how to for family of four(2car sat/stollers/luggage)

[yeheyprincex2]

ok I am seeking advice from family's who have been there done that. This trip to disney will be our first trip together as a whole family. Our two boys 1 & 2 yrs of age and my husband and I. I started thinking about the best way to get around the airport, thru the airport with two car seats, two umbrell strollers and probably two suit cases. I thougt we could use one of those large carts to pile everything on top of. But if anyone had ideas or tactics that work for you I would like to hear them. We will have the car seats in there own bags

 

[deva]

ok I am seeking advice from family's who have been there done that. This trip to disney will be our first trip together as a whole family. Our two boys 1 & 2 yrs of age and my husband and I. I started thinking about the best way to get around the airport, thru the airport with two car seats, two umbrell strollers and probably two suit cases. I thougt we could use one of those large carts to pile everything on top of. But if anyone had ideas or tactics that work for you I would like to hear them. We will have the car seats in there own bags

We used to check everything we could. Take just the strollers and one backpack each with stuff for plane. Check luggage and car seats. Use a porter at luggage pick up to get everything to car or whatever transportation you are using.

If you need carseats for plane I would loop backpack on stroller and carry carseats over shoulder or on back.

In any event I would not plan on trying to deal with suitcases. You need your hands free for kids and strollers.

You can't take a smart cart through security. So it would depend on where they are located once inside security at your airport. And again, I think you need hands to push two strollers. If one of you is pushing cart with stuff that leaves one little one walking (or running away, or crying, or going too slow etc).

 

[Spunky946]

Are you renting a car? If not, not need for car seats. Otherwise I'd think a double stroller would be better then two umbrella strollers. Our kids are 4 years apart, so not much more advice then that.

 

[Apsychmommy]

If you're using the car seats on the plane, then I would get a car seat bag that has straps so you can wear it like a backpack. We have the JR Childress Ultimate car seat bag and it has held up very well over the years . We use the luggage carts to get our suitcases to check-in and then we have our hands free to push strollers.

If you do a double stroller, just make sure you check out weight limits as some airlines might make you check the stroller with your luggage vs checking it at the gate if its too heavy. We use two umbrella strollers as that's what's easiest for us.

 

[timandjanl]

Agree with PO - why the carseats? You only get a stroller OR carseat "free" with infant on the plane. So you will pay for the other one just like you would a bag. If you are renting a car why not just rent carseats from them to avoid the hassle. We just traveled with a 2.5 yr old and 3 month old. I wore the 3 month old in a sling and we used a small stroller for the other one. We checked our suitcases and took a diaper bag and snack bag on the plane. I hate paying to check luggage but trust me - the less bags you have on the plane the better.

 

[timandjanl]

If you're using the car seats on the plane, then I would get a car seat bag that has straps so you can wear it like a backpack. We have the JR Childress Ultimate car seat bag and it has held up very well over the years . We use the luggage carts to get our suitcases to check-in and then we have our hands free to push strollers.

If you do a double stroller, just make sure you check out weight limits as some airlines might make you check the stroller with your luggage vs checking it at the gate if its too heavy. We use two umbrella strollers as that's what's easiest for us.

You could also get one of those attachments with wheels for the carseats. It actually converts them into something you wheel like a suitcase and your kid can sit in the carseat while you wheel it.

 

[Apsychmommy]

We had the Go Go Babyz to wheel our car seats when we used to have the older Britax model, but it doesn't work on our newer Britax car seat so just make sure to check for comparability if you do use it. We loved it at the time since my oldest son loved all the attention he got being wheeled backwards .

 

[Autumnslight]

I would DEFINITELY bring the car seats on the plane. Aside from the fact that it's a safety recommendation by the FAA, NTSB, AAP, and virtually every airline, it's also helpful in keeping your child in their seat. Since their seat is familiar to them, it may also help to make them feel more comfortable on the plane, and may allow them to sleep on the plane better than they could otherwise.

We're bringing two kids (ages three and six), a sit and stand stroller, and one car seat (for the three year old) on a flight next month. Our plan is to check the stroller with our luggage. At that point, we'll each have a backpack, and we'll have the car seat on a little cart with wheels. The kids will walk through the airport. Should be pretty simple.

Since your kids are littler, they probably can't walk through the airport. In your case, I'd check the stroller, and then use one of these: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JHN3AS/?tag=carseatblog-20. That way, you each have a carry-on, carseat, and child, all taken care of at the same time. You could even still each carry a backpack/purse/laptop bag/whatever. If you're not using wheeled suitcases for your carry-on, you can also get wheeled carts to attach the car seats to.

 

[travelgirl06]

Agree with PO - why the carseats? You only get a stroller OR carseat "free" with infant on the plane. So you will pay for the other one just like you would a bag. If you are renting a car why not just rent carseats from them to avoid the hassle. We just traveled with a 2.5 yr old and 3 month old. I wore the 3 month old in a sling and we used a small stroller for the other one. We checked our suitcases and took a diaper bag and snack bag on the plane. I hate paying to check luggage but trust me - the less bags you have on the plane the better.

We've never had a problem checking a car seat AND gate checking an umbrella stroller for free. We've flown a few different airlines, so what you can check free may be airline-dependent. We try to minimize the number of suitcases, while staying well within the weight limits and go immediately to check bags when we get to the airport.

 

[camimh]

Carseats can get tossed around and banged up when checked so beware of that. It's safer to bring them on the plane if you can so you know they aren't getting damaged.

That being said, having BTDT, lugging a carseat through the airport is a PITA. lol

 

[yeheyprincex2]

Hi all thank you for your replies/advice. We will have a rental car that why we will have the car seats with us. We have never been charged to check the car seats so we are not worried about that. We do have a sit and stand double stroller but with both boys in it it gets pretty hard to turn, push. I read some where that two folding strollers were used for the families Disney trip and I thought that might work for us. I'm just not looking forward to lugging our stuff around. We will use the strollers to get the boys thru the airport. I guess it part of the trip.

 

[Lilliputian]

If you get a side-by-side double stroller, it's easy to push, and you could put some of the bags underneath in the basket and others hanging off hooks on the handlebar. If you need a bigger carry-on, then make it the kind where the handle comes out so the stroller person can pull it along. Then one of you can push the stroller and take care of all of the carry-on bags yourself (checked luggage will have to be taken care of at the curb, obviously), and other can handle the two car seats. It's not easy, but it is manageable.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

I agree with PP about the side by side double stroller. Maybe you can borrow one? (I'm on a local moms facebook group and we all ask each other to borrow stuff once in a while.) Then, the stroller person can wear a backpack as diaper bag and maybe push one-handed and pull a carry-on. The other parent can carry both carseats and wear another backpack.

Anyway you slice it, it's gonna be a little awkward getting to your gate through the airport. But we'll be in the same boat a week from now!

 

[andigomeep]

How old are the boys? Gate checking a car seat is risky, you don't know how they're handled. I would use the seats on the plane. You can strap them to rolling luggage fairly easily.

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

I just bought two of these for our upcoming trip. They get really good recommendations and seem to fit most car seats. JL Childress Ultimate Car Seat Travel Bag, Black
http://amzn.com/B0009RNXNA

 

[SamSam]

We used these last May for a trip with twin 2 1/2 yearl old grandsons. Worked great, the only problem was one of our grandsons did not like the feeling of being leaned backed when in his carseat attached to the luggage (he also doesn't like changing tables), so I would push the suitcase with his seat attached while holding his hand so he could walk. So if you go with these (and they are wonderful) you might want to check and see how your child does riding in one.

I would DEFINITELY bring the car seats on the plane. Aside from the fact that it's a safety recommendation by the FAA, NTSB, AAP, and virtually every airline, it's also helpful in keeping your child in their seat. Since their seat is familiar to them, it may also help to make them feel more comfortable on the plane, and may allow them to sleep on the plane better than they could otherwise.

We're bringing two kids (ages three and six), a sit and stand stroller, and one car seat (for the three year old) on a flight next month. Our plan is to check the stroller with our luggage. At that point, we'll each have a backpack, and we'll have the car seat on a little cart with wheels. The kids will walk through the airport. Should be pretty simple.

Since your kids are littler, they probably can't walk through the airport. In your case, I'd check the stroller, and then use one of these: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JHN3AS/?tag=carseatblog-20. That way, you each have a carry-on, carseat, and child, all taken care of at the same time. You could even still each carry a backpack/purse/laptop bag/whatever. If you're not using wheeled suitcases for your carry-on, you can also get wheeled carts to attach the car seats to.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

Minimize. Bring as little on plane as possible and being that you have to pay for every checked luggage, that can add up. I fly pretty often and I have to say it just keeps getting worse. I think people are so fed up with baggage fees that they try to bring as much as possible on the plane. They last couple of times I've flown, they really cracked down on carry-on's. Once there was a man standing right before you would get in line to check in asking what you planned on bringing on board and making sure it fit into their sample size. And many times they are already telling us before we board that it's a full flight (they all are) and that bags will have to be checked. The last time I traveled with my daughter, we packed her car seat in her suitcase. Simplify.

 

[KalamityJane]

Ok, this is how I fly alone with 2 kids, 2 car seats, stroller and carryons. I take a soft structured carrier, like an Ergo or Boba and wear the youngest kid. Car seats go on the stroller along with the carryons, use bungees if necessary. I walk the older kid and push the stroller with my free hand. Gate check the stroller and do family boarding so you go on after first class/handicapped. If DH is with me, he takes both car seats, I grab the older kid by the hand. If alone, I ask a stewardess/steward to help me carry one seat back, while I carry the other and make the older kid walk the aisle in front of me. Ask for a belt extender as you enter the plane, as you will more than likely need one so that the belt buckle is not at their midbacks. I know with Britax you absolutely need one or the buckle will get caught.

Reverse order when you leave the plane!

 

[KalamityJane]

Also, I completely agree with autumnslight - I wouldn't travel without a car seat on the plane for the kids. LIFE saver! Seriously, they are much more comfy, they usually sleep since they are familiar with it, and it is safer. Plus, if you need to pee, you can leave them strapped in, and they can't get out.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

the worst part was getting all the stuff from parking the car at the airport to the check in desk! Poor DH was trying to move all the bags and i was pushing the baby in the stroller. That was the worst since there is nobody to help you. Then we had to load it all on the bus to the airport building and get it all to the check in desk. Then we each had a rolling carry on, two carry on small bags, the diaper bag, and the full size stroller and our DD 1. What worked best was to hold hands and walk DD, which she loved. They have tons of open space in airports which was great for her to walk around with us. So then we had the stroller to fit all the bags in. The rolling large bags stacked on top of the inside of the stroller, then the smaller bags in the bottom of the stroller and diaper bag over the handle bars. Then one of us pushed the stroller and one walked with DD. It was SO much better. We did that getting back to the airport and car. The stroller made it easier by far! However, like you said a big stroller often means losing maneuverability, so we are going to take the umbrella stroller instead... and that means no room for any bags, besides on the handles, which will tip if over if DD gets out.

So this coming trip, i am thinking of bringing both strollers.. the large one for all the bags, lol.. and the umbrella stroller to use at Disney, otherwise it is very difficult.

Oh and the luggage carts we did try at one point but the bags just wanted to fall off, the cart was NOT large enough at all.

We did not take a carseat. I held DD on my lap, she did great and we had a smooth flight, and a short one too.