How do you get your car seat through the airport?

[TravelinGal]

I've been doing some digging trying to find an easy way to carry our car seat to the airplane.

I saw the Tote a Tot that straps your car seat onto your carry-on wheeled luggage and thought that was a neat idea. Being a cheapskate though, I decided I should try to make something to do the same thing.

After doing more digging I found the Traveling Toddler - A simple t-shaped strap that uses the car seats LATCH system to hook onto your luggage.

I used some straps (belting/webbing) from a backpack we didn't want (but you could buy belting for not much money at all) and add D rings on all 3 ends. The back pack straps I used actually already had rings (pull rings to adjust the length?) securely stitched on each end, so I only needed 1 D ring for the top piece.

The measurements I used are 17" long (plus a bit for sewing the D-rings on) for the horizontal strap and 8 to 9 inches long (again plus a bit for the D-ring attachment). I used a heavy thread (says "button craft" "dual duty" on the spool) and stitched it in the upside down T shape.

I don't need it sturdy enough to hold the weigh of DS as we'll put him in the stroller that we're gate checking.

I stuffed the suitcase full of towels and hooked it on - it works like a charm!!! And it didn't cost me a penny. (already had the thread and D ring and the backpack was given to me as a sample item)

So, what's your trick for car seats in the airport? (cheap/expensive - home made/store bought - just share!

 

[tinkandpan]

We just let the straps out all the way and Dh puts it on like a backpack. To make life even easier when we weren't bringing a stoller- we bought a go go kidz, but that does cost money.

 

[TravelinGal]

We just let the straps out all the way and Dh puts it on like a backpack.

I thought about that, but I've read over and over (on travel boards - DIS and others) not to use the straps in that manner. I also figured it wouldn't be to comfy on the back - I know the Cosco Scenera-Tourista we got doesn't have a smooth back on it anyway - it has a lot of pointy edges that seem like they'd jab you.

To make life even easier when we weren't bringing a stroller- we bought a go go kidz, but that does cost money.

I like that little roller deal, but the Cosco Scenera is one they say doesn't fit it safely. (I called and asked them directly - they said it technically does fit, but they didn't feel it was safe combined with their product.)

 

[tanyaandallie]

A cheap luggage stroller and a bungee cord works great.

 

[tinkandpan]

ah- we have the britax marathon which i think the go go kidz was made for. That thing is just so huge to travel with, nothing is really EASy.

 

[TravelinGal]

tanyaandallie - that's a good idea too!

tinkandpan - that's exactly why we got the cosco! We didn't want to lug our 100 lb (ok exagerating...a bit...) Britax through the airport and deal with putting it in the seat.

What do other people do? I'm sure some ideas posted here will help others! Keep 'em coming!

 

[Minniemouse07]

We use a samsonite luggage cart that collapses and we can fit it in our backpack. I've hauled a Britax around on that thing through 5 or 6 round trips over the last few years, and we loan it out to our friends all the time as well!

Works great and it was only about $20!

It's called the Micromover and you can see one here. I can't remember, we either found it at JCPenneys or Macy's.

 

[TravelinGal]

We use a samsonite luggage cart that collapses and we can fit it in our backpack. I've hauled a Britax around on that thing through 5 or 6 round trips over the last few years, and we loan it out to our friends all the time as well!

Works great and it was only about $20!

It's called the Micromover and you can see one here. I can't remember, we either found it at JCPenneys or Macy's.

Do you use a bunge to hold it onto the cart? Or is the cart's base big enough to keep the car seat stable?

 

[Minniemouse07]

Do you use a bunge to hold it onto the cart? Or is the cart's base big enough to keep the car seat stable?

There are built in bungee like straps that are about 90% at keeping the seat on the cart. Once in a while it will slip side to side, but not often enough that I think it isn't worth it to use.

My friends that we've loaned it to love it as much as we do and for $20 it was definitely worth the investment.

When we are hauling all our crap from the car INTO the airport we put the seat on the top of one our our wheeled suitcases. The suitcase came w/ an attachment strap (so you can attach other smaller bags on top) and we use that to secure it. We break out the micromover once we are past check in.

We've been able to keep the carseat on the micromover as it passes through security too... just put the entire thing on the conveyor belt!

HTH

 

[Manda]

I just always flipped it upside down and put it on the stroller. When DS was smaller, I'd then strap him to me in a hip sling. He was easier to carry than the car seat. =)

 

[SnowWhite12]

On way there, we just set it on top of the rolling luggage. Didn't need a strap, just held the top while holding bar of rolling luggage. On way back, DD walked; so we put it on the stroller.

 

[jessica52877]

We had the fisher price safe embrace and it has big metal bars on it that I could hook over my shoulder. Worked great. I could carry it, the laptop and push stroller while DH had the luggage and I could have probably lugged a bag too had I been alone. Now we have recaro so no idea what I would do.

I too have heard don't hold it by the straps of carseat.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I attached it to a rolling carryon "pilots" size case. I had a strap and just looped it through the handle part on top. Worked out great.


I was flying alone with a 2 year old. She was in a sling.

 

[Nicholfamily5]

I purchased a car seat carrier just for this purpose. I can't recall the cost, but I know it wasn't expensive. It zips right around the whole carseat, so it is completely encased. Then you can just pull it by the top strap on the wheels. I absolutely love it! Also it has teh added feature of turning the bag inside out and using it as a solar shield in the car. So when I brought it on an AZ trip, I would toss the bag over the car seat and never once had to worry about the buckles burning dd's skin!! Another great plus is that the bag helps protect it if you gate check, or just to keep it clean. We used it to toss our jackets in while we were going through the airport.

I bought mine at Babies r us and I know they are still there.

 

[CastleCreations]

I used to carry the baby and put the car seat on top of the stroller.

 

[monorailsilver]

I lengthen the straps as far as they will go & carry it like a back pack.

 

[all4fun]

I lengthen the straps as far as they will go & carry it like a back pack.

The problem with this is harnesses (& seatbelts too) are made so they will stretch (give) a little bit in an accident to help reduce the force of the belt or harness on the body, reducing crash forces a bit. So by carrying the car seat this way, it's possible you could be stretching the harness out, and reducing how it will perform in an accident. I don't know this for certain but it is something to be aware of at least.

 

[las3888]

One of the best tips I ever got off of this board was to use a carseat bag (found at BRU for about $15-$20). We are lucky that DS now doesn't use carseat on the plane, so we check it at the counter. We put the carseat in the bag and then we use the bag to stuff diapers, sippy cups, blankies, and all kinds of other misc. baby items that are big and bulky. It protects the carseat, and we use less luggage.

 

[MarylandMom]

We purchased a contraption at the Samsonite outlet store that allows you to carry a carseat like a backpack. It has straps that connect from the bottom to the top of the seat and also straps that connect from the left to right side. On the back, there's a thin padded area with shoulder straps attached that allows you to wear it as a backpack. We bought two of these (at one point in our lives, we were traveling with three carseats - ughhh!!!). I can't tell you how many times we're stopped at airports and asked where we purchased them. We still travel with two carseats and using the backpack contraption has really helped. We are able to keep the kids in the strollers and still pull some luggage. We have Britax Marathon seats, but the straps are adjustable, so I believe any standard carseat would work. The contraption is very thin - just some straps, shoulder straps and a thin back pad. It is thin enough to fit in the front pocket of our luggage easily. It is also easy to attach the carseat to it when disembarking the plane quickly. Good luck!