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Original poster

Travel with baby essentials - baby carrier?

29 replies

Seriya · 19/03/2007 13:35

Time to emerge from months of lurkerdom with my first question, I think

Both my parents live abroad so air travel with baby (4 months now) will probably become a way of life. In particular there's a trip to Hong Kong on the horizon in June, by when daughter will be 7 months old.

So far I've got the lightweight travel cot sorted - got a Samsonite bubble that I'm very happy with.

Now I'm trying to work out how we'll get around while abroad. Obviously I wont' be able to take a buggy, so I'm thinking backpack or baby carrier will have to be the way to go - preferably something that's lightweight, doesn't take up a huge amount of space, but that will allow me to carry baby securely for several hours at a time if needed. Has anyone got any recommendations?

(btw I'm not so sure about slings - the one I got never felt quite secure and sprogette didn't seem to think much of it either)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

themildmanneredjanitor · 19/03/2007 13:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SoupDragon · 19/03/2007 13:36

Why can't you take a buggy? Most airlines allow a buggy to be checked in at the door of the plane.

TooTicky · 19/03/2007 13:36

Ergo carriers are good - much easier to use and more comfortable than the big framed carriers.

themildmanneredjanitor · 19/03/2007 13:36

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alison222 · 19/03/2007 13:38

try looking at the reviews
here
to start with.

There is also another thread going about backpacks.

I have a macpac which I have found great and it has tonnes of storage room in it too. I think I used it form about 6mths for both my children - when they could sit basically.

MrsGumby · 19/03/2007 13:40

No reason why you shouldn't be able to take a lightweight buggy on a plane, but I can recommend a great carrier for you that I used for my son (and will be doing for my 9 month-old daughter) when we went on our hols. It's called the Ergo baby carrier and is manufactured in the States but is available in the UK...sorry, can't give you a weblink but try Googling it (I got mine sent by mail order from a baby shop in Blackpool). It's made out of canvas (your babe clings onto your back), it's really comfortable for mum and baby and is nothing like a sling (I wasted £40 on one of those bloody things!). It's also very compact and comes with a little carry pouch.

KathyMCMLXXII · 19/03/2007 13:41

Why can't you take a lightweight buggy?
We are big backpack fans (Little Life) but tbh if travelling I'd rather have the buggy, in spite of it being harder to lift on and off vehicles or up stairs, because you can leave her strapped in it.

tissy · 19/03/2007 13:43

how about a Hippychick?

hana · 19/03/2007 13:43

if it's holidays back and forth to see your parents, why not get a buggy when you're there and just leave it there, same with travel cot?

franca70 · 19/03/2007 13:45

you can usually take the buggy to the cabin, and get it back as soon as the flight has landed.

BigCookLittleCook · 19/03/2007 13:55

I would def take a lightweight buggy, can get them pretty cheaply and by 7 months the more reasonable and lighter Mclarens etc are fine.

Original poster

Seriya · 19/03/2007 14:34

Must admit, I'd just assumed that airlines wouldn't allow a buggy on the plane, or count it as an additional piece of luggage and charge heftily for it (you can tell I'm new to this, can't you? ) If I can take a buggy that will make life easier for sure! Though being as cramped as HK is, I still think a baby carrier might be neat in addition - so thank you for the suggestions!

And yes, to see mum in Germany, I might simply buy a buggy there and leave it there, but dad in Hong Kong might not get quite as many visits, alas.

OP posts:

bigcar · 19/03/2007 14:41

Its also worth checking with the airline if they allow a baggage allowance for an infant travelling without a seat. We are travelling with Thai in the summer, last night on their website I found we are allowed a 10kg weight allowance for dd3 who will be sitting on my knee, a folding buggy/pushchair is allowed on top of that.

Mellin · 19/03/2007 14:54

I am travelling with BA to Australia and Hong Kong and they allow a fully collapsible pushchair as part of an infant's baggage allowance. And you don't have to check it in, you can take it to the plane door. I think this is pretty standard with most of the bigger airlines.

Taking a pushchair means you can save your back and have somewhere to put the baby for those long waits in airports etc. I have a Maclaren and the seat drops flat for a sleeping position which is great.

moondog · 19/03/2007 14:55

YOU NEED A BUGGY.
No problem with it.
I must have taken about 50 flights with small children in the last few years and it is essential.

Waswondering · 19/03/2007 14:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skirmish · 19/03/2007 14:59

Hi Seriya, i'm in the same position as you, parents live in oz, and we are off in a month to visit...it's worth checking with your airline re: buggy. I'm flying with Gulf Air, and if i take a stroller, I have to check it and it counts towards baggage allowance. They have stressed that they will not take it at the gate!...I have a coorie sling, but ds hates it, so will have to take the tomy carrier we have, which is obviously much bigger and more cumbersome. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if it is ok to carry ds thru security with him in it, or will they make me take it off so they can x-ray it? (sorry for hijacking your post Seriya!)

Also, worth checking out if you can hire items once you get to HK...it's really cheap to do it in Oz, so they may have something similar they. HTH

Waswondering · 19/03/2007 15:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skirmish · 19/03/2007 15:08

it sucks big time!

hana · 19/03/2007 15:51

I have had to take a baby out of a sling to go through security - sucked big time

hana · 19/03/2007 15:53

how weird that i said the same thing

franca70 · 19/03/2007 16:39

yes, it's weird, I've always taken the buggy right to the door of theplane!

helenhismadwife · 19/03/2007 19:47

we have flown quite a few times and I have used a lightweight stroller, a double umbrella buggy and a mountain buggy. I have been able to take them all to the steps of the plane with dd's in and it has been put in the hold (not with them in ) and it has been at the bottom of the steps when I got off the plane. That was with easyjet and ryanair as well, I know from my sil that flights to NZ, and US are the same. Its not as bad as you think, and its not counted as part of your luggage allowance

kitbit · 21/03/2007 12:56

If you´re flying alone with your lo, mght want to consider what I do... plonk baby in an ergo, and check in the buggy. That way you don´t have to muck about at the plane steps getting baby in and out of and buggy, folding it up with baby either sitting on the tarmac or loitering nearby in windy weird dangerous place, and it also makes going through security much easier for the same reasons. No worse nightmare than trying to hang onto baby, dump your stuff in one of the those trays and fold a buggy to get it through the xray machine! Worse the other side when you have to do it all backwards while keeping an eye on all your stuff! Airlines don't charge for checking in buggies. Might also consider a buggy travel bag as it keeps them clean, they get really grubby going through airport baggage systems and if you're going to travel a lot it's worth it. Also means you can stuff in some extra blankets and bits into the buggy bag to keep your baggage weight down. Can you tell ds and I fly a lot together??!!! good luck!

nachomama · 24/03/2007 22:35

Seriya, I would strongly suggest a buggy/ stroller! Went home to states this summer- LO was just 8 weeks old then, but my experiences, at airport in particular, are that a set of wheels for the little nipper is a must. I thought it would be best to haul him around in a sling/ carrier. This was a mistake. It was hot and quite often a bother-and I say this as a big fan of the sling (I own many). He does sleep in a carrier, but not always easily, and is much more comfortable in a pushchair. Security was a nightmare, and no allowances were made for us. (You'll also be dealing with meals when you travel). So on the return journey we brought back a buggy: gate-checked it all the way (connecting flights- long story). It made an ENORMOUS difference. You can do this for most flights as long as the contraption is fully collapsable; though judging by others' experiences here, it looks well worth checking in advance with your airline.
But also, tooticky and Mrs Gumby are right, the Ergo carrier is quite good as I understand from my hours of research on baby carrying. It takes some getting used to, but is light and comfortable and can be worn in many positions, including on back. If you had a stroller (even a small cheapo one just for travel), Ergo is small and light enough to have strapped on as a stand-by. Your LO will be much older by then, supporting her own head and sitting well so it will feel much more secure and comfortable for both of you than your previous sling attempts.
Best of luck.

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