Lugging carseats through airport

[mrswh]

Is there any brilliant way to take kids (4 and 6) on a trip without having to drag their carseats through the airport? My DD (6) is now over 40 lbs. so she could technically use the airplane seat belt. However, we will need her carseat at our destination. I don't feel at all comfortable checking it (not even at the gate) - we have had all kinds of luggage, strollers, etc. mutilated that way. So I guess we are stuck carrying two Frontier 85s through the airport.

I feel like there should be some sort of hard-sided travel bag for carseats. All the bags I see are to keep them clean, but don't seem to care at all about keeping them intact.

Is there some sort of collapsible wheelie thing that we can use to wheel the seats?

Does anyone have a solution to this dilemma? We travel with the kids about 4 times a year and DH is getting tired of lugging carseats . . . .

BTW, I don't feel comfortable with either of them in a booster.

 

[SavsMom]

A cheap luggage cart from Walmart, Kmart, Target works great. You could put both frontiers on one cart (kinda puzzle them on top of one another) and use bungie cords to secure them. If your DH is traveling with, one of you could board the plane and get the seats secure while the other waits with the kiddos.

 

[SafeDad]

Many kids 4 and older do not require a car seat on the airplane and could use a booster during the trip. Once my kids hit 4 and 40 pounds, the only harnessed seat I would consider bringing is the Safeguard Go (now by Safety 1st). In fact, we sometimes use boosters provided by taxis, limos or tour companies at our destination, too.

Obviously, if you don't feel comfortable with a booster or if they are too squirmy for one, then that isn't an option. But a CARES harness is fine for the plane if you don't feel the belt alone is enough and a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Hybrid-Convertible-Booster/dp/B002UP391K/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1287938995&sr=1-1"]Amazon.com: Safety 1st Go Hybrid Convertible Booster, Baton Rouge: Baby: Reviews, Prices & more[/ame] is small and light enough to put in a carry-on. It does require at least a top tether and works best with lower anchors, but that is pretty common in most taxis and rentals these days.

 

[scootiemom]

Why don't you look into getting a couple Rider Safe Travel Vests? We bought a couple before a trip this summer and are so happy we did since we could leave the big seats home. (DC are 5.5 and 7 and very comfortable in them.)

http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/

 

[aeormsby]

Honestly, I would look at the vest PP linked for your 4yo & a booster for your 6yo. We travel often also (all our family is out of state) and we've gotten lighterweight seats for traveling (I couldn't imagine taking a Frontier). Currently we have an Uptown for my almost 3yo (he's still RF) and the Safeguard GO for my almost 5yo. I'm anticipating my DS turning FF not long after his birthday, so by the next time we travel in the spring/summer next year we'll probalby have things switched up and have DS us the GO and have a booster for DD (she'll still be harnessed at home). I'm hoping the Parkway SGL, I like the extra SG strap since she'll be on the smaller side (right around 40lb). I need a system that I could handle traveling with the kids on my own.

Another option would be to check out the Evenflo Maestro for at least your 4yo, it will be much lighter to lug thru the airport.

Almost forgot to add - how we get thru the airport. My kids are younger, so we usually have the Uptown strapped in an umbrella stroller or luggage cart and have one of the kids sit in it, the GO has a travel bag and that gets hooked on the handle of stroller/luggage cart. And we pay what ever it takes to check as much luggage/minimize carry-ons.

 

[mrswh]

Why don't you look into getting a couple Rider Safe Travel Vests? We bought a couple before a trip this summer and are so happy we did since we could leave the big seats home. (DC are 5.5 and 7 and very comfortable in them.)

http://www.safetrafficsystem.com/

I have thought about that, and I did look into them, but several of the reviews I read said that the vests didn't work well for their slim children. Not sure if this is a common complaint or just didn't work out in isolated situations . . . my kids are both peanuts. DD is 45", 41 lbs and DS is 40", 32 lbs. Any insight appreciated!

 

[jujumum]

We bought a large umbrella type stroller off craigslist specifically for travel (for like $25). I think it is a Britax Preview, but any sturdy umbrella stroller would work. We sit one car seat in the umbrella stroller, and then place the second car seat on top, nesting upside down so their interiors face each other, and then use 2 bungee cords to tie the three together. The kids walk and/or when they were tiny were carried. We've done this with an RA/DC paired, a DC/MA paired, and with a DC/Nautilus paired. I think most seats would fit in this configuration, not sure about the FN, though.:thumbsup:

This being said, when my two little ones are your kid's age, we'll likely do something different. We just purchased a Safeguard Go and will use that for the younger one. For the older one, I'm thinking about getting the new Britax SGL, or boxing up my Vivo and checking it. I normally wouldn't check a car seat, but I think the Vivo would be fine in a box with styrofoam padding at the base and top.

 

[SafeDad]

Thanks! I always forget about the Ride Safer vests!

 

[rodentranger]

Having just gotten back from a trip by myself with a 2 and 4 yo, I have to say I plan on getting an RSTV for my 4 yo for an upcoming trip in March.
I lugged my Radian and a Marathon through a total of five airports in two days. The Radian, IMO was much easier. I had the backpack straps on it since it fits through the plane aisle, then I had my carryon backpack with kid snacks and entertainment sitting in the MA and YDS in an Ergo on my front. I had YDS's backpack over the handle of the GoGoKidz on the MA and ODS walked with his backpack. I was miserable and awkward at best.
For our next trip,I'm planning on the RSTV for my 4 yo and the Radian for my 2 yo. And another adult!
For your purposes, I'd use the RSTV for your 4 yo and a booster for the 6 yo.

 

[mytwobugs]

I have thought about that, and I did look into them, but several of the reviews I read said that the vests didn't work well for their slim children. Not sure if this is a common complaint or just didn't work out in isolated situations . . . my kids are both peanuts. DD is 45", 41 lbs and DS is 40", 32 lbs. Any insight appreciated!

I would second the RSTV. We have a small of the old version and it is great for travel (or when someone is visiting and we need to get 3 people in the back of the civic), but my boys are far from peanuts. When reading the reviews keep in mind that the old and new versions exist. Search on this site, but I believe the new version tends to fit smaller kids better than the old version. I doubt you would be able to find one to try in a store, but maybe if you post your generally area there may be a member who has one you could try on for size?

 

[tink32081]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I will be in the airport by myself with the Radian, a 13 month old, and the diaper bag. I will have help to the gate for departure but no assistance available at my arrival until I get down to baggage claim. I have a cheap-o umbrella stroller, do you think I could use that for getting the car seat around. I plan on wearing my daughter in the Ergo and just tossing the diaper bag either in the car seat or over my shoulder. Do you think this will work?

 

[leighi123]

Sorry to bump an old thread but I will be in the airport by myself with the Radian, a 13 month old, and the diaper bag. I will have help to the gate for departure but no assistance available at my arrival until I get down to baggage claim. I have a cheap-o umbrella stroller, do you think I could use that for getting the car seat around. I plan on wearing my daughter in the Ergo and just tossing the diaper bag either in the car seat or over my shoulder. Do you think this will work?

I travel alone with my 3yr old and a radian (Ive traveled with him alone with a snugride, TF and radian sense he was just a couple months old), I have a cheap wheely cart for the carseat, which ds can also ride on (or walk, or ride his trunki suitcase, or ride in a carrier), for carry-ons, I have a wheeled suitcase (so I pull the carseat with one hand, the suitcase with the other), and put the smaller bag on top of that. The wheely cart really makes things easy.

 

[Patriot201]

Yup! Just a standard luggage cart works well for carseats in an airport. With the Radian, you can buy an extra strap (it comes with one) and make it into a backpack.

ETA: Even though the Radian is heavy, it doesn't feel all that heavy on your back. The straps work well to balance the weight.

 

[wendytthomas]

With the Radian I got backpack straps for it and put it on my back. Piper went on my front in an ergo, diaper bag went on my shoulder, or on top of my rolling luggage (I don't check luggage).

Wendy