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Traveling With Twins
December 7, 2010 by The Next Family
Filed under Multiples, Parenting
By: Kacie Bernstein
Traveling with twins – or perhaps children in general -is never fun! My in-laws live on the east coast and we travel there twice a year. Our first trip was when my children were 14 weeks old. We had no idea what to expect, and being a person that doesn’t enjoy flying, it seemed like a terrible idea. It must have been pure insanity that allowed me to agree to a five-hour flight with 14-week-old twins, or possibly it was the idea that I might get some alone time once we got there. I packed enough formula for 6 bottles each, it might have been even more, but sadly I have already forgotten. Not to mention the 20 diapers I packed and still do for every flight we take. What if the flight is delayed -do you really want to be unprepared with infant twins? We were able to use miles for our first flight and flew first class; we loved it, but definitely got nasty looks from others sitting nearby. Looking back, it was probably our best flight to date; they basically slept and ate the entire time. We have since traveled with them at 8, 15 and 20 months.
As the babies have gotten older the flights have become more anxiety-filled and our carry-on luggage is now jammed with copious amounts of snacks and tons of activities. My husband thinks I am crazy for bringing so much stuff, but once again, what if the plane is delayed or we are stuck on the runway? It’s a little embarrassing to say, but I bring enough food to provide everyone with snacks! The rule on the plane is that there are NO rules, they can consume as much food as they want and watch Yo Gabba Gabba until the DVD player runs out of battery (our battery lasts for 7 hours)! We try our best to keep the kids in their seat and not to bother others around us. We have managed four successful cross-country roundtrip flights and know there are many more in our future and can only hope it gets easier from here…is that just wishful thinking??
Kacie, Kudos to you. My son and daughter-in-law have flown from Chicago to LA (until they moved here) so many times, the twins and their sister are gathering miles. Now being 6 (twins) and 3 1/2 Itouches all the way. They just have gotten so used to it they sleep and watch and sleep and watch. So by starting them early it will just something they know how to do.
That’s what we are hoping for…and yes, they also have miles as well!
Kacie – rest assured it does get easier!! I’m with you on the eat all the snacks and watch the Ipad until their eyes pop out of their head!! It’s a gift that you travel with them and give them those experiences. I found that at just over 3, it started to get easier. I’m also learning to relax and not be so anxious about everything.
Oh, I flew with my daughter for the first tine when she was 3 months. But I just had a horrible flight with her on the way back from my hometown on Sunday. I totally agree about bringing enough stuff. I ran out snacks and forgot to bring toys. HUGE mistake. I also flew at night as opposed to the morning or afternoon as is our norm. So I would add to choose the right time of day, b/c if they’re not ready to sleep and everybody else is wants to sleep, then it can become a complete disaster.
Kacie – Twins are a whole different ball of wax, aren’t they? I’ll be honest and say I think the hardest to travel with them was around the 2-year mark but starting around 2.5-3, it starts to get much easier. We just went to NYC for Thanksgiving with them at 3.75 and they slept and watched and ate and were actually pretty decent. Know that it gets better.
Kacie- although I only have one, I feel your pain and I still have anxiety each time we step on a plane, it does get easier but you never know when disaster is going to strike
You can never pack enough snacks or games or DVD’s 
I used to go to the store and pick a new toy for each 30 minute increment of the flight. I felt like Mary Poppins pulling things out my bag. 
Hmm, I better get to it for our trip this month.
Great writing. Glad to have you with TNF.
Brandy- You just made me laugh out loud!! My bag weighed about 30 pounds and at least half of that was food…I think my kids gained about five pounds each by the time the plane landed!! Heather- they will be almost 2.5 on our next flight, fingers crossed that it will be great!!