Let alone, triplet infants.
Especially on an airline.
And, especially regularly.
Well, that's the Low's new reality.
Taking a 4 hour flight, every couple of weeks, with triplets.
This poses a few difficulties.
1. One adult needed per infant.
2. They can't sit next to each other as there are only 4 oxygen masks per row.
and lots of other minor inconveniences.
There have got to be other moms out there who have done this!
Does anyone have any great tips or suggestions?
Or "must haves" for airplane travel with babies?
For example, last flight they had one diaper bag. It was difficult to keep things organized and to be able to pass out all the necessary gear across the aisles to the other adults holding a baby. Then, the gear ends up in the seat pocket at your knees, cramping the already tight space...etc.
Leslie has been looking for something that could hold a bottle and a binky and a few necessities that possibly straps onto the tray. She's found a few options online, but they aren't a great solution. Perhaps someone has something they've made they could take a quick picture of and send it to us to replicate? Obviously, this infant stage won't last forever, but once they outgrow the infant needs, then there's the constant entertainment and snacks of 3 toddlers on an airplane!
We would love to hear your ideas!!!
Some photos of the traveling circus last trip:
Baggage claim in Toronto. By the time they got the strollers and car seats, the babies all buckled, and made it to baggage claim - everyone was gone. It was only their luggage sitting on the carousel.
Waiting for the ride to the airport. There wasn't enough room in 1 car for all the babies plus adults, so they had to take 2 separate transport vehicles...
They couldn't push all the strollers in line at the ticket counter to check in. So, Leslie had to stand outside the line and watch for the agent to motion them in the back way to verify the infants and tag the strollers for gate check, etc. It's an entourage!
The taxi driver had to call his boss and get special permission to put a stroller and suitcase in the front seat as the trunk wasn't big enough to accommodate all the gear!
Grandma Grow and Mason on the plane.
Richard and two babes asleep on the plane.
You get the idea. It's difficult.
Leslie is looking for some options that will help this be easier for subsequent trips.
I would suggest checking the strollers. Use front carriers to hold the babies and have a small child size backpack for each baby.
ReplyDeletekeep a set of carseats and strollers at your destination if possible. fly with the babies in carriers and as lap children vs having their own seats. each adult needs a backpack (even if it's a smaller one) with essentials. this backpack can fit under the seat in front of the adult. i've flown internationally with 2 small children several times; the last time they were both under 4 yrs old and i was 35 wks pregnant, flying with no other adults. it's hard but can be done. don't be afraid to ask for help from the stewardesses and other passengers, most people are more than willing to help they just don't usually know how to ask.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine flying with three infants!
ReplyDeleteHere is something that could possibly work for each baby: http://www.amazon.com/World-Pride-Handbag-Comestic-Organizer/dp/B009XPRZKG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396034925&sr=8-2&keywords=purse+organizer
They even have blue, orange, and green :) It doesn't attach to the tray but I'm sure you could sew something on it to make it work?! They are only $3.69, so not a investment for something that could work well.
Good-luck and Prayers,
Elise----David's Hakes wife :)
wow I have no other tips except gravol and Benadryl... kidding... maybe ;) Whenever I need suggestions I go to Leslie because she already knows the best. I would thought forsure have a smaller separate bag for each of the triplets. and then have a backpack for the main diaper bag for when you get to Toronto. You could even color coordinate the smaller individual diaper bags. That just sounds like it would make life easier. have an extra soother and everything you'd need in them. I do love that photo of sleeping Richard and two babies. Oh the life the Richard and leslie (and helpers) now.
ReplyDeleteMy niece had bilateral RB and they had to fly from Utah to California. My sister was told about a service called Angel Flight. I don't know if that is available in Canada or something similar. You may want to search the internet or check with a hospital social worker. It is a network of pilots of personal planes that donate their time, plane, and gas and they fly you to and from appointments. It is a free service for you. I hope it is available! Praying for you all!
ReplyDeleteSorry-2nd post- I just looked it up and they do have one for Canada called Hope Air. They also might help with ground transportation.
ReplyDeletehttp://hopeair.org/
Here is the one my sister used for Taylor here in the US (her pic and story advertise it too) http://www.angelflightwest.org/
I can't believe I didn't know when I was traveling with my infant that if the infant is in a babywearing carrier you DON'T have to do the whole "take the baby out, carry it through the security scanners" song&dance. If there's 3 adults, have each one carry a baby boy on their chest. Then you don't have to remove your shoes or anything. They just wipe off your hands to make sure you have no bomb residue on them. So easy.
ReplyDeleteJust gate check the whole stroller/carseats setup you have. Transport them in the slings if you can, but that way the car seats are available in the airports incase they want to be set down. Then try to keep them happy and sleeping and comfy in the slings for the flight also.
Having one small backpack per kid/adult is probably the right idea. Recent experience I have says bring extra clothes for the adult also.
My friend has triplets and this is what she has to say:
ReplyDeleteJust be as organized as possible, take the bare minimum. If they can take a extra person it is so much easier. We wear one (two when small) & put two in a stroller. We always get sent through the priority line in security because it takes so long. I go through with the stroller & W [her husband] hands each one through. I strap the one back on & go with the person to check fluids and put the others in the stroller or on a blanket if they decide to take longer. W gets our bags and shoes. We take a new toy & lots of snacks. I take the row in front of W with M [older child] & a baby & he takes two babies. Since we have to pay for one baby seat we take one carseat (two with M) and whoever is crankiest goes there. We schedule flights around nap/bed time or earliest we can get get.
Hello, I found your blog from the Deseret News article. My prayers Re with you as you go through this journey. I came across a product that I think might help you. Check out flyebaby.com. It is a sling that attaches to the tray that the baby can sit in to free up your arms while flying. Good luck with all your travels and treatments! Your family is adorable!
ReplyDeletevery useful post :)
ReplyDeleteI suggest the baby sling for flying. We do 2 hr flight to Toronto for treatment. As a baby I would take the baby snuggli for Sam and she would be in it for all but takeoff and landing. I started with a diaper bag and purse and found going with a big purse worked better. I had one compartment in purse for wipes, 5 diapers and room for a bottle or 2 and 1-2 change of clothes. Once landed back in snuggli til I got the stroller and carseat together to put her in. We flew into billy bishop so it was quick taxi to RMH or hotel. Since you fly to pearson I would suggest maybe seeing if you can use the Canadian cancer society ride program. Volunteer picks you up and drops off where you need to be, one time expense of I think 100. But worth it if you use every time you come to Toronto. Good luck with the boys, Gallie, Heon and Budning are awesome!
ReplyDeleteCan you store/rent/borrow/steal strollers at your destination and just use snugglies/backpack/front packs for the trip? Some airlines let families pre check in the night before and arrive with just carry on. They also make a wheeled luggage that acts as a rolling chair for toddlers.
ReplyDeleteallsquaredup.blogspot.com
If at all possible, book your flights with WestJet and park at the JetSet parking lot. If you book the valet parking (which isn't that much more than regular parking rates), you can pull up immediately outside their building. WestJet has a check in desk inside - never any line up and you can drop all your check in baggage right there. Literally about 50 feet from where you've parked your car. Best service ever! Especially fantastic in the winter - when you get home they'll have your car warmed up and you and the babies can wait inside where it's warm while hubby gets car seats and luggage back into the car for your drive home. You can book jetset online at jetsetparking.com. Your travel agreement with Alberta Health will likely stipulate that they will only pay for taxis to and from the airport, but we just demonstrated that it was cheaper for us to drive (and have them pay for mileage and parking) then it was for a taxi and we were able to have those costs covered instead. Definitely have three separate carry ons loaded with the supplies each baby will need, and I would pass on strollers and go with the child carriers instead. We always stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Yonge Street which was only about a 10 minute walk to the hospital so we found that strollers were often not necessary. As our daughter got older, I would try to have at least one new toy, book or activity to keep her interested on the plane. One side benefit of all this is that our kids are now amazing travellers!
ReplyDeleteweetravel.ca has some interesting ideas. You can rent baby gear in Toronto from them and their blog has some travel tips. The Go-Go Babyz Travelmate Car Seat Carrier http://www.gogobabyz.com/product-i14550-c26-gogo_Kidz_Travelmate_.aspx seems like a really good idea so that you don't have to have strollers and carseats in the airport. I'm assuming you can gate check it with your car seat but you'd have to check because I've never actually used it. I know that Kacz's Kids in Calgary carried them a couple of years ago but I don't know if anyone in Edmonton does (or if KK still does) so I don't know if there are any stores where you could try it out with your car seats.
ReplyDeleteOh, they are so beautiful! I have 4 boys too, but just 4 boys one at a time! It's very different! It looks like ya'll are doing an amazing job!
ReplyDeleteI think you have to decide on products yourself, but I would look at skip hop products or 4mom stuff, they seem to be the most sensible.
ReplyDeleteKeep the strollers, we did our first two trips with out just infant car seat, it was a pain strollers can be gate checked and most of the time the friendly west jet people will set them up waiting for you. As for diaper bages swiss army makes a great one shoulder strap pouch small but good to hold diapers.
ReplyDeleteThe wee go car seat thing is junk, sorry we bought one and it lasted one plane ride and it was marked fragile .
ReplyDeleteSorry I meant the gogo babyz car seat hauler, not worth the money, we also looked into renting gear from wee travel in Toronto and it was not very economical and they did not deliver gear at that time about four years ago. But you are staying at a condo so you may be able to purchase some things and store there. Like smaller umbrella strollers.we found one that was compatible with our infinite car seat. And had a five point harness for when our daughter was a bit older. Any way I am sure you will find routine and products to make your travel less chaotic . I always had a main diaper bag but had a small graco wipes pouch that held wipes a couple of diapers and a small change mat that could be tucked into the front of the seat . also always had a small receiving blanket on my lap to save me from any unexpected messes. Also kept extra change of clothes in bigger diaper bag for me. Because there were times because of treatment my daughter did vomit . always be prepared aand large zip lock freezer bag's are a mom's best friend.
ReplyDeleteCame across your blog today and am reading about your sweet family. Keeping you in my prayers. I have a cross-body purse that I bought at a shop in Manhattan called Highway. It has many zippered pockets to keep things organized. The strap is made of seat belt material, and can be worn across the body when carrying a baby, or shortened up to hang over a stroller bar or tray table.
ReplyDeleteI just remembered that when our kids were babies, we had something similar from LL Bean or Eddie Bauer that was intended to be used as a diaper bag, with a wipeable compartment and insulated bottle sleeves.
DeleteI haven't gotten to read all the other comments, so please excuse me if this is a repeat. Anyway, when I travel I use a lot of gallon zip locks! In each one I include one complete outfit and diaper. Then, for a diaper change (or a blow out!) I just grab one of those bags and the wipes and head to the bathroom. No need to drag the whole bag to the bathroom with me. When I'm done changing the baby the soiled clothes go into that same ziplock!
ReplyDeleteI just was made aware of your story today. Many prayers coming from Minnesota for continued healing and control of the tumors.