by Mikki McLeod

Created on: July 20, 2008

I WAS THAT MOM

I was that mom. Other than the role of mommy, my occupation is flight attendant. You would think of all people to know how to travel with children, it would be me. Well let's put it this way, you can plan and plan, but never expect the unexpected.
We have two daughters. One is about to turn two years old, and the other is only five months. The trip we just took was a short, three day visit to grandma's house; a three hour plane ride. The following items we had with us: a double stroller, two car seats (one with a base), a "pack and play," and a luggage dolly, a roller bag, a small child size suitcase and a back pack.

I figured out how to rig the double stroller (a sit and stand type), to be able to hold both car seats locked in so the girls could still ride. The roller bag has a hook that the back pack hung from, and the small suitcase sat on top of the roller bag. The car seat base hooked onto the back of the stroller and the "pack and play" bungeed on the luggage dolly. I pushed the stroller with the girls riding along, while my husband pulled the luggage and "pack and play." We still have to get through airport security.

Now with all the regulations that have changed regarding liquids and getting through security, we had to have a game plan. Each ticketed traveler can have one quart size "Ziploc" bag for liquids/toiletries under 3oz. Our allowance was four bags. To make it easy, all four bags were stuffed into the side mesh pockets of the back pack.

As for bottles, you are now allowed to have a "reasonable," amount of prepared bottles. You need your children visually present to confirm the need. You or your children will not be asked to sample the liquid to prove it can be consumed. Our "reasonable" amount was a small can of powdered formula, three 4 oz. bottles of water, four 8 oz. bottles (two with milk, one with juice, and one prepared formula bottle).

Now through security; children must be out of their car seats and either walking or carried through the screening arch. My husband was in charge of the girls and I was in charge of getting all our stuff through the machine and put back together. One rubber bin had all bottles, four "Ziploc" bags and the contents of our pockets (cell phones, wallet, keys, sunglasses and change). The next rubber bin, held all our shoes. Then on the conveyor went the "pack and play" and luggage dolly, the car seats and stroller. In Orlando, everything fit through the machine; in Manchester, the stroller and large

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