Getting the car seats to the airplane

[ryanshana]

I'm not sure if this should be here or transportation I figured I put it here.

I'm looking for advice

I have 2 small children (Time of travel will be 38 months and 20 months). We will be more than likely bring both carseats (an evenflo triumph and a graco nautilus) We will use the outside checking in our bags. But those w/ 2 carseats how do you get it to the terminal. Any tips? We should only have a backpack, my purse, and a laptop bag as carryons. I was thinking that I would get DSs in Stroller and DH will lug the 2 car seats. But I was just wondering if there was an easier way.

Are their any nifty gadgets that help you carry them?

Also another thought that I had was to rent off of ebay one of those C.A.R.E.S. harness for the older DS. Has anyone used these? Is there a strap that goes between the legs? If not I don't think that it would work for us. Cause more than likely DS will wiggle out of it.

Thanks for any help

 

[NJFabFour]

I don't know about the CARES harness but we took 2 carseats and checked them in as luggage. Very easy, just dropped them off and picked them up with the suitcases (we put them in large plastic bags to protect them a little bit and make it easier to carry them).

 

[ryanshana]

oh maybe I should have clarified. We want to use them on the plane. My thought is that DSs do so well in a long car ride (even the length of the plane ride) So I thought that having them in the car seat would be less stressfull. Does anyone agree?

 

[mybabesuz]

That Graco Nautilus is HEAVY...
We went with a 2 and 3 yo. We only brought one carseat for the 2yo.
We brought two Maclaren Strollers.
Used one for the younger child...and the other to carry the carseat.
There are conflicting reports as to whether or not the Nautilus fits in every plane seat. It is a little wider than the recommended width.
How much does your 3yo. weigh ?

 

[ryanshana]

DS 3 Is thin and skinny. He was 29lbs at his 2 yr appt. We haven't had one since. So maybe 33-35 lbs?

That's weird, the Graco one seems thinner than my evenflo one

 

[ryanshana]

Used one for the younger child...and the other to carry the carseat.

that's a smart idea.

 

[mybabesuz]

We have the same carseats.
The Triumph is wide too.
We bought a Cosco Scenera for our trip last year.
If you had girls I would send it to you for free. It's pink!
We only used it the one time on the plane.
Just sitting here collecting dust...
DD is 3 now and I don't think we will bring it again.

 

[JaimeK]

Definitely have your kids sit in the car seats on the airplane, they will be comfortable and used to sitting in them. We have a folding luggage wheelie we use for our carseat, with bungy cords you should be able to secure both to it, one upside-down and facing the other.
Something like this:
http://www.target.com/Magna-Cart-Pe...ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&rh=k:luggage_cart&page=1

 

[aidenndelaney]

We have the same carseats as well for our children, DS is 4 and in the nautilus and DD is 1 yr old and is in the truimph. We have taken the truimph a couple times on the plane with no problems. I agree that the Nautilus is really heavy. Not sure how we are going to juggle all the stuff as well?? We are going in May. Look forward to hearing more ideas.
Jaycie

 

[ryanshana]

We have the same carseats as well for our children, DS is 4 and in the nautilus and DD is 1 yr old and is in the truimph. We have taken the truimph a couple times on the plane with no problems. I agree that the Nautilus is really heavy. Not sure how we are going to juggle all the stuff as well?? We are going in May. Look forward to hearing more ideas.
Jaycie

and I'll be looking forward to hearing about your experience

 

[ryanshana]

We have the same carseats.
The Triumph is wide too.
We bought a Cosco Scenera for our trip last year.
If you had girls I would send it to you for free. It's pink!
We only used it the one time on the plane.
Just sitting here collecting dust...
DD is 3 now and I don't think we will bring it again.

I appreciate that. However I think DH would have a conniption about a pink carseat

That was super sweet though. I am going to ask DH he's thought about it and PM you later...seriously soo sweet of you! This is why I Dis!

 

[ryanshana]

Definitely have your kids sit in the car seats on the airplane, they will be comfortable and used to sitting in them. We have a folding luggage wheelie we use for our carseat, with bungy cords you should be able to secure both to it, one upside-down and facing the other.
Something like this:
http://www.target.com/Magna-Cart-Pe...ie=UTF8&frombrowse=0&rh=k:luggage_cart&page=1

And they let you carry the wheelie thing on the plane?

 

[laughinplace199]

When we had 2 kids in carseats, we went to Babies R Us and bought car seat travel bags. The bags had shoulder straps, so this is how we transported the car seats through the airport.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I just want to warn you ahead of time that actually carrying the carseats onto the plane was so hard! The aisle is so small, the carseat would not fit, so I had to try to lift it up over the height of the seats, all the while carrying 4 other bags (diaper bag, camera bags, carryon, etc.) It was really hard and I only had one carseat! Good luck with 2!

 

[ryanshana]

I just want to warn you ahead of time that actually carrying the carseats onto the plane was so hard! The aisle is so small, the carseat would not fit, so I had to try to lift it up over the height of the seats, all the while carrying 4 other bags (diaper bag, camera bags, carryon, etc.) It was really hard and I only had one carseat! Good luck with 2!

Kay I'm gonna like some way delete your post cause DH is the one that doesn't want to bring the carseats with the thought of how are we going to be able to bring all that stuff and deal w/ 2 small children So yeah you post needs to go j.k.

Is there a list of which carseats are good for airplanes?

 

[ancestry]

Here is a link that talks about "gadgets" that make carrying car seats easier.

http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/feb/29/airplanes-car-seat-part-iii-car-seat-carriers/

Also, you probably already know that in order to use the seat on the airplane the seat has to be an FAA approved seat. I haven't used car seats in several years so I'm not aware if your brands are or not.

 

[ADKSPiette]

I traveled with the girls alone last year. I had the MacLauren double stroller and I only needed one car seat for DD1. Since it was only me, I had a huge backpack with all the supplies for the three of us, and I used a bungie cord and strapped the car seat to the back of the stroller. It was perfect and one less thing I had to worry about while going through the airport alone.
If you're bringing two strollers, you may be able to strap one onto the back of each.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Kay I'm gonna like some way delete your post cause DH is the one that doesn't want to bring the carseats with the thought of how are we going to be able to bring all that stuff and deal w/ 2 small children So yeah you post needs to go j.k.

Oh, no I didn't want to scare you! I definitely recommend having the carseats on the plane - it makes it so much easier to keep the little ones right where they're supposed to be - nice and safe! I just wanted you to be prepared knowing that you might have to carry them over your head to get them through the aisle. We loaded all the carryons into the stroller and threw the carseat on top and just carried DS. Good luck!

 

[ryanshana]

Oh, no I didn't want to scare you! I definitely recommend having the carseats on the plane - it makes it so much easier to keep the little ones right where they're supposed to be - nice and safe! I just wanted you to be prepared knowing that you might have to carry them over your head to get them through the aisle. We loaded all the carryons into the stroller and threw the carseat on top and just carried DS. Good luck!

Oh I was just trying to be funny! My main thought cause I know how us dismoms like to have the kiddies in carseats....that I would have been able to send the link to my DH to see this thread...Now I'll think I'll just tell him LOL

It's cool I know it's gonna be difficult but hopefully I'll figure something out!