Is It Possible to Travel with Small Children and Check No Bags?

[Anonymous]

Our family of 4 (kids = ages 15 months and 3.5) are going on our first vacation via plane since our youngest was born. I am really not interested in dragging our entire collection of baby gear along with us or in paying lots of money for checked bags. (We're flying United which charges $20 each way for each checked bag.) I'd love to hear tips on how to travel lightly with small children.

[Anonymous]

We went earlier this year with children about 6 motnhs younger than each of yours.

It all depends on where you are going but I would say you need to check at least 1 suitcase AND be careful as it can only weigh 50 lbs. If it is over they will add a surcharge.

You will have your hands full with stroller, children, carseats, diaperbag, things to keep the kids occupied with on the plane just getting through security. Trying to have all of your toiletires, clothing etc impossible!

But if you were to rephrase and ask how to minimize luggage - depending on where you are going and for how long there are different tips. You can purchase diapers, wipes, toiletires where ever you are going instead of packing them. Plan on doing laundry where you are staying. Rent a pack and play at your destination.

[Anonymous]

I've done it many times with a single child, beginning when DC was still using diapers/bottles/etc., but only when going to places where I knew we could easily find more of the stuff that would be needed for the duration of the trip (diapers, food, formula, shampoo, toothpaste, whatever). For years now we've hardly ever had to check a bag. We've packed a carry-on per person, but always fill DC's bag first with the stuff that we know he'll need during the trip: enough diapers, food, toys to get through the trip and some possible delays. Then we squeeze some of DC's clothes in any remaining space in his carry-on and the rest squeezed into crooks and crannies in our carry-ons. But, I am a ruthless and super-efficient packer who can fit more stuff in a carry-on than most people. Little ones don't care much about fashion or whether they repeat their clothes a few times, plus you can always buy the kids souvenir t-shirts to supplement their wardrobe while on the trip. So the kids' clothes is where you can skimp on the most. We've been able to travel up to 3 weeks on a carry-on per person, as long as we're willing and able to get more necessary stuff on location. On the return, if we have more stuff than we packed on the way down and can't get it all in the carry-ons, we just go to the post office, pack a box with some of the extra clothes and ship it home before we return. You can also pack an empty fordable tote in one of your carry-ons, use that as the carry-on on the return and check one of your other bags as luggage, but often it's cheaper to send a few t-shirts via USPS and then you can just step off the plane on your return and not have to wait for a checked bag.

[Anonymous]

I think it can be done, but depends on a couple of factors. The biggest being whether or not you bought your 15 month old their own seat. If so, then you should definitely be able to do it, if not, and you're still trying to bring car seats and/or strollers, than I think it will be tighter. And the other factor is whether or not you can still schlep children and stuff through the airport without losing your mind. May be worth the $20 fee just to avoid the hassle

That being said, ways to minimize stuff:

1) Like PP said, buy whatever you can at the end point (diapers, wipes, etc.)

2) Pack *your* clothes so you can get the most mileage out of each individual piece so you take less. And I actually disagree with the PP - if I have to skimp, it's on my assortment of clothes. I try not to go overboard for DD, but her clothes are small, and she tends to get multiple outfits a day messy, so I want to make sure I've got enough for the trip (or at least 4-5 days) without having to do laundry.

3) Find ways to borrow baby gear at your destination. DD and I leave for CA tomorrow, and I'm hoping to borrow a PNP out there so we can get everything into carry-on.

4) Be creative on the toy front. My DD is only 19 months, so I can't speak to your 3.5 year old, but generally my DD likes random stuff more than her toys anyway. I make sure to pack 2-3 of her favorite books and her paci (she gets it just when it's time to sleep), and beyond that we make toys from what we can find. In-flight magazine, stacking coffee cups, straws, etc., etc. Plus it means all your 'old' toys are new again when you get home!

5) And the biggest thing - actually spend time and mental energy packing. Lay out everything you think you need, and then go over it again and figure out if you really need all that. You'll be surprised how much you can pare out if you're not rushing to pack last minute.

[Anonymous]

For the people saying it can be done - have you ever traveled with 2 children on a plane?

It is not a question as to weather you can get all your stuff into 4 carry on bags. The issue is getting the bags, the children, the stroller, the car seats through security and the airport and onto the plane. (and if you are flying in or out of Dulles getting from the car to the airport and using the people mover to the gate)

And in case the older one falls asleep and you are carrying the older one while pushing the stroller, holding the car seat and your carry on bags. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people saying it can be done - have you ever traveled with 2 children on a plane?

It is not a question as to weather you can get all your stuff into 4 carry on bags. The issue is getting the bags, the children, the stroller, the car seats through security and the airport and onto the plane. (and if you are flying in or out of Dulles getting from the car to the airport and using the people mover to the gate)

And in case the older one falls asleep and you are carrying the older one while pushing the stroller, holding the car seat and your carry on bags. Good luck!

It's very doable with two parents. I wouldn't try it by myself though.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the suggestions, particularly 14:16 and 15:07. My husband is coming & we did buy a seat for our 15-month-old, so those two factors are in our favor. Also, we're not planning to bring a stroller and are only bringing one car seat. We have a strap that cost $15 on Amazon and attaches a car seat to a rolling carry-on bag. So, we will use that to get our little one through the airport and use her car seat on the airplane. Our 3yo will walk through the airport (hopefully) and we'll rent a car seat for him at our destination. He can sleep in a bed and we'll either rent a pack n' play for the little one or have her on a mattress on the floor (she sleeps on a cot at daycare). As for toys, we usually only bring a few little cars and people and only paperback books and a couple of board books for the little one. We are spending 4 of the 8 nights with family, so we can easily do laundry on the trip. I think that answers many of the questions/concerns. Would love to hear any additional suggestions, esp. more encouragement from people who have successfully done this! Thanks!

[Anonymous]

14:16 here. When visiting family it's even easier. If necessary, we will even mail a small package to our relatives ahead of time with some of our stuff. I don't mind paying to ship a small box there or back because, as I said before, it's usually not much $ unless it's a heavy package. Also, because for me traveling with carry-ons is not so much about saving on the luggage fee, but avoiding the luggage line at the airport, avoiding the wait time to get the checked luggage, and traveling lightly.

As for packing, what I do is I basically create rolls of layered clothes. You fold the clothes lengthwise at first and lay out the most wrinkle-prone stuff on a flat surface first. Then keep layering on top of that with the stuff that can be folded small without suffering much wrinkle on top. Then you fold the top item to a reasonable size and start folding/wrapping the item below it around that internal bundle. you should end up with a roll in which the more wrinkly stuff is on the outside and barely creased except for the initial lengthwise fold you made when layering the items. It generally works best, when packing pants and certain tops, to alternate the direction in which you layer each item. Hard to explain, but for example, if I'm making a bundle of long pants I will line up the waist of one pant with the crotch of the one below and when you're wrapping them around each other you alternate wrapping the legs from one side, then the other. This is probably not very clear, sorry, but I'm having trouble explaining in words. It does make it possible to get a lot of clothes into a small space, though.

Anyway, the short of it is carry-on travel is definitely doable, even with kids. Give it a try!

[Anonymous]

Can anyone who has flown lately confirm that I can carry on baby food? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I carried on baby food on my last few flights. You just need to declare it when you get to security.

I would suggest that you revisit the "No stroller" decision. You can gate check the stroller and even if there is no kid in the stroller, its a great place to put bags and car seats. You can also gate check your older child's car seat if you want to bring it with you but not bring it on the plane.

We always check bags when we travel (southwest does not charge for bag check, so we fly southwest a lot) but even if I was not checking bags, I'd want a stroller with me for schleping in the airport.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is to ship most of your things ahead of time or rent a car once you arrive and buy the things you need on the other end. And on the return flight, ship it all back or just toss the extra things or donate them.

[Anonymous]

i would just look in the local paper or if in US i would check craigslist.com before you leave, find some cheap crib and other stuff you need, make arrangements to buy them when arive. this what we did when we went to California, we spend very little money and got playpen, stroller, high chair. then either sell it very cheap or give them back, or put it on the street

[Anonymous]

I have traveled on weekend trips with two young kids by myself with no checked bags, including a car seat. I took a bag for the car seat so that I could hang it over the stroller while moving through the airport. My son then sat in it on the plane. I limited our clothes and toys to a small duffle bag and a backpack.

You may get some annoyed look by people at security, but you are absolutely within the rules.

For a longer trip, you will probably have to buy more things at your destination rather than bringing them with you.

Good luck!