Flying with a Toddler

Someone tell me why I thought it would be a good idea to move house two weeks before going overseas for a month?

So in order to keep track of everything I am creating a number of travel checklists as I go (and I really must put them on to the computer) which I reckon will be used a lot over the next few years.  Although will change a lot as Jot grows.  I don't think she understands what is hapening but I have started to talk to her about it more each day so hopefully she will be excited and not fearful about the flight (not her first). 

I am starting to get excited now.  R's parents leave on Saturday, I have to pack on Sunday, work on Monday and then off on Monday night so in 4 days we will be on our way.  I am a little nervous about the flight 30 hours door to door with a 16mo.  I will survive!  I found some great tips from Christie at Childhood 101 as well as tips from various friends and family members who have made the journey with little ones.  So another checklist was born:

Jots Distraction Checklist

Bubbles (small bottle like wedding favours)
Small notepad and pencils
Balloons - not sure about this but she finds them hysterical so we will see how annoying they are
Finger puppets
Tonka trucks x 2
Small stuffed toys x 3
Little wooden animals (bargin at $0.50 each so not an issue if they end up left on the plane)
books (that she hasn't seen before)
stickers

I probably have way too much as she is likely to be asleep for some of the time (I hope and pray) but this way they can always come on the flight back with us too.

I have bought a seat for her though as the thought of her on my lap for that distance did not appeal to me but have decided not to take her car seat on board.  I will take it with us so she can use in the UK but on the plane I have purchase one of these CARES restraint.  They can be bought in Australia through Little Gulliver.  I have been meaning to try it out but life keeps getting away from me.  I will practise putting it on our dining room chairs this weekend.

I guess as long as I am prepared I need to hand the whole journey over to the powers that be to get us through in one piece (and still relatively sane).  Watch this space!

Seriously though I am feeling very unprepared which is not a good thing for me as it means I stress rather more than I should.  I have already forgotten two things I had to do today and I had them written on my hand - this does not bode well for my sanity.

I will post when I am over their to let you know how my planning (or lack of it) worked out.  In the meantime have a good weekend.

Jots Mum