Traveling with Toddler

Here you go:
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Seat-Travel-Acces...

Don't know if this is what you are after but have a look at the links below:

http://www.amazon.com/Childress-Wheelie-Car-Seat-Travel/d...

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Seat-Travel-Acces...

Others advice listed here by moms may be more what you are after

E.!

They also have these straps you can buy

http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Seat-Travel-Acces...

that attach your car seat to an existing roller bag. A friend of mine who is handy made one so if you can sew you may want to try.

I have traveled a bit with my toddler and use the strap that hooks it onto my rolling carry-on. I think another mom posted the link to it on Amazon. It seemed like a nice solution because it's not bulky (it's a webbed T-strap that hooks onto the LATCH straps of the seat) and it's cheap.

It's not the most amazing solution, but it gets the job done and was less for me to drag around (we traveled alone a bit too).

I bought the cheapest lightest car seat I could find at target (we needed a spare for my husbands car anyway) and then a back pack carrier that basically adds backpack like straps to the carseat. This is perfect and has done us well in traveling and is light enough for me to carry on my own while rolling a stroller or suit case.

Hi Rachel

Just a couple things to consider:

You will have to install the carseat yourself. If you have a window seat, that's where they'll want her. It can be difficult. (Though it is the safest option)

What is your daughter's temperment? My daughter hated being confined for so long (I wished I had checked it--it's free to check).

I did end up having a rolling carryon that I was able to bungee cord the carseat to.

Not what you asked, but I also had her name with cell/home numbers on a sticker that I put on her back (where she can't remove it) so, if, for some reason we get separated, they could call me or my husband.

Have a great adventure together!

We use the gogobabz wheeled device that allows you to attach your car seat and roll along similar to a stroller and it works very well. Note that I have read that it does not fit all car seats (it's fine for us as we have a Graco care seat for travels) Also,it does not fit all airplanes aisles when rolling it down the aisle, so if that is the case, I ask for assistance from the flight attendants and have always received help in carrying it to our seats. Before attaching the car seat to the airplane seat, remove the wheel bar which is very easy to do. Note other do's and dont's at their website. We are very happy with this product and my son and I have used it more than 12 times in the past 1.5 years as we travel a lot without my husband.
http://gogobabyz.com/product-i14515-c26-gogo_Kidz_Travelm...

Did this a month ago and got a collapsible handtruck (Magnacart) - I just couldn't justify spending almost $100 for the Travelmate. The cart had to come off for security screening and you will have to take it off on the plane (I just gate checked my seat with cart still attached) - but I used the latch straps to secure the seat to the cart and taking it on and off was a matter of a few seconds (it took me more time to collect and put back together all my other carry on though... with baby food, juice packs, rash cream, etc. ziplock bags will be your friend...).

You can rent a cart at the airport or buy your own fold up luggage cart to place your carseat on. When you get to TSA it will be a hassle, but they will take the time to get you thru security. When you get to the gate, the flight attendant will take over and place your carseat in your daughter's seat, attaching it appropriately for travel before they begin boarding your plane. So get to the gate early to help them help you. Make sure you take a bottle to help with the air pressure issues. Toddlers are more sensitive to the changes and scream louder in reaction to the pain of it all. Take finger foods and toys to keep her happy and occupied. Have a great trip!!!

Hi R.,

We got home last night from the Midwest and I just packed up our "Wheelie" from JL Childress - a car seat travel bad with wheels. It's about $35 and we're actually on our second bag - the first was thrashed by the airlines after 3 trips. However, because it's so darned easy to roll the heavy carseat along behind us in busy airports and parking lots, we sprung for another. I ordered mine from travellingwithkids.com.

GoGo Kidz Travelmate is a stroller attachment for the car seat. It is fantastic. FYI - we have two girls and travel to Europe once or twice a year. Its great. In addition, I also always carry the Ergo along. Have a great trip

I did this with a 18m old in March and I found that her car seat (a Cosco Scenera) fit perfectly in my stroller! We have a Zooper Waltz and I was able to put the car seat in the stroller with the back all the way down in "baby sleep" mode and wedge the front part under the snack bar and it worked perfectly to put her in it and wheel her through the airport. I then checked both items at the gate (flight was sold out).

If you don't have a stroller that it will fit, or are not taking a stroller with you, then this is about the only other option besides a backpack type strap (which could get very heavy by the time you get on the plane).

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

I have used a product by GOGO BABYZ for about 2 years - it is expensive (90 dollars) but totally worth is (if you travel a lot, easy to justify it). The wheels attach to any car seat, and turn it into a stroller. You do have to take the wheels off to get through security, sort of a pain, but manageable (I travel monthly with my now 3.5 year old son, and have traveled twice alone with him and our 3 month old, and her car seat...and I managed). You don't have to take the wheels off to put it on the plane seat (although I highly recommend getting a seatbelt extender to make it easier to put it in the seat).

We owned and used 2 different bags with wheels...both ripped AND you couldn't put the kid in the carseat to wheel through the airport, so we had to have a separate stroller.

Great job getting your DD a seat and having her use her carseat! That is the absolute safest way for her to travel!

There are carts by GoGoKidz for around $80, but I would simply go to Target or Walmart and get a cheap $20 luggage cart and strap it onto there.

Babies R Us also has stroller hooks that are s-shaped and rotate and I have hooked DDs carseat to the back of the stroller that way - just make sure you have something in the stroller or it tips.

I have also just put the carseat into the stroller and pushed it that way, DD walked or I put her in the carseat on top of the stroller - more precarious though!

By the way, be sure you check your carseat for EXPLICIT labeling that it is certified for flights. Many are not, even brand new ones (ours is a brand new graco, and is not). If it is not labeled that way, the airline cannot allow you to use it on the plane and you'll end up having to check it and lug it around for no reason. (We made this mistake traveling a few months ago. Would have been much easier to rent a carseat along with the rental car, because it just proved an extra hassle in the airport. Also, by the way, we were glad we didn't have her sit in it on the plane, as she would have been too restless all strapped in. She enjoyed sitting in a regular seat where she had room to wiggle and lie down on our laps and stuff. I personally would choose not to bring a seat next time anyway. Maybe depends on the age and temperament of your child). Good luck.

I have traveled alone by plane with my daughter twice while carrying her carseat on board with us. Once we took a Go GO Kids Travelmate, which is basically the base of a rolling suitcase that attaches to the carseat. It's a great idea, but the way it attaches to the carseat is completely inconvenient and cannot be done quickly. It also has to be removed to put the carseat in the plane seat and then replaced to roll it. What wound up working best for us the second time was a carseat bag that I bought at a Babies R Us type store. It had straps to wear the car seat like a back pack and wheels to pull it behind us. The Go Go Kids was nice because she could ride in the carseat while I was pulled it. With the bag she had to walk. Unless they've made serious changes in how the Go Go Kids has been designed, I would recomend the bag.

Most of the time you can get one but you do of course have to pay for it. The last time I traveled alone with my toddler I had the unfortunate circumstance of not being able to get one. Try to get any extra help you can while in the airport but more often than not you cannot take the cart with the items on it outside of the boarding area so an employee will hopefully help you to load everything onto the plane.

hi R.,.
I'm going to mention something you didn't particularly ask... but Are you sure you want your carseat on the plane??
At 20 months - you may want the extra 'wiggle' room for your daughter to move around and not be so confined. she could always sleep on your lap.

I just used my reg stroller (it was lightweight& reclined) in the airport. I have also used an 'umbrella' stroller which was even more lightweight (~$15) and just checked them at the final plane check-in.

They also make 'strap-ins' for airline seats - if you want her to be more secure when fully seated.
try the link you already received for 'one step ahead'.

just another option - in case you hadn't thought of it.

Oh.. and I bought a roller backpack at target for my son to 'bring' all his stuff - he strollered it himself. so cool and they don't consider it an extra carry on for you!! I have another post here where I have more tips.. if you want i'll find it and send it along.

all the best.
-marg.

The GoGo Kidz Travelmate is the best! Used it for my son's Britax Marathon car seat when he was 13mo going to Hawaii. It was a lifesaver and worked great! He was snug as a bug in his familiar carseat while I pulled him along everywhere. Very sturdy and safe. It can be rather pricey but I rationalized that I'd rather have my child be safe and comfortable. Good luck and have fun!

Bring a stroller to carry the car seat and your carry on bag. Have your baby walk as much as possible in the airport, helping push the stroller, too. When you get to the gate, get a "gate check tag" and leave it when you are boarding the plane. Then you only have a short treck down the aisle at worst, or help from others to carry the seat. We have done this with two car seats for many, many flights, and find it is the best way to go. We have even use the two seater stroller for all the luggage through the airport! This will give you the option of using the stroller at your destination, as well. There is a gadget you can buy, but, how useful would it be in the long run? Have fun!

Depending on the carseat you own, there is the Go-Go Kidz travelmate - a universal car seat adapter that adds wheels to the seat to pull it through an airport. It has been a lifesaver to me.
The only thing I will say, is that my daughter by about the 20 month time was getting a bit tall to put her in the car seat on the airplane. She is now 2.5 years and when we fly, it has to be without the car seat. So if your daughter is on the tall side keep it in mind that she may not having any legroom and will spend the flight pushing the seat in front of her with her feet.