Just when I thought I had the logistics all figured out, I realized I may want a stroller with us while we're in the airport. Just to recap: flying solo with my 15-month-old daughter. I was planning on just bringing my Ergo and wearing her when need be, but we'll be in the Atlanta airport for about 5 hours before our flight (ATL airport is HUGE). Should I bring our stroller (not an umbrella...wouldn't be able to steer it and my suitcase from the car to the airport—checking in the suitcase and then just wearing a backpack) or just pray that she'll be a good girl (i.e. no tantrums) and not make me hold her the whole time? It's only 5 hours, so I could just suck it up, right? Thoughts?
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5 hours is a long time to possibly hold a toddler!
I was going to recommend the umbrella stroller...any chance you could curbside check your big suitcase so you don't have to worry about steering the two at once?
I flew solo with LO at 18 months. We checked our big wheelie bag at the regular check in so I just had our diaper bag as the carry on and the umbrella stroller. Our wheelie bag has those spinner wheels so it was really not a problem to get me, her, the stroller and the bag to the main check in counter.
I thought the stroller worked well for us as we connected at O'Hare and I wanted her to just stay put until I needed her to be able to get out, and it worked well when you need two hands for checking in, security, etc. But I didn't baby wear at that age so I can't tell you how that would have been different...
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I flew solo with LO when she was 14.5 months. I opted to baby wear instead of bring the stroller. We ended up having a delay and she was not cooperative towards the end. I regretted leaving the stroller at home. Waiting in customs while wearing an unwilling toddler is unpleasant.
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@MamaCate: Hmmm. you brought up a good point! I was just taking my carry-on sized suitcase (with crappy wheels), but I have a larger one with wheels that would spin better. I'm actually parking my car and to walk from the car to the shuttle is a bit far (when considering the stroller pushing situation). i think i'm leaning towards taking it, though. The shuttle will potentially drop me off close to the entrance, and then I can curbside check it (totally forgot you can do that!)
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I wouldn't bring the stroller flying solo - it's just too hard to get around with it when you need the hands! most of the time in the airport, you'd be sitting and there's lots of stuff for littles to play on at airports!
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@oliviaoblivia: Yup, I"m afraid of regretting it, too, so I'm leaning towards bringing it. (I kinda just needed someone to tell me that, so thanks!) Sometimes she's great and will walk and let me wear her. And other times....it's a whole other story. Silly toddlers!!
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I am flying solo with my 7 month old in a few weeks and I am planning on taking both the carrier and the stroller. I was going to tie the folded-up umbrella stroller to my rolling bag and use the carrier to get us to the check-in desk, then I can check the bag and use the stroller or carrier as needed.
When DH and I flew with her a few months ago, we ended up using the stroller to carry our diaper bag if we were carrying her, so it ended up being really useful.
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@mrs.shinerbock: " I was going to tie the folded-up umbrella stroller to my rolling bag and use the carrier to get us to the check-in desk, then I can check the bag and use the stroller or carrier as needed." <---- GENIUS! The perfect solution! thank you!!!
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I traveled solo with my 23 month old. The stroller was a must have for me for two reasons. The first was that our layover was greatly extended on the way there (by nearly 3 hours) and I really needed her to nap. I was able to wrap her in a blanket laying in the stroller and walk the length of the airport to get her to fall asleep. I was able to sit and read while she napped. Then, on the way back, I nearly missed my connection due to a late plane and I had to run (literally) through the airport. I was able to put as much as I could in the stroller basket and fly through the airport. The only way a carrier would have been better in this situation would have been not having to wait for elevators. But, I still would have been juggling our carry ons and not able to go as fast.
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I was glad we brought our stroller. We had a really bad delay about 4 hours and DD was running around and then afterwards knocked out. There was no where to sit so she slept in her stroller. She also fell asleep right when we landed so I was able to use the stroller to push her when we deplaned and then walk to baggage claim.
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@Mrs. Rabbit: Could you get an umbrella type to stroller for travel? I got The First Years Ignite with this intention and I loved it!!
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5 hours seems like a super duper long time to a kid. I'd bring a stroller. It can be her own lil chair, and she might be more willing to sit still a bit longer than say in the regular airport chair? You could also use it to push her around and not have to worry about her running off.
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5 hours is long time in the airport. Esp if she wants to ride the train over and over again. I would want a stroller cause I know my R would take off running all the time.
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@Mrs. Rabbit: I think the idea of tying the stroller to the bag is great! I also forgot to add that when we were delayed at our connection, LO pushing the stroller around was a great source of entertainment so the stroller is good for that too!
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When traveling alone with my then 14.5 month old, I used one of those Go-Go Babyz with her carseat as a backup plan in case she didn't want to be worn. I wouldn't want to lug the extra stroller.
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I did both. I am so glad I did, too. I put our bags in the stroller, let her walk around and then picked her up and put her in the ergo when we went to board. It worked out really well. She was 14 months here. I took a backpack and a shoulder bag to carry our stuff. When I had her in the stroller during our layover, I had the shoulder bag hooked on the stroller handles and the backpack on me. I checked my suitcase.
ETA: I got this umbrella stroller off of CL for $25 before our trip. Now we still love it!! Very well spent money.
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I've worn my toddlers for several hours at a time (usually walking). I'd say whatever you feel comfortable with, but we always do carrier only for flying. Of course we don't own any strollers, so... there's that. I just feel like my speed and physical profile (and the amount I have to lug) is more efficient with a carrier.
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