Experience traveling with a toddler?

brittandjp · August 2014

We're flying Southwest nonstop from Phoenix to Chicago in a few weeks. It's about a 3 hour flight and we didn't purchase a seat for DD (she's 18 months).

Questions:

1. How lucky (or unlucky) have you been to have an extra seat available at the gate for your LO to sit in?

2. We plan on gate checking our stroller since we'll use it through the airport. Did you buy a special transportation bag for your stroller?

3. If you didn't purchase a seat, where did you check your car seat - at check in or the gate? I keep hearing there's always a chance of having an open seat and if that's the case, I sortakindawanna lug our car seat through the airport. BUT if we don't even have a chance, I'm not sure I want to deal with carrying it around.

4. Did you put your car seat in a secured traveling bag? I want this one off Amazon, but it's so pricey! Though I think it may be worth it considering how careless the baggage guys are?

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!

*And for the record, I'm not looking for responses about how not purchasing her a seat of her own was a bad choice and/or unsafe.

kim1730 · August 2014

Always check your car seat at the gate. In the past I purchased a bag to protect the car seat, but not the stroller. Make sure you get your gate check items tagged before boarding. With Southwest, there's no assigned seats but they do have Family Boarding if you have young children after Group A. Usually we went to the back of the plane and crossed our fingers and hoped nobody would want to sit next to a baby, but if the flight is full there's no way around that.

nesenotes · August 2014

1) only happened once and we've flown 8 times
2)no just checked it. It would be way too much of a hassle to take it out of a bag
3) at check in. It would have sucked lugging it for no reason.
4) no but it's a cheapie travel only one we purchased for trips to visit my mom

Just a couple of tips: don't sit in the emergency row. The extra leg room sounds like a good idea but they make you put the diaper bag in the overhead bin and that's a nightmare. Take a couple of snacks that last forever like popcorn or teddy grams. A dum dum was great for take off and only 20 calories. It's ok if she gets fussy, don't worry about what others think too much. And stickers are heaven sent.

You've got this!

bowlwoman · August 2014

We always gate checked the stroller and usually checked the carseat when checking in. HOWEVER, the time we flew to California to visit DH's family and checked the carseats/boosters, it took over an hour for us to get them once we landed in San Francisco. All of the parents had to wait because apparently the luggage people didn't unload them and we couldn't leave until we got them because we had no carseats. Lesson learned.

Last time we flew, we had just the boosters and we packed them inside an empty suitcase.

And that was just to avoid the problems we'd had the previous time. When we checked the carseats we never really had a problem with them getting banged up or anything.

As for the bonus of an empty seat: yeah, don't count on it. You might get lucky, but odds are you'll be holding the kiddo for the entire flight. Be sure to bring plenty of snacks, activity books, or anything else you can think of to keep the kiddo occupado. Walking around the plane is a good activity too.

And, word to the wise. Don't take anything in the bathroom with you and the kiddo that you don't want to wind up in the blue water of the toilet. With DD1, I had taken her at around 18 months to change her in the bathroom, and we took her lovey, a small 6" bear. Yup, she dropped him in the toilet. I spent the next 10 minutes soaking blue airplane toilet solution out of him and put him in a plastic bag to carry to my in-law's. He got washed about 3 times before I'd give him back to her. If it hadn't been her lovey, it would have gone right in the trash. To this day, our niece calls it Potty Bear.

leoandethansmom · August 2014

1. How lucky (or unlucky) have you been to have an extra seat available at the gate for your LO to sit in? We have not have that happen before unfortunately but one time we were in first class somehow so that was helpful with the bigger seats and extra space

2. We plan on gate checking our stroller since we'll use it through the airport. Did you buy a special transportation bag for your stroller? We just gate checked every time, no special bag and everything was fine. One time we checked the UppaBaby Vista in it's 2 pieces and the other times have been the umbrella stroller and never had a problem.

3. If you didn't purchase a seat, where did you check your car seat - at check in or the gate? I keep hearing there's always a chance of having an open seat and if that's the case, I sortakindawanna lug our car seat through the airport. BUT if we don't even have a chance, I'm not sure I want to deal with carrying it around. --- We always checked the carseat as luggage and did purchase the travel bag with wheels and a handle from Target, I can't remember the name but it did the trick.

4. Did you put your car seat in a secured traveling bag? I want this one off Amazon, but it's so pricey! Though I think it may be worth it considering how careless the baggage guys are? See above answer

We have travelled with DS three times and while it has been rather stressful, it's never been a problem safety wise or anything. He is over 2 now so we will have to purchase a seat from now on but in hindsight it would have been much nicer to end up with an extra seat for him. Definitely do some calming breathing techniques beforehand!!

Pros521 · August 2014

I gate checked the stroller and car seat. If you're hoping for an empty seat, you have to gate check the seat. I did not get lucky with the extra seat. I did get a bag for the car seat bc I was worried about luggage being on It or just being in a dirty underbelly of a plane.
We did a 2+ hour flight and DD slept the majority of the time. But I was loaded with food and drink for her. Drinking during take off and landing should help with the ear popping

SoxFan777 · August 2014

I've flown internationally and gotten him his own seat each time. I just asked EVERY STAFF member I could... When I checked in, it was , "no, sorry, no empty seats." Same story at the gate from the attendant, "no sorry no empty seats." On the plane, "no sorry no empty seats." But then through a no snow, there was magically one once we were in the air the last two times I flew. Awesome! Also, I recommend a backpack for you as a carry on... Best decision ever! And I didn't bring a car seat... I borrowed one at our destination and got a cheap stroller at a yard sale to bring with me... No bag needed... Would have cost more than the $5 I spent on the stroller.

RayRay007 · August 2014

When I travelled with DD when she was under 2 i wore her so no gate checking anything. I wouldn't count on an extra seat; even if they had one chances are it won't be with your seats and they probably wouldn't let you actually install a car seat in one. I would check your car seat in a heavy duty garbage bag you bring yourself of use the bag they give you. I would not buy a travel bag unless you plan on doing it a lot .

SissynJitters · August 2014

We have not lucked out with an extra seat whenever we have traveled with DD. Gate check the stroller - I wouldn't worry about a special bag. I would suggest taking an umbrella stroller instead of a bigger one. The only time we used it was to get from point A to point B in the airport. Once you get to the gate, let your LO run around to burn some energy. If you have another adult traveling with you, have them board the plane with your carry ons before you so that your seat is set up and you can be the last to board. DD gets really antsy waiting for the plane to take off and does not want to stay on our laps...but once the plane is in the air she is a doll. Lots of snacks! Blueberries were the heroes of our last flight.

byrne15 · August 2014

Questions:
1. How lucky (or unlucky) have you been to have an extra seat available at the gate for your LO to sit in? we took one trip (with a lay over - so 4 planes round trip) with ds#1 when he was still a lap child. 3 out of the 4 legs of the trip he was able to sit in an extra seat.
2. We plan on gate checking our stroller since we'll use it through the airport. Did you buy a special transportation bag for your stroller? No. we gate checked our stroller (full size) and it was fine.
3. If you didn't purchase a seat, where did you check your car seat - at check in or the gate? I keep hearing there's always a chance of having an open seat and if that's the case, I sortakindawanna lug our car seat through the airport. BUT if we don't even have a chance, I'm not sure I want to deal with carrying it around. We gate checked the car seat.
4. Did you put your car seat in a secured traveling bag? I want this one off Amazon, but it's so pricey! Though I think it may be worth it considering how careless the baggage guys are? again, we didn't bring any special bags for the stuff. He was able to use the car seat 3 out of 4 times on the plane and actually fell asleep.

AllTheTeaInChina · August 2014

Definitely gate check the car seat. It's less likely to be damaged than sending it with the rest of the luggage. I have the Britax travel bag and really like it. It has wheels and straps like a back pack. I'd gate check the stroller too, you can use it to haul the car seat and other bags thru the airport.

I flew with DD when she was 9mo. The flight from MSP to Fort Myers had empty seats so I was able to bring her car seat with. We had the whole row, it was great. I flew delta and knew the plane wasn't full before getting to the airport. Flight home was overbooked so no luck. With a lap baby, try for the aisle seat. I had a window and it sucked.

Bring lots of snacks and little toys. DD got antsy by the end and destroyed the sky mall magazine.

brittandjp · August 2014

Thank you ladies SO much for all your kind responses and words of wisdom.

We'll stick to gate checking our stroller. We have the Chicco Liteway, which we LOVE, and we plan to use it around the airport. We'll skip the travel bag.

I think we'll go ahead and check the car seat with our other luggage, though I do still plan on buying the nice bag to transport it in. I've just heard too many horror stories. IF we get lucky enough to have an extra seat, she'll do without the car seat.

I'm REALLY nervous as she's not a sit in your seat stay calm kinda babe, so I definitely took note of all your advice on things to keep her busy and happy. We scheduled both flights during her naptime and we're hoping she'll burn a ton of energy running around the terminal.

Fingers crossed all goes well. It's still a few weeks away, but I'll definitely let you guys know how it goes. Thanks again!

Eora3 · August 2014

DO NOT check the carseat with the luggage!!!! What happens if it gets put on the next flight or lost in transit? Then you are stuck at the airport with no carseat. This has happened to people I know. The husband had to take a taxi to a local Babies R Us and buy a new carseat and then go back to the airport for his wife and child. Thankfully, they didn't take a later flight or the store would have been closed.

I would gate check the carseat and the stroller. No need for fancy bags unless you need a little extra packing space. The bag isn't going to make one bit of difference if the carseat or stroller are dropped during transport.

I would suggest taking some kids Dramamine chewables with you. If your little one gets airsickness, you are going to be in a world of pain and have a lap full of puke. The Dramamine works wonders and is pretty fast acting. We used a half dose for my son when he got a little queasy on a flight. It made him sleepy but he immediately felt better.

An iPad and headphones got my 20 month old through the flight to Hawaii with very little fussing. He watched movies and played a few BabyFirst TV games.

RayRay007 · August 2014

Eora3 said:

DO NOT check the carseat with the luggage!!!! What happens if it gets put on the next flight or lost in transit? Then you are stuck at the airport with no carseat. This has happened to people I know. The husband had to take a taxi to a local Babies R Us and buy a new carseat and then go back to the airport for his wife and child. Thankfully, they didn't take a later flight or the store would have been closed. I would gate check the carseat and the stroller. No need for fancy bags unless you need a little extra packing space. The bag isn't going to make one bit of difference if the carseat or stroller are dropped during transport. I would suggest taking some kids Dramamine chewables with you. If your little one gets airsickness, you are going to be in a world of pain and have a lap full of puke. The Dramamine works wonders and is pretty fast acting. We used a half dose for my son when he got a little queasy on a flight. It made him sleepy but he immediately felt better. An iPad and headphones got my 20 month old through the flight to Hawaii with very little fussing. He watched movies and played a few BabyFirst TV games.

Whenever we fly they put big red or yellow stickers or tape all over the bag that says it must fly. They do everything they can to make sure it makes it to your destination or they will be on the hook for one. If by chance it doesn't make it, the airline will arrange for you to have one. You will not be stuck without one. Unless you're flying with a shitty airline?

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