Flying with babe - should I bring a stroller? - Page 2

[trumpcard]

We gate checked our umbrella stroller and curb checked the car seat.  DD rode in my lap during the flight.  

[treegardner]

We gate checked our stroller the first time we flew (DS was 15 mo) and didn't bring a stroller this past time (2.5 y), we've always bought a seat and used the car seat on the plane so I'm not sure how that works.

 

[LaydieBugs]

OMG YES!!!

I flew alone with my son when he was 6 months old, and didn't bring the stroller.  When I did it again at 10 months old, I brought the stroller and it was SOOOOO much easier!

It's not so much the baby, but the STUFF!  Especially if you have plane changes.  Luggage carts are hard to come by behind security, and you can't take them all the way up to the side of the plane.

So think of your stroller as your personal luggage cart, which you take right up to the plane and which they deliver back to you right outside the plane ... you can still put LO in your Moby, but you can put the diaper back and stuff in the stroller! 

[is it puppies?]

I hadn't taken a car seat, but there were others on my flight that had. They gate checked them. I also plan to do so when I fly in a couple of weeks and will be renting a car. I have read that some people don't like to check seats as they could mistreat them.

[mizznicole]

I always liked having the umbrella stroller for flights.  I curb check my car seats.  I know some people are totally opposed, but there is no way I can lug a 30 lb seat by myself with a toddler.

[kamikazismom]

In December I flew with my 18-month-old in a sling.  The TSA agent told me that all mothers "wearing" babies had to go through additional screening.  I had to remove the sling while they ran it through the x-ray machine, then I had to try to keep my toddler from running away while they patted me down, and when they finished my pat-down THEY PATTED DOWN MY BABY!!  I will definitely be taking a stroller next time.

[ernverry]

I think for longer flights with long layovers, bringing an umbrella stroller is helpful. However, for shorter flights, just a Moby wrap is fine.

[belltree]

If your child hates being in the stroller, I would not bring a stroller. Travel time is busy and crazy, you don't need to add a screaming infant to the mix.

I've traveled alone 4 times with my child, 3 times across continents with changing planes. I've always brought a carrier and I never had to take my child out for security checks. Even just 3 weeks ago, it might just be different airport policies.

[JulieInChicago]

I just flew with my 7 mo old for the first time.  I brought an Ergo and a Kelty Kids.  I gate checked the Kelty and packed the Ergo in our luggage just in case.  I didn't bring a stroller and I'm glad I didn't-- my son doesn't like the stroller to start with, but especially for when I had to pee in the airport or just getting through security, the carriers are just way easier. I also didn't have to worry about whether the stroller fit in the rental car, folding up the stroller to get on the plane or on to shuttle buses, and it all just went fine.

I curb checked the car seat.  There were no problems at all with that, and they check them for free.

[calizacar]

Kamakazismom - WHAT!???  What in the hell is wrong with them??  Why would they pat down a baby!!!  That's ridiculous.  The last time I flew from England to home they patted me down since I was carrying my baby.  Ridiculous.....  They then got my bag, removed everything and took my hand lotion.  And then walked away and made me put everything back in while I was holding my 9 month old with out the Ergo because they made me take it off.  I was fuming.....

[kamikazismom]

I wish I had a video of them patting down my baby so I could have sent it to a news station.  It was beyond ridiculous.  I was also 7 months pregnant at the time and they spent about 5 minutes patting my stomach until I finally said, "I'm not hiding anything in my shirt.  I'm pregnant."  And it was a female TSA who did my pat-down, and she had to call over a male agent to pat down my male baby.  Talk about taking things to the extreme!!