Flying with a 22 Month Old

What I did is a small wheeled carry on and strapped the car seat on top of it. I was able to hold my son's hand or even carry him if need be and pull the seat and bag with me.

I have never even considered bringing a stroller in the airplane, it is just too cumbersome, not only for you but the other passengers.

Have fun!

I suggest going to amazon.com and looking up car seat strap (or something similar). My husband and I bought one a few years ago for $15, and it is amazing! You strap it onto the latch straps and it attaches to your rolling carry-on. It is simple and easy to use, and your son can actually sit in his car seat while you are rolling it. (I haven't used it for that, but many moms on there said that they had). That would solve the stroller issue too!

If you don't choose to go that route, I would suggest bringing a stroller. It is more stuff to lug, but the umbrella stroller can also lug your carry-ons on the back, and if your son wants to be out of the stroller, all of them could probably fit on the stroller somewhere!

It is stressful flying by yourself with a smaller one, but it can be done...good luck!

Borrow or buy an umbrella stroller. Most people have them and you can usually pick one up over a weekend yard sale wherever you are. The car seat is a different thing unless you know someone on the other end of the trip that has a car seat and can bring it to the airport upon picking you up so your child can sit in it though at 22 months, unless my child just grew like the child of the Jolly Green Giant, is he/she tall enough, large enough for a booster seat? My youngest daughter was built as if she were older than she was after she turned 1-1/2 to 2 yrs old. Even at 10yo, she's been taller than I am. If she keeps growing, she will be as tall as her dad before much longer. The kids definitely got their height from their dad's family. Everyone in my family is short.

Also, I've always been told that it's easier to fly with children at night when they can sleep through the flight. Don't know if that can help you now or how long your flight is but I thought I would toss that in there.

I ended up purchasing the go-go baby travel cart that works with most carseats turning it into a stroller. My son loved riding in it and I have always been stopped in airports by parents of small kids asking about it. They are about $75 at babiesrus but are worth every penny.

Hi J.,

Have you considered using an attachment to convert your carseat into a stroller?

I have used the Go-Go Kids Travelmate when traveling with my twin girls, and it works beautifully.

http://gogobabyz.com/products-c26-gogo_Kidz_Travelmate.aspx

Best of Luck,
Amy

Hi J.,

I have flown with my 2.5 year old lots of times alone so yes it can be done. I bought a car seat cover that has wheels (you can get them from baby's r us for around $30). And then I bought a cute backpack harness to put on my daughter. It is jeep brand and just looks like a mini backpack (I think I go it at Walmart). She likes it because she can put things in it. It has a leash to hold onto and even though a feel a little silly holding onto a leash there just is not any other way to keep her by my side and pull the car seat. I have never tried to carrie any other stuff then a backpack of my own and the car seat. I think that is enough!!! Good luck!!

Hi, J.!
I have been blessed with a very good traveller...my son is 20m & has been flying since he was 4m with no problem.
What I find easiest is TAKE THE STROLLER! An umbrella one is all u need & you can check that planeside on each flight. It is a LIFESAVER for getting through the airports in a hurry. Even if your little guy fights getting in it, he'll most likely enjoy riding in it once you get going since there are all sorts of new sights & sounds to take in during the ride from gate to gate.
I would recommend taking a carryon WITH cheels & a handle if you're not checking other luggage...just to make it easier to get the carseat & stroller to & from the car. I usually just slip both over the handle of my suitcase & roll it all together. If your carryon doesn't have wheels, I'd use a backpack style, so it leaves your hands open. If the airport offers curbside check-in, USE IT! Then you don't have to deal with the carseat at all or any other checked bags.
Try not to stress about it too much. This will probably go much smoother than you think it will. Just make sure to have plenty to keep your little guy busy on the plane...or you may be walking the aisles the whole time. lol
Good luck! Let us know how it goes. =)

I traveled with my then 21 month old a little while ago. I would check the carseat and most airlines will provide a plastic bag so it doesn't get dirty. It truly is not worth the hassle of lugging it around especially if you are by yourself. I've also done that by stapping to my rolling luggage. My toddler did not even want to sit in her carseat anyway!

I've also traveled with both an umbrella stroller and a regular stroller. They each have pros and cons. Yes the umbrella stroller is less smaller and easier to fold up, but you lose the storage basket that most strollers have. Either way you will have to gate check and I personally loved being able to stow the diaper bag, jackets, etc underneath the regular stroller. As well as putting sippy cups in the drink holder while at the airport. I also used a backpack instead of a purse.

I also brought plenty of snacks and whatever other treats your toddler likes to eat. Inexpensive toys and books my toddler had never seen, check $1 section at places like Target or go to the dollar store. Then bring them out one at a time. And last but not least a portable DVD player. (I borrowed from a friend) I brought a few favorites and borrowed a few from the library.

Good luck!

Put the car seat in the umbrella stroller and walk it to the plane. It will be a lot less lugging for you. And, consider getting a leash for your son. Sounds terrible, I know, but at least he can explore and not hold your hand while you are busy with tickets and what not, and you won't turn around and find him gone. Believe me, having him attached to you in some way will greatly reduce your stress.

Hi J.,

I just flew on a cross country flight with my 18 month old. If you are paying for a seat for your son, then you can take the car seat and stroller at no expense. However, if you are not, usually just one item per adult is allowed. I brought the car seat along(my son was a lap child) and they actually let me leave it with luggage and they stored it beneath the plane. This saved a lot of hassle and I didn't have to go through security with it. I did take an umbrella stroller, which I am very happy that I did. It had to be folded down and had to go through the scanner, but it was gate-checked and was a blessing on the trip. If you are staying with family, they may have an extra stroller that you can borrow though and save you the hassle of taking it on the flight.

Hope that helps!

Honestly, I would not take the car seat (check it) but I would take the umbrella stroller. Way more trouble than it's worth. Yes, I know it is safer but truly, the hassle factor is huge. We won't do it again, that's for sure!

Hi J.! I agree with other Moms about bringing the umbrella stroller whether he rides or not, it can help tote other items. I used to bring several bunji cords of different sizes and strap the carseat to the stroller and then put my carry on in the carseat. Of course, this is assuming your son is walking, not riding....which, unless you are rushed, I highly recommend because it helps him burn off energy and the excitement level will be high whether positive or negative.

We always got books about flying from the library a few weeks before a trip to plant the "this will be fun" seed and hopefully allay fears. don't forget to bring something for his ears whether he still takes a bottle periodically or uses a sippy or straw cup....you will probably need something to help him swallow....one of my daughters was never bothered at all though, so you never know.

The last suggestion I have is to get a miniature cow bell (they sell them at Walmart for a few dollars for a 2 pack) They are really fishing pole bells to put at the end of a rod and will jingle at the slightest movement. The bell is not so loud that it is obnoxious to other people but the pitch is such that you can hear it easily above the other sounds in the airport and not only does it let you know he's on the go, it also lets other people know he's around so he doesn't get crushed. My kids have a blast just jumping, wiggling and singing to the bell (I clip it to their backs at a right angle) so it can be a fun "waiting activity" while stationary too! If you can't find the bells at a store near you, look them up on eBay....I know they're sold there. If the cost is too high, let me know and I'll list a set for you for a couple of dollars and ship them free.....I'll be selling some with my summer toddler kits and I have a dozen + clipped to the curtain in my kitchen! We use them outside at home, grocery shopping, the mall, you name it, we probably use them there...the bells are the first thing their friends ask for when they come over to play! Hope this helps a little....have fun! M.

As a military spouse overseas, I did a lot of traveling with my baby/toddler daughter, and got a piece of equipment that was a life-saver - a Sit-n-Stroll. It's a stroller that has wheels that retract underneath and a handle that folds down so that it can be a belt-in car seat. It is not cheap - about $200 - but it was worth every penny to me to be able to have one item that I could roll through the airport with my daughter contained and then turn into a carseat that fit into an airplane seat without even needing to unstrap her. Made trans-Pacific flights with multiple layovers much, much easier. Perhaps one of your friends has one you could borrow?

Tough one, my daughter has no problems riding in a stroller. She actually gets excited. There are devices out there you can buy that allows for you to puch or drag the car seat like luggage where it has wheels and the child can be placed in the seat so you are lugging both child and seat in one. Check out onestepahead.com

I purchased a car seat carrier - they are designed just for this purpose. The car seat zips snuggly into the carrier which has straps, so that you can carry it on your shoulder or back. If you're going to travel, it's well worth buying. I would also take the umbrella stroller and push your son in it through the airport terminal. You will have so many other things in your hands, you don't want to have to be chasing after your son as well. You can then check the stroller at the gate & they will have it waiting for you at the gate at your destination. Happy travels.

I second the Tstrap that buckles your car seat onto your rolling carry-on. It's called the Traveling Toddler and is $15 @ Amazon. I traveled alone with my 21 month old explorer last summer and believe me, you will not have enough hands when it comes time to board the plane if you have a carry-on, the car seat, a stroller to gate check, and your little one. Plus, my son loved riding in his seat while we rolled through the airport. Even when he's not riding in it you will still have a free hand to hold his and you can use the seat to carry extra stuff, just like you could the stroller. You will have to take the seat off the suitcase when you go through security, but it's really easy to re-attach. One recommendation though - make sure you have a suitcase with a sturdy handle, because it does require you to use some extra torque to tilt the suitcase and roll it.

Hi J.,
My answer is a little different than the others, they are all great suggestions, I am just going with my own experience. I have flown all over the country and even to Hawaii with my children who are now 6 & 4 since they were each 6 months old. I ALWAYS brought the umbrella stroller, it keeps the pace faster,prevents run off and just know that you will have to take the baby out and fold stroller to put through security screening, then you will gate check the stroller at the gate they will give you a ticket and put one on your stroller and you leave it at the end of ramp. Now, The car seat, I have always checked it and it does not count towards your baggage, I do request they wrap it in plastic or bring a trash bag so it does not get dirty , then we bought baby B'air from one step ahead FAA approved and then from the same place - (which is a car seat holding stroller weighing 5lbs called gogo Kidz it will eliminate umbrella stroller. Rolls with one hand it is compatible with most all car seats fits down aisle of plane and goes overhead and then you pop car seat off and then with ease you have your child in car seat. Good luck and with my kids I just made the plane ride a big adventure (play dough, bending toys, books, and etch n sketch were good to keep from wanting to go up and down aisle, which post 911 is not so cute to flight attendants, That extra seat Iused it for diaper changing (bring changing pad) as the airplane does not have changing tables. P.S. I would to save money buy the baby b'air for 24.95 do not buy extra seat next time (enjoy kids under 2 fly free) as I Found mine at that age wanted to be held anyways and remember have them drink something (to Swallow) at take off and landing. Good Luck and have a safe trip!
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?