3 kids, 2 adults on Southwest - how to sit?

[Karenj2]

DH and I are trying to figure out the flights seating arrangement for the way down. We have 3 kids - one 4yo, and twin 15 month olds (which we've purchased seats for). We're still debating whether to bring the car seats (that's another post), which might affect your answers, but can you give me ideas anyway?

Of course, I WISH I could just throw all three kids by themselves in a row, and DH and I can sit in our own row (oh, how nice that would be!! ), but I don't think we'd be allowed to do that.

So, I've created a poll - please vote (and if you choose the "other", please explain)

 

[kiramay]

I think it would depend on which child is the neediest. If the twins are more work than the 4 year old, I'd do twin-adult-4yo. But if the twins are going to chill most of the flight while the 4yo will be bouncing all over, I'd do twins-adult and 4yo-adult.

 

[SGMCO]

we were on a SW flight to Disneyland and there was a family with 7 young kids and 2 were babies. The 3 older kids all under 10 sat together and the 2 adult split up and had 2 smaller kids each. I told them they were brave to travel.

 

[woodynjessiesmomma]

I think it would depend on which child is the neediest. If the twins are more work than the 4 year old, I'd do twin-adult-4yo. But if the twins are going to chill most of the flight while the 4yo will be bouncing all over, I'd do twins-adult and 4yo-adult.

I agree with this ^^
We will be flying with 3 kids for the first time on our next Disney trip. We will have one adult with our oldest and the baby and one with our 3yo daughter as she is a handful. So I think splitting the younger ones would be best based on how our kids act.
But if your twins do better together then it would be fine to keep them together. Good luck!

 

[maxiesmom]

I agree with this ^^
We will be flying with 3 kids for the first time on our next Disney trip. We will have one adult with our oldest and the baby and one with our 3yo daughter as she is a handful. So I think splitting the younger ones would be best based on how our kids act.
But if your twins do better together then it would be fine to keep them together. Good luck!

If they use car seats for the twins they won't be able to be in the same row.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My 4 year old is almost completely independent on an airplane, so I'd put a twin with each parent.

As someone else stated, if you go the carseat route, you have no choice but to go one twin per parent, since you can't have two carseats in the same row.

 

[Minnesota!]

If they use car seats for the twins they won't be able to be in the same row.

Yep, that!

 

[Karenj2]

Hmmm, since I'm leaning that way (using the car seats) it looks like the decision is made for us!

 

[jennianne]

I've flown with my twins multiple times, starting when they were 16 months old, and they are 8 now. They both ALWAYS need to sit with me. We've tried having one with dad and one with me, but at take off there is typically a freak out that requires them to make their way into my lap! I don't have an older child, but I know that wrangling them both but keeping them both happy would be much better/easier to me than to have one of them upset with dad while I have to wrangle a 4 year old also. Now, if they have a daddy attachment, then by all means, let him take one! Good luck!!

 

[Habbott]

You can have two car seats in one row, but you have to have the car seats on the inside. I would definitely take the car seats. They are used to them, and it is safer.

I would still go twin, parent 1, 4 year old; twin, parent 2. Although, if either of the twins kick seats I would make sure my family sat in front of them. If they both do, then I would do twins in one row and the 4 year old and other parent in front of them.

 

[cuds2131]

We are going to be traveling with 3 kids too. We are going to do an adult with a 5 year old and 2 year old and an adult with the one year old. Unless they start fighting over a window seat....

For you I would also do an adult and 1 baby and adult plus the other baby and the older child. Then on the trip home switch the adults around.

 

[MommyMK]

I would do across the aisle from each other instead of in front/behind if you can. Look into the CARES harness instead of the car seats.

 

[maxiesmom]

I would do across the aisle from each other instead of in front/behind if you can. Look into the CARES harness instead of the car seats.

One good thing about sitting front to back is that if one of the kids ends up being a kicker, they can kick family, not a stranger who may get angry.

 

[Greenfield1984]

One good thing about sitting front to back is that if one of the kids ends up being a kicker, they can kick family, not a stranger who may get angry.

Yup, was just about to come on and say this. When we flew on our last trip I had DD1 and DD6 with me, and DH sat with DD2 behind us. That way if she kicked the seat, she was kicking me (DD1 was too small to kick the seat and DD7 was old enough to know better without being reminded 50 times).

I think it really depends on the temperament of your children. We split our 2 young ones up because taking care of either of them required our full attention (constant changing of toys/movies/snacks/drinks...). So I would sit 1 twin and your 4yo with you (in the row behind since the 4 year old is most likely to kick), and DH and the other twin together.

 

[Habbott]

I would do across the aisle from each other instead of in front/behind if you can. Look into the CARES harness instead of the car seats.

CARES won't fit 15 month olds properly, especially since there is no crotch strap.

 

[snoopy5386]

CARES fit my quite active 15 month old just fine. It's designed for kids over 22 lbs which most 15 month olds are or bigger.

 

[Dragonfly_34]

I'll be in a similar boat when we go next month, also flying Southwest. This will be the first time my twins have flown and DS 5 hasn't been on an airplane in 2 1/2 years. I don't know if your twins are the same way but my daughter is very attached to me and my son is very attached to DH. My plan is to sit with my DS 5 and DD 2, while my husband sits with DS 2. I am hoping we can sit across from each other rather than front-to-back just in case something happens and DH and I need to switch seats temporarily.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

if you plan on oldest child having a window seat, do not plan on carseat in that row as carseat has to be by window. also2 carseats in row would mean one by window and one in middle seat, so you would not be able to between the twins.