Flying with a Year Old- Gogo Kidz Travelmate or Toteatot???

I have traveled alone with my daughter twice. Once, I did not have the gogo kidz travelmate, (so I lugged a stroller and car seat along) and once with one. I love that thing! She rode in it and loved it, and all I had to carry was my diaper bag. Easy.
I didn't check the car seat and gogo, I pushed it right to the plane and they took it like they take strollers. I see another mama said she had trouble with the gogo fitting in the security thing. We did not have that problem.

I love love the gogo kidz. We travel at least once a year to see the in-laws, and it has helped us a lot.

Other travel advice: bring along a few toys and books that she hasn't seen in a while (take some away now, and pull them out on the plane- they'll feel new.) bring a few crayons and paper. and what all the other mama's say- bring lots of food!

Have fun!

I just tried a gogo Kidz Travelmate for the first time...

I have 2 children, ages 23.5 months and nearly 4 months. Before #2 was born, I flew many times with #1. When he was a baby, I used a Bjorn. As he out-grew that, I transition to an umbrella stroller. I didn't care if the cheap $10 stroller got beat up when it was out of my possession (had to check it planeside before getting on the plane). When walking around the airport, I would push the umbrella stroller forward and hook my roller bag on one of the stroller handles and pull my luggage that way.

A month ago, I flew for the first time with both kids BY MYSELF. My oldest was required to sit in a car seat (b/c he was a ticketed passenger under 2 years of age). So, I got one of the gogo Kidz, since I had two kids and a car seat to keep track of. Because my newborn does not have neck control, I pulled him around the airport in the car seat with roller attachment and pushed my oldest in the umbrella stroller. Then, once on the plane, I put my oldest in the car seat and held my youngest. It worked out pretty well.

Some frustrations with the car seat + roller attachment.... my car seat was too wide to pull down the aisle, had to request a seat belt extender, car seat was too big to go through security and had to be hand-wanded instead.

I would not have gotten the roller attachment if I wasn't required to use a car seat on the plane. I would have continued using the umbrella stroller / bjorn combo.

Hope this helps! Good luck traveling.... it sure takes some patience and lots of energy!!

I traveled with my son when he was fifteen months. It is easier to just have them sit on your lap. Bring books and quiet toys and dont forget snacks....lots of them!! Bring a stroller that is small but big enough to carry items. Just so you know....you can bring 2 carry ons and the airlines DO NOT count a diaper bag or stroller as a carry on. You can also tell the people at the security that you are traveling alone and they will have someone help you at the airport if you need them to carry your bags or whatever. Good luck!

Ask when you check in if the flight is full. If it is not most times they will let you carry on the car seat and use the seat next to you so you don't have to hold down a squirmy little one. This only works if your car seat is FAA approved.

We used the Gogo when traveling to Europe last year. Liked it a lot, but there are a few hassles. With the wheels on (newer models have removeable wheel!) it won't fit through most security machines. Get one where the wheels come off easily!! Also it was a pain to take on and off the car seat when we were getting on and off the plane. We had a seat for our son though so were using the car seat. You could probably leave it on for a gate check, but the handle does stick up and could break. Also the airlines can be cranky about gate checking car seats. We've done it many times, but had to beg in a few cases. If you are using yours like a stroller, it may be less of a hassle. Good journey!

I flew with my DD at one by myself and here are my travel tips (we have travelled a lot with her and on long flights). Bring twice as much food as you think you will need. Remember to plan for a lot of waiting time once you arrive too. An umbrella stroller is helpful for you to free up your hands and can be entertaining for you child to push around while waiting. Plus you can gate check it. I would also recommend not preboarding - it just adds time to how long you have to keep your child contained on the plan. Good luck and have a great trip.

We are travelling with our 2 year old this Christmas. I did extensive research with the airline to see what was allowed for carryon and gate checked items. It can vary greatly with each airline. If we would not have purchased him a ticket, he would not have been alloted a checked bag or a carry-on, other than a diaper bag. We have been looking for an easy way to get his seat to the plane, he purchased him a ticket. I think the toteatot looks like the best option for space and ease of use. I might even get one. Good Luck. I hope you get some more responces; I am interested to hear what others have to say.
R.

My husband is a commercial pilot and we fly all the time with our two girls. I am often by myself. Like another mom who posted, I recommend an umbrella stoller that you can check at the gate, not preboarding, and bringing twice as much food (and diapers & wipes) as you think you will need. I also recommend not drinking too much yourself b/c it is really tricky to get all your stuff and a wiggly baby into a bathroom stall (just make sure you drink lots when you land b/c flying is dehydrating!). Pack your diaper bag/carry-on very loosely b/c you want to be able to get what you need one-handed while reaching under the seat and holding onto your baby...the last thing you want is to have to unpack your whole bag to get something on the bottom. Hope this helps...

I have never personally used any of those traveling things but I did fly home alone with two children less than 2 years of age. I did bring both carseats with me through the airport. Advice i have for you is to see if someone can walk with you through security, they will need to have a id. but it worked for me. For not getting your carseat dirty, babysrus has a traveling bag located near the carseats on a wall. Check into it and good luck.

J.