flying alone with 2 kids
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35456
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Topic: flying alone with 2 kids
Posted By: monikah
Subject: flying alone with 2 kids
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:22pm
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has anyone done this. DH applied for jobs in sydney a couple days ago and is already getting promising call backs and phone interviews. he may end up leaving before me as i am at uni and want to finish my semester. we have 2 option. 1) he flies back over a weekend to help me pack up the rest of the house and fly over with the kids which we seriously cant afford or 2) we sort most the house stuff before he goes and i fil with the kids on my own. they will be about 17 months and 5 months. im quite happy to give them phenegan if my doctor is happy with is being safe enough and will trial it first to make sure my kids dont go hyper on it. but has anyone travelled alone with 2 young kids. advice would be great!! ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: LG
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:29pm
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I haven't so dont have any suggestions sorry but i thought all children under 2 had to have an adult fly with them? I may be wrong though...
-------------  Angel Baby Aug '12, Feb '13 |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:45pm
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Each child under 2 has to have an adult with them. Ring an airline and confirm but as far as I am aware that is the rules. Emma had to have Willie fly with her every time they went to Sydney when the gremlins were babies. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: astral_monkey
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:51pm
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Hi monikah, my sister had to do the same thing when they moved to Aus, but she only had the one kid. She was really worried, but my niece wasn't and spent the whole flight watching Tom & Jerry and laughing really loud! My sister said most of the airport and flight staff were really good, and helped her out (sending her to the front of the queue and what not).
Give them both a big feed before you get on the plane, have lots of snacks handy, and toys for the older one (colouring books are really good). It's likely the 5 month old will sleep most of the way. Don't worry, you will be fine!  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: astral_monkey
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:52pm
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Ah guys, I don't think she meant the kids will be flying alone - she meant she would be flying alone with the kids (ie. no husband to help). ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> |
Posted By: GuestGuest
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 4:59pm
| I think they mean you need one adult for each infant? |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 5:21pm
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i can fly with the 2 kids. this might help. its from the air new zealand site
If you are the only adult travelling with more than one infant you will need to reserve a seat for the additional infant and pay a child's fare (available for children up to and including 11 years of age). The additional infant must be restrained in an approved infant car seat, which you must provide. -------------
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 5:40pm
Have a wine before you get on the flight  ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: NovMum
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 7:46pm
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Airline staff are amazing with kids, I really wouldn't worry they will help you out! The little one will probably sleep - we took DD back and forth from aus alot when she was that age and she pretty much slept the whole way... Just insist on a bassinet seat! That way you can put the 5 month old in there and you'll be free to look after the 17 month old... Bribes worked well for me at that age :) And its only a short flight...
To be honest the hardest part will be before you get on the plane - if its air nz they will let you take a pram all the way to the departure gate though so that helps! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 7:58pm
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the hardest part will be that im scared of flying. hahahah! -------------
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 8:22pm
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I was going to say what you posted from Air NZ.
Re the scared of flying...You will be amazed at yourself. You will need to be brave for your kids so you end up pretending how much fun it is, while quietly sh*tting yourself. We had turbulence coming back into wellington. I was fair packing myself along with all the other adults around us but was saying to Alia "Wheee isn't this fun" She thought it was a great hoot! Especially cause we were leaving the seats!!! I felt better about the whole thing cause I was putting on a brave face for her. And yes I concur that airline staff will help you so much if you even look like you need help or ask for it. I would take a converting car seat on the plane so you could alternate which kid is on your knee. So one that can fit your younger one so he can sleep & also have the older one in as well. You know those one that have the base & you can pull a handle and they recline. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 8:36pm
| I have travelled a lot with kids. We lived in the middle east for 6 years and came home 1-2 times a year. Hardest part for you will be coming down and the ears. The 17 month old will be the biggest problem probably. If it was me personally I would try and bribe a family member with half a ticket hoping they will see a 1/2 price fair to help out just in case. Otherwise take ear plugs and don't look at the people around you as looks can kill you know. lol. Not really but it sure feels like it at the time. Most mums are sympathetic but then there are the not yet parents or too old to remember being parents groups that don't have a lot of patience. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 8:51pm
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I actually found people were rather sympathetic to Jakes ears popping.. could here lots of "poor wee thing" etc...
Bubs will be fine I would say but Mack might struggle a bit simply for wanting to get down! Jake was fine the first time we flew (pre walking) and slept there and back. This last time he was fussed and wanted to get down so I distracted him as best I could with food and he fell asleep pretty quickly and then again at the end of the flight and both times one of the attendants took him for a walk and play. You could hear him at the front of the plane cracking up at them in the back of the plane! Besides the flight times usually end up over nap/bedtime anyway!!! -------------   
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 26 August 2010 at 10:04pm
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Also ask the cabin crew for eucalyptus sachets, I had huge problems one time coming into Auckland and got given one to sniff & OMG worked a treat, I usually always have airwaves gum with me now when I fly. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com">
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 27 August 2010 at 12:06am
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we wont have a car over there so dont really want to take a car seat with us. we just found out the family assistance payments we are eligable for are huge though so it looks like we might try and get DH back here to help. we have to put the whole house in storage and clean up so that the ppl renting our place will be happy and stuff so might be worth him coming back to help me pack everything up. i dont know if i have the strength to move to another country and leaving all my family and friends behind anyway now ive thought it through. -------------
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Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 27 August 2010 at 9:37am
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I have moved countries a number of times. Once with a 3 month old baby. DH left when 6 weeks so I had all the packing up and selling etc to do on my own for 6 weeks. He got the job the morning after DS was born and informed me in the hospital. The next big international move was when DD was 6 months old. He was there for it but got stuck in another country with visa issues for two weeks prior only getting out 2 hours before the doors to the container were shut and 48 hours before leaving. Our latest move was back to NZ and I did 3 months solo with three kids packing up and selling stuff, painted 5 rooms in two days, before joining DH back here. He manages to get out of all the hard stuff. Then moans that he missed us and did it hard. lol.
What I am trying to say is it is amazing what you can do and the support that follows. Your friends are all keen to see you so organise packing parties with wine and fish and chips and it is amazing how much gets done. Also baby sitting is something relatives are keen to do as they won't be seeing the kiddos for a while so they try to cram in as much before you leave as poss so take it up. As for leaving friends behind they all just become similar to your friends on here. You will probably become better friends with just the internet and none of the drama. Get skype on your computer and you can call really cheap. 1 cent per minute computer to phone and free from computer to computer. We got all our family (our parents) to get skype and a webcam and broadband so that they didn't miss the kids growing up so much. We could turn the computer on and put the kids in front of it whilst doing the dinner and we had a babysitter in nz entertaining them for an hour. I actually left my DH watching the kids from NZ whilst I popped over to my neighbours for 1/2 an hour. It was sposed to be 5 mins but boy she could talk. (My second oldest is 9 so it wasn't like they were toddlers.) Good luck as it sure is hardwork but definately doable. Lots of tears and frustration but if it is want you have been aiming for then it is all worth it. ETA also milk the DH guilt factor of having to do it all by yourself. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 August 2010 at 9:51pm
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A little OT but will his potential employer offer any relocation assistance? -------------  |
Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 28 August 2010 at 10:11pm
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hopefully. its pretty common so we are at least gonna ask. we dont wanna be too picky though. we already gonna end up on about 40k more than now so we arent gonna turn it down cos they wont help with relocation. lmao -------------
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 28 August 2010 at 10:12pm
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I have flown a number of times with 2 kids and the airline staff have been great. Just ask and they will help. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: 4thtymlucky
Date Posted: 01 September 2010 at 7:48pm
Air NZ staff will be pretty awesome when they know that you're on youir own with wee ones. Other than that it might pay to have hubby come back just to fly you and the babies over even if it's just for a night or two. Either way, all the very best. It's the start of a new journey for all of you. I wish I'd done the same years ago.
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 01 September 2010 at 8:20pm
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thanks :) the company is flying him to and from sydney for one day on friday so im pretty certain we'll be able to get some relocation costs from them :) when we take the 2 kids over we are def gonna go airnz cos i have heard so many good things about them with kids -------------
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