Pack a sense of humor along with all the extra diapers, outfits, snacks, and bottles you'll need for your trip. While planning is key, experienced moms of twins and multiples know to be prepared for the unexpected. Mary Adcock of the National Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs offers these suggestions, and we've added a few of our own:

  • Get advanced seat assignments for air travel whenever possible. This is particularly important when you are traveling with two lap babies, as airlines often have restrictions on the number of lap children that can sit in the same row. And if you are traveling alone with your kids, having pre-assigned seats will endear you to the flight attendants who won't have to shuffle other passengers around to make room for you and your crew.
  • Choose bulkhead seating when possible. Some airlines have bassinets for very young babies that you can reserve and attach to the bulkhead wall. And toddlers won't be tempted to kick the seats in front of them if they can get down on the floor and play.
  • Tell the airline or your travel agent you're traveling with several infants or toddlers. Even if your airline doesn't allow advance seating, some will go ahead and give you a seat assignment to avoid disrupting boarding procedures at the airport.
  • Buy a seat for each of your babies or toddlers. Yes, it's more expensive, but most airlines offer 50 percent discounts for children under 2 (check with the airline to see if they have a limit on the number of infant fares one family can have.) It's a lot easier to keep a squirming young child entertained in his own seat than on your lap. Plus, you'll have more luck keeping your family in the same row, and you can strap the babies into their own seats on bumpy rides.
  • Use a combination of umbrella strollers and backpacks to make travel easier. With one or two babies in a stroller and another on your back, you'll be able to move in and out of crowded airports a lot faster. Alternatively, strollers with detachable infant car seats are a wise choice if you want to cut down on carry-on baggage. You can check the frame at the gate.
  • If you check a stroller at your departure gate, your airline will have it waiting at the gate when you arrive, for use in the airport. This way, you'll have a place to put your little one if your flight gets delayed or if you have a long way to walk to the gate or baggage claim. You don't want to have to juggle a toddler on each hip as you race through the airport to make a flight.
  • Arrange for an airport cart to meet you at your arrival gate if you're changing planes. Your kids will love the novelty of the ride and you'll be thankful for the lift to the next gate.
  • Pack outfits for each child in a resealable bag for fast changes on the road. You'll save time not digging around for a sock or undershirt at the bottom of a carry-on, you can keep all your kids' clothes separated, and you can put dirty clothes back into the resealable bag and toss it into your other luggage without worrying about mixing clean and dirty.
  • Research your destination ahead of time to find kid-friendly restaurants, hotels, and parks. Knowing ahead of time which restaurants don't mind cereal on the floor or finding a tot park near where you're staying will substantially cut down on the chances of you or your babies having a meltdown after a long day of travel.

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