For anyone who has flown with a toddler and navigated airports?

Question

My daughter is turning 2, which is the magical at at which she must have her own seat and a carseat. How in the world am i supposed to lug around her, the carseat, the stroller and our carry-on through the airports? Do any airlines provide carseats for you?

i would prefer answers from people who have flown with toddlers.

Answer 1

We have flown alot with my youngest who will be 4 next month. We actually used the stroller to cart around her carseat and carry ons and just took our time and she walked. Most airports also have litte carts you can rent so that may help as well. One time we did srap her carseat the the carry on with wheels.

Also we have never been required to use a carseat on the plane so check it in with your baggage.

Answer 2

Hi - I've flown many times with toddlers - my kids are now 5, 4 and 2. Here is what I do - its not required that they be in a carseat on the actual airplane. So here are some options for the carseat part:

1) you can check it in as luggage so you only have to get it to the curbside of the airport

2) you can not bring the carseat at all, but rather rent one when you get to your destination (most rental car agencies will rent them out)

3) if you really want to bring it on the airplane, at OneStepAhead.com they have a carrying case with a strap that will allow you to sling it over your shoulder or hook it onto the stroller. They also sell actual carseats that convert into strollers too.

So assuming that takes care of the carseat for you, for everything else, just keep your daughter in the stroller, and whatever carryons you have you can put in the underneath basket or hook onto the handle of it. You can keep your daughter in the stroller right up to the plane door (you get a gate check in ticket at the gate counter). that way when you get off the plane, the stroller will be right there waiting for you, and you can repeat the process.

PS: the airline will only provide you with a carseat if they lose your carseat that you checked in (happened to me) - and you'll get stuck with some crappy, dirty one that probably won't be the right size for your child.

Answer 3

Starting when I was 2 and my brother was 1, we have flown at least twice a year back and forth to Texas and Pennsylvania to see my mom's family. (I'm 18 now.) I asked my mom your question, and she says children don't sit in carseats on airplanes. I would check the carseat and stroller....you might try carrying her in a backpack or harness so you can have your hands free for carry-on luggage. Like other readers have said, most airports do provide motorized or unmotorized carts, sometimes for a small fee. Utilize them if you have to. You're not the only one flying with a small child...they see that every day. Your biggest challenge will come in keeping her occupied during the flight. Good luck!

Answer 4

I feel for you! I've done it myself and it's not fun. Best solution I can think of is to wear a backpack as your carryon. Load it up with soft toys and things to occupy your daughter on the flight -- include a portable DVD player if you have one! (Hawaiian airlines provides DigiPlayers for $20, but I don't know what other airlines do that.) Put the baby in the stroller and dangle the carseat off one of the handles or something. Once you get through security, you might offer to pay someone $5 to carry the carseat to your gate for you -- make sure you stay with that person as you walk through the airport. (That's kind of a weird suggestion, I know.) Or you can put the carseat in the stroller and push it with one hand while you hold your daughter's other hand. She can walk.

Good luck and have fun with your travels!

Answer 5

Airlines do NOT provide carseats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can either check yours in or take it on the plane and buckle your child in it - no matter if you take the car seat on board or not - you will still have to buy a ticket for her.
I have not travelled with a toddler but I've seen tons of parents taking their children on planes. I only hope your husband will be also traveling with you - because it's hard enough to get through an airport my ones self - I could only imagine what it would be like with a child and all of the extra stuff they may need while in the air.
Wait a minute, when my two oldest were 1 and 4 I did travel on an airplane. I bought myself and 4 year son old a ticket and held my daughter on my lap. I had to carry tons of stuff, plus check in baggage in, and it was NOT fun. I was just determined and I did it.
A few things to remember, once the airplane gaines altitude a child's ears hurt so they cry and take things for them to do which does not take a lot of room (small books would be about the best and a stuffed animal). There's just no way to travel with a toddler without taking tons of stuff on board with you.
Nearly everytime I fly, there's always a parent on board with an infant or toddler - once their ears begin hurting all they do is cry and passengers become quite annoyed with it. If you can find a way to get by this - then please try it - out of consideration of the rest of the passengers.
Also, if your child hates to sit still - then you will have problems. There's just NO place for a child to play on an airplane - except their seat or your lap.

Answer 6

You're just going to have to figure out a way to do it. I would say that unless the airline requires the carseat for flights to simply check it in with your baggage. I've never known anyone with a toddler needing to use their car seat on an airline flight and I know I didn't when my daughter and I went from California to New York.

Answer 7

Can't you check the stroller? Get a carry on that has wheels and somehow attach the carseat to it - then you can hold your daughter's hand or carry her. I've never heard about airlines supplying carseats.

Answer 8

They have some pretty handy carts that you can rent at the airports. Be sure to take a few dollars. I have made it with two toddlers. YOu just start stacking the cart with luggage and then add the carseat on top. I wore one child in a babysling and the other sat on the cart.

Answer 9

Check the car-seat. She doesn't need it on the plane. I fly back and forth from California to Philadelphia 2-5 times a year with my three-year-old.

Put the kid in the stroller and hang the carry on bags from the handles. Take her out of the stroller before you get on the plane and have the flight attendant put it overhead.

You'll do fine. Just bring the Dramamine, portable DVD player, plenty of coloring books, and tons of healthy snacks.

Good luck!

Answer 10

When I flew with my daughter and carseat, I put everything in a cart... I had to give up the cart for a few minutes during security check, but they returned it to me on the other side of security.