Car Seat & Our Own Stroller--how do you handle all of that?

[M&M]

My family of four (me, dh, ds7, and ds15 months) are going to WDW in August and this is our boys first plane flight. We purchased my 15 month-old his own seat on the plane and a placing him in his car seat. My question is how do you handle all of that lugging around the airport. My baby will stay in the stroller until we board but what do you do with the stroller after that. Will we have to lug the stroller and car seat all around the airport??? This is all new to us. Any advise will be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[tjmw2727]

You can "gate check" the stroller so baby can ride until the last minute. After security when you get to the gate let the agent know you want to gate check. They give you a special tag for the stroller. When you get on the aircraft just leave the stroller at the door. It will be loaded last and unloaded first - it will be waiting for you at the door when you arrive at your destination. Be sure and fold it securly as the agents won't know how to refold it if it opens - I used a bungee to be sure. I also suggest removing any accessories or toys you may have on it and checking them through with the luggage.

We used a carseat duffle for the carseat, my sil has one that can be worn like a backpack or rolled like a rolling suitcase.

Its seems like alot but its not that bad, just cut down on unnecessary carryon if you can. Your son can carry his own backpack with toys and I liked a backpack for a diaper bag in this situation, works great at the parks as well.

HTH
TJ

 

[Gillian]

This is kind of goofy, but we used a duffle bag to carry the car seat in the airport (just a regular one) and put the stroller in it before we boarded the plane. I did this while waiting to board. I did not roll the baby down to the door and then change to the bag.

I put the gate check ticket on the duffle, not the stroller itself.

It was easier to carry the car seat this way, and it protected our stroller from the baggage handlers. They tend to be a little rough with strollers and I just didn't want to take a chance on having ours broken. Our Disney stroller folds in half and it fit pretty well in an inexpensive lightweight duffel.

We also took very light & small carry ons. Just stuff we needed for the plane plus minimum extra baby things.

The worst part is going through security, because you have to fold the stroller and put it through the xray machine while holding the baby and possibly taking off your shoes! Pack lightly & wear slip on/off shoes.

 

[M&M]

TJ: Our car seat is big and heavy. That would have to be a very big duffle bag right?

Gillian: What did your sil do with the backpack once the car seat was put in place on the plane? Would this be considered another bag for overhead storage?

 

[tjmw2727]

TJ: Our car seat is big and heavy. That would have to be a very big duffle bag right?

Gillian: What did your sil do with the backpack once the car seat was put in place on the plane? Would this be considered another bag for overhead storage?

The car seat bag is made specificly to carry a carseat so I can't imagine anything but maybe the biggest britax wouldn't fit (and that probably would).

Here is a link to one
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...urchase/ref=pd_sxp_more_0/103-6142254-2455847

If that dosen't work just google car seat travel bag - my sil has one from eddie bauer.

The carseat or the travel bag to carry it will not count toward your carry on limit. You can just fold it up and stuff it in another bag or under the seat or even in the overhead.

TJ

 

[nygrl]

just a reminder that when you are going through security you must take the baby out of the stroller and fold it up to go through so just be prepared. we forgot this on our last trip and we were scrambeling to get ds out of the stroller and holding up the line

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

We wheeled the carseat in the stroller and I carried DD in a Hip Hammock---we also gate-checked the stroller.

Good luck!!!

 

[scouthawkk]

when we took ds (22 mos at time) on vacation last august, we also bought him a seat. we just were not up to holding a heavy almost 2yo on our lap the entire flight. my dh did the pre-board for anyone needing special assistance or traveling with infants. that way, he had the seat in place without having to hold up the rest of the boarding process. i entertained ds in waiting area until our seat row was called. worked out well. we didn't hold up traffic, and ds wasn't too wiggle worm like waiting for everyone else to board (we were at the back of the plane).

we also kept ds in stroller and did the gate check. had the backpack style carseat bag, also could roll with pull up handle. dh wasn't to keen on the idea of the cover at first, but decided it was a life saver after the fact. we just put the cover in the over head bin until it was time to pack everything back up again.

btw, when are you going in august? we are there the 2nd-7th. ds is now 2 1/2 and is looking forward to the trip. we saw disney on ice, and now he can't wait to meet mickey in person! real cute (doesn't hurt matters that the traveling mickey statues are only a few blocks up from his daycare right now. his class is up there every other day looking at them).

 

[M&M]

We arriving July 31 and staying until Aug 4. We got a 1 bedroom suite at the Dolphin. We like suites because my boys are always on the move and they need plenty of room. My husband is 6'4 and I am 6ft so we've got big boys, and we all have those long leggs. WE NEED SPACE!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I found this backpack for a car seat on my 2nd plane trip with a carseat. It is so much easier than the typical car seat bag because it sits snug against your back. I was able to my carry on bag in the seat of the carseat.

It does help to have one adult go on the plane first to get the car seat all set before you arrive with baby.

Here's the link:
Pac Back carseat carrier

 

[Meredith'sMom]

Just thought I'd add that we just used the Pac Bac with our Britax Marathon and it worked great (we got back Sunday). It's still a little hairy getting through security since you have to fold the stroller, etc., and since you feel like people are rushing you, but it worked.

 

[Gillian]

Lots of helpful advice here -- you should be fine!

What I did with my duffle was take the car seat out while waiting to board. Then I put the stroller in the duffle and gate checked the bag. I've done this on 2 trips with no problems. The bag was waiting for us when we got off the plane, with the gate checked strollers. Our stroller is a cheap one, but I really like it for WDW. Since it's not very well made, I felt it was safer in the bag.

The back pack kind certainly seems easier to carry, but we had no problems with our bag.

 

[KristinU]

I hook the top LATCH tether to something on the back of the seat and sling it over my shoulder and push DS in the stroller - it works great for me! When DS was smaller I carried him in a sling and did the same trick with his seat and checked the stroller in a bag with the rest of the baggage.

 

[dcgrumpy]

just a reminder that when you are going through security you must take the baby out of the stroller and fold it up to go through so just be prepared. we forgot this on our last trip and we were scrambeling to get ds out of the stroller and holding up the line

and make sure you are in the right line. the stroller doesn't fit through all Xray machines. lastyear DH walked through ahead of me (not thinking ), i then realized I was in the wrong line. i had to go to another line, with DS3 and DD6mo, i had to try and fold up our big double stroller while holding the baby in one arm.

this time we will have 2 carseats, lightweight double stroller, 4yo,2yo and 6mo. Fun, fun, fun

 

[nemomama]

Can anyone answer this question? How do you attach the car seat to the airplane seat using LATCH? Thanks!

 

[nygrl]

Can anyone answer this question? How do you attach the car seat to the airplane seat using LATCH? Thanks!

you cant...you can only use the seat belt to put in the car seat

 

[homedad]

just got back from spring break in South Carolina with DS4 and DD 2, had 2 car seats, double stroller and diaper bag. We let our 4 year old walk after sercurity shuffle and then put 1 car seat in stroller and DD in stroller.Then I carry bag and car seat, wife pushes DD and son is my had holding hand, then we pre-board and gate check ... the 2 car seats can be a pain but its worth in IMO when they get older and want to help fly the plane.....if your OK with you children watching DVD's on the plane buy or borrow a portable DVD player and flight is heaven, again my opinion..have fun

 

[dreamingdisney]

just got back from spring break in South Carolina with DS4 and DD 2, had 2 car seats, double stroller and diaper bag. We let our 4 year old walk after sercurity shuffle and then put 1 car seat in stroller and DD in stroller.Then I carry bag and car seat, wife pushes DD and son is my had holding hand, then we pre-board and gate check ... the 2 car seats can be a pain but its worth in IMO when they get older and want to help fly the plane.....if your OK with you children watching DVD's on the plane buy or borrow a portable DVD player and flight is heaven, again my opinion..have fun

It's been too long since I've flown - I didn't know that you could bring a portable DVD player on a plane!!!

 

[weregoingtodw]

Okay, don't laugh but when my DD was little, I flew with her several times by myself. I would take her car seat and her stroller; when I got out of the car, I'd take a men's belt through the loops on the back of the car seat (where you thread the seat belt normally), then sit the car seat in the stroller where the baby would normally ride. Then I'd loop the belt out through the back of the stroller and belt it in. Then, I'd put my DD into her car seat, throw her diaper bag into the bottom, and push the stroller with one hand while dragging the wheeled suitcase w/my other hand.

The only time I ever needed help in an airport was when I had to take her pack n play w/me. It didn't have wheels, and even folded up was still a bit bulky to carry.

I'd keep the car seat & stroller w/me all the way to the plane. I'd leave DD in it all the way down the jetway, unbuckle the belt, take the car seat out of the stroller (with her still in it), sit the car seat on the ground beside me, fold the stroller, and hand it over to the gate checkers. Then I'd sling the diaper bag over my shoulder, pick her up (still in the car seat) and find my seat. Took her out, sat her in my seat while I buckled in her car seat and put her back.

As you can see, this became routine for me LOL. It really wasn't all that difficult, and it was nice to know I could do it myself without needing help!

 

[nemomama]

Thanks nygrl! Too bad, LATCH is so much easier!