Packing tips please?

smilelari

We have a lot of connections to make on this trip...  If we pack how we're planning we have 2 suitcases, 1 duffel bag, 2 backpacks (our carry-ons, one will be the diaper bag), 2 car seats, 1 stroller and 1 front carrier.  Oh and 2 kids, 1 of which is a non-walker.

We're not worried about the airport.  We'll only be carrying the stroller, front carrier and backpacks through security.  The part I'm worried about is getting from the airport on to the van we've reserved and then on to the ferry and then get the 1 km from the ferry dock to the hotel

Maybe we could condense down enough to not need the duffel?  Or maybe eliminate one of the backpacks?  We were going to use the duffel for diapers, sunscreen, bottle liners, bottle nipples, etc - basically the non-clothes stuff

Mrs.Greeko

Buy a carseat bag and throw all the extra crap in there with the carseat.  I usually take beach towels, diapers, etc in there.  There's a lot of extra room in ours with a convertible carseat...

smilelari

Mrs.Greeko:

Buy a carseat bag and throw all the extra crap in there with the carseat.  I usually take beach towels, diapers, etc in there.  There's a lot of extra room in ours with a convertible carseat...

This is a good suggestion and it made me really happy for a second. but we'd have to unpack everything to get in the van and repack to get on the ferry.  Maybe this is still a good option?

tra_la_la

I think what you are planning is good. Bring a few bungee cords and attach the car seats to the suitcases and attach the duffel bag to the top of one.

One person pushes the stoller and wears DD the other handles the suitcases with car seats and duffel bag attached. It is really easy to strap them on and off. You can also throw the back pack in the carseats while you are pulling them around.  Do you have 2 convertables so you wouldn't be luging an infant seat around?

The only worry I would have is not bringing a carry on suit case instead of 2 checked bags, I worry about running out of clothes, diapers, lost bags etc.

Mrs.Greeko

smilelari:

Mrs.Greeko:

Buy a carseat bag and throw all the extra crap in there with the carseat.  I usually take beach towels, diapers, etc in there.  There's a lot of extra room in ours with a convertible carseat...

This is a good suggestion and it made me really happy for a second. but we'd have to unpack everything to get in the van and repack to get on the ferry.  Maybe this is still a good option?

You don't have to unpack and repack everything, just take the carseats out and then put them back in, everything else just stays in the carseat bags... 

smilelari

Mrs.Greeko:

smilelari:

Mrs.Greeko:

Buy a carseat bag and throw all the extra crap in there with the carseat.  I usually take beach towels, diapers, etc in there.  There's a lot of extra room in ours with a convertible carseat...

This is a good suggestion and it made me really happy for a second. but we'd have to unpack everything to get in the van and repack to get on the ferry.  Maybe this is still a good option?

You don't have to unpack and repack everything, just take the carseats out and then put them back in, everything else just stays in the carseat bags... 

Ah!  I see

smilelari

LBaker19:

I think what you are planning is good. Bring a few bungee cords and attach the car seats to the suitcases and attach the duffel bag to the top of one.

One person pushes the stoller and wears DD the other handles the suitcases with car seats and duffel bag attached. It is really easy to strap them on and off. You can also throw the back pack in the carseats while you are pulling them around.  Do you have 2 convertables so you wouldn't be luging an infant seat around?

The only worry I would have is not bringing a carry on suit case instead of 2 checked bags, I worry about running out of clothes, diapers, lost bags etc.

We have lots of convertible seats but only 1 Cosco which is what we use for travel.  Do you think it's easier to lug the convertible?

Kmac-06

smilelari:

Mrs.Greeko:

smilelari:

Mrs.Greeko:

Buy a carseat bag and throw all the extra crap in there with the carseat.  I usually take beach towels, diapers, etc in there.  There's a lot of extra room in ours with a convertible carseat...

This is a good suggestion and it made me really happy for a second. but we'd have to unpack everything to get in the van and repack to get on the ferry.  Maybe this is still a good option?

You don't have to unpack and repack everything, just take the carseats out and then put them back in, everything else just stays in the carseat bags... 

Ah!  I see

This is what we do too for carrying diapers and wipes.

tra_la_la

smilelari:

LBaker19:

I think what you are planning is good. Bring a few bungee cords and attach the car seats to the suitcases and attach the duffel bag to the top of one.

One person pushes the stoller and wears DD the other handles the suitcases with car seats and duffel bag attached. It is really easy to strap them on and off. You can also throw the back pack in the carseats while you are pulling them around.  Do you have 2 convertables so you wouldn't be luging an infant seat around?

The only worry I would have is not bringing a carry on suit case instead of 2 checked bags, I worry about running out of clothes, diapers, lost bags etc.

We have lots of convertible seats but only 1 Cosco which is what we use for travel.  Do you think it's easier to lug the convertible?

I think It would be easier to bungee cord a convertable and install. Since Gavin has to have a seat what about putting him in his carseat on the airplane and checking the cosco? Yes one of you would have to carry it through but still one person could push stroller and wear baby while the other carries his seat. We found installing our car seat in the plane to be really easy (britax.)

I would also be more worried about my infant seat getting messed up from the baggage people since it has moving parts and they are not usually as bulky/soild form so I think it would be more likey to be thrown about by them.

Mrs.Greeko

LBaker19:

smilelari:

LBaker19:

I think what you are planning is good. Bring a few bungee cords and attach the car seats to the suitcases and attach the duffel bag to the top of one.

One person pushes the stoller and wears DD the other handles the suitcases with car seats and duffel bag attached. It is really easy to strap them on and off. You can also throw the back pack in the carseats while you are pulling them around.  Do you have 2 convertables so you wouldn't be luging an infant seat around?

The only worry I would have is not bringing a carry on suit case instead of 2 checked bags, I worry about running out of clothes, diapers, lost bags etc.

We have lots of convertible seats but only 1 Cosco which is what we use for travel.  Do you think it's easier to lug the convertible?

I think It would be easier to bungee cord a convertable and install. Since Gavin has to have a seat what about putting him in his carseat on the airplane and checking the cosco? Yes one of you would have to carry it through but still one person could push stroller and wear baby while the other carries his seat. We found installing our car seat in the plane to be really easy (britax.)

I would also be more worried about my infant seat getting messed up from the baggage people since it has moving parts and they are not usually as bulky/soild form so I think it would be more likey to be thrown about by them.

We always gate check infant seats and baggage check convertible seats.  If you have a carseat on the airplane ou can't use he tray table for eating or coloring which is seriously annoying.  But if we bring an infant seat we also bring a stroller that he infant seat sits on so it is super easy to get to the gate.  With a 2 month old the infant seat is good for more than just use as a carseat, to sit in a restaurant for example.  

smilelari

Mrs.Greeko:

LBaker19:

smilelari:

LBaker19:

I think what you are planning is good. Bring a few bungee cords and attach the car seats to the suitcases and attach the duffel bag to the top of one.

One person pushes the stoller and wears DD the other handles the suitcases with car seats and duffel bag attached. It is really easy to strap them on and off. You can also throw the back pack in the carseats while you are pulling them around.  Do you have 2 convertables so you wouldn't be luging an infant seat around?

The only worry I would have is not bringing a carry on suit case instead of 2 checked bags, I worry about running out of clothes, diapers, lost bags etc.

We have lots of convertible seats but only 1 Cosco which is what we use for travel.  Do you think it's easier to lug the convertible?

I think It would be easier to bungee cord a convertable and install. Since Gavin has to have a seat what about putting him in his carseat on the airplane and checking the cosco? Yes one of you would have to carry it through but still one person could push stroller and wear baby while the other carries his seat. We found installing our car seat in the plane to be really easy (britax.)

I would also be more worried about my infant seat getting messed up from the baggage people since it has moving parts and they are not usually as bulky/soild form so I think it would be more likey to be thrown about by them.

We always gate check infant seats and baggage check convertible seats.  If you have a carseat on the airplane ou can't use he tray table for eating or coloring which is seriously annoying.  But if we bring an infant seat we also bring a stroller that he infant seat sits on so it is super easy to get to the gate.  With a 2 month old the infant seat is good for more than just use as a carseat, to sit in a restaurant for example.  

the only strollers we have that the seat snaps into are the jogging stroller, which is gigantic, and the snap 'n go which Gavin can't sit in.  we were planning on the maclaren. hmmmm.