Flying with a toddler

[MyPanda]

Specifically - advice re strollers for flying with.

We currently have a massive bugaboo fox for our 10 month and are planning to get a small stroller as well.. is it worth getting one of the super small ones that fold to hand luggage size? Or is it easy enough to travel with a stroller in the hold? (I have vague memories of seeing families check in their buggy at the last minute before boarding??). Is it worth having a full travel system or do most people leave the car seat at home? We're not frequent flyers by any means and don't have a foreign holiday planned, but I don't want to end up buying third one in a year's time.

If a hand luggage size stroller would be worth it then any recommendations would be great - people rave about the yoyo but it's very expensive and apparently not great on rough ground?

TIA!

We bought a nano for this reason but turns out the aircraft wouldn’t let us take it in the cabin anyway. That was fine anyway as you can take a pushchair to the gate easily and they load it at the last minute, as you mentioned.

We’ve never taken car seats but have had a few super dodgy rental car seats so I would definitely recommend taking car seat over pushchair, if you’re renting a car.

Depends what type of holiday you’re doing. City breaks we take a pushchair, all inclusive no point as don’t go anywhere.

Once saw a pair of PFB parents checking their actual whole dismantled cot from home😱

When are you flying. Those car seats which attach the the travel system maybe too small soon. It’s normal to check in buggy at the gate just before you board but you won’t get it back until you collect your luggage so a sling is handy. Honestly you don’t want to talk more stuff into plane itself than you need so just put it in the hold. If you are going some where sunny you will need a stroller with a huge hood.

You can well the buggy up the finger to aircraft door. The handler will take it off you tag it, put it in the hold. You then retrieve it at bottom off aircraft steps as you get off. It's easy. Just hold toddler on board, it's invariably shit, I had two to deal with alone on many a flight...but...the crew will help you be assured. Ex cabin crew here x

Apologies, wheel the buggy...

Depends how big your toddler is but putting them in a backpack is brilliant when flying. You won't be reunited with your buggy until baggage reclaim at the other end and if you've miles to walk to get there they are a godsend and your hands are free.

We had a Joie fold down one for traveling. We had a full travel system -i forget the name now- but found it too tricky to manage (often screaming in our case...) baby, carry on luggage etc and disassemble it. The Joie one you can collapse with one hand. Did our kids from around 9 months and I still use it with the three year old now so it's lasted well.

I always gave it to man at gate, got it back from man at gate on disembarking...have never had to wait for luggage collection...

@MistyFrequencies

I always gave it to man at gate, got it back from man at gate on disembarking...have never had to wait for luggage collection...

It must depend on the airport.

We had a quinny that folded quite small and used that for travelling. No point taking a big hulking thing (and they can get a bit bashed in transit).

We got a cheap second hand Baby City Micro Jogger from Gumtree to throw in the hold. You hand it over at the gate and collect from the luggage carousel. Take a sling for in between times.

Thanks all that is super helpful. It hadn't even occurred to me that a car seat for an older toddler might not fit on the travel system 🙄

Where you get the buggy back depends on airport. I never got it at the aircraft door. Gatwick for example... Plus some airports it's Special Luggage not with normal. You have to get the child out at security, and anything underneath, at the departure airport. Carriers are a lot easier when flying.

Car seats are checked into the hold. You can get special bags or wrap them for protection. Make sure it can be fitted without Isofix just in case.

I flew alone with my kids age 2 and 4 from the US so overnight flight. Buggy was supposed to be returned to us at the aircraft steps or whatever. They made a mistake and sent all the buggies (and wheelchairs!!) to baggage reclaim and I had to walk what felt like miles to get it.

So yes if you don’t want to carry your kid (thank god mine are good walkers) then be prepared cos you might not get the buggy back

Looking for a bit of help in a similar vein. We are looking at a package holiday. I'm fine with flying with 15 month old my concern is around car seats when we get there. It'll either be a private transfer or bus transfer. Does anyone have experience of this this of holiday? Did you take a car seat for transfers? What did you do if not?

We arranged private transfers through our hotel and they provided a car seat for us.

You will be able to take two pieces of baby equipment for free as long as your baby is under two years old.
Car seat plus buggy.
You can take your buggy right up to aircraft steps usually. I have always preferred to carry my son in the sling on my front through busy airports. Much easier to manage and better for him as he’s close and less likely to get overwhelmed by all the busyness. Sling is also very handy on the flight of wee one is unsettled.