I will be traveling across the country by plane with a 2-1/2-year-old active toddlerand a 2-month old baby. There's a chance I will have to do it alone, without my husband, and I am trying to figure out the logistics. Here are the options and the cons to each one as I see them:
1. Wear the baby in a wrap or Baby Bjorn and put my daughter in an umbrella stroller. Check the infant car seat and the toddler car seat. Cons: I won't have a stroller for the baby once I get to my destination (he/she will be too little to ride in an umbrella stroller), I will have to pay for one extra checked bag.
2. Wear the baby in a wrap or Baby Bjorn and roll my toddler in her carseat (on one of those wheel attachment things). Check the infant car seat. Cons: I won't have a stroller for either kid once I get to my destination.
3. Put the baby in the infant carseat, attached to a snap-n-go, and have my toddler walk. Cons: My toddler is a "runner" and I might lose her or have to leave the baby to catch her if she runs away. I have a backpack leash that I tried at the airport recently, but she fought it and kept sitting down or trying to take the leash out of my hand. My toddler won't have a stroller when we get there, but I can borrow or purchase an umbrella stroller for her if needed.
4. Bring a monstrous double stroller to the airport and have both kids strapped in. Cons: I will have to check a double stroller at the gate and fold it in a hurry at security check, which could be tough. There's a chance the stroller will get damaged.
Any suggestions or thoughts re/ which option is best? If you have another scenerio, I'd love to hear it!
Thanks so much ladies!
Just as extra information for you.
This site is great:
www.seatguru.com
You can plan which seat to reserve when traveling by plane.
We used this before, and it is what travel agents use too. Our Travel Agent used this too.
Its super great... that way, you can see the configuration of the airlines/plane you are traveling on...and can choose the best child-friendly location/seat.
good luck,
Susan
Think of yourself all alone with no one to help you. What would you want with you. You don't just have yourself and the 2 kids, you have food, toys, diapers, toys, benadryl, baby wipes, disposable waterproof mats for instant changing tables, blankets....you get my drift. First , to take everything you need to survive alone with the kids you need a double stroller which you take right up to the plane and you get right when you get off the plane (like a wheelchair, it will be waiting assembled when you get deplane) you also need a car seat for the toddler (you purchased a seat, use it!) your toddler can safely sleep in the plane in it. The infant is in the bjorn carrier the entire time, sorry to say. When you deplane the toddler goes in one seat of the stroller and the carseat and all your carryons go in the other, you are still wearing the baby. It sounds complicated, but it really is not so bad. If you are self contained and do not need to rely on anyone else it works best. You are keeping both kids safe and secure, and can make gate changes quicker too! Basically you are good for any emergency (except of course the infant car seat) which you will have to rent or borrow at your destination and that shouldn't be a problem, you can even have someone buy you a cheap one and bring it when they pick you up. The toddler will complain about a yukky car seat athat isn't his but the infant won't.
Travelling with kids really can be alot of fun, i know it doesn't sound like it. But enjoy the time together and bring a special bag, like a little drawstring bag, of goodies that is only for travelling so the toddler looks forward to it each time. maybe a dum-dum lollypop comes out for take off or play-dough another time..little things one at a time when he's being good so he won't feel like running.
Checking car seats and strollers is free, whether you do it from the very beginning or at the gate. So that should not factor into your decision at all.
The important thing to think about is where you're going and what types of things you'll be doing when you get there. If you'll be out and about a lot, doing all sorts of activities, you'll probably want a double stroller, even if it's a pain to deal with at the airport. Here is what I would recommend:
Check both car seats and check the double stroller. At the airport, wear your baby in the bjorn and put your toddler in a cheap umbrella stroller. Yes, it requires you to bring an extra stroller that you won't need outside of the airport, but it will probably make the trip more enjoyable as a whole because you'll have all of the gear you need.
One final thought: there are tons of baby gear rental companies. You could always rent a double stroller when you reach your destination if that makes the most sense.
Have a fun trip!
K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao
My family and I flew back and forth between Detroit and California every summer since my brother was sixteen months old. The airlines let my mom take the stroller, and instead of making her check it, they folded it up and placed it where they place the wheel chairs for the handicap. I would call the airlines and ask them what your options are. Good luck and have a great vacation.
First of all, you don't pay for checking car seats. So #1 is still a decent possibility.
Second, in my experience of traveling solo with my two kids (which was many), people are very very nice. I got off one plane and a random woman was waiting for me at the end of the jetway with a luggage cart. Security would swoop me into my own line, gate agents would help as much as possible, folding strollers or taking car seats at the last minute. It'll all be OK. And any damage that was done to strollers (I think my giant double stroller got banged up) happened to an item that was already old and beat up by me so it was weak to begin with. Chances are good that your stroller would be fine.
You're going to want a stroller at your destination, absolutely, so no to #2. Is the snap-and-go very bare bones? I had a simple stroller that was a little more sturdy with a shade hood, and I was able to perch a kid up there for walking through the airport. You definitely can't expect her to walk through the airport -- what if you are at the last gate? You could possibly hitch a ride on a handicapped cart, but sometimes they are on a different schedule and you may not be able to count on it. But you could call your airline and find out their policies for those at the airports you'll be in.
You also need to think about who needs to be strapped in on the airplane, how many seats do you have? If 3, then they both have carseats (push the snap and go, pull the toddler in her rolling seat, exercise!) If only 2 seats, is the plan for toddler to sit in her own seat? I think she might HAVE to have a car seat, check with your airline.
Bottom line: don't worry about tough, hurried security or gate check hassles, you don't have to manage those on your own... think about the parts where you are on your own-- your walk through the airport, sitting on the plane comfortably, and getting off the plane smoothly on the other end. Leave yourself enough time to not be stressed and relax, it'll be OK!
I would go with the double stroller and have a wrap for the infant in case baby needs to be held and you need to be hands free at some point. This way you have a sure fire place for both kids where they can be comfy and not run away! And you will have some place for them once you get to your destination.
I don't think you will have to fold it up. They should be able to do a security check of it because there is no way it will fit on the belt to go thru x-ray.
Also, the airline employee with help you fold it at the gate when you check it right before you guys board.
