What do you think is easier with small children: plane or train?

We're off to Paris and Brussels and I cannot decide if plane or train is easier.  I have two kids, one toddler and a baby. 

We hauled our Britex over here from the States when we flew but I cannot think that carrying a toddler, Britex, baby, (baby carseat?) is easier than a train.  But!  The train would be 5 hours on a train and I know how my toddler is just going to London! 

Any tips?  It's 1hour20 min plane ride to Paris from Heathrow but will the cab accept our car seats?  I've never had to deal with that before, we've always hired a car or had our own.

Remember that flying (from London?) to Paris will involve getting from the Paris airport to the city itself - a good deal further out than the train stations. Plus you have check-in times with both plane or train (but I think less with train). I know this isn't an answer or even a suggestion - just more food for thought! I find that airplance tirps are never as short as they should be!

You are right, plane rides look short on paper but one has to consider the time to arrive, check in, wait, and the ride to and from the airport.  The cabs in London are fab and I won't have the same advantages in Paris/Brussels.

If we brought enough snacks and new books/toys, the train could work.  It's a hassle either way with a curious, roaming toddler.

I think it is a PITA to get to the airport and walk all around there.  We'd have to transfer at Waterloo to the Eurostar for the train to Paris which could mean the dreaded carrying luggage and stroller with kid up and downstairs...

 

I think it is a PITA to get to the airport and walk all around there.  We'd have to transfer at Waterloo to the Eurostar for the train to Paris which could mean the dreaded carrying luggage and stroller with kid up and downstairs...

 

If you are taking the train to London from wherever you live but then need to get to Waterloo, I'd suggest just splurging on a cab. More money, much less hassle.

All great ideas, thank you!!

I have a Maya and use it everyday so that is great to hear the idea with the sling/stroller.  We have a terribly bulky, non umbrella type stroller so it'd be nice to have an umbrella type.

The other good news is that my DH will be with us.  I should have mentioned that before!

I like idea about the cab vs. taking the train into London.  I had not thought of that.  Will cabs let you install your car seats?  Hmm.but then we'd have two car seats to lug around in Paris and I was hoping to avoid that.  I don't think it's safe to ride with kids without car seats in a taxi.  Or am I wrong about that?

If you are taking the train to London from wherever you live but then need to get to Waterloo, I'd suggest just splurging on a cab. More money, much less hassle.

I investigated this option but I'm thinking it would be worse than the train as it would take 1.5 hours to get to Waterloo from our home and we'd want to leave in the AM which means rush hour and possibly longer delays.

My baby wouldn't last that long in the car and would need to feed.  The train at least allows him to feed the whole way if he wants!   But it also means a toddler loose for my husband to manage.  But at 1.5 hours, that's about the time it would take for us to get to our local station, ride to Waterloo.  So it's a bit of a wash in terms of time.

Now I'm worried about the installation of our car seats in the Paris taxis.  Hopefully it will work.

The Eurostar is about 2.5 hours from Waterloo to Paris Nord - that's real similar to what we'd experience were we to fly.  My husband wants to fly but I'm scared to, honestly.  My baby hasn't flown before, I'm just plain afraid of flying.

Maybe if I bring enough fun snacks, books and games, my toddler could deal well with 5 hours total on trains.  Of course, we have the return trip to think about.  Isn't just a one time thing!

If it were me, I'd take the train.  If you've never taken Eurostar, it's very easy and goes right into Paris.  Plus you wouldn't have all the kerfluffle of boarding, seat belts, take off, landing.  You just get on the train  and in a few hours you're there.  That long on a train doesn't sound like that much fun, I know, but the whole plane journey wouldn't be that much easier and when you figure in the waiting time and journey to the airport and back, you probably wouldn't be any better off.  Good luck.