Air Travel with toddlers and young kids these days is quite a challenge...
I feel qualified to write this article as I have just traveled from Maui, Hawaii to Bordeaux, France. May I add for good measure that I completed this feat by myself with Lily 3.5 years and Asher 19 months.
I am going to be honest with you. I have trouble doing grocery shopping with these guys let alone attempting world travel. The drive was to get to my parents house for my Grandad's 90th birthday.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing so my goal is to share mine so you can have the smoothest journey possible.
What Worked For Kids.
* Double Stroller. A friend lent us one and it saved my life. Do not attempt air travel without.
* Ergo Carrier. For when someone falls asleep during immigration.
* Apple sauce. Great hydrating snack for everyone.
* Cheese sticks. Best protein snack.
* Stickers for both Asher and Lily. Good time killer
* Snazzle Snacks for kids. Fantastic nutritional snack range for kids.
* Ipod loaded with new movies. Just ensure movies actually uploaded onto bloody Ipod!
What Worked For Me
* Quickstiks. B Vitamin life saver with ginseng and green tea.
* Green powder anti oxidant powder.
* Multi Vitamin. I use a custom vitamin
* VIP Pass. Airport Lounge pass where you get out of the chaos and find peace and a place to shower grubby kids.
* Lavender spray in 30 cc bottle.
* Dr Haushka Rose day cream
* iPod of positive mindset for when the going gets tough.
* Eye mask
What I wish I had packed in my hand luggage.
* Diaper Cream. Asher had diarrhea for most of the trip. {Yikes!}
* Diaper spray-works as a general cleaner. I love California Babies brand best
* I had brought a new iPod for Lily but somehow managed to not upload chosen "Dora" episodes! {read disaster}.
* I remembered DVD player but forgot the battery.
Human Kind Is Still Kind.
I traveled with a double stroller and 6 pieces of luggage all in all. As you can imagine it was humanly impossible to carry all at one time. What was so wonderful was there was not one moment when there was not someone who would assist. Whether it was loading everyone into the rental car bus or struggling through security folding up the stroller, someone always stepped up to help.
My most honest piece of advice is, as they tell you on the airplane, "put on your oxygen mask first". If you are feeling nourished, and as rested as possible you will be able to keep your patience intact and sense of humor high. This is where the VIP lounge and all the supplements along with keeping super hydrated really helped.
Now we have been here in France for a few weeks the journey was well worth the effort. The company of missed family and friends, great food and tranquility of rural France. That being said I am trying not to think ahead to to return trip, but feel like I have a bit of a road map to survive it.
