Doing the Unthinkable

It’s been 3 years since I did the unthinkable! Original post is from June 2018

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I did the impossible - I flew alone from JFK to San Francisco with my 4-month-old twins!! 

I drove us and parked in long-term parking, wore one twin on my body, hung her car seat on the stroller, used a backpack as my diaper bag, and had a bag with some extras in the stroller basket. Yo-yo+ stroller was easy to push one handed and I could roll my suitcase with my other hand. A man on the air train gave me his seat right away.

Everyone at JFK Terminal 7 was awesome and so supportive. Our flight was at 7:30am (I left our apartment at 4:30am to give myself plenty of time). Security was my biggest concern and when I got to the front, the gentleman immediately asked me where my liquids were (he was willing to open my diaper bag to find them!). I put the empty car seat on the belt first, followed by my diaper bag and bag of extras. Then I removed the car seat from the YoYo, folded the stroller and put that onto the belt. Lastly I removed my son and put his car seat on the belt. I have TSAPre so I did not have to remove my shoes. I walked through still wearing my daughter and carrying my son, and they quickly did the hand swab check. Then a security agent unfolded my stroller for me! I was shocked at how helpful they were, and I think they were all shocked/impressed by my effort to fly alone with two infants. I arrived at the gate 20 minutes before boarding!

The Alaska Airlines crew was awesome. They let me board ahead of everyone else and offered to hold my babies as I got settled. And the babies themselves were a dream. They essentially slept the entire flight aside from one feed each. The plane had food and drinks to order and I watched TWO movies so I was well taken care of!

We had some small hiccups along the way that were easily navigated, and my daughter had a blowout during the landing, but I got her changed on my seat while the plane deboarded. I packed two changes of clothes for each baby plus one for me which I needed to use since the blowout got on my shirt. I also packed a back up pacifier which I was thankful for after I dropped my daughter’s pacifier in the parking lot. 

After a seemingly never ending winter with 10 weeks of strict bedrest, I’ve been so anxious to see my family and friends in California where I grew up, and so I went for it. First move after getting settled at my parents’ house was to go and get a haircut, and now I feel brand new. 

Just wanted to share with anyone who is nervous and/or on the fence about traveling with babies! You can do it!