Helpful Tips To Survive Airports With Several Toddlers

Taking an airplane as a lone adult with several small children in tow can be an adventure... or a nightmare, especially if they are in the terrible twos stage. Here are a few things that can help.

Mail Extra Essentials Ahead

Whether you are traveling to a hotel or visiting family, mail the essentials you'll need during your trip to where you are staying, such as pull-ups and wipes. That way, you won't have to take so much with you to and from the airport. If you are booking at a hotel, ask them for their mailing address and who you can list as "in care of" on the package. Of course, you'll need to put your name on the package, but it's also a good idea to write in your arrival date immediately after your name so the mail room clerk will know when to put the package at the reception desk.

Hire Airport Transportation

One of the difficult things about traveling with several small children is getting everyone safely to the airport terminal. It's a good idea to hire an airport transportation service for door-to-door service. That way, you won't have to deal with trying to get your toddlers to walk a long way through a parking lot or garage, which can be challenging since they'll be super excited and may dart in and out of vehicles. When you call to book the transportation to and from the airport, tell them your flight number so they can determine an appropriate time to pick you and your children up from your home.

Print Maps of the Amenities in the Airport(s)

One thing that is for sure is that toddlers have short legs and can get tired quickly, especially if you walk aimlessly in the airports to look for things to keep the children happy, such as bathrooms, play areas, and drinking fountains. You'll want to find family-friendly bathrooms since they are probably the only bathrooms that are large enough to hold you and your gaggle of little ones. That way, you won't have to cram into a small stall or use a handicap accessible stall.

You can print off a map of the amenities at each of the airports on your itinerary by going to the airports' websites. Study the maps before your transportation service picks you up so you will know where to find the nearest family-friendly bathroom once you arrive at the airport.