Flying solo with a toddler

[JillianLeigh]

I'm probably overanalyzing this entire process, but I need tips on the best way to get through an airport solo with my 17 month old DS. I've flown solo with him before when he was 11 months, but I didn't get him his own seat, and this time he has his own seat, and I'll be carrying his convertible car seat through the airport and onto the plane.

Just some concerns of mine:
What would be the easiest way to get through the airport with my DS, carseat, and backpack all on my own? Tips on installing the car seat on the airplane? What are the chances of me being able to leave the car seat behind the gate agent's desk while I let DS run off some steam in the terminal? Front facing or rear facing?

Anything you can tell me to ease my stress would be great!!

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

When I flew with my daughter I would always find an empty gate to let her play. This way we were not bothering anybody and she could run. I packed a ball and she would play "fetch".

I never flew with a car seat so I can't help you there. Good luck!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

....

Just some concerns of mine:
What would be the easiest way to get through the airport with my DS, carseat, and backpack all on my own? Tips on installing the car seat on the airplane? What are the chances of me being able to leave the car seat behind the gate agent's desk while I let DS run off some steam in the terminal? Front facing or rear facing?

Anything you can tell me to ease my stress would be great!!

Zero chance of leaving the car seat behind the gate podium; it would be in the way and gate agents will not watch your things.

The ideal way to get through the terminal would be to buckle your son in his seat and use a wheeled car seat carrier.

 

[Britgirlus]

When I traveled with my son at that age, I had an umbrella stroller for him, hooked my carryon on the back of that, and carried his car seat using a "Pac Back Car Seat Carrier". It straps onto the car seat so you can carry it like a back pack. When my son wanted to walk, I could just set the car seat on top of the stroller, and push it along. Easy

 

[MSSANDRA]

Will you need to car seat at your destination? Maybe consider a cares harness if you do not need it at your destination.

 

[JillianLeigh]

I will need the car seat once we arrive. I'm bringing the car seat on the plane because I'm hoping he'll stay put and even take a nap. He's great in it in the car, so I'm hoping for the same on the plane. In the past I've checked the car seat, but specifically purchased a seat for him this trip to use the car seat. I figure a little inconvenience in the airport will be worth it for an easier 3 hour flight. *fingers crossed*

Maybe I'll do a test run of walking around the house with everything to see how it'll go. Thinking of buying a bag to help me carry the car seat.

 

[Fantastic4]

I've flown alone with both my kids several times. The first time I flew with them was from UT to Germany when they were 1 and 3. My #1 tip is to pack light. I packed way too much our first time and it added way more stress then necessary. I also purchased a small luggage cart similar to this

http://www.walmart.com/ip/21093218?...33582510&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=19880599990&veh=sem

Use a couple bungee cords and you can put the carseat and backpack on there allowing you to pull that while keeping up with your little one. Walking through the airport will help get the wiggles out but you'll also be able to carry him when needed.

I found the flight attendants very helpful in getting the carseat situated. You'll also be able to board early. I've even had them allow me to board while they were still cleaning from the flight before. The faster you can get situated the easier it is for the rest of the passengers so most flight attendants are willing to help.

 

[shm_helene]

We went this summer with 2 lo's so though we weren't alone it was similar.

I would just say LIMIT how much you bring. The first time through we brought carryons, stroller, car seat. Second time through? Carryon's and stroller. I would even consider only a carryon. Everything has to go through security on it's own. Disassembling everything was stressful - all those people waiting for you and then having to get everything ready to move again...Not to mention getting on the plane and trying to install a carseat with people getting on the plane and then trying to get everything out. It was so difficult! It just wasn't a good way to start the vaca.

FYI I did have a setup for getting through the airport with the carseats and bungees and O rings but it was still a pain for us. We even had grandparents (though that might have actually made things more difficult) and a really easy to install carseat.

I know I will get flamed for saying check your carseat but we did and had no problems. Gate checking isn't different. I too needed the carseat but I will always check it at baggage from now on.

 

[Annie78]

How heavy is the seat? If it's big, seriously consider whether it would make sense to buy something like a Cosco Scenera just for traveling. I recall they run ~$40ish - much cheaper than one of the wheeled carseat carriers! You can easily carry a Scenera with one hand while wearing a backpack and holding your son's hand. I just looped one forearm through the shoulder straps to carry the seat.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I found the flight attendants very helpful in getting the carseat situated. You'll also be able to board early. I've even had them allow me to board while they were still cleaning from the flight before. The faster you can get situated the easier it is for the rest of the passengers so most flight attendants are willing to help.

Not necessarily true, it depends on the airline. Many do not allow preboarding of families with children.

Flight attendants will probably not help you either. This is not their job and they have other responsibilities.

 

[Gracomom]

We took our son's Britax convertible car seat on a flight once, and it was horrible, never again! It was so big, that once he as seated, his feet were up against the seat in front of him, and anytime the little guy moved even the slightest, he was accidentally kicking the seat in front of him. The next time we travelled, we checked the car seats, then the kids with their own seats were able to lie across their seat, onto our laps.

I really wouldn't bring the car seat on the plane.

 

[JillianLeigh]

I've flown alone with both my kids several times. The first time I flew with them was from UT to Germany when they were 1 and 3. My #1 tip is to pack light. I packed way too much our first time and it added way more stress then necessary. I also purchased a small luggage cart similar to this

http://www.walmart.com/ip/21093218?...33582510&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=19880599990&veh=sem

Use a couple bungee cords and you can put the carseat and backpack on there allowing you to pull that while keeping up with your little one. Walking through the airport will help get the wiggles out but you'll also be able to carry him when needed.

I found the flight attendants very helpful in getting the carseat situated. You'll also be able to board early. I've even had them allow me to board while they were still cleaning from the flight before. The faster you can get situated the easier it is for the rest of the passengers so most flight attendants are willing to help.

My husband has a little hand cart that I could use, but I'm thinking it will be more of a pain to deal with. Just one more thing.

I'm hoping for helpful flight attendants or even passengers. It's one of the first flights in the morning (6:45 AM) and so far the plane is only half full according to the seat selection chart I can pull up online.

Not necessarily true, it depends on the airline. Many do not allow preboarding of families with children.

Flight attendants will probably not help you either. This is not their job and they have other responsibilities.

Hoping for sympathetic attendants, but not counting on it. I'm sure I can handle it on my own. I don't think I'll necessarily need to pre-board. In fact I'd rather board last so we're not on the plane longer than we need to be.

How heavy is the seat? If it's big, seriously consider whether it would make sense to buy something like a Cosco Scenera just for traveling. I recall they run ~$40ish - much cheaper than one of the wheeled carseat carriers! You can easily carry a Scenera with one hand while wearing a backpack and holding your son's hand. I just looped one forearm through the shoulder straps to carry the seat.

It's not all that heavy. I can carry it easily with one hand. Good to know about that option though.

We went this summer with 2 lo's so though we weren't alone it was similar.

I would just say LIMIT how much you bring. The first time through we brought carryons, stroller, car seat. Second time through? Carryon's and stroller. I would even consider only a carryon. Everything has to go through security on it's own. Disassembling everything was stressful - all those people waiting for you and then having to get everything ready to move again...Not to mention getting on the plane and trying to install a carseat with people getting on the plane and then trying to get everything out. It was so difficult! It just wasn't a good way to start the vaca.

FYI I did have a setup for getting through the airport with the carseats and bungees and O rings but it was still a pain for us. We even had grandparents (though that might have actually made things more difficult) and a really easy to install carseat.

I know I will get flamed for saying check your carseat but we did and had no problems. Gate checking isn't different. I too needed the carseat but I will always check it at baggage from now on.

Definitely packing light!! In fact I'm seriously considering just packing DS's toddler back pack with a few diapers, snacks, and toys and not having a carry-on for me at all.

This will be the 4th round trip flight in DS's 17 month life. 2nd time doing it solo. I will usually check the car seat if I have to bring it at all, but as he gets older, the harder it is to keep him contained and happy in-flight. 15 months old was the last time we flew with him as a lap baby, and I said never again. I'm hoping the car seat helps onboard since he is a great traveler in the car.

 

[JillianLeigh]

We took our son's Britax convertible car seat on a flight once, and it was horrible, never again! It was so big, that once he as seated, his feet were up against the seat in front of him, and anytime the little guy moved even the slightest, he was accidentally kicking the seat in front of him. The next time we travelled, we checked the car seats, then the kids with their own seats were able to lie across their seat, onto our laps.

I really wouldn't bring the car seat on the plane.

I do worry about this. If that's the case on the way out, I can always check it on the flight home. I'm going to try and install it rear facing to minimize the chance he'll knock the seat in front of him.

 

[Lolsmum]

I'd say a lot of it depends on you and your child.

For my daughter, the car seat was a life saver. The girl never slept on flights and I couldn't take my eyes off her for a second or she'd be out of the seatbelt or even the CARES harness when we tried that.

I have done mostly long haul flights, sometimes with a domestic flight once we get to the US, so I do not pack light. In fact, I always overpack, but I pack very well.

For entertainment purposes, a set of triangular crayons (they don't roll off the tray), some new snacks or things he's never allowed and a small car can all do wonders. Stickers are another fave I used a lot in toddlerhood. With 2 kids 20 months apart, the younger of whom did not sleep a wink on 10 hour flights, I had to get good at entertaining kids on a plane.

A friend of mine had something that allowed her to hook the car seat to a rolling carry on then put her child in the car seat, using it like a stroller through the airport. This was years ago and I don't remember the name or anything.

 

[Fantastic4]

Not necessarily true, it depends on the airline. Many do not allow preboarding of families with children.

Flight attendants will probably not help you either. This is not their job and they have other responsibilities.

Obviously there's a risk of cranky/not my job type people. In my experience the more prepared you are and less stressed the easier it is to get assistance. I've never been turned away from boarding early. I've always been very polite and asked the boarding attendants nicely if it would be possible. I've also had other passengers be very helpful. I've flown just about every airline there is. I started flying when I was 4 with just my brother and sister who were 5 and 6 with no adult. We flew every year twice a year until I was 16. Then various other trips as a young adult and several as an adult. It's all in how you treat those around you...just my opinion though.

OP: Stay calm and be nice and I'm sure everything will go smoothly. The fact that you're seeking advise proves you want to make it as easy on EVERYONE as possible. I'm sure you'll have no issue getting help and through the whole process with ease.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Obviously there's a risk of cranky/not my job type people. In my experience the more prepared you are and less stressed the easier it is to get assistance. I've never been turned away from boarding early. I've always been very polite and asked the boarding attendants nicely if it would be possible. I've also had other passengers be very helpful......

Of course you should always be polite! However, early boarding is simply not allowed on many airlines these days and I would hardly call an FA cranky if he or she prefers to concentrate on boarding PAX rather than helping someone with a car seat. I primarily fly United and I have seen very many surprised families be turned away when they rush up to board first.

Personally, I would board as late as possible if I were flying with a young child.

 

[cel_disney]

We put the kid in the stroller, the carseat over the stroller handles, and I keep a backpack on my back for both is us....we check luggage...it's actually fairly easy to trek around, and whenever we are in a place that the kids can walk, I let them out and have them burn energy ... We also use an empty gate area as best we can...

When traveling solo, I don't usually board last because I have to install the carseat....I prefer to install it rear facing if its not a huge seat so that they can easily keep toys/activities in their laps...

I bring books, post it notes, and those little 'post it flags', plus some electronic gizmo that's got a volume (off) control...I also encourage sleep as much as possible and my experience is that their carseats are soooo helpful in that!

The hardest part is actually the trek onto the plane. I need to out our stroller in its stroller bag and carry that in one hand, them the carseat in my other (will be in front of me down the aisle) and then the backpack on my back....it doesn't leave me with a hand to old my kid, but they usually are excited to follow me.

If taking a carseat, make sure your child has the window seat as that's often required by law for emergency exits....this is often a reason to board earlier than later so you don't have to disrupt the person on the aisle....

Have a good trip!