5 Hours Plane 1 Year Old

Well, the car seat should be left at home, because usually car rental places have them. We have never brought one for any of our sons and the rental places have always been able to furnish them, however there is a daily charge for it. She can check her suit case and travel crib curbside when she is dropped off and then she will only have her son, in the stroller, and the diaper bag to carry. Otherwise, I don't see how she will be able to carry everythhing. We have traveled quite a bit with our first son, and now with both and have learned what HAS to be brought, and what we can do without. Hopefully this will be helpful.

I would do w/o the travel crib and the car seat. I traveled when my kids were a baby and a 2yr old. Managed ok w/o the travel crib and rented the car seat!

Does the car seat clip into the stroller? If not then check it or leave it home and work on arranging to get one out there (through the car rental place, or I know there are outfits that rent out baby equipment to travelers). You can buy bags that are specifically for checking car seats at "babies r us". She should only need to get to the gate with the diaper bag, stroller and the baby. Gate check the stroller. To get through security, the stroller will have to go through the xray machines, which is a pain, but usually people are nice about helping traveling mothers.
If she needs help in the airport after getting her baggage in Seattle, I'm sure there are people who work there who can help - the people with those big luggage carts. She'll just need a little cash to tip them, but it would be worth it.
Hope she has a good trip.

Hi J.,

Some rental car companies also rent the car seats. If she could rent a seat, she wouldn't need to carry it (unless she wants the seat for him to sit in the plane?)
Is there anybody in Seattle who could lend them a travel crib for this short time?
I'm not sure what are the rules of the airline regarding that much luggage but, as far as for her to deal with it at the airport, it won't be that complicated:
- baby in stroller
- diaper bag in stroller, and maybe also the suitcase
- travel crib on one shoulder
- car-seat on the other shoulder.

What I did when alone with my son when he was around one year old is to carry him in a front carrier (but he was used to it). That way, I had my hands free to push a trolley with everything on it.

It's hard but doable, believe me. I've traveled at least 15 flights, most of them overseas, alone with my son and 2 alone with the 2 babies, including 2 large suitcases, carseats and strollers and I managed!

I would recommend her to find local sources (friends, colleagues, rentals?) for stroller, travel crib, carseat. And ensure that someone is waiting for her when she arrives at the arrival gate, so the hassle is minimum.

When I visit my parents in France, I have to wait in the airport for a train and then have a 3-4 hour ride in train until the station where they come and pick me up. Last time, with 2 babies, my mother came at the airport and assisted me with the waiting/train... and it really made a difference.

Last time I arrived here (San Francisco airport), alone with 2 kids and all the luggage, a man from the airport assisted me. He took the luggage from the belt and put them on the trolley, pushed the trolley through security and handed it to my husband at the arrival gate. Was very friendly and didn't expect to be tipped (he said this was his job!)

I would not recommend using car seats from rental car agencies. I have done that twice and both times been given car seats that were so old and outdated that they were no longer street legal. They were dirty and disgusting. It might not happen but it is something that I will never risk again. They were most likely from the early 80s (no joke). I have traveled alone with two kids (one toddler, one infant), two car seats, carry ons and checked baggage. Not easy, but possible. Curb side check in is a must for everything checked and she can always rent a cart or have one of those guys help her that you have to tip. Good luck to her!