Kirby
My husband and I travel a lot by air, and we've already booked a trip for when the baby is 3 months old. We've registered for a "travel system"- stroller & car seat combo. My question is, when we rent a car, do we ask the rental company for a car seat base? Do we have to use their car seat? (I'd rather use our own if we brought it!)
Answer
I just got done with an air trip with my 6 month old. We've had a "travel system" since she was born, but after researching some things before the trip, I went on craigslist.com and bought a smaller style carseat (a Graco Snugride, as opposed to the larger, sturdier Graco Safeseat that was part of my travel system) and then got a "Snap n' Go" stroller (Graco makes one specifically for their brand, but the one I got is by Baby Trends and fits multiple-brand carseats) that basically is just a frame and a little carrier basket underneath that holds the carseat.
This makes it much lighter and easier to put the stroller in the trunk of the car, and since a 3 month old won't be ready for riding in just the stroller part of the stroller anyway, it's a lot of weight and bulk to be shlepping around just for the sake of having a transport for the carseat.
You'll have to check the carseat/stroller at the gate and the baby will sit on your lap (duh!) on the plane.
When you rent a car, I'm 98% sure you only have to provide a carseat for your baby, not a base, but I'd call the rental company to find out. When we drove our "rental" car (my MIL's sedan), we just used the seat belt through the little latches in the car seat and pushed the passenger seat back to be firm against the front of the car seat. And of course, I sat in the back seat with her 99% of the time.
Not to state the obvious, but traveling WITH a baby is a completely different game than what you've been used to.... plan to CARRY ON a suitcase with everything just for the baby's needs times 3 because you can't predict how long any layovers/delays could be. Extra diapers, formula, wipes, toys, bibs, changes of clothes, pacifiers, Tylenol, blankets, etc...... and then just BUY anything else you need (a whole package of diapers, cans of formula, etc.) at your destination. Good luck and I hope my recent experience and advice helps!
Oh, and the previous poster is correct: Feed on the ascent AND the descent. Or you'll have that infamous terror in the skies: a screaming baby at 37,000 feet!
I just got done with an air trip with my 6 month old. We've had a "travel system" since she was born, but after researching some things before the trip, I went on craigslist.com and bought a smaller style carseat (a Graco Snugride, as opposed to the larger, sturdier Graco Safeseat that was part of my travel system) and then got a "Snap n' Go" stroller (Graco makes one specifically for their brand, but the one I got is by Baby Trends and fits multiple-brand carseats) that basically is just a frame and a little carrier basket underneath that holds the carseat.
This makes it much lighter and easier to put the stroller in the trunk of the car, and since a 3 month old won't be ready for riding in just the stroller part of the stroller anyway, it's a lot of weight and bulk to be shlepping around just for the sake of having a transport for the carseat.
You'll have to check the carseat/stroller at the gate and the baby will sit on your lap (duh!) on the plane.
When you rent a car, I'm 98% sure you only have to provide a carseat for your baby, not a base, but I'd call the rental company to find out. When we drove our "rental" car (my MIL's sedan), we just used the seat belt through the little latches in the car seat and pushed the passenger seat back to be firm against the front of the car seat. And of course, I sat in the back seat with her 99% of the time.
Not to state the obvious, but traveling WITH a baby is a completely different game than what you've been used to.... plan to CARRY ON a suitcase with everything just for the baby's needs times 3 because you can't predict how long any layovers/delays could be. Extra diapers, formula, wipes, toys, bibs, changes of clothes, pacifiers, Tylenol, blankets, etc...... and then just BUY anything else you need (a whole package of diapers, cans of formula, etc.) at your destination. Good luck and I hope my recent experience and advice helps!
Oh, and the previous poster is correct: Feed on the ascent AND the descent. Or you'll have that infamous terror in the skies: a screaming baby at 37,000 feet!
traveling with babies?
virgowicca
im traveling to ca from ak with a 2 yr old and 8month old. any helplful advice would be great. dont say not to travel with children. thank you
btw im flying
Answer
I used to live in Alaska and would visit my family in California fairly regularly, so I know what you're going through! Let me see what I can remember of the ordeal... ;-)
First thing: make sure they have something to suck on (pacifier, bottle, juice box, whatever) to help them equalize the pressure in their ears during takeoff -- otherwise it can be extremely painful for the little ones!
For my son, we always had a special set of "travel toys" -- something small and easily portable (Matchbox cars, little Fisher-Price "peg people", etc.) that he only got to play with on trips, so they would be new and interesting and would take him longer to get bored with. Storybooks are always good, as are coloring books. if you own or can rent a portable DVD player with maybe a Disney movie or something on it, those things can be worth their weight in gold!
Make sure you bring snacks as well -- airline food rots, and it's not likely to be anything they'll like, anyhow. Bring finger foods that they like and that are easy to cleanup and transport -- raisin boxes, plastic baggies with goldfish crackers, grapes, Fig Newtons, etc.
Try to travel in the evening, so they can sleep for at least part of the flight.
While you're waiting for the flight to arrive, run 'em ragged -- play games, run around, explore the airport and watch the airplanes taking off and landing -- do everything you can to tire them out so they'll sit still during the flight.
Once they sit down in their seat on the plane, make sure they STAY seated -- if they get it into their heads that they can run up and down the aisle, it'll be a constant battle to keep them in their seats.
Make sure that they also have their favorite "snuggly" -- a security blanket, stuffed animal, etc. -- as well, to help induce sleepiness. It can also give them something to focus on, making sure that "Teddy" gets buckled in along with the child, and so on...
I sincerely hope you'll be travelling with your spouse/partner.....my wife and I thought we were being heroic dealing with just ONE toddler between the two of us!
Just remember: no matter how rough the trip gets, you WILL survive the experience! Best of luck to you!
I used to live in Alaska and would visit my family in California fairly regularly, so I know what you're going through! Let me see what I can remember of the ordeal... ;-)
First thing: make sure they have something to suck on (pacifier, bottle, juice box, whatever) to help them equalize the pressure in their ears during takeoff -- otherwise it can be extremely painful for the little ones!
For my son, we always had a special set of "travel toys" -- something small and easily portable (Matchbox cars, little Fisher-Price "peg people", etc.) that he only got to play with on trips, so they would be new and interesting and would take him longer to get bored with. Storybooks are always good, as are coloring books. if you own or can rent a portable DVD player with maybe a Disney movie or something on it, those things can be worth their weight in gold!
Make sure you bring snacks as well -- airline food rots, and it's not likely to be anything they'll like, anyhow. Bring finger foods that they like and that are easy to cleanup and transport -- raisin boxes, plastic baggies with goldfish crackers, grapes, Fig Newtons, etc.
Try to travel in the evening, so they can sleep for at least part of the flight.
While you're waiting for the flight to arrive, run 'em ragged -- play games, run around, explore the airport and watch the airplanes taking off and landing -- do everything you can to tire them out so they'll sit still during the flight.
Once they sit down in their seat on the plane, make sure they STAY seated -- if they get it into their heads that they can run up and down the aisle, it'll be a constant battle to keep them in their seats.
Make sure that they also have their favorite "snuggly" -- a security blanket, stuffed animal, etc. -- as well, to help induce sleepiness. It can also give them something to focus on, making sure that "Teddy" gets buckled in along with the child, and so on...
I sincerely hope you'll be travelling with your spouse/partner.....my wife and I thought we were being heroic dealing with just ONE toddler between the two of us!
Just remember: no matter how rough the trip gets, you WILL survive the experience! Best of luck to you!
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