Well, we decided to join my husbands family for an extended vacation to kick off the last few weeks of Landon's first year!!
We are vacationing in Carolina beach, NC. My in laws have a beach house down here. it is such a quaint little tosn! All the homes are brightly colored, the beach is cool but not freezing or hot.. Landon's having an amazing time!
Lets talk about flying with a toddler... It's getting pretty challenging traveling with a kid that's mobile, teething and getting over a mild cold.. But WE DID IT!!
We decided to book a red eye flight.. I was very nervous because I wasn't sure how he would react... Well, we survived.. Barely!
We headed to the airport at 8:30... My husband dropped me, Landon & our luggage off at the curb while he dropped off our car for long term parking. I went in to wait.. It was nice because no one was at the airport.. 1 pt for booking a red eye flight!
Once we checked-in and checked all our luggage we went through security with a breeze.
Our checked luggage list:
Car seat w/ base
Stroller with stroller bag (brought the bugaboo because it can easily roll in sand)
2 suitcases
Our carry on list:
1 large diaper bag (I have a giant beach bag for vacations)
1 carry on luggage
Baby Bjorne
1 pillow ( I rolled the pillow and stuffed it in a small bag for easy carrying)
**i decided to carry him through the airport because he fell asleep during our drive and didn't want to disturb him... Which worked well for us, I only wished it was as easy on my back! Get a really good carrier ladies!**
We settled in on the plane and Landon was awake.. He played around while I wiped our seats, tray tables, walls, windows since he has a tendency to lick stuff...
I gave him this book to play with while we sanitized our area: (make sure you pack a zip lock bag filled with new & interesting things!)
As soon as we started taking off, I nursed during take off again when we were landing.
He slept for 98% of our flight.. Awake in the beginning and then when we Landed.
He was awake for 1.5 hours while we waited for our connecting flight.. I fed him some breakfast (1am our time), gave him snacks. We wiped down some airport chairs to let him climb around.. I gave him a new toy to play with.. He's really into cars and likes to say "vroooom" as he pushes it around.
Once we were ready to board, I repeated the same steps as the first flight.
When we landed, my husband suggested I just carry him because it was a small airport and we didn't want to wake him up.. It wasn't easy carrying around a sleeping 20lb baby.. It felt more like a 40lb short person.. Lol!
Total amount of travel time: 6-7 hours (including driving to & from airport)
When my in laws saw him, I was able to hand him off... They took turns holding him and watching him sleep while we waited for luggage.
He slept all the way to our vacation home until I put him in his crib.. It was 4am PST...
My husband and I were exhausted and Landon got a total of 6 hours of sleep, instead of 12. I got 40 minutes... Boo!!
This trip would've been a 100% easy but about a week ago, Landon discovered how delightful it sounds when he screams.. So when he's frustrated or is bored, there is a loud pterodactyl squawking that starts... I hope my in laws don't hate me after 13 days... Wish us luck!
Oh! Before I pack my bag to go home, I'll make sure I take a picture and get you all a post!
I need an award that says, "I flew with my baby and I survived" and maybe 7 cocktails!
