OP, we just traveled with our 8month old and did not take the base. I would have really liked to have it for the reason you mention, but we decided it was too much of a hassle to lug the base on top of all of the other stuff. We have the Keyfit30 which is difficult to take in and out without waking the baby. I should note that our baby is a light sleeper. He's also a terrible napper and it was an action-packed 4-day trip so he needed all the sleep he could get. It was frustrating not having it as he woke up every time we took him out / put him in (more of a problem with the putting in but if I had to do it over again I still wouldn't take it as there was too much to carry. Good idea to wear her - we did that and it helped a lot. Good luck!

It's a 4 year old Graco Snugride. I plan to pop the baby into my Beco carrier once I gate check the seat and snap-n-go stroller frame - so I guess I figured I'd be able to put the base in the overhead bin while wearing her.

I will have to investigate/play with installing the seat by itself - I just envisioned it being a major hassle if I had to do that each and every time that I put her into or out of a car - for that i could bring a convertible seat, which she will move to shortly anyway, and an umbrella stroller that would be more comfortable. My main goal in bring the seat/base/snap-n-go combo was so if she fell asleep in the car, she could stay asleep. I know there will be several 40 min car rides that she will easily fall asleep during, but need to continue her nap upon arrival.

Not sure which carseat you have, but when we travelled with our Keyfit30, we didn't bring the base. The way for the seatbelt instal of the seat in a car felt pretty sturdy for the minimal car rides we did, and actually required the baby already be in the sit (the belt goes over her through the loops.)

I didn't even think you could install the seat alone without the baby being seated, but maybe that's just my model.

It's been a while since I installed an infant seat with a seatbelt, but yes, it's much easier without the baby IN the seat (can be done, but without waking a baby? not sure).

I don't recommend taking the base in the cabin with you. You want to get rid of as much stuff as possible before you hit security, especially if you have a lap baby. My kid fell off an airplane seat & bumped his head one time while I was putting stuff in the overhead locker.

Could you pack the base up in a cardboard box & check it that way? Like you were mailing it?

I have never installed the carseat w/out the base, but I was assuming if I did, that, like installing any carseat, would take some effort to install it tightly and properly and not the kind of thing that I'd want to do repeatedly over the course of 4 days. I imagine I could get her out of the car by undoing the seat belt w/out waking her up, but then I'd have to re-install the seat again later on, presumably w/ her sitting in it, if I"m using it as her stroller. Or I take her out, hand her off, re-install it, etc. Sounds like a giant PITA vs. just snapping in and out of the base?

Yes, she will be a lap baby, and I plan to have the diaper backpack as my personal item so that the base could be my other. But I didn't know if anyone else had done this or had better ideas.

Why do you need the base? How does unbuckling a seat belt wake your daughter? If anything hats a smoother motion than removing the seat from a base.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why do you have to keep the base? I strapped in my infant in the snap-n-go w/o the base many times w/o waking her. I just don't understand why it is necessary. The base is just about the conveniece of not looping through the seatbelt strap. What am I missing?

If you decide to bring the base it can fit easily in an overhead or you can check it, whichever you decide. (I don't *think* they'd give you a hard time about # of items, but maybe they would if your DD is traveling as a lap child.) But I also agree with this poster. It's a minor inconvenience, but shouldn't necessitate waking your daughter, unless she wakes really easily (though in that case I imagine just stopping and taking her in / out no matter what might wake her.)

Anonymous wrote:I could check everything and just wear her to the gate, but thought having the seat/stroller w/ me was better for a variety of reasons - a) I know it won't get lost b) I have the option to not carry her and c) if by some miracle there is a spare seat on the plane, I can take the car seat on board.

As for this - you're right your chances are probably better, but take it from me - the airlines are more than capable of misplacing / not delivering a gate checked carseat. Been there.

Sorry, why do you have to keep the base? I strapped in my infant in the snap-n-go w/o the base many times w/o waking her. I just don't understand why it is necessary. The base is just about the conveniece of not looping through the seatbelt strap. What am I missing?

Also - if I check the base, what would I put it in to protect it? I have a big carseat bag for a convertible seat, but nothing for something that small. (unless I put it in a backpack or something).

I will be checking a big suitcase for sure - I have to pack a long formal gown, that I hope will even work in a suitcase, because I don't think I can handle a garment bag too. I will be carrying on a backpack probably (diaper backpack). I was thinking I could carry the base on? I wasn't sure what people usually do or if they forgo the base. I could check everything and just wear her to the gate, but thought having the seat/stroller w/ me was better for a variety of reasons - a) I know it won't get lost b) I have the option to not carry her and c) if by some miracle there is a spare seat on the plane, I can take the car seat on board.

You could regular check the base (would count as a baby's special item and would therefore be free) and take the rest with you to gate check. You could also ask if you could gate check the base if you're not checking anything else and don't want the hassle.

If I check it, possibly - since I would use the snap and go to make the car seat into a stroller, I figured I'd be gate checking it

Can you keep the base attached to the car seat when you check it?

I know you can use the infant seat without the base, but I would specifically like to bring the base with me - I will be traveling solo to a wedding, with activities over 3 days and if my DC falls asleep in the car I do Not want to have to wake her up as we move around. If I do not bring the base, I will lose this ability. Planning to gate check the car seat and snap and go, but what do I do w/ the base? (she's going to be just under 11 months old but still fits in the seat, if that matters). And she will be a lap baby on the plane