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[quote=Anonymous]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.[/quote]

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