Long haul with newborn - car seats, pushchairs, and slings... Oh, my!

[Stardown]

Right. I will be flying with my 8- or 12-week old early next year (dates not confirmed yet).

We have a sling, a car seat, a main pushchair (Baby Jogger City Classic, 3 wheeler, not small but not a behemoth), and a Maclaren XT.

We will be gone for 2-4 weeks depending. There is a big chance we will be taking the baby outside often, over rougher terrain (think mulch, pebbles, dirt trails, forestry) and that's why I'd like the Baby Jogger. But DP says it is going to be horrendous taking it through the airport.

I've been told we are each allowed one piece of baby transportation each - so carseat for 1 of us, and pushchair for the other. Does that mean if we elect to take the Baby Jogger but check it at check-in and just use the Maclaren through the airport that we will have to pay an excess for the Mac?

Do we need a pushchair through the airport you ask...tough question I think. We will be 2-3 hours in Gatwick, 1.5-2 hours in connecting airport, then 30 mins in smaller airport to collect luggage, etc. I think it's probably going to be worth it as we will have baby in our laps on the 2 plane rides and will be grateful for the break.

What do you experienced travellers think? Advice seriously appreciated!

Oh, also - formula is different in the States, should we take our own for the duration and how much would we need do you think?

Oh also meant to ask!

The reason we LOVE our Baby Jogger is because we have a hard carrycot that we can use as a travel cot. Am I able to take this with us at all do you think?

With a baby that young I'd have thought you'd be fine with just a car seat and sling. That's what we'd do, but it depends on how big your baby is going to be- ours were always dinky at that age.

re feeding- I'm assuming your baby isn't born yet- is there any particular reason why you've discounted breastfeeding, which is just about the most portable feeding system ever invented? Seriously you will save yourself so much trouble (sterilising, lugging bottles and formula around, cleaning) by bfing.

Also, is the Maclaren suitable for such a small baby? Isn't it an umbrella fold type pushchair that doesn't lie back enough for a tiny baby?

Hi Duchesse

Thanks for your reply. The Maclaren XT is suitable from birth - we were originally going to get a Quest but it's only from 3 months up, so we revised that.

Secondly, it's a personal choice that my partner and I have made due to our circumstances regarding feeding - definitely will be formula.

We will need a pushchair in the States though - we are going to be out constantly and definitely don't fancy just a sling the whole time. I guess I'm dithering on whether to sod the Baby Jogger, the Mac, or take both with us.

I ade the mistake of having too much stuff when I flew to Australia with my dcs. It made things very difficult I have to say. Pushing a buggy through Heathrow and again through Singapore or wherever I was changing was no fun.

I agree Savoy- I think it's very easy to end up with far too much stuff. We were young.

Still, went to Italy with our 8 wo last year with only a packet of nappies (appallingly expensive in Italy), small number of clothes (washed them out by hand where necessary, one cloth sling, her sheepskin and blanket, and one car seat.

I still think your partner could breastfeed at least till after the trip- would save you so much worry unless you're staying in places where you can sterilise equipment. If you're camping, bottle feeding will be a nightmare, really.

Duchesse thanks again, we won't be camping just going on lots of nature-y outings. And breastfeeding isn't on the table.

Savoy would you suggest the lighter weight buggy then rather than the huge one? That was my thought too...but then baby won't have his comfier pushchair in the US...

Hmm still difficult.

No, it's not the weight of the buggy, it's the bulk of all the stuff. The carseat and the two pushchairs and the bags of course. I would just take your best pram and deal with holding the baby whilst you are in the airport.

Will your airline let you take all of that? Two buggies for one baby.

That was the question...

Definitely taking the car seat - it's a US car seat so will definitely work there, and will be driving LOADS.

I guess you're right re: pushchair, will take the better one as bubba will probably sleep better in it anyway.

And I know we each get a 'baby transport' item free, but don't know that we would get 2 pushchairs and car seat. Thanks for the advice :)

Oh also - does a baby get 1 piece of luggage to take? And handbag for plane?

Firstly, you get one item of checked baggage for the baby and that is it. Some airlines are happy to take more but may charge you. Best to check.

I'd take the car seat (if you are insistant) and check that in. Take one buggy/pushchair - you don't need 2. You will be allowed to keep the pushchair until you reach the gate or you can check it in and use your sling through the airport. Of course, that is if the airline are happy to take 2 pieces for you.

On top of that the baby will be allowed once piece of handluggage and that will be full of nappies, wipes and formula and clothing!

We travelled with our Babyjogger and a 4 month old and were allowed to keep the buggy to the gate on most flights. We showed them how it folded and how the front wheel came off allowing it to be clipped together. It was useful because DD could sleep in it in the airport. Cos of the one handed steer I could also sling hand luggage across the handle and wheel a bag as well.

Just don't leave the wheel at security like I did.

People! Leave off the bf pushing. Some people don't want to and it's their right not to. No need to be evangelical.
Stardown - I would suggest on the formula that at 8-12 weeks you won't want to change the milk you are using. So I would say take lots of the ready made cartons. Would be a lot for 4-12 weeks though. You can reserve a certain number of them at Boots airside and the rest can go in checked luggage.
Would be worth checking out formula at your destination in advance (have you relatives over there??) to at least feel knowledgeable in some way about it should you need to buy it there.
Contacting the company who make the milk your baby will be drinking in the UK may help you as they often manufacture milk under different names abroad.
Do you really need the carseat? Easiest would be to rent car and carseat over in the states... Carseat will be the most useless one during travelling.

Have done the trip loads with varying ages of dc. So I'd say defo get a sling for the airport part. As the baby is so little, why not ditch the all-terrain buggy? You really don't want anything so big or expensive to be flung around the carousel/ by the baggage handlers (and you don't always get back at the plane door - trust me!).

The only thing that worked for us is the cheapest possible stroller used for the least amount of time.

And why not hire a baby car seat along with the car? It's not cheap, but if you go for gold status with eg Hertz, it comes free.

Book bulk head seats and check in early. They don't always guaranatee a bassinet, but getting there early impoves your chances. And defo ask early once on the plane - the couple next to us delayed asking and we got the last one on that flight... You'll still need the baby on your lap on take off/ landing, but you'll get a break some time.

Order a veg/ halal/ kosher meal. That way one of you eats first while the other holds baby and then you can swap. Last thing you want is both trying to eat when the baby is needing a cuddle.

Good luck - it gets easier! (but not until they've passed the toddler stage on a plane...)

Take as little as possible!

Check in the car seat but be aware it could be damaged by baggage handlers then not be sound or safe when it comes out the other end. Could you box it up for protect it somehow?

Choose one pushchair, doesn't really matter which but one which lies flat.

Take your own formula, it will be easy enough to work out how much to take buy going off the table on the back of the container. Take one extra pack to be sure. Use ready made cartons on the flight it will be easier than trying to mix powder and water in a confined space. I had a Fisher Price thermos bottle warmer thing, I left the thermos bit at home but took the lonk plastic cup bit, gave this to the cabin crew and they filled with hot water and warmed the bottle for me.

Try and manage with a sling or front pack for the rough terrain.

It will be fine!

The baby does not get a checked baggage allowance, but you can take one extra carryon with all their bottles/nappies etc

I would recommend taking the Maclaren only and checking it at the gate. You will get it again on the other side (generally at the gate, but check with the airline). They are pretty robust as far as I can tell and would think it will get you through various outdoor trips. If it folds flat, then baby can sleep in it, too. Also, I would get a nice sheepskin pushchair liner as that will make it nice and snug and a bit more padded/comfy.

I would also recommend hiring the car seat with the rental car. Yours might get bashed around in the cargo hold and who knows what damage might be done. I wouldn't want to risk it, or more importantly have the extra kit to take. One big caveat, though, my DH and I nearly got divorced after trying to fit a car seat in a rental after a hideously delayed long haul journey to the States. Subsequently, install relations have improved, but only just! :)

A sling is perfect for the airport (then pushchair can double as a trolley!) as it allows handsfree movement. Also, great for getting on and off the plane with sleeping baby. I recommend the Ergo. Great for sharing between partners and very comfortable for anyone with bad back.

Can't advise as to formula. But DO feed baby on take off and landing to help ears equalise.

Finally, you won't really know how your baby will sleep/feed/sling until they arrive. You may have a baby that hates the sling, or the pushchair, or the carry cot or car seat. OR, only sleep in one form of transport. So, be prepared to change your game plan! They are unpredictable little things.

pomme - not being evangelical about bfing, but it is just so damn EASY not having all the ruddy bottles to worry about.

Anyway, it is not an option, so OP will have to deal with the practicalities.

Sterilising tablets may be the easiest option and I would take my own formula tbh. Powdered.

Wouldn't it be a problem taking cartons of formula through security?

Put powdered formula in your checked luggage and get ready made cartons airside.

I've travelled long time with my children (now aged 21 months to 17 years) so have dealt with all these issues.

Ref car seat, I would definitely take this but be careful how it is packed, ideally wrapped in bubble wrap. Our car seat got damaged by BA in the summer and we had to buy a new one. They did pay out for the replacement but it took a while and obviously not much use if it gets damaged on the way out. We also had our brand new Phil & Teds damaged on a flight the year before and you have to be careful as they try to get out of paying compensation for damage to prams and buggies. There is often small print on the baggage tag that exludes liability. We've also over the years had buggies delayed/missing for a few days so bear that in mind.
I doubt they will let you take 2 x prams/pushchairs and a car seat. Normally with most airlines it is one car seat/pram per child. You will have to pay extra for additional baby equipment.

If I was you, I'd take a carseat (rental companies charge stupid money, we were quoted around $200 to hire one for our trip to the states where we are now so brought ours with us) - friends who came out to the states earlier in the year were charged so much to hire their carseat they returned it to the car hire company after one day and went out and bought one cheaper than the rental rate.
I'd also take a sling, very handy for at the airport. We have used ours a lot, even up to when DC4 was 20 months.
Ref a pram, I wouldn't take an expensive one but if you do, make sure it is properly insured.

Ref formula, you can't take lots of cartons through security. If you do, they will normally make you open and test half of them. Phone through to Boots airside and get them to put some aside for you. Alternatively, you could buy a container from Mothercare which has 4 sections for formula which you measure out in advance and make up as you go. There have been many threads in the past about this and apparently there are 'approved' makes of bottled water which are suitable for this as apparently airline staff won't always give you hot water on the flight.

Ref checked baggage, think it varies airline to airline. We have just flown Virgin and our youngest (under 2) did get a checked baggage allowance of 23k and a bag (changing bag) for hand luggage of up to 6k.

Ref bassinets, you need to request this at the time of booking but you won't be able to book a seat for baby until he/she is born. We had this problem a few years ago when we wanted to book a long haul flight and wanted to book bassinet but they couldn't process the booking/request for bassinet until DC was physically with us (even though we knew his name and birthdate a month before he was due)

Hope that helps

Hi. We are off to the US tomorrow with our 7 month old, and have just been dealing with a number of these issues!

Formula - you cannot but SMA/Aptilmil formula in the US, so you would definately want to take your own. I would opt for powder. it is easier, and lighter, to pack in your checked luggage, then just take some powder through security with you, or buy some ready mix cartons from Boots airside.

Buggy/car seat. Check who you are flying with - BA will let you take a car seat and a buggy for an infant, but Virgin only let you take one of the other (as we have just found out to our cost!).