Gameplan for flying with toddlers---Help!

[Alice's Mom]

what are your thoughts on taking a stroller up to the gate. The kids are walking now (for about 6 weeks) and we have harnesses for them. Do you think a stroller would make things easier or crazier? We have a connecting flight in Atlanta (one hour layover) and have one carryon (a backpack). Otherwise, nothing else. Would a stroller help out that much? When I used to travel before kids, the rule was carry as little as possible. I'd hoped the same applied here.

Gate check is fantastic and easy! I would recommend it to anyone with a child that still uses a stroller.

 

[MayMom]

I'm with Alice's Mom You can walk them straight down the jetway in their stroller on most airlines. It is super easy and those airports have a long walk to the gates. You would be stuck carrying your little ones or their legs would be pooped out! I would definately take the stroller. I worked as a flight attendant and people always had kids in strollers all the way up to the entrance of the plane.

 

[nono]

Molly2004,

OH MY GOSH, YES! Take the stroller...maybe you're way younger than me (probably, as I was a reluctant Mom), but give yourself a break! The airline will gate check your stroller and deliver it back to the jetway (in almost all cases -- you know...nothing in this world is perfect).

 

[HotMama]

Just another question...

what are your thoughts on taking a stroller up to the gate. The kids are walking now (for about 6 weeks) and we have harnesses for them. Do you think a stroller would make things easier or crazier? We have a connecting flight in Atlanta (one hour layover) and have one carryon (a backpack). Otherwise, nothing else. Would a stroller help out that much? When I used to travel before kids, the rule was carry as little as possible. I'd hoped the same applied here.

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree with all the other mom's! Take your stroller! We just got back and taking the stroller makes life so much easier....and is is not a hassle at all! Trust me...you'll be thanking us all for the advise!

 

[MrsMcNally]

A few of my recent flying experinces....

Take a stroller. Someone else mentioned a Chicco Caddy. I just ordered one off of Babies R us. That is where I found it the cheapest. I took my huge Graco stroller to Ft lauderdale, a livesaver, but combersome. You have to fold it up at the metal dectors and put it through the x-ray machine. Nothing like scrambling with a 5yr old and a 9 mo old with your shoes off and your belongings dumping all over the floor as the slide down the conveyor belt, and dealing with a humongous stroller . They will check the stroller right at the airplane door, and it will be waiting for you as you get off the plane. Plus the Chicco folds up and you can put in the carrying bag it comes with so no issues while traving to the parks. My kids were pretty good on the plane. We had to go to the bathroom every five mins, because of all of the intersting things in there, but my 5 yr old still peed his pants upon landing because you can't go to the restoom upon landing and he drank too much . So take extra clothes, heck extra everthing. You never know, our plane got delayed three hours coming back to Indy and we had missed our connection and had a five hour layover in Memphis!! YAY The 9 mo old did even better, and when he was near meltdown I had his favorite toy. A really annoying bunny that sings "little bunny foo foo..." Hey whatever works right. Most planes going to Orlanda have lots of kids so no evil eyes from people who are trying to catch a nap while your child cries. Most people are pretty good about kids anyway!!

 

[molly2004]

Okay, I'll take the stroller. We've flown before with strollers and gatechecking and had issues. I guess we were carrying too much and with two strollers, it seemed to much. I thought it would be better to minimize as much as possible, but after seeing your post, the bare minimum would have to include a stroller (a double, that is).

Thanks!

 

[pjupton]

We usually fly with 2 umbrellas and a set of stroller clips. We'll be taking the "big" stroller to WDW, so that will be a new experience.

Be sure to ask if you HAVE to take the kids shoes off at security. One time they MADE us take them off and the next they fussed at us for holding up the line trying to get 4 baby shoes plus 4 adult shoes back on when (according to them) the kids shoes could have stayed on.