Need Help! I am Traveling with my 18 mnth DS and I need some advice how to travel with a child :) Thanks........r/o

[rose711]

Hello. I will be traveling from Seattle to San Francisco and then to Hawaii, and back to Seattle bringing my DS who will be 18 months old. I will be bringing a MBUS with a Britax Marathon Car Seat.

How do I do this alone? I may buy the Perego P3 in the Explorer pattern.....but we will see :) I also will have one 27 inch luggage and handcarry and maybe some sort of backpack.

Please let me know how I can do this while keeping somewhat of my sanity :) I have never traveled with him, and he is an active one. Oh yeah, should I get him his own seat on the plane?

Thanks for your advice.
:)
Rose

[JustMare]

I can try to help, but Beth (resident Travel Guru) is a pro at this.

I think Beth puts the carseat in the stroller and attaches it with "bungee cords". Puts the baby in a sling/hip carrier and then pulls or carries ONE piece of luggage. I know Beth will say to eliminate the carry on or the backpack and to only have ONE piece. Don't bring everything from home (extra diapers, food, etc..) purchase stuff at the airport to keep stuff to a limit.

Do a search on this topic and your'll find many posts with additional tips.

(Hey, Beth how'd I do :))

Hope that helps a little,

[egoldber]

LOL!!! Pretty good! :)

Here are a few travel threads from the past:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dcforum/DCForumID30/1400.html
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dcforum/DCForumID30/1052.html
http://www.windsorpeak.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=230&forum=DCForumID30

If you are flying by yourself, with no help to the check in desk or at baggage claim at the other end, you REALLY need to limit yourself to one piece of carryon and one suitcase. If you have help at both ends, then more luggage is doable, but I would really limit yourself to one carryon. It will just make your life so much easier.

The flight from SFO to Seattle is not that long (maybe 1 1/2 - 2 hours?) For an 18 month old, You really would probably only need about 5 diapers in your carryon and about 5 in your suitcase. Buy other stuff when you get to you destination.

Edited to add: OOPS! I missed the part about Hawaii!!! Are you staying in San Fran for a couple days and then flying on to Hawaii? Or are you just changing planes at SFO to get to Hawaii? If the latter, then I would pack about 10 diapers in your carryon. Also, definitely get a seat for your baby. And ask the airlines for a toddler meal. It's usually a hot dog and fries and applesauce, but hey, it's vacation. :)

HTH,