Flying with All My Stuff.

Hi S.,

If your daughter is atleast 5 or 6 mos old, I would highly recommend the Baby B'Air in stead of bringing the car seat on the plane. You can find it at onestepahead.com and other baby stores. It's a soft safety jacket that clips to your seat belt so the baby can sit in your lap and be totally secure. It's easy to stick in your purse or carry-on bag after you land. We love ours!

E.

IF she is old enough to sit up in an umbrella stroller then bring that. I have a bugaboo and it's adorable but so impractical. YOu can put the car seat in a plastic bag or they sell carseat bags at Babies R Us for about $20. If you aren't going to need a carseat where you're going then forget it all together and just wear your baby. We just went to florida and brought our carseat because we were renting a car but didn't even bring a stroller, just my ergo baby carrier, the greatest carrier if you need one. YOU'll have a great trip , it wasn't nearly as difficult traveling with our daughter as we thought it would be.
GOod luck.

Hi! I've travelled a ton w/ my 3 month old and his bugaboo. I'd recommend NOT checking it until you get to the gate. I usually check one suitcase (clothes, etc.) and his Pack N' Play, and push him to the gate in his stroller. It can be such a long way to walk to the gate, and then again from the gate to baggage claim carrying a car seat and whatever else you have with you! Also, I don't know if you're travelling alone, and this is getting to the nitty gritty, but it's really tough to navigate an airport bathroom on your own with a baby in your arms.

Once you get to the gate, definitely ask if there's an empty seat you can be moved next to so that you can use the carseat during the flight. I've flown 6 times with our guy, and only once has the flight been completely full. It really is a relief to be able to put baby down in a car seat once he's asleep. Twice, we've even had the whole row to ourselves!

The one time we had to check his carseat at the gate, we didn't put it in anything, but you could be prepared w/ a large plastic bag - they fold conveniently in case you don't need to use it.

Good luck and happy travels!

They won't take it. Especially if you purchased a seat for her. If they do, they will just tag it. Don't worry about putting it in anything. If it breaks or gets damaged, they'll have to reimburse you for it. If it's just the two of you, make a list of all the thing you'll need. I'd bring along a portable dvd player and some of her favorite dvd's if she has any. Elmo & Baby Einstein are always a hit. It will keep her occupied on the long flight. Good Luck, and have a great trip!!

If you check the car seat with your other baggage, the airlines have big plastic bags that you can put the car seat. They'll only insurance it for loss not damage, but I've never had a problem on the 10 or so flights we've taken.

Have you thought about renting what you need in your destination? When my son was 7-months old we flew to FL. We brought the stroller, the portable crib, car seat, etc. It was a complete nightmare getting through the airport. We checked everything except the car seat. (You will be required to do the same- the stuff is too big for the overhead compartments.) On the plane I was talking to another mom who said most bigger cities have companies that will deliver baby equipment for you (they also pick it up so there is no hassle!) Since that time I have spoken with several moms who did the same and highly recommended it. I don't know the names of any companies but I am sure you could find one on the internet with a litle research. Good luck.
B.

I fly with my son all the time. We went to Mexico when he was just 3 months old. He is now two and a seasoned traveler. I saw your other post about what to bring. While I have never been on a cruiser, I would say bring 1.5 outfits a day, and use your judgement on the jammies. Keep in mind I am sure that the ship has some kind of laundry facilities, but if you have someone wash them for you, make sure you tell them not to use fabric softener, it negates the fire retardency of the clothes.

As for the flying... Is he still in a carrier or do you have a full sized car seat yet? Well either way, you can just put them in a garbage bag. Like a yard bag. The airline will have them too, but if you are leaving it at the door to the plane which is what happens if you can't take it on with you, they won't have any there at the gate, but you could also ask for one when you check in just in case. You do need to get a separate tag for them, so when you get to the gate, if the flight is full, make sure to get the tag (usually some florescent color) right away so that you aren't holding up a line.

Anyway, good luck and have fun!!

Jen

S. -I recently flew with my 2 month old( and the bugaboo with carseat). The airline will check the stroller, carseat, and base if needed at the gate. When you get to the gate ask if they have any open seats, if so they may let you use it. If not, then they will check all items at the gate and re-issue them to you as soon as you get off the plane. I think thats even easier then checking the stroller beforehand, since its handy for getting through all the long terminals! I personally thought traveling with an infant wasnt so bad- since they typically sleep no matter where they are.
have a great trip!
alex
I am a working/new mom of a little girl, too in wicker park- maybe we will cross paths someday!

Hi S.,

They sell car seat travel bags, big black bags that look kinda awkward when the car seat is in them, but they do the job. I have seen them at Target, but I'm sure you can find them at Right Start, Babies R Us, or online.

Hope this helps...

C.

One more note...
I recently traveled with a carseat (checked) and we *barely* made our flight... and our luggage did NOT. We thought we were going to have to sit in the airport for 5 hours until the next flight from chicago came in (it was a 1.5 hour drive from the airport to my parents house so driving without a carseat was not an option). We discovered, happily, that most (all?) airlines have "loner" carseats. So if your carseat doesn't make it right away for some reason, they can lend you one of theirs to get you home, and then just trade it back when they deliver your luggage. Southwest was very helpful with this for us.