Hellobee Boards

I flew solo with my 5 month old and 25 month old internationally, and then again when they were 23 months old and 3.5 yrs, also internationally, so I have a bit of experience with this! Our first trip was brilliant, our second was hell

As to your plan - are you sure you can gate check the double stroller? I didn't think most airlines allowed a stroller of that size to be gate checked. I would think your 3 yr old could walk, which would make things a lot easier in terms of managing your stuff.

For getting from the car to the check in, I'd use a luggage trolley and bungee cord your stuff on there. Your plan of wearing your younger LO is a good one, but like I mentioned above, I'd ditch the double stroller and go with a small umbrella pram (unless you need your double at your destination, but even so, I'd check it).

Also, I'm sure you've thought of this, but just double check your airline's luggage allowance for infants and children to make sure there are no nasty surprises at the airport. Another option in lieu of the stroller is to buy a wheel base your car seat straps on to, which can then be used as a stroller in the airport, and you can then use your car seat for your 3 yr old on the plane. Just a thought - we did that and it was helpful as we wanted to check our bigger stroller but still needed an option for pushing/pulling our LO around the airport.

Whenever I fly solo with both kids, I wear the younger one in the ergo, push the older one in the umbrella stroller, and don't take car seats. I last did it at 20 months and 3.5 years; it was still doable with this method.

I'm not sure who you're visiting, so maybe this isn't an option for you, but I've found it very worthwhile to have extra car seats and an extra umbrella stroller we leave at my parents' house so I never have to carry them on planes.

I also would always order things like duapers, wipes, baby food, etc. ahead to my destination to minimize luggage.

@DenverMom: Where are you parking your car? At many long term parking lots (off airport), the lots are so huge that the bus comes around the parking lot to pick people up by their car. Can you find a lot like that and just load all the stuff onto the bus, then ask the bus to drop you at curbside check in?