easier and I didn't get sick after like I usually do. No more airplane snacks for me.
{Not my son}
Entertainment
I LOVE the iPad
Ear Pressure
On the way home I decided to try gum. Epic Failure. My son didn't like the flavor, so that was the end. The youngest refused the bottle, the sippy cups were once again pushed away and I was starting to get worried. Luckily, while purchasing the gum in the airport I noticed the over-priced lollipops next to the checkout. I purchased 4 of them - as a just in case.
There was no screaming or complaining from either one of them until the last 2 minutes of the flight when suddenly my oldest son finished his lollipop and protesting the "funny feeling" in his ears. I'm not sure if it was the sucking that helped or the distraction. But they worked like a charm!
Most Importantly - Have a Sense of Humor
When you've finally made it off the plane, almost home and the water bottle that you shoved into your bag, thinking it had a lid on it, starts pouring down onto the floor, grab the bottle, chuck it out, pull out all electronic devices, wring out your bag (if possible) and chuckle the whole way down to the baggage claim. Because trust me - it can always be worse!
1 comments:
Wonderful tips - all our family lives away from us, so we have been flying with our daughter since she was 6 weeks old (and often my by myself solo). I remember that first trip...how long we took to prepare, but how smooth it went. 10 years later - I think my daughter could do it by herself. I think the guy in front of me during a 6 hour ride got just a bit tired of hearing me sing...but it was better than the baby crying - so you do what you have to.
PS - don't you love those baggage display sin Sac - they so made me smile the first time I stepped off the plane in our new hometown.
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