Hellobee Boards

We flew from Seattle to Alabama when LO was 16 months and it was easy peasy (we had a layover in Dallas and Houston on our flights there and back).

We drove to the airport and parked our car and left out carsear (super heavy). You can rent a carsear from the rental car company. We had done the trip at 8 months and the carsear was NASTY with like no padding...it was awful. So for a little bit more we opted to buy an inexpensive carsear for the trip. You can check a carsear for free. I would take it out all the packing material and practice putting it in and then just put it back in the box and tape it up to go on the flight. We were able to ship the carsear to Alabama and my inlaws picked it up and brought it to the airport...but we saves the box and brought it back on the flight home.

I would just use the crib/pack and play that the hotel provides. I would not want to lug that around in my car with my bags.

I shipped a package of diapers directly to the hotel and called to let them know to hold it for me bc I didn't want to waste space in my bag to pack a bunch of diapers.

I had a diaper bag full of snacks and food for LO. We also carried a backpack full of books and toys. Honestly though at that age LO was more interested in looking around the airplane and playing with a plastic cup with some ice. Snacks are so key.

We left our stroller at home and borrowed a friend's cheapie umbrella stroller and it was so convenient having a lightweight stroller...I would have so regretted bringing a heavier stroller

I personally never bring & check a carseat based on the fact that I've read that after checking a carseat, you can actually consider it in the same condition as it having been in a (relatively minor) car accident, since you have no idea what happens to it in the baggage hold.

In major tourist spots that are kind of remote, like Hawaii, it's easy to rent seats - not sure about big cities, but most car/limo companies should be able to provide them, on request, at a charge. In other situations, we've borrowed from friends of our family members, or even bought a cheapie (the Cosco convertible seat is about $40 online and will last from birth-toddlerhood) to keep at the homes of relatives we visit frequently.

However, I'll add to this the disclaimer that I live in Asia, and most places I go DO NOT require carseats by law....meaning that if I have to take a very quick trip down a rural road using a Safety First harness or Ergo instead of a carseat, it's less of a big deal (though I know still safe as a car seat) as it would be in the US to get stuck w/o a carseat.