Hellobee Boards

If you’re comfortable forgoing car seats on the plane I imagine that would make your life 100 times easier for this trip.

I think its worth it to at least take a carseat on for DD2 if she does well in it. Mine would sleep in her carseat for 3+ hrs and allowed me to be hands free.

We use this carseat for traveling. its super light, easy install and can be harnessed on my stroller. Havent tried it on any double strollers though... https://www.walmart.com/ip/Cosco-Scenera-NEXT-Convertible-Car-Seat-Otto/41126739

is your husband leaving after you? Can he go with you to the airport and help you to the gate?

you could possibly wear LO2, have LO1 walk, place a cosco scenera car seat on top of the stroller and pile on the luggage. and let LO2 sit in a carseat on the plane while LO1 just sits in a normal seat.

@MenagerieMama: can your husband get an escort pass and help you to the gate? It won't help for the connection... but still a little helpful? I was allowed to help some family from out of the country to their gate. I told the agent that they didnt speak english and needed help navigating the airport and they let me through security.

@MenagerieMama: ETA I just saw that your mom will meet you at the airport. Honestly, I'd find a way to have her come with seats installed, and not carry them with you.

To get around the needing seats for the airport bit, if DH can't drive you in one of your cars (like he'll have already left, I have two solutions).

(1) Car service - we've been able to find local services that have multiple carseats, as well as car services that will drive us in OUR OWN car, driving it to the airport and returning it to our house after they drop us off - now this won't work if DH has already left with your seats, but maybe you can borrow the car of a friend with similarly aged kids for a few hours to do this.

(2) Ask a friend with similarly aged kids to drive you - offer to pay for a babysitter for their kids while they do this for you.

I've found when traveling alone with my three kids, it's just not worth it to try to haul extra stuff - the less I can carry (ie the more I can check curbside), the better. I can get wanting a carseat for the toddler for a longer flight, though, so maybe if you feel you REALLy need it, you just take the one?

Also, I'd try to condense your carry ons - I have each of my older kids (now 6 and 4) take their own backpacks, but realize that isn't an option at least with your younger child...but if you can just take one (maybe a duffle you can wear the hand straps as a backpack), it'll be easier for you. I'd wear the baby and take a small stroller, which can also either carry your bag, or contain your older LO if necessary.

Good luck!!! Just remember flights are a finite period of time - you'll get through it!

I can’t remember which airline I was on, but I was told I needed the car seats to be in the window seat as a matter of policy (supposedly to make it easier to evacuate if necessary). I would confirm that with the airline and if it were the case, I’d do a GoGoBabyz with LO2’s seat installed as a stroller for LO1 to ride in the airport and I’d wear the baby through the airport. On board I’d install the seat for LO1 and use a CARES harness for LO1. I would also try to minimize the extra bags. I’d try to keep it to one bag you can wear and one little bag LO1 can wear and check everything else. Also, I’d ask about an escort pass for DH when I called about the car seats, just in case!

Just fyi it's an faa law that you cannot have a car seat in any seat but the window so you will only be able to have one kid in a car seat.
We check our littles travel seat all the time and it's never been lost. Back up is to always just have whoever is picking us up grab a cheap seat at Walmart. And I've also hear what charm54 said that Airlines often have seats to hand you if yours gets lost

Good luck! I'm sure it will be fine. I'd wear the baby as well so you only have one kid to keep a hand on

@MenagerieMama: I have gate checked our stroller/infant seat four times, and on two of those flights it has been lost. One was a direct flight, and it took them two days to find it. I was convinced someone stole it - like, how do you lose it when I take it to the end of the jet bridge (thanks United). The other time I was stuck with an eighteen hour flight delay by myself with nowhere to put the baby down, after a red eye. None of these times did they lose my check bag, so I'm thinking maybe checking is actually better in that regard. They are required I think to have loaner car seats at the airport, and when they deliver yours they will retrieve it. Not ideal, but you won't have to go without a car seat.

I flew solo with my 11 month DD and newly 3 DS. I wore DD and a backpack for the carry-on and wheeled DD's car seat to the plane. She was in it on the plane and it was easier for me. We did not take a stroller at all.

I believe that gate check isn't any easier on baggage than checking at check-in. If you trust that there is no invisible damage gate checking, then you should be okay checking it in earlier as well.

@MenagerieMama: I totally agree that a one year old is more likely to sleep in their car seat. That’s why I intend to bring car seats on board (or use the pre-installed airline seats—that’s an option on some international carriers!) when we go overseas in August. As for installing, if you preboard, then you can ask a flight attendant to occupy your kiddos in a nearby row while you Install the seat.