Reddit mentions: The best car seat travel bags & carts

I'm glad I didn't buy much before the baby was born. This was mostly due to laziness than planning though. The only criteria I had were related to saving money, making my life easier, and avoid things I would use for a couple of months only.

For the first 6 months you basically need to worry about sleep, carry, and play.

1. Sleep. Here you can save some serious money, depending on how you thing you'll organise your new sleeping arrangements. Do you want to cosleep? Will the baby room with you? If yes, for how long. My first child is almost two, and is still sleeping with us on the first crib I bought. It's a crib, with a removable side so that it attaches to our bed, but also works as a standalone bed. I was planning on having her sleep there until she was 4 years old, but this new arrival means I'll have to get her another bed now. If you find something like this on sale, and you skip basinettes and other, in my opinion, short term solutions, you're set for three years at least, while still being flexible. Just remember to get rid of all the fancy things that come with it, like crib guards and blankets, since they are actually not safe, and create more work for you (more frills, more washing and dusting). Swaddles you can easily find second hand, and the same goes for sleeping sacks. We live in a small apartment, so baby phones weren't needed. The entire building could hear her waking up, and she didn't sleep much alone at any rate. White noise machines and other fancy equipment I didn't even know were a thing, so I cannot recommend one way or another.
   
   
2. Carry. You live in a city, so you probably will be looking for a compact pram. It's safer to buy the car seat new, since they are only effective if they've never been dropped. That being said, you can decide on a model and then find a compatible pram second hand. This can potentially save you a lot of money. For winter you will need something to keep baby warm. There are many options, and I'm sure you'll be able to find many second hand. Look for things that are easy to wash though. Also consider investing in a good baby carrier, not just for going out, but also to keep your hands free around the house. I bought my ergobaby on sale. It's not the prettiest (the cool colours are never on sale, apparently) but works just as well, can be used with newborns, and is safe for baby girls' hips. Also a place to drop your baby is a wise investment. There are tons of chairs, swings, some more fancy then others. In keeping with the spirit of not buying things that would only last me a couple of months, I got a babybjörn baby rocker second hand. It's still in use in her play area, since it supports children up to 3 years old, and it's apparently fun to test how fast it can rock even after two years. It's also easy to clean and doesn't take up much space. But try to find it second hand, as new it can be quite pricey. Then you'll have to think about how you'll carry baby paraphernalia around. I'm not a bag person, so I got a backpack. I've used it for just a year or so, but it did make going out easier, if only because it was a bag I would only use for that purpose, so it was easy to keep organised. I also cannot recommend enough to sew (If you can) or buy a diaper clutch bag. A friend of mine made it for me, and I'm still using it. You can fit in 4-5 diapers, wet wipes, cream and other baby products. I always keep it stocked and ready to go, so when we're in a rush (which is always) I just need to grab it and I know that I'm covered. Plus I have everything on hand when changing my octopus daughter in close quarters.
   
   
3. Play. I'm grouping clothes on this as well. Onesie are the most cost effective items you can invest on. They can sleep in them, and they leave them free to explore and play as well. You can find some cutesy outfits for outings, but don't overbuy... they change sizes so fast, it's not worth it. Plus, in my experience, clothes in 0-6 sizes make the bulk of presents you'll receive, so it makes sense to wait until you see what you get. Buy some white short armed bodies thought. Since those are boring, nobody gifts them to you. But they are the one thing you're sure you use. In terms of play proper, I had a very active baby, so a baby gym was a godsend. I didn't think to buy one, so we received a pretty basic set as a gift. But, essentially, a soft mat and some hanging toys will do the trick.
   
   That's all for big buys. We didn't have a nursery, we used an old desk in our guest room with a changing mat from Ikea to change her. I'm thinking of buying a dresser to replace the desk now that baby#2 is on the way, but mostly because I only have a tiny wardrobe in that room for my daughter's clothes, so it's more about space than anything else. I didn't want to buy furniture that I would use just for the baby, it seemed like a waste to me.
   
   As for breastfeeding, I found that a breastfeeding pillow on the sofa worked fine for me, but that's really personal... wait until you know if you will breastfeed, and which position works for you and your child. Some muslin cloth for spit up won't go amiss. You can save money by skipping the cutesy print ones, and just buy a bulk of the white ones.
   
   One last thing, someplace to wash the baby. Out bathroom is really small, and we only have a shower. Since, as mentioned, I was too lazy to plan things beforehand, I had resolved to wash the baby in a plastic tub that doubles as clothes hamper. But my mother came up with this foldable tub with a hole in the bottom. I can set it up on my kitchen counter, and I don't break my back or make a mess when cleaning up. Plus I can store it on the top cabinets. I cannot find the exact model, but it looks like this. To make my life easier when she was still a small baby, I got a her a support-thing. This I only used for about six months, but it did make my life easier.
   
   For everything wise, I would recommend waiting. You don't know what or who will come up with a bag of second hand clothes, or some toys, or some brand new extravagant but brilliant thing. Once you've covered the basics, you can approach everything else on an as-needed basis. Good luck, and congratulations!
   
   Edit. I forgot, pregnancy care tips. It really depends on how you pregnancy develops. And every pregnancy is different. My first trimester seems to be cursed with morning (and afternoon and evening) sickness. I tried more fibers, no fibers, only fibers, no fat, no dairy, all possible combinations. Eventually I decided to go with my gut. Eat what feels like you might be able to keep down, keep hydrated, and take your vitamins. In a pinch, ginger can help. Also, when you're further along, but still able to move around, consider going on a short vacation with your partner. It would be the last time with just the two of you, and it's a nice treat before labour and taking care of a baby.

If you want a car seat, go for this one - the Safety 1st 65. It's the one we travel with because it's very light weight and easy to carry around when on the go. I find it strange you say it's heavy, because it is about 10 pounds lighter than our regular everyday car seat and is one of the few that I found are narrow enough to fit in plane seats. So, I'd recommend sticking with the Safety 1st. And I never used a pool noodle... and honestly don't understand what you'd use it for. Anyway, we used it with great success, and no, she won't be sitting on the buckle because the belt path will be closer to under her thighs than under her butt. (Edit - if you want to be able to carry the car seat easier, get something like this.)

However, ever since my daughter hit 25 pounds (at about 18 months) we use the CARES harness instead of a car seat on the plane. It's the only FAA approved harness that isn't a car seat and it's wonderful. You can get it on Amazon.

We just flew Delta with my son last week. They were great with our luggage, but I'd still recommend putting your checked items in a bag. There's just so much... crap... and debris... and elements on the plane.

For our umbrella stroller (Summer Infant 3D Lite) I used this check bag and it worked great. We wheeled my son around the airport in the stroller once we got through TSA and right up to the gate - stuffed it in the bag and left it at the door. It was waiting there for us when we got off the plane.

Sounds like you're taking a full sized stroller/travel system? I'd go with this bag for the stroller, and then this one for the bucket seat.

The bags are super thin, so they're not going to protect your items if they get tossed around - but they will save the fabric from grease/oil/gunk.

I agree with everyone saying leave the seat at home, since she'll be traveling as a lap infant, there's really no need for the extra weight and handling necessary. However, if you decide to fly again in the next 3 or 4 years, once she'll need a real ticket, I'd highly recommend using the carseat in the airline seat for tons of added comfort and a bit of parental sanity. It's a burden to lug it through the airport though so if you do decide to bring a car seat, might I recommend one of these

GO-GO BABYZ TRAVELMATE Car Seat Travel Stroller for Toddler Car Seats

I have the older model and it's pretty awesome. I keep it strapped to the seat the entire flight, including wheeling my kid around the airport and down the plane aisle like Cleopatra on her lectica. Can't wait to use it again this trip, it saved headaches with both kids ready to bolt through the airport at inopportune moments - we're considering a second one, though I think the almost 5 year old might just maybe be able to handle herself....maybe not.


As for strollers, we rent from one of the local businesses that deliver to your resort when you arrive and you leave it with the bell cap when you depart. It's $75 for the week, for a double city mini (or your choice of similar), and I wouldn't dream of bringing our good strollers to fend for themselves with airline handlers, at least when traveling to Disney, because of the amenities they have (magical express, room on busses, etc)

Yeah that works too! I just like this changer because it's a pad that holds about 4-5 diapers and wipes in a neat little container where they seemingly never dry out, and there's some space for extra clothes and snacks in the zipper pockets. It's the only thing we take with us when we go out, road trips, day trips, flights, trains... Everywhere. So convenient.

Here's the strap I'm talking about: https://smile.amazon.com/Convert-Luggage-Airport-Stroller-Carrier/dp/B06XTT17QC

I practiced putting on a couple of times at home, and was pretty much a pro. Last flight, my kid was sleeping, so I successfully strapped her onto the suitcase on the plane without taking her out of the seat. You're not "supposed to" let children sit in the seat while it's strapped, but I'm guessing that's in case your suitcase can't handle it, mine did just fine.

I'm guessing your little one won't be in a bucket seat by then, but if so, and you don't already have one, a cabby is great and you can usually get one used for nothing, $50-100 new at most.

Also seconding the nap time flights, especially with a separate seat. Works very well!

We bought these to gate or baggage check our carseats. They don't actually work too well for baggage check but do a great job for gate checking to protect against dirt. (They're soft-sided, though, so don't expect them to protect against anything more than dirt).

Also agree about the baby wearing! If you're wearing baby, they'll ask you to go through the metal detector instead of the X-ray. They tested my hands on both flights too after the metal detector. I didn't have to take baby off or anything. Just my shoes. I wasn't wearing a jacket, so I'm not sure if you'd have to take that off or not.

We checked in our car seat with the luggage. Southwest let's you check in a stroller and car seat for no charge, and it doesn't count against your baggage limits. I think most of the other major airlines do too. We bought the JL Childress padded car seat bag here and that thing is dang awesome. It's padded, so your expensive car seat doesn't get banged up. It has straps so my husband could wear the car seat while I wore baby and we each had hands to roll one suitcase. It's also huuuuge. It fit our infant car seat and the base, and we had room to shove some diaper and wipes packages into the empty car seat. It's nice bc we'll be able to still use it when we switch to a convertible car seat.

Nursing during takeoff and landing helps. Our baby ended up sleeping during the landing. If your flight isn't full, you could lay baby on a travel neck pillow or nursing pillow to give your arms a break. Or wear baby.

Most planes nowadays have a foldout changing table in one of the lavatories. They're not always marked though, so I'd ask the flight attendant which one it's in when you get on so you're not trying to carry baby up and down the aisle during turbulence.

We don't bring our base, but we use this bag and check the car seat. If you want to bring your base, it can fit the base in it! Plus I always put diapers or coats on top of the car seat (since it flies for free...might as well use up that space!).

https://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress-Ultimate-Backpack-Padded/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543333462&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=jl+childress+car+seat+bag&psc=1

We have never had an issue with getting our 2 free bags + strollers/car seats. (Admittedly we don't have enough hands to carry that much luggage/babies) The website even states it is in addition to your free bags, double check next time.

https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/carryon-bags-pol.html

Bonus! If you have a car seat bag you can stuff extra luggage in there if your main bags are overweight.

https://www.amazon.com/ZOHZO-Car-Seat-Travel-Bag/dp/B01F9YBIH0/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1526010111&sr=8-9&keywords=car+seat+travel

I've done long road trips and we took our 4 month old from charlotte to newark on the plane in November.

Air: Be prepared to act like a sherpa, security is going to take a while. There are often family lines that allow you to skip the main junk so someone can help with all of the extra stuff like a stroller, and car seat, etc. There are red gate check bags that are worth buying because they make it easy to spot and we noticed our stuff came out first & unharmed.

Try to get a bottle going right before the flight, my kid passed out right after and stayed asleep for most of the flight. Bring things you can use as suckers to help with the ear popping.

Car: Make frequent pit stops, every hour and a half worked for us. Sometimes her mom had to sit in the back to soothe her. That probably won't work for you, so stopping often will help everyone. It'll just take a while to get places. Sucks, but you gotta do it.

I've used THIS CAR SEAT COVER for traveling with my pack and have been very pleased with the result. Slide your pack in, cinch it up, and you're done. TSA recognizes them so they don't freak out and tear things apart. PLus at under $11 with Prime, they're pretty cheap

Can check the car seat for free. They sell gate check bags online that can help protect the seat. If you take your stroller, I would get gate check bag for it. When I flew with our stroller they just threw it down a shoot onto the ground. It got pretty messed up.

We have one like this and it works great, the kids can even sit on the seat while you roll it. http://www.amazon.com/GO-GO-TRAVELMATE-Travel-Stroller-Toddler/dp/B000JJK9EY

That's awesome!

Since its $500 though, I will add on a suggestion that would be not quite as cool, but much cheaper. You can buy car seat travel carts, like this, this, or this, and use them with the car seat you already have.

If you are gate checking and have to lug the seat through the airport, I’d get one with wheels or backpack straps.

We have the Britax one to fit our Britax travel car seat. My husband wears it like a backpack (it’s still big and bulky and he looks hilarious). I prefer to tilt and wheel it because I’m shorter (he says he doesn’t like wheeling it because he has to bend down to reach the handle)

Britax Car Seat Travel Bag, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052IERHM?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

If you are planning to check it at the counter, I think any nylon bag will do since the goal is just to protect it from getting dirty.

Also, if you want to keep the carseat for the plane (or gate-check it), you can get something like this which turns it into a roller-board / stroller. We used to wheel our toddler around, strapped into her car seat, with one of these.

Of course, using the Uber X car seat option is also good.

we took our, then, 1 and 3 year olds on their first (trans-atlantic) flight last year. 11 hours each way. We were scared shitless before it.

we had visions of 11 hours of solid crying and fussing, popped eardrums, and restless monsters wanting to run up and down the aisles.

surprisingly, they were really good. Sure, there was some bouncing and whining, and occasional crying, but in all, they managed well, and were quite excited and curious during the flight and running around terminals.

We preloaded the ipads with movies and stuff, filled carryon with snacks, drinks, and activity books.

Tip: give kiddos snacks/candy as the plane takes off or lands, the chewing and swallowing can help counter the air pressure change on their eardrums.

Tip: If on a longer flight, bring rubber bands and use the supplied blanket(s) to build a little tent spanning over the kiddo's seat back across to the one in front of it, that way you avoid having kiddo woken up by the sun when someone inevitably wants to look out in the middle of "night", or over greenland.

Tip: If you bring car seats, don't bother bringing them as carryon (they will let you strap in your kiddo in the seat if below a certain age) it's an absolute pain to haul in and install, check them as luggage instead, but get these trolleys (britax here) and strap your seats to them, and they can serve as strollers in the airport terminal to the rental car, etc. They are amazingly sturdy, and we strapped them in our car seats before we checked them, stuffed inside a car seat travel bag

If she is considering taking a car seat these are awesome!


https://www.amazon.com/GO-GO-TRAVELMATE-Travel-Stroller-Toddler/dp/B000JJK9EY

Uppababy sells travel bags specifically for their car seats and strollers, so that’s what we have. But something like this should also be helpful:

https://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress-Ultimate-Backpack-Padded/dp/B0009RNXNA

If you’re bringing the car seat to the gate, could you get one of those straps that will attach it to your carry on roller bag? Like this https://www.amazon.com/Convert-luggage-Airport-Stroller-Carrier/dp/B06XTT17QC/ref=pd_aw_lpo_bs_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=9H4GJXH0Q8BQHN46B394

Disclaimer - I’ve never actually used one of these, just seen them!

Have you ever tried peeing with your baby in the carrier? It should be possible. I’d practice at home and plan on that for peeing on the plane.

We traveled a few times with our twins... We used these and it made our life way easy. Check your stroller when you check your bags. Just use those with your carseats to get them to the gate. They will let you board first cause you "need more time and help" so you can get them strapped into the plane. If you take a stroller you have to put it through the xray machine... Pain in the ass!! Car seats are easier. Just take your baby out, put carseat through xray... then put baby back!

This one is rugged and padded, we have used it for two years - https://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Backpack-Padded-Travel/dp/B0009RNXNA. I use it whether we gate check or normal check the seat. It also is just big enough to fit the small convertible car seat we bought for travel for my now almost 2 year old.

I have used this one and it worked well. J.L. Childress Ultimate Backpack Padded Car Seat Travel Bag, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009RNXNA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_uJcWDbANR28VF

We just got this one off Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D3KBWSL/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_ijP3Db5YTBR7D. The seat isn't bulky and attaches by anchors

I have a 60L pack and this car seat cover gets the job done. JL Childress Gate Check Bag for Car Seats, Red https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RRD7UG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FBCACb28W6K70

They make dollies for car seats that might be what you're looking for! Here's one, there are others.

https://www.amazon.com/J-L-Childress-Ultimate-Backpack-Padded/dp/B0009RNXNA

Or one of these?

I got one of These

Either way if you don't bag it up somehow it will prob get dirty. I didn't want to have to worry about cleaning the seat after arriving.

Always ask the gate agent about booked flights. I wasn't allowed to use my seat on the plane but always get my own row. I just tell them I'm worried about the baby disturbing people. They also carry the car seat and stroller for me when I check them if I ask for help.

I second the recommendation for a Scenera Next. It's very, very light and easy to install both on planes and in cars. I even travelled with my daughter alone and used it on a plane and it wasn't bad at all. I used a luggage strap to hang it off her stroller, then moved it to hang off my backpack to get us on the plane, and now that she can walk better, I could just carry it and direct her. I've also gotten it around airports by attaching the tether and LATCH straps around carry-on size rolling luggage using a carabiner, basically a DIY version of this.

I'm a big fan of having the child in their own seat. Checking a car seat in anything but its box can risk damage that you may or may not even be able to see, and there's also a risk of your child getting hurt if not in a seat. The first time I flew with my daughter we hit really bad turbulence and it would have been terrifying to have had to try to keep her from getting thrown into the ceiling. Instead, she was safely in her seat and slept through the whole thing.

Another thing to note is that some flight attendants know nothing about car seats so if your child has their own seat, be prepared to explain that you can use a car seat, and if you use the seat rear-facing, that that's allowed by the FAA too. Car Seats for the Littles has good information and links for that. I just bookmarked the relevant airline and FAA links and referenced them the one time someone tried to give me trouble about it.