Traveling alone with 3yr old.

So I booked our flights and this is the first time I'm traveling via plane with him alone...

I know I will pack our clothes together and make a fun bag for him on the plane for entertainment... But the heck do I do about the car seat???

I don't need the seat on the plane... I need it for when my parents pick us up at the airport and while we are on vacation.

Do I take mine? Put it in one of those car seat bags? But another one for when we get to our destination ?? Help

Traveling alone with 3yr old.

I'd have your parents buy a cheap seat and have it ready to go in the car when they pick you up.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Our car seat is heavy, so we bought the Cosco Scenera Next purely for traveling. It was like $40 at Walmart and is super light so not terrible to lug onto a plane. You could order one and have it shipped to your parents.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

I agree with having your parents pick up a cheap one at Walmart.

Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Look into renting one.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Traveling alone with 3yr old.

You can pick up a cheap lightweight one and bring it with you (they don't charge you for to check it as luggage). Or you can have your parents pick one up so it stays there.

Traveling alone with 3yr old.

I fly to FL to visit my parents alone with my DS at least once a year. We have a car seat at their house. I even stopped traveling with a stroller. Bought a cheap umbrella one for there also.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Have your parents buy one. One less thing for you to worry about.

Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Lowe's has thick, flat bungee cords. I took 2 and strapped our convertible car seat to my luggage so I could wheel them together. I put my little guy in the stroller. Luggage and car seat get checked so you don't have to lug thru airport.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

I've done it where we checked it in a bag, but if we are visiting parents, they have their own.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

If you are member of AAA, your parents can get one through the club for the length of your vacation. You have to reserve ahead of time.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

No they don't charge you but they have limited number of seats. You need to call early. Here is the link:

http://www.ny.aaa.com/Safety/DriverSafety/Child-Safety/Car-Seat-Loans.aspx?zip=11710&stateprov=ny&city=bellmore&devicecd=PC&referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

I traveled to St Maarten alone with my daughter when she was a little over 2... I had to bring her car seat-- I checked it in one of the CArrier bags.. but it had straps like a backpack. I wore it when we picked up our bags til we got to the car. Was it ideal? No.. but it worked :)

Re: Traveling alone with 3yr old.

Just want to add when I travel alone with my son, I have DH walk us to security, and my dad meets us right on the other side of security. This helps manage DS and luggage.