very early flight

[DebRMN]

if you do really early flights with kids, do you get them dressed in the morning?
Or do you let them go to the airport/fly in their PJs & change when you get to the airport.....or mid flight if they felt like it?

Basically, would I look like a loser mom letting my 3 kids through the airport in their jammies? They would definitely be more comfortable, but my dh may have issues.... "you can't do that!!" (always worried about what others think)

Anyway, our flight takes off at 6am so they will be getting up around 3:45am

also, as of right now, they don't know we are going. I am trying to keep it a surprise until that day somehow (we leave in 23 days!

thoughts? suggestions??

 

[badblackpug]

I probably wouldn't let them go in their jammies. I might opt for easy to put on clothes like jogging pants, or let them sleep in clothes, like jogging pants or leggings, that would be as comfortable as PJs.

As to surprise them I wouldn't tell them a thing. Put them to bed, load the car after they are asleep, and get them up and go. I would love to see the looks on their faces when they figure out where they are.

Or, if you think that would be too much for them, I would tuck a Mickey/Minnie doll in bed with them after they fell asleep maybe with the tickets or luggage tags attached and wake them up and ask them "what does this mean?'

 

[delmar411]

we lay out the kids clothes and do a quick change as we get them out of bed. It's easier to strip the little ones down while they are still mostly asleep, change diapers, etc and get their travel clothes on before they even realize what's going on. The older ones get sent off to the bathroom and then we help them change (well not my 10yr old! LOL) quickly. Takes all of 5mins total to get 4 kids up, potty'd/changed, dressed and downstairs waiting for us.

DH and I do all our stuff before getting the kids up including setting out drinks to grab.

Dh's job is to get them all into the car while I do a last sweep through the house turning off lights/unplugging stuff and I grab their blankets as well during that sweep.

Takes teamwork but we can get out of the house completely and be on the road in less than 15mins from first waking the kids.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'd just have them sleep in sweatpants.

 

[1hero2princesses]

We had a 8 am but we had to get up at 5 to make it. I would suggest changing them. Easier than doing it there. I just had the clothes layed out, got them on, had everyone go to the bathroom before we left for the airport. We didn't tell the kids either. Just woke them up. They knew we were going sometime just not when. We then told them today's the day we are going to disney world. My DS 5 said, but it is still dark? I said well we have to go really early. I was prepared for both DD's to be crying, too tired etc. everyone did fine (although they were kind of a mess that night - overtired and woudn't go to sleep).

 

[MarriedToAPrince]

I say do whatever is easier for you. If they are going to sleep till you get to the airport then you can change in the car when you get there. How long is the drive to the airport? If it is long I would be more inclined to do this. If it is pretty short then I could see waking them to dress them.

 

[murcor]

Do whatever is easiest for you. I wouldnt look oddly at a family with the kids in PJ's, I would think that is cute

We started travelling when the kids were 3 & 4 yrs old and always take the earliest am flight. The kids are always soooo excited that they have everything planned as to what they will wear etc and get up and ready to go quicker than anyother time of year

If you plan on telling them that morning than I think they will get dressed quickly If not until you get to the airport than I would think they would still get dressed in the am because it will be out of the normal routine getting up at the time ..........

I thihnk its awesome that you are saving it for a surprise. I tried doing that the first year but blew it about a week before we went. I couldnt stand it any longer

Have fun

 

[SmallWorld71]

When they were little, I let them wear their jammies to the airport. (Not footsies or nightgowns, just your standard pants and shirt jammies.) DD6 would still wear lounge pants if we had an early flight although it's been a couple years since we've had one. The boys just sleep in comfortable clothes. I am not a morning person myself so I never waste time getting them dressed; what they go to bed in is what they wear to the airport. Once they were old enough, about 3+, I let the kids pick what was most comfortable to them.

 

[Dani C]

By all means let them be comfortable. Seriously, my daughter is 14 and her school has pajama day several times a year. Besides, half the time I can't tell if the pants they are wearing are pants or pajama bottoms anyway at this point.

 

[disneybridetobe]

Ahhh who cares, jammies are cute. Let people look, if they do at all. I know I'd probably say "What a smart mom, her kids are up so early, she let her kids be comfy."

 

[2disneyboys]

I fly often for business and am in the airport all hours of the day and dont' think twice about seeing young kids in pj's ... I think most people would rather see a somewhat happy child in pj's then a cranky one dressed nice! the main point is comfort and speed in getting out the door. The only downside to dressing them after you fly is that you start your trip w/ 1 set of dirty clothes already! If possible, I'd vote for putting them to bed in something comfortable that they can wear at least until you get to the hotel. and don't wake them until you & DH are ready to walk out the door, that way, you can double team them, get pottied, drinks, shoes/whatever and in the car with minimum fuss..

LOVE the surprise... I can't keep a secret... try to but can't so I don't even bother... figure if i can't keep the secret and I"m going to ruin it anyway, might as well plan my inital presentation and at least get the results from that! If you are waiting to tell them the morning of, I've seen a lot of people mention using balloons as a way to tell them (like in all the disney commercials) What FUN! Enjoy

 

[ColinCodyMom]

I would keep my kids in pj's no question if I thought it was more comfortable for them. We often have early flights, but not as early as yours. We have had to wake them at 5 am and we have always gotten them dressed in comfy clothes but I wouldn't hesitate to let them wear their pajamas if they wanted to. By the way, I have tried and tried to keep a secret about upcoming trips and have never made it past a couple of weeks. I get too excited. Have a great trip!!

 

[mom2meiko]

comfort is key to a successful trip with children in my mind. do what you think they will be most comfortable with and don't worry about anyone else. you'll never see them again anyway!

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

I would keep them in their PJ's. Nice and warm and comfy!! We have a 6:40 flight and I'm not dressing Ava, of course she is only 3 months, but still! I wish I could fly in my jammies!!

 

[CLR4321]

With a 6am departure time, I most definitely would bring my kids to the airport in PJ's! Likely they will fall asleep on the plane anyways. I have seen many people on early flights with kids in PJ's, if the kids are under age 5 or 6 or so it is actually very common. When people look at your kids and see them in PJ's, likely they will be thinking one of 3 things: 1) I wish I had thought of that rather than struggling this morning! 2) Awww how sweet! or 3) Man, I wish I could be wearing PJ's right now! Most people will not even notice. I am debating taking my son to the airport in his. Our flight leaves at 7am.

 

[DebRMN]

thanks guys. I will keep my options open.
I can't dress them before they go to bed because they will wonder what is up, why they aren't going to bed in PJs.

Also, my twins are afternoon Kindergarten, so they are used to a couple days a week, hanging in their PJs most of the morning if we don't have preschool drop off or other plans.


I have done well at keeping the surprise alive.......not sure how to spring it on them yet either....when they wake up, at the airport??

 

[disneybridetobe]

Oh my goodness, since you've kept it a secret up until the last minute, I'd wait until either one of them figures it out at the airport, or when you get to the Magical Express!!

That is TOO cool.

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

Thank you for asking this, I have been wondering the same thing for our trip. Although we will not be leaving the houe until 4:30AM (a bit after you) I think I have decided that we will get on the road in pjs and then change in the car before we enter the airport.
My kids will most likely be awake by the time we get to the airport, but I am hoping for them to sleep as long as possible, thus the changing in the car once we get there.


I would have no problem at all seeing kids in their pjs.
Only you know your kids. If they will sleep in the car on the way to the airport, then yes jammies deffinatly. If they will wake up once you carry them to the car, then either take the 5 minutes in your own space to change them or do so before you park your car at the aiport.

 

[michael's mom]

We have an early a.m. flight leaving Disney after our trip and I plan on putting DS in a tshirt and comfy shorts (gym short type) that he can sleep in, throw on his crocs, and off to the airport.

I'm not sure about the weather where you live, but have your kids ever slept in sweats? You could put them to bed with sweats and a tshirt, tell them that their regular pj's are in the wash (hide them). That way, they're not in regular pajamas, but comfortable clothes that could be pajamas. Just pack summer clothes in a carryon to change them when you land in Orlando because it will definitely be time for shorts then.

 

[disneyoverload]

I had 2 6 AM flights last august. I saw bunches of kids in pajamas, especially because my flight was a 5 1/2 hour one. Let them wear whatever you think they will be most comfortable in, because at 6 AM, most people around you are so tired they won't notice anyways. Heck, the dunkin donuts wasn't even open when we got to the airport. Even if people do mind, too bad for them, because you'll never see them again anyways.