Airport w/ 2 toddlers, 2 car seats, 2 strollers...check strollers?

[MinnieMe2DW]

diaper bags, carry ons... you get the idea. Way too much stuff. This should be interesting huh?? How did you do it??? I'm thinking of checking the Maclarens, letting my son (almost 3) walk and carrying my daughter in the soft carrier since she doesn't walk well yet. Will the airline trash my strollers??? Or should I just suffer through it and gate check everything??? I need the car seats for the plane ride, one for sure since my son has a seat, but the lady said to bring the other one since the flight isn't too full and they'd probably be able to get a spare seat for my daughter. That's an awful lot to lug around an airport ....

any suggestions???

 

[moxiecola]

We will be doing the same thing but with 4 kids. Gate check everything. That's the easiest way. Hopefully you have luggage that can be tethered together. Our Samsonite set has the luggage strap attached so 3 suitcases (s, md & lg) can all roll together.

 

[thegrimdwarf]

It is a lot to lug around - that's the reason I absolutely despise airline travel with young kids. It's all a necessary evil for us, except DS4's booster seat with get checked through as luggage because it's gigantic and not FSA-rated. But we'll have 2 strollers and one carseat in tow from check-in to the plane. Ugh. Fortunately we've got a direct flight. Changing planes with all that crap is NO FUN!

Personally, I found it easier to use a stroller for my younger son when he was little and we were flying, because we never really got the hang of me wearing him - one of us was always unhappy with the situation, lol. But if you're good at it and she likes it, I say go for it. I might keep one stroller with you, though - just in case. You can use it to carry the diaper bag, etc., if there's no child in it.

 

[Alison_in_Wonderland]

We just did this with our almost 2 year old twins - 2 car seats, 2 strollers, 2 backpacks.

As for getting through the airport, the kids alternated between sitting in their stroller (we use 2 singles) and walking (using their puppy harness.) We bought bags with wheels for the car seats and would pull them behind as pushed the stroller and wore the backpack.

When it was time to get on the plane, we gate checked the strollers (Maclaren Technos that have flown 7x without an issue) and then carried on the car seats in the bags (when the kids were little, we did wear them since you can't roll the car seat through the aisle. Now the kids just walk ahead of us.) Once you get to your row, put the kid in the middle seat, get the car seat out of the bag and install it, put kid in car seat. Stow bag under seat. Breathe.

We've flown 7x with the kids and while it is a lot of work - it is doable.

 

[NatMomto2]

We just did this too. It was interesting for sure.

Going to Disney we put the smaller umbrella stroller into our golf bag suitcase so that meant we had 4 suitcases to check, 2 car seats (which we also checked), then we had our 3 carry-ons and 1 stroller (which we gate checked). Once we arrived in Orlando - we piled everything onto a cart (somehow it worked...it looked like the leaning tower of Pisa but it worked) and DH carried one of the car seats on his back like a backpack while I had the stroller with 1 kid, while the 3yr old walked beside me to the rental car.

On the way back it was trickier...we had bought a few things so needed the extra space to pack it ...so the umbrella stroller needed to come with us in the terminal and we gate checked it. It worked well enough but its kind of tough to push a stroller and wheel a small carry-on bag behind you.

I preferred our method going and only having 1 stroller to deal with in the terminal. We flew Air Canada and had no problems...the strollers whether gate checked or checked with the bags were perfectly fine.

Good luck! I agree - its a lot of work but definitely doable.

 

[KELLY]

We are doing it with are 2 girls. Riley will just turn 3 2 weeks prior to leaving and Reese will be 6 months. We are only bringing one carseat for Reese. We are using Disney transportation no car seats. I'm also looking at getting the peg pergo stroller it is a double and it only weighs 16 pounds. Riley will also have her doggie and Reese will be in the front pack for the line waits. You can do it. I did it with Riley by myself when she was 7 months.

 

[dwelty]

We do it all the time, with a 2 year old and a 4 year old. We always check the strollers at the gate. They unload them first and have always been waiting for us when we depart the plane. We also have the 4 year old walk in the terminal and use her stroller for the carry ons. It works quite well.

 

[**eeyore**]

We usually use a luggage cart to "carry" the carseats through the airport (assuming you are planning to use them in the plane - if not, I would just check them with luggage). Here is an example of a cart similar to ours:

http://www.target.com/Black-Folding...ie=UTF8&index=target&rh=k:luggage cart&page=1

We just "nestle" the two seats together (top to bottom, bottom to top). Then we push our DDs in their strollers and DH drags the luggage cart. It's a little awkward, but works fine for the short time necessary. Then we gate check the strollers.

 

[stacy6552]

Take both stroller with you all the way to the gate. The last thing you want to have to do is lug everything and your toddler. Here's all you need to get and make it all a breeze:

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2508013

Once you've slung the seats across your back and put the kids in the strollers its all good.

 

[dougsmom98]

diaper bags, carry ons... you get the idea. Way too much stuff. This should be interesting huh?? How did you do it??? I'm thinking of checking the Maclarens, letting my son (almost 3) walk and carrying my daughter in the soft carrier since she doesn't walk well yet. Will the airline trash my strollers??? Or should I just suffer through it and gate check everything??? I need the car seats for the plane ride, one for sure since my son has a seat, but the lady said to bring the other one since the flight isn't too full and they'd probably be able to get a spare seat for my daughter. That's an awful lot to lug around an airport ....

any suggestions???

We have been there and done that. We had three in strollers and three car seats. We always gate checked the strollers. Sometimes your gates are far away or there aren't any seats around to sit and wait for your flight. If you or DH have to use the rest room, it is nice to have the kids strapped in while the other one is waiting alone with the kiddos. I strongly recommend back packs. This is the best piece of advice I can give you. Your hands will be full with kids, strollers and car seats. You will have no room in your hands for diapers bags and carry on bags. We have been known to check car seats. I know that it is not the safest way to fly, but it is soooo much easier. Good luck with everything. The first time we tried to fly with the three boys it was a nightmare, but since then we have figured things out and the kids are great travelers.

 

[flynnmnstr]

I need to have my boys in their strollers-- walking (aka running around like wild monkeys) is not an option.

Each child sits in their Maclaren. We pack a backpack for each child with activities for the plane and we put that under the stroller in the basket. I carry our "disney backpack" with all my supplies in it.

Ok here's the tricky part. If you are bringing two carseats then you must bring two small roller suitcases. We place on car seat on the top of each roller suitcase and use a small bungy cord and the tether to keep it in place. Each of us pushes a stroller and pulls a suitcase. Now we have never needed to do two rollers because we've never needed two carseats. You'll feel like a pack mule but its doable. I like to gate check my strollers and car seats because it doesn't get lost or misplaced.

Going through security is intense. One person goes through security with the kids and the other puts everything up on the belt. Strollers first so that boys can sit back down and we can get everything set up again.

Good luck. I am starting to sweat just thinking about our trip in 2 weeks.

 

[MinnieMe2DW]

Thanks for all the advice everyone- I guess I'll just have to go thru the airport agony. I may check one car seat, at least it will be one less bulky thing right ???!!

 

[AmyBWV99]

We have flown a lot w/our older son who's nearly 3 and now recently w/both boys our 2nd DS is 7 months.

What i did this last time and pretty musch was the same w/DS #1 was while they were small wear them as baby's thru the airport and on the plane worked out wonderfully. However once DS #1 was too big for a carrier a stroller was a must. So I got a stroller travel bag to keep it clean and wore the baby pushed the stroller w/DS #1. We had 1 carseat w/us on wheels (you can buy the wheel adaptor at www.onestepahead.com, do it or you'll be looking longingly at everyone in the airport with one speaking from experience) for DS #1 to sit in on the plane and checked thru the other car seat since the baby was a lap passenger. We take the baby bag and toddler activity as our only carry ons once we get down the loading gate DH takes DS #1 and wheels the carseat on; i bag up the stroller and place it at the gate, since they let wee one's on first it works out pretty well. DS #1 can be in his seat before i even get there. You just to make sure your carseat is FAA approved if not they won't let you use it in the plane.

 

[katied]

Last month I flew to Europe and back (with a connection in London) with DS (age 1) on my own. I had stroller, car seat, diaper bag and carry on - luggage was checked through at the start. I evaluated before I left home, and realized there was no way I could manage, esp. as DS is not yet walking. I bought a kit to put wheels on my carseat and turn it into a stroller - they sell the kit at Babies R Us for around $80. I then put my stroller in a bag, and checked it with the luggage. It was a huge relief, and then I could manage. I was so happy I did this, because at London Heathrow the elevators were broken (I was in the NEW terminal 5, which was not working very well), so I had to be able to get down the stairs with everything too, and on and off busses to switch terminals...

Next month for WDW, I bought a Fly Safe harness for DS, so I can skip the car seat (since I won't need it in WDW), and will then gate check the stroller.