Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

What do you do about transporting baby gear?

We visit our family in NY 2-3 times a year. We drive for our big trip in the summer, so I'm not as concerned about that but what about when you fly? I know with a lot of stuff, I would try to see what I could borrow if possible, esp if it's only for a few days, but what do you do with car seats?

With infant car seat - do you bring up a base or have relatives bought a spare? Once the baby is in a convertible car seat - what do you do then - I would imagine it's a pain in the azz to drag that up with you? Have you or grandparents, etc purchased a spare to keep at their house so you have it when you come visit?

Thanks!

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

Anyone??

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

We dont travel by plan that much and my kids arent infants anymore, but in the past, we bought a bag from the airport actually. It's a HUGE duffel bag and it holds a stroller and a carseat & base, plus some other smaller things we can squeeze in. When we held our DD on the plan @ 2 months, we checked the entire bag.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

With the infant seat, you can install it without a base, the instructions come with the seat or you can look at the manufacturer's website for instructions.

DC doesn't need a seat until they turn two, this year, when DS was over two was the first time we bought him one. You can install any carseat on the plane. That said, we never had. We check it in a laundry bag with our last name across it and never had an issue.

As for other gear, when we go to Florida, there is a pnp we can use, if you come 2-3times a year, I'd make the investment to leave one up here

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

We have traveled a lot over the years, first with DS1 alone and now with both kids. When they were in an infant seat, we just traveled with the car seat, no base. Like an AP said, you don't need the base, it just made it easier! Actually, now that I remember, we bought an extra base on line and had it sent directly to my IL in Florida for our trip. I went for almost 2 weeks alone and then was returning a few weeks later to spend a week at my parents place. At the time, since it was an extended trip, it was easier to just have the base.
With the convertible seat, if we had a seat for DS (either purchased or because there were extra seats on the plane wen he was under 2), we brought it on the plane with us and gate checked the stroller. I bought one of these Gogo Kidz Travelmate things to carry the car seat around the airport:

Now, DS loves to sit in it while being strolled around!

When I traveled alone with both kids, I checked the strollers with my luggage (yes, I said strollers ), put DS1 in the car seat and carried DS2 in a baby bjorn! People looked at me like I was nuts but you do what you need to do

ETA: Michal - I am sure there are plenty of ppl on here that would be willing to loan you whatever you need when you come up if you don't want to schlep whatever it is!

Message edited 10/19/2009 9:27:40 AM.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

My mother has some baby gear that she keeps at her house, like a pack and play, a car seat, some toys. I find we can live without most of our stuff for the time we are visiting. When we go to Florida we have another cheapo car seat that stays at my grandmothers place so we always have something. We don't travel with our car seat.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

Thanks, ladies. My concern more so was not with a car seat on the plane but once we got to our destination. Is it worth it to buy a spare to have since we'll be traveling there a few times a year, or do you think we should just bring it with us.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

I would invest in a decent but not so expensive car seat. In my opinion, it's worth it for peace of mind and ease of travel to just have a spare one wherever you're going.

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

girl...I have plenty of gear for when you visit

Re: Question for BTDT Moms Who Travel on Planes A Lot

Posted by mommy2bella

girl...I have plenty of gear for when you visit