My family lives hundreds or thousands of miles away from me, but it’s been that way since my children were born. At this point, I’m pretty much a pro at traveling with kids of all ages. As you get older, it gets easier, but also expensive (my son is a human garbage disposal).
When children are small, they must learn how to move around in car seats and strollers with minimal effort. The point I’m trying to make here is that it’s actually not that difficult once you understand which strategy works best for you.
car seat seat
A child seat is required for the journey to and from your destination, unless you are walking from the runway to your destination and boarding the plane. And while it’s legal to hold a baby on your lap during a flight, it’s so dangerous that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires parents to bring and install a car seat on the plane and keep their child safe. We encourage you to restrain your child in that child seat. . Ideally, place it in the direction you would sit if you were in a car.
If you’re checking in a stroller, navigating seats inside the airport can be a hassle. Fortunately, there is a way to solve it. Grab a lightweight folding dolly and secure it with straps. (However, you can’t do this with your child inside.) You can also use a travel car seat like the WayB Pico if your child is old enough to be forward-facing. Comes with its own foldable carrying bag.
Note: Child seats must fit the aircraft. However, if this is not the case, the airline is responsible for providing a child seat or offering a seat in another seat on the same service.
where and how to check
First, you need a car seat bag to cover it. Most car seat bags look the same, so be sure to label them everywhere. Next, you need to choose where to check. If you don’t use it on the plane and don’t attach it to your stroller, we recommend checking it on arrival, just like you would with your luggage. Please tell the attendant that it is a child seat. Sheets are loaded last and ejected first.
If you attach it to a stroller and use it inside the airport, please leave it at the gate. Again, for safety reasons and to avoid mishandling, it’s best to carry them on board. Let’s be honest. The airline may damage the child seat. Please inspect the child seat immediately after returning it.
basic problems
Most bases are not compatible with aircraft. However, keep in mind that all car seats must be able to be safely installed in your car without a base, so it’s best to leave them in your car or at home. If you really need that base, it’s better to buy an extra base and have it delivered to your destination rather than checking it or risking putting it in an overhead bin. The most expensive bases cost around $150, but most bases hover around $60. The extra cost is terrible, but it’s a shame. The same goes for traveling by train or long bus journeys.
stroller
Honestly? When traveling with a car seat and stroller, a stroller bit makes things so much easier. First, we recommend purchasing a lightweight stroller or travel stroller like the Stokke YoYo3 that folds up small enough to fit in an overhead bin. Not only is it great to have, but it also makes traveling with a baby as smooth as possible. Multiple moms say they bought a travel stroller for traveling and now it’s their primary stroller. Sometimes convenience is more important than anything else.
However, if you need to check, you will need the bag again. And check if the bag fits the entire stroller. If you’re rocking a Vista V3, it won’t fit in the stroller made for the UppaBaby Minu. You can leave it with your luggage or leave it at the gate. If you have a double stroller, especially a side-by-side stroller, you may want to check it in with your carry-on luggage, and if your little one is big enough, consider having some luggage for the ride.
professional travel tips
trevor raab
If you’re traveling in a two-parent household or with two adults, have one of the adults board early, board the plane, and arrange all of your luggage. Wipe down your bags, stroller, snack kit, and Lysol. While doing so, the other one stays in the terminal with the kids and runs around to tire them out. And finally, the board is dead. It seems counterintuitive, but this is really the best strategy. If you want to check your car seat, wrap it in bubble wrap before putting it in your bag. Carry a folding toilet seat in your diaper bag. Airplane toilets are scary enough. It’s good that it’s easy. On several occasions, the person sitting in front of us was looking at things on the plane screen or on their cell phone that young children shouldn’t be able to see. Safety cards usually slide between the seats to block them. However, you may need to use something like a baby blanket. For this reason, please bring a very thin blanket. Please take a photo before dropping off your car seat and stroller. That way, the airline cannot dispute any damages that may occur.
Traveling with a car seat and stroller isn’t as big of a deal as it once was, and that’s something we should all be happy about. Strap on for a fun trip.
