Flying Solo with Two?

[origami]

I just leave the 1 kid when I have to take the other to the bathroom and I always sit within a few rows from the bathroom. Our flights to Asia are usually at night so it's less of a hassle because there is more sleeping. On the way back to the US I have to talk myself down from being enraged because I swear my kids go to the bathroom a thousand times and never at the same time. Drives me crazy.

ETA: with a baby I would just plan to diaper change when the oldest has to go. If the baby is sleeping then skip but hopefully you can do both kids together at least once.

Also I warn everyone about this so even though it has nothing to do with your post I feel compelled to add it just in case. Your oldest needs kids headphones. The freebie plane ones might be terrible for kids because they may not fit well. I learned this the hard way. I can't even explain how terrible it is to deal with 2 kids and earbuds that continuously fall out -- for 13 straight hours. WAY more annoying than the bathroom merry go round.

[stealthmom]

I almost always get seats near the bathroom at the back. Oldest stays while I take the baby with me.

[ilikedonuts]

I never thought of this. Luckily it was a 2ish hour flight and my oldest didn't have to go! We flew Southwest so I had just picked the first available row!

I had DD1 and me go before we go on the plane. DD2 wasn't PT at the time

[gigem]

If they are both awake and cranky then I take them both to the bathroom with me (if I need to go or DD needs to go). It isn't easy but what else can you do.

If one or the other is happy/asleep I will either put that kid in the car seat and I ask a flight attendant or a friendly passenger to watch or ask someone to hold my youngest (or when he was within the limits for the bassinet and he was asleep I would leave him there and asked someone to watch him) and I take the cranky one with me.

If only I need to go to the bathroom and they are both happy/asleep, I ask a flight attendant or someone to watch them while I go alone.

I don't get seats near the bathroom because we mostly take night flights or very very long daytime flights (>10hrs) and there is too much noise at night and the bathroom area imo starts to get stinky on the super long day flights.

DD is almost 3 and DS is 18months and I've been flying alone with them since he was 9months.

Oh also if it is a few hours after DD's "normal" bedtime and I've already put her night diaper on I don't usually take her to the bathroom (this happens e.g. on a flight that leaves at 10pm). Although I don't think she will be okay with that for too much longer.

When we all pile into the bathroom on the plane or in the airport I beg them not to touch all the sticky/dirty surfaces

edited for crazy autocorrect typos!

[Willis Jackson]

It's just like any other time you're out in public with 2+ kids and one of you needs a diaper or potty. I found wearing the baby easiest b/c I had my hands free to help the big kid(s).

[meltoine]

IME there's always an old person who is willing to hold a baby while I take an older kid to the bathroom. And you're on a plane, so it's not Ike the stranger can go anywhere with the kid.

[ijack]

I would wear the baby and just stick her in that if a potty break was needed. We also wore pull ups on the plane for a while, even after potty training.

[mswax]

Like all the PP's said, you find a way that works for you and get it done. I just flew solo with 3 kiddos (7, 5, and 2). There were a few hiccups along the way but we all survived.

[frlcb]

I would leave the 4 year old to change the baby, and bring the baby when the 4 year old needs to go and just wait outside the bathroom holding the baby, or wear the baby. It's doable.

[biscoffcookies]

I just did this not too long ago with kids of the same ages. When DD had to go to the bathroom, I brought DS and just waited outside the bathroom while DD went (door unlocked) and then popped in when she was finished to help her figure out how to flush, etc.

I also had DD wear a pull-up on the plane. She's fully potty trained during the day but not at night, so we had them around the house. I figured it was extra insurance in case I ran into any problems with being able to get her to the bathroom in enough time due to the baby.