Help me pack!!!

so DH and I as DS who's 1 yrs old and our parents are heading to Cali and Hawaii!...beside our normal luggage, we plan on bringing our Combi umbrella stroller...graco snugride car seat...and pack and play....and diaper bag(filled with toys, clothes, food and milk)...my question is, how do i check in /pack the pack and play? i think i can check in at the gate both the stroller and car seat? is that right? but what do i do with the pack and play?

any other tips would be GREATLY APRRECIATED!!!!! thanks and wish my luck and some sanity!

Re: Help me pack!!!

Here's my experience. Travelled to Asia (21 hours) with my 15 month old son.

Pack and Play
You can check it at the front counter. I think the pack and plays come with a storage bag. Just make a note the bag handlers are not the most gentle and things will get tossled.

Car Seat & Stroller
My experience is, if you can check it at the front counter, check it. It becomes such a pain in the butt to drag around (my son doesn't like to stay in the stroller, so it was useless and just another item to keep track of). You can check both the car seat and stroller at the front counter or the gate. If you check it at the gate, don't forget to pick it up as you exit the plane at your destination. It will be there as soon as you get off the plane (if not, just wait there).


Take Off and Landing
Try to feed your baby his bottle or put some kind of pacifier in his mouth. The change in the altitude becomes quite uncomfortable for the little ones and by sucking on something during this really helps a bunch as they do not know how to pop their ears yet.

Change of clothing
Bring it. We had a few food incidents.

Word to the wise. Try to bring things that are disposable. It makes such a difference when you are out and about. We stayed in a hotel and to have to think about washing sippy cups (we just used plastic cups with tops and straws) was just a real pain.

My biggest advice is : Travel light and disposable.

If you don't need the pack and play, I wouldn't take it. Your backs will thank you later.

Did you buy a seat for the baby?

Re: Help me pack!!!

thx for responding! we didnt buy him a seat...i cant beileve u did 21 hours! nice!! how did u chnage him on the plane?

Re: Help me pack!!!

We changed him in the bathroom. To be honest, it is not easy. We actually flew for a wedding when he was about 14 months to LAX and there was no baby changing table in the little bathroom. I put down the toliet seat and used the changing pad. Let's just say ew! The flight to Asia was much better since there was a changing table you just pulled down.

If you can, change him right before you board (pre-board if you can). If you can put some kind of night diaper on him, use it and just change him when you get off.

If you didn't buy him a seat, then try to check as much as you can, but then again, you have to do what you feel comfortable with. I didn't check things on the way to LAX but on the way back, I checked EVERYTHING except the diaper bag and our baby on-flight entertainment bag. hehehehe...

Re: Help me pack!!!

I would say don't bring the pack n play...most hotels have cribs. Can you call ahead and request one?

Re: Help me pack!!!

I would try to check in as much as you can beforehand. The car seat should not count against you for baggage allowance. It is a PITA to lug extra stuff you don't need around an airport. I would check in the car seat and pack n play but gate check the stroller. I tend to use the stroller as a cart if DS isn't riding it.

Re: Help me pack!!!

Re: Help me pack!!!

we're stayin at a timeshare in hawaii....not sure if they have cribs....but i find it kinda skeevy to use a hotels cribs no?....

to those who didnt buy a seat for the DC...how did you hold them? you just just literally held them in your arms...even if you fell asleep? i'm afraid i might drop him

Re: Help me pack!!!

Posted by jennyal

we're stayin at a timeshare in hawaii....not sure if they have cribs....but i find it kinda skeevy to use a hotels cribs no?....

to those who didnt buy a seat for the DC...how did you hold them? you just just literally held them in your arms...even if you fell asleep? i'm afraid i might drop him

Re: Help me pack!!!

Posted by brownie

Posted by jennyal

we're stayin at a timeshare in hawaii....not sure if they have cribs....but i find it kinda skeevy to use a hotels cribs no?....

to those who didnt buy a seat for the DC...how did you hold them? you just just literally held them in your arms...even if you fell asleep? i'm afraid i might drop him

I just brought my own crib sheets. If you want to bring your own PnP go ahead, but its a PITA to lug all that crap around when traveling...especially that far.

We didn't buy a seat for DD but our flight was shorter...DH held her on his lap, we used lots of puffs when she was antsy...

One flight there were lots of empty seats and they let us bring her car seat on and use a seat

HTH!

Re: Help me pack!!!

if i check in the car seat and stroller...do i need to buy a bag to protect it or name it mine....

Re: Help me pack!!!