Help! Flying alone with 1.5 year old

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not bring your car seat on the plane. Check if or see if you can rent one at your destination. If not, check it for sure.

Same with pack and play - do not bring. Rent at your destination or if staying with family buy a cheapy one of Amazon and have it shipped to them. They are not that expensive.

Gate check stroller.

Done.

The heck? We always traveled with a car seat -- we bought seats for our kids, and if I were traveling alone with a child I certainly would in case I needed to go to the bathroom in flight. I am very efficient at installing car seats.

So interesting to see the variety of responses. We've never traveled with a car seat once our kids outgrew the infant one. I think we once used the care harness? But usually they were either lap babies or had their own seat and had to sit on our lap for take offs and landing w/a special belt the flight attendants gave us. Otherwise they just sit in their seats, no problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another question - obviously I don’t intend to be separated from her, but should I label her somehow in case of emergency? A lanyard under her clothes or a bracelet or something?

No. Stop being ridiculous. You only have one child.

Not ridiculous at all. We only ever had one kid and did this for all of our trips in her younger years.

You do realize that this isn't normal, though, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3.5 year old has been on over 20 flights, of these half of them have been just the two of us. Here is what works for us:

After my child started walking and getting super mobile- around 15 months for us- we always bought a seat for her. I couldn't contain her as a lap infant anymore.

As she has her own seat on the plane, we always bring a carseat on the plane for her to sit in- Cosco Scenera. This works for us for a few reasons- she is comfortable and used to being in her car seat, it keeps her contained, and I need a car seat on either end of the plane ride. I personally don't trust checking it because they get tossed around. Also, lap belts on planes are for those 40 lbs and up. You could also use a CARES harness if you don't want the car seat on the plane. People have different opinions on this- do your own research and make your own decision.

Carseat goes in a backpack carrying bag.

I only bring a backpack carryon on the plane with us, filled with everything for kiddo- extra clothes, bottle/sippy, snacks, toys, blankets, etc. The only thing of mine in the bag is an extra shirt/yoga pants in case of spit up, wallet and phone.

Up until around 3ish we also brought a stroller with us. Now we only bring a stroller if we need it at our destination. We used a Summer Infant 3D lite, any lightweight stroller will work.

What we do:

Park the car at the airport. Open stroller. With a 1.5 year old, I would put the kid in the stroller. Have travel carseat already in backpack bag so that is easy to pop on. Carryon backpack goes under stroller/hooked on suitcase. One hand pushes stroller, other pulls suit case, car seat is on your back.

Lose the suitcase at check in.

Security is the most stressful time in all of this. Put carryon backpack, car seat and shoes through security. Only thing left to handle is kid and stroller. Sometimes TSA lets me push the stroller through metal detector, sometimes they make me put stroller on conveyor. Just take your time and know this part will pass.

When you get to the gate, ask for a gate check tag for stroller and explain your car seat is going on the plane with you. You will get on first.

On plane, place kid in a seat and hook car seat into the window seat. Sometimes a flight attendant helps me.

I get off the plane last so I am not in everyone's way. Our stroller is always waiting for us at the gate.

Put kid in stroller, car seat in your backpack and just grab your suitcase at baggage claim.

There are definitely lots of things to juggle and it seems like A LOT typing this all out, but it really isn't too bad.

This was pretty much my system until DD graduated to a CARES harness (which was a while after 18 months, maybe closer to 2 years). I often carried her on my back in the ergo, wore the backpack on my front, and pushed the car seat in the stroller. And PP is right, security is the most stressful momennt but you will get through it.

[Anonymous]

OP, there is some lady in Bethesda that has a business that literally helps parents traveling with young kids navigate this situation through the airport. I can’t remember the name of her business. Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there is some lady in Bethesda that has a business that literally helps parents traveling with young kids navigate this situation through the airport. I can’t remember the name of her business. Anyone know?

SkySquad.

[Anonymous]

I think some of the local airports have valet, if you want to make life easy for yourself.

[Anonymous]

This is OP, thank you to all for the tips. I know we can do this, but it is helpful to think it all through and sometimes gear is essential so I appreciate all the recommendations. .

[Anonymous]

Get a cheaper, small car seat and bring in on board so you can put kid in it and contained. Much more comfortable for everyone. Get an umbrella stroller and bungie cord tie the car seat if it will fit to the stroller or rent one of those metal carts (huge help). Bring twice as much food, drinks, clothing, wipes, diapers as you think you'll need. Bring ziplock bags for dirty diapers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3.5 year old has been on over 20 flights, of these half of them have been just the two of us. Here is what works for us:

After my child started walking and getting super mobile- around 15 months for us- we always bought a seat for her. I couldn't contain her as a lap infant anymore.

As she has her own seat on the plane, we always bring a carseat on the plane for her to sit in- Cosco Scenera. This works for us for a few reasons- she is comfortable and used to being in her car seat, it keeps her contained, and I need a car seat on either end of the plane ride. I personally don't trust checking it because they get tossed around. Also, lap belts on planes are for those 40 lbs and up. You could also use a CARES harness if you don't want the car seat on the plane. People have different opinions on this- do your own research and make your own decision.

Carseat goes in a backpack carrying bag.

I only bring a backpack carryon on the plane with us, filled with everything for kiddo- extra clothes, bottle/sippy, snacks, toys, blankets, etc. The only thing of mine in the bag is an extra shirt/yoga pants in case of spit up, wallet and phone.

Up until around 3ish we also brought a stroller with us. Now we only bring a stroller if we need it at our destination. We used a Summer Infant 3D lite, any lightweight stroller will work.

What we do:

Park the car at the airport. Open stroller. With a 1.5 year old, I would put the kid in the stroller. Have travel carseat already in backpack bag so that is easy to pop on. Carryon backpack goes under stroller/hooked on suitcase. One hand pushes stroller, other pulls suit case, car seat is on your back.

Lose the suitcase at check in.

Security is the most stressful time in all of this. Put carryon backpack, car seat and shoes through security. Only thing left to handle is kid and stroller. Sometimes TSA lets me push the stroller through metal detector, sometimes they make me put stroller on conveyor. Just take your time and know this part will pass.

When you get to the gate, ask for a gate check tag for stroller and explain your car seat is going on the plane with you. You will get on first.

On plane, place kid in a seat and hook car seat into the window seat. Sometimes a flight attendant helps me.

I get off the plane last so I am not in everyone's way. Our stroller is always waiting for us at the gate.

Put kid in stroller, car seat in your backpack and just grab your suitcase at baggage claim.

There are definitely lots of things to juggle and it seems like A LOT typing this all out, but it really isn't too bad.

This was pretty much my system until DD graduated to a CARES harness (which was a while after 18 months, maybe closer to 2 years). I often carried her on my back in the ergo, wore the backpack on my front, and pushed the car seat in the stroller. And PP is right, security is the most stressful momennt but you will get through it.

Same here - except we either checked our car seat (it’s free) or didn’t bring one (sent one to family and they installed it for us).

[Anonymous]

At that age, and up to three really, I'd rather have the kid on my back in an Ergo. That way you can walk right on and off the plane with them with both hands free.

You can pull two rolling suitcases at the same time if you kid is on your back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s one flight and it’s only a few hours. The biggest worry I have is getting us and our gear from the car to the ticket counter. I can’t ship anything ahead I don’t think because no one will be there (vacation home). Once the bags are checked I think I’ll be fine. But I can’t figure out how to get from car to gate. We need a pack and play too. I guess I could make two trips to the car.

Can you bring a friend who will drop you off at the check in area? Or Uber? That will save you a ton of hassle I think!

This is my suggestion too. Friend in the car or Uber driver means you can run the luggage to curbside check in multiple trips (bringing child with you each time if needed). I think it's MUCH easier to check as much as possible and just bring a backpack so your hands are free to focus on the child.