Traveling with baby

MouseInLux

Ok I know we have masses of posts like this but I can't remember one that will help me.

We're flying to the states in March to see some friends. We will be at one house for a week and then change to a different for a week. These places are a few hours away from each other.  

We will be bringing a car seat and a stroller for  sure but DH wants to leave the pack n play at home and get a "cheep" one ($44) there to leave. He thinks that bringing a stroller, car seat and a pack n play for the baby will be pushing it with the airlines. What do you guys think?

frlcb

I agree with him. Most airline allow a car seat/stroller for free, but not a pack and play. They are heavy, and you can get a cheap one here. Or get a travel crib, like this one - http://www.amazon.com/phil-teds-Traveller-Crib-Red/dp/B004H7RT5Q

They aren't cheap but you can use them for a long time and it fits in a suitcase. 

sucredee

We have the baby bjorn travel crib and love it. I think it's something like 8 pounds and ridiculously quick and easy to set up and take down. Yes it's pricey (in the $200 range) but if you do a lot of travel (air and otherwise) it is totally worth it. We check it as our stroller since we haven't traveled with it in several months now (I just use the Ergo and she is 15 months now). Car seat I always gate check since I don't want it ruined or not have it at the other end when we get there. I do use the special crib sheets for the crib because the regular travel crib sheets are a tiny bit too small and once she started rolling over I no longer felt comfortable with that. I have definitely gotten my money's worth on the crib since we travel a lot. It's also something familiar for her so that may be a plus as well. I do wrap the crib in those airline plastic bags for a little extra protection and it has held up great through many flights

MouseInLux

Ok I've found a solution that costs less than $200 (we don't fly much at all). We're taking the stroller because we're going in March and I'm not sure how hot it will be. She can't stand being in the Babyhawk when it's hot, she'll just scream Otherwise I wouldn't be bringing one! 

Emily and Martin

sucredee:

We have the baby bjorn travel crib and love it. I think it's something like 8 pounds and ridiculously quick and easy to set up and take down. Yes it's pricey (in the $200 range) but if you do a lot of travel (air and otherwise) it is totally worth it. We check it as our stroller since we haven't traveled with it in several months now (I just use the Ergo and she is 15 months now). Car seat I always gate check since I don't want it ruined or not have it at the other end when we get there. I do use the special crib sheets for the crib because the regular travel crib sheets are a tiny bit too small and once she started rolling over I no longer felt comfortable with that. I have definitely gotten my money's worth on the crib since we travel a lot. It's also something familiar for her so that may be a plus as well. I do wrap the crib in those airline plastic bags for a little extra protection and it has held up great through many flights

Sorry to hijack the post, but do you use any sort of cover/protector when you gate check the carseat do it doesn't get dirty and gross? I'm flying on Thursday with DD and bringing the carseat to gate check, but I'm concerned it will still get ruined.

 Mouse - I would just bring your stroller/carseat and buy a pnp, but it already sounds like that's what you're going to do.

sucredee

Emily and Martin:

sucredee:

We have the baby bjorn travel crib and love it. I think it's something like 8 pounds and ridiculously quick and easy to set up and take down. Yes it's pricey (in the $200 range) but if you do a lot of travel (air and otherwise) it is totally worth it. We check it as our stroller since we haven't traveled with it in several months now (I just use the Ergo and she is 15 months now). Car seat I always gate check since I don't want it ruined or not have it at the other end when we get there. I do use the special crib sheets for the crib because the regular travel crib sheets are a tiny bit too small and once she started rolling over I no longer felt comfortable with that. I have definitely gotten my money's worth on the crib since we travel a lot. It's also something familiar for her so that may be a plus as well. I do wrap the crib in those airline plastic bags for a little extra protection and it has held up great through many flights

Sorry to hijack the post, but do you use any sort of cover/protector when you gate check the carseat do it doesn't get dirty and gross? I'm flying on Thursday with DD and bringing the carseat to gate check, but I'm concerned it will still get ruined.

 Mouse - I would just bring your stroller/carseat and buy a pnp, but it already sounds like that's what you're going to do.

I doublebag it with the plastic bags that the airline provides. I had bought a red car seat gate check bag on Amazon and it tore on the second leg. I duct taped it and it still works ok but now with the convertible car seat I use the gogo baby and I can't put the bag on with the wheels attached (which sort of defeats the purpose of the gog go babyz). So now I double bag car seat, poke holes where the gogo babyz strap goes through and then the car seat is protected and we can leave it attached. I usually put my carryon on the car seat while at the airport and carry DD in the Ergo.

traveling turtle

MouseInLux:

Ok I know we have masses of posts like this but I can't remember one that will help me.

We're flying to the states in March to see some friends. We will be at one house for a week and then change to a different for a week. These places are a few hours away from each other.  

We will be bringing a car seat and a stroller for  sure but DH wants to leave the pack n play at home and get a "cheep" one ($44) there to leave. He thinks that bringing a stroller, car seat and a pack n play for the baby will be pushing it with the airlines. What do you guys think?

When we went to the states in May, I brought our pack n play and car seat and purchased an umbrella stroller there (via Amazon and had it shipped to our hotel). I just felt like our big, full-sized stroller would've been to big for a rental car - and it was. I also think if you get a cheap pack n play there it's easy, too.

I really didn't think it was too much (on the way back) to have all three. But, I knew the airline would accept all 3, so I wasn't worried.  

FayeD

The $44 option is fine. Also eases things up for you guys with how much gear you are hauling around on the flights.

I did something similar last year. Travelled with a car seat that transfomed into a stroller. But then had an actual car seat ($45), an umbrella stroller ($25), and a booster chair for eating ($19) delivered to my parents. My MIL borrowed a pack n play for me. I left it all there for when we come back. The new baby will use the car seat and BabyD can still use the stroller and booster chair. Was nice having the stuff at the locations I needed it, but not having to haul it halfway around the world.

MouseInLux

FayeD:

I did something similar last year. Travelled with a car seat that transfomed into a stroller. But then had an actual car seat ($45), an umbrella stroller ($25), and a booster chair for eating ($19) delivered to my parents. My MIL borrowed a pack n play for me. I left it all there for when we come back. The new baby will use the car seat and BabyD can still use the stroller and booster chair. Was nice having the stuff at the locations I needed it, but not having to haul it halfway around the world.

If we were just staying at the first location I'd get a convertible carseat to keep in the states at my friends but as we are going to both locations we have to rent a car. 

FayeD

MouseInLux:

FayeD:

I did something similar last year. Travelled with a car seat that transfomed into a stroller. But then had an actual car seat ($45), an umbrella stroller ($25), and a booster chair for eating ($19) delivered to my parents. My MIL borrowed a pack n play for me. I left it all there for when we come back. The new baby will use the car seat and BabyD can still use the stroller and booster chair. Was nice having the stuff at the locations I needed it, but not having to haul it halfway around the world.

If we were just staying at the first location I'd get a convertible carseat to keep in the states at my friends but as we are going to both locations we have to rent a car. 

Basically you do what you need. You have DH to haul extra gear. I travelled solo, hence why I bought so much Stateside. That stuff got hauled up and down the West Coast. Oh, the memories.

I was just trying to say that for such a cheap price it would probably be easier on you to buy it there.

stever

I agree with your H. We borrowed a PNP when we visited the UK. Wouldn't have taken ours even if a loaner wasn't available as that would be too much stuff to take IMO.

COMomma81

Lurking...I agree with DH a bit. Flying with a ton of gear with kids is not fun...I just did it a little over a week ago. Luckily the airline was decent about it, but trying to juggle it myself wasn't fun. I'd just get something there or get something that breaks down easily/small enough to fit in a suitcase (my RnP did).

Good luck!  

ETA: Sorry, I committed a cardinal Bump sin... I didn't read the entire thread. Glad you found a good solution!