Leave Stroller at home or bring on trip?

[Anonymous]

We are planning to travel oversees with a 2.5 year old and I'm wondering if I should bring a stroller or check in? Or better yet, forgo the stroller all together. Just wanted to see what others experiences have been with getting a 2.5 year old through airport w/ or w/o stroller. It is primarily a direct flight w/a stop-over with only about 1.5 hour wait.

TIA.

[Anonymous]

What if you got one of the super cheap/light umbrella strollers and gate checked it? I'd do that especially if you aren't planning on borrowing a stroller at your destination.

[Anonymous]

If you have a stroller at your destination, I think you can live without it. If you don't, and your child will EVER ride in a stroller, I'd take an umbrella stroller. Easy to gate check and good for schlepping stuff around.

[Anonymous]

I take a stroller. I'm getting ready for a trip to the middle east and I'm taking it again, even though my son will be close to 3.5. There are times when DC doesn't want to cooperate but I have no choice but to get moving, to catch the connecting flight or whatever. During those times, the stroller is great for strapping him in and just wheeling him quickly. If your layover is only 1.5 hours, I'd be even more inclined to take one. If your first flight is delayed even the slightest amount, you'll be running from one side of the airport to the other.

[Anonymous]

Yes, take one but get a cheapie umbrella stroller that's light and easy. Gate check it. If you find once you get there that it is a waste to have then just leave it.

[Anonymous]

Definitely take a stroller! My kids tended to be wired on the flights, but fell asleep as soon as we landed. It was so easy to let them sleep in the stroller while we got our bags or during layovers. Also, 1.5 hours is not that long a layover (many airlines have you go through security again) so you might have to race through the terminal -- much easier to do with child in a stroller.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your kid. Mine will never willingly sit in a stroller- in fact the moment he learned to walk we gave away ours. Also where you are going it might not be easy to get around with a stroller - cheap ones can't handle cobblestones and many European cities don't have elevators or escalators which means a lot of folding up the stroller to up and down stairs. Instead we have used the Ergo carrier which is light weight,easy to pack and can be used up to 40 lbs. My son loves it and its been the best way we have discovered for dealing with stairs, long walks, hikes and going thru customs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take a stroller. I'm getting ready for a trip to the middle east and I'm taking it again, even though my son will be close to 3.5. There are times when DC doesn't want to cooperate but I have no choice but to get moving, to catch the connecting flight or whatever. During those times, the stroller is great for strapping him in and just wheeling him quickly. If your layover is only 1.5 hours, I'd be even more inclined to take one. If your first flight is delayed even the slightest amount, you'll be running from one side of the airport to the other.

I agreed. We just had this debate and decided to take a cheap hand-me down unbrella stroller on our trip which we gate check. It was very helpful when we were waiting in lines for security, immigration, customs, etc. to have DS in the stroller.