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We traveled when LO was that old. I really liked baby wearing through the airport. It kept my hands free and helped with maneuvering with luggage and through security.

We had a lightweight travel crib and that worked with us although we did do some co-sleeping as well since her sleep was a little jacked then. Our travel crib is the Baby Bjorn Travelcrib Lite 2 (or something like that).

We used a Snap N Go type thing with her car seat (Chicco Key fit) and that was our stroller.

Good luck!

I second (third?) the infant seat and snap and go recommendation. It's easy enough to fold up and check at the airport, and you will need the car seat anyway to get to and from the airport. We flew cross country with LO when she was almost 5 months old and that's what we did. One recommendation, if you are flying alone-- if you are using a bag to check the car seat and snap and go, make sure it's easy to get them into the bag, and practice at home first. DH thought I was crazy, but it turns out it was really tough to fit everything into the bag we brought (giant garbage bag because we are classy).

If you are staying in a hotel, I would check if they have a crib or pack and play you can use, rather than bringing your own, but bring your own sheets so they smell like home and you don't have to worry about what detergent they use or anything. It's hard to know what your LO's sleep will be like, though. At 4 months C was sleeping in her crib, so the pack and play wasn't really any different, but if she had been still in a bassinet or rock and play it would have been a difficult adjustment.

And LO and I both like babywearing, so it was easier to have her in the carrier in the airport than in the stroller, but we used the stroller for our bags.

Sorry for not knowing, is the ICE a train? I've only been to Frankfurt once, pre kids.

I'd also cosleep, but I could see how that could be annoying for naps if someone else has to put the baby down. I've packed a really basic pack and play in my big suitcase, it's possible!

Whoa, do not attempt to take baby + suitcases + diaper bag + stroller + baby bed on the train if you are alone. That will just be a nightmare. Use the hotel crib, we have never had any problems with them.

As for whether or not to bring the stroller, I would say bring one (plus the ergo). If you are traveling mostly alone, you are not going to want to baby wear the entire time, you will also need to pee at some point! Also, when your family members are taking care of LO, they may be more comfortable with a stroller than wearing the baby.

Pack as lightly as possible: one suitcase for you and baby together, one diaper bag with your essentials in it too, one ergo, one stroller.

Another point to consider, how do you plan on feeding the baby? Are you planning to EBF? Will you need to pump while at the conference or can the caregiver bring baby to you for feeds?

Def use a hotel crib! We traveled a lot with our baby when she was this age and we did snap n go + carseat + ergo! She was a bassinet baby but adjusted to the travel crib no problem.

I also recommend a really lightweight diaper bag--it was around this age, when we started traveling, that we ditched the nice but heavy diaper bag we used early on and just used a canvas tote with pockets & the skip hop changing station thing. Saved my back.

Request the bassinet seats from the airline when you make the reservation (if possible; some airlines you can't request til you check in). Even if your baby won't sleep in the plane bassinets, it gives you a little extra space. We flew a lot at 3/4/5 months and it was really much easier than I thought--she slept a lot and nursed the rest of the time.

A thought about the snap no go/carseat: if you are traveling alone (even if you're not, really), is is key to keep stuff at a minimum. I don't know anything about the city, but if your baby likes being worn and there's solid public transit, consider leaving the carseat at home and giving your family member a heads up that wearing the baby is on the agenda (if they would be cool with that).

@lamariniere: plus, with the first class tickets, you reserve a specific seat, yes? With second class, it might be a free for all, which you don't want, lol.

If you're travelling by train, I'd skip the car seat, honestly. There's no place to secure it on a train anyway.