Traveling Alone from Asia to US with Two Kids! HELP

I skimmed through your answers here and it looks like you've got a lot of good suggestions! I would also get your 3 year old her own backpack. Once my girls turned that age I made them carry their own toys. That freed up my own backpack for the baby (as well as all the snacks, etc.)

Maybe, because you will no doubt have a lot of 'stuff' to carry/lug around on hand.... get a Toddler 'leash' for your 3 year old. It is for safety.
It can be used as a 'harness' around the child's back, or on the child's wrist.
Amazon has examples of it. www.amazon.com

You'd also probably be pushing a stroller around in the terminals and having bags strapped over your shoulders.... your purse etc.
Carrying kiddie things too, snacks etc. So make sure everything is secure. ie: all your Passports, money, credit cards etc.
Many people, us included, wear the neck strap or waist strap type hidden bags/wallets. Don't put the 'snap' of the waistpack, in the back of you.. it can easily be taken off by thieves. Put it in front of you, for example.

Pick-pockets abound in those areas.

The layover should be fine, the kids can rest. But you cannot get any shut-eye yourself, because you have to watch your kids.

How 'mature' is your 3 year old?
You can talk/prep your eldest, ahead of time... to help Mommy kind of thing. Per her age. Tell her to STICK together.... always hold your hand etc.

You will be able to board first etc., because you have kids.

I assume, you will then need to travel BACK, to India... with the kids as well. You being alone on the return flight as well???

Entering the U.S., the Customs lines... can be quite long and arduous. So head's up.

I assume, you viewed the www.tsa.gov website, to see how you should pack and travel and what carry-on's are allowed or not and how containers have to be?

The main thing for me, would be 'safety'... on the trip. Since I'd be alone with my kids. Be aware... of what is around you and who. And don't be shy, in asking for help at any airport, or on the plane. Moms with kids, traveling alone, can be easily 'distracted.'

Oh.. and ALWAYS... carry on you, a little booklet (I use a spiral little mini notebook), and write in it ALL your important phone numbers and contact numbers, your Pediatrician/Doctor numbers, credit card company numbers, family phone numbers etc. It is very important. Doing this, has come in VERY handy for us... traveling abroad to and from Europe.

You can ALSO put your cellphone on a 'leash' or Lanyard around your neck too. Less chance of it getting lost or stolen.
I assume...your cell phone can be used for International calls??? Not all cell phones, can.

Call me anal... but that is how I/we travel or when abroad. And believe me, my Husband has THANKED me for being so anal about all these details. Because, things happened where we needed such information RIGHT on hand.

all the best,
Susan

Hi there, now I don't travel Internationally but I do take 2 or 3, 6 hour flights with 2 kids and have every year for the last 5 years. I don't know how all this will translate into International issues. I think the 2 most important things I did was use a stroller that I would gate check ( I had a double stroller & a single stroller - I prefered my single because it has a bigger basket underneath - that will come into play later) I would also use a car seat with both kids and the same rules applied as in the car. When we are flying unless they have to go potty which if yours are still in diapers that could be a good thing. My kids are afraid of how noisy they are. So we check all bags except one back pack I carry and a little pull suitcase my daughter carries or it fits in that big basket I mentioned before. I let the kids fill that little bag with the items they want to entertain them on the plane. (markers, paper, hot wheels, little people characters, a favorite sleeping toy or blankie.) In my bag I include snacks like grapes, apple slices, trail mix, something special like a sugar free lollipop or gum to use during take off and landing tic tacs are good too. I pack a small plastic bag with hand sanitizer, gas drops, and tylenol. The bag also has a dvd player with an extra 3 hour battery pack and I usually get a couple of new movies they have not seen yet. Then fill it up the rest of the way with diapers, wipes whatever you think you need. My kids have never gotten sick on flights. I put us all in comfy clothes (soft sweat suits and easy slip on shoes for security)I put the youngest in the stroller and have a strap tide onto the stroller handle my daughter holds onto it or I tie it to her clothing or wrist depending on situation and if we are rushing or casually taking out time. I put the kids bag into the basket then set my backpack with all our travel papers into one of the upright car seats we have a 2 Cosco Marathon car seats. I use the straps for the anchor system to attach it facing forward to the stoller then I lay the other carseat upside down with the bottom laying on part of the stroller handle and over the top and down the back of the other car seat. Then I can easily manuever around the airport easily. I have it down to a Science and find it easier to travel alone with the kids than I do with my husband and kids. Hope you understand my explanation and get something useful from it.

Bring a lot of snacks. Also, bring two changes of clothes for each kid AND a change of clothes for yourself. I have heard of so many kids getting airsick and the mom brought clothes for the kid but not herself. Yuck.

Pack a few new toys/books/games that they have never seen.

Get a portable DVD player, headphones, and some movies that they like to watch.

Let them run around the airport as much as possible to get out their energy before being stuck on the plane for so long.

Some people I know give their kids Benadryl to make them drowsy. If that works for you, go for it. BUT, some kids can get hyper from benadryl, so don't do it if you've never done it before and don't know the effects.

Oh, and check as much luggage/gear as you can. It might cost a little extra, but it is SO worth it to not have to lug it all through the airport.

Have a safe trip!

If you're stopping in Heathrow, I can tell you that they have great mom&child changing stations there. You can lock them, and there's even a chair with a footstool for breastfeeding inside. I would have loved it if there was a grownup bathroom inside, too. Most of them are also very close to the waiting areas (lots of chairs and the departure displays near). There's no pleasure going trough the security lines, but they did put us trough first when they saw we had a child, so you'll definitely get a shorter wait.
The only bad thing was that the connecting flights departure gates were not listed in time, we got 30 mins from the minute ours was listed to go to the right gate (use the train inside the terminal). Informations did not help, they kept saying that it will be listed when the info is available. People coming from London had the gate on their passes though, long before the gate was listed. I found that weird.
My suggestion would be to make sure you memorize the layout of the terminal you're getting to, and are leaving from (or print them out and keep them handy).
I had a backpack with all the baby stuff, which freed my arms.
In the plane, I had a fanny pack with all I needed for a diaper change, I would refill it after each change, to be ready for the next emergency.
Once you get in the plane, ask for the extension lap belt (you're required to hold your baby in your arms for take off and landing, and as such you have to use that extension belt.
Oh, and remember, in the US you'll probably need car seats for both babies (not sure what the requirements are for the state you land in, but you need to check).
If your kids are anything like mine, they'll eat our ears off until you leave Delhi, be wide eyed for half the flight to London, then sleep trough until about boarding time, shift around a little after taking off, and then again sleep like logs until DC, and lastly get a little cranky during customs...
I had a friend who took her kids back home to India for a 3 months sabbatical, she said the bought a double stroller for the purpose, because the airports were very crowded, and keeping them in was all she could do to keep them safe.
That's about all that comes to mind... My best wishes, be well rested.
A, and remember, because of the kids you ARE allowed to bring water/milk and other liquids trough security.