A Parenting Expert Explains How to Travel With a Car Seat and Stroller Like a Pro

If you’re checking your stroller, maneuvering the seat through the airport can be a pain. Luckily, there’s a fix for that: Grab a lightweight, folding dolly, and strap it on. (But not with your kid in it.) Or, you can grab a travel car seat like the WayB Pico, if your child is forward-facing age. It folds up and comes with its own carrying bag.

Note: The car seat does need to fit in the aircraft. However, if it does not, the airline is responsible for either providing a child-restraint system that is, or accommodating you in another seat with the same service.

Where and How to Check It

First: you’ll need a car seat bag to cover it. Make sure you label it all over the place, as most car seat bags look similar. Then, you need to choose where you’re going to check it. If you’re not using it on the plane, and it’s not attached to the stroller, it’s best to check it upon arrival as you would luggage. Let the attendant know it’s a car seat— those go on last and come out first.

If it’s attached to the stroller, and you want to use it through the airport, check it at the gate. Again, it’s best to bring it onto the plane and use it — because of the safety aspect, and also because that way you know it won’t be mishandled. Let’s face it. The airline could damage your car seat. Inspect your car seat immediately after getting it back.

The Base Issue

Most bases are not compatible with aircraft. But remember, all car seats must be able to be safely installed in a car without a base, so it’s probably best to leave that in the car or at home. If you really want to have that base, I suggest buying an extra base to be delivered to your destination, rather than checking it or risk putting it in an overhead compartment. The most expensive bases are about $150, with most hovering around $60. Extra cost sucks, but alas. The same thing applies to train travel and long-ride bus travel.

The Stroller

Honestly? When you’re traveling with a car seat and stroller, the stroller bit is so much easier. First, I’d suggest you buy a lightweight or a travel stroller that can fold small enough to get in the overhead bin, like the Stokke YoYo3. Not only is it a great thing to have, it makes traveling with a baby as seamless as it can be. More than one mom has told me that they bought a travel stroller for trips, and now it’s their primary stroller. Convenience is king, sometimes.

However, if you do need to check it — once again, you’ll need a bag. And make sure that bag will fit your whole stroller. If you’re rocking a Vista V3, it’s not going to fit in a stroller made for an UppaBaby Minu. You can check it with luggage or at the gate. If you have a double stroller, especially a side-by-side, you may want to consider checking it with the baggage, and grabbing some ride-on luggage for your littles if they’re big enough.

Pro Travel Tips

• If you’re a two-parent household traveling or you’re traveling with two adults: have one of the adults do early boarding to get on the plane and get all the stuff situated. The bags, the stroller, the snack kits, and get the Lysol wiping done. While they’re doing that, the other stays with the kids in the terminal, running around to tire them out. Then, board dead last. It seems counterintuitive, but it is truly the best strategy.
• If you check the car seat, wrap it in bubble wrap before putting in the bag.
• Bring a fold-up toilet seat in your diaper bag. Plane toilets are terrifying enough; it’s good to make it easier.
• I’ve had it happen several times where someone seated in front of us is watching something on the plane screen or their phone that littles shouldn’t see. Generally, the safety card will slide between the seats to block it. But you might need to use a baby blanket or something similar. Bring an extra thin blanket for this.
• Take pictures of your car seat and stroller before you check them, so the airline doesn’t/can’t dispute any damage that may occur.

Traveling with a car seat and a stroller isn’t as big of a deal as it once was, and we should all be glad for that. Strap in for a fun trip.