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Top tips on how to pack your stroller/travel system when taking a flight.
Parents need to pack a lot of stuff when traveling with a baby or a toddler. And if you plan to drive or walk during your trip, packing a stroller/car seat travel system becomes necessary.
Carrying a baby everywhere is not practical and can result in sore muscles the next day; a stroller makes long days of walking much easier for you while you enjoy the scenery around.
Car seats and strollers can often be rented from car rental companies, but your baby’s comfort and safety (and your own peace of mind) are the reasons why most parents choose to bring their own stroller/car seat.
Things to Know About Traveling with Stroller
Check your Stroller and Car Seat
Strollers and car seats can be checked as regular luggage, or you can carry them on the plane. So, you need to make a decision here.
- You can remove the car seat and take it in the plane, leaving the stroller with the other luggage.
- If you have a travel stroller, you can carry it along on the plane as these fold to a compact size.
- In case, you decide to check your stroller/car seat, make sure they are folded properly and wrapped nicely. A stroller bag can be useful for such purposes.
You need to pass through security
Like all your other bags and suitcases, even your stroller will need to go through the X-ray machine.
Leave the stroller at the gate.
You can also leave your stroller at the gate in case it is too big to be taken in the plane. Once the flight lands, the stroller will be placed near to where the passengers depart from the aircraft.
How to Pack a Stroller/Car Seat for Flight
Here’s how to pack a stroller/travel system for flight (a stroller travel bag makes it so much easier).
- STEP 1
Remove the car seat from the stroller so that you can use the car seat on your baby’s plane seat. Make sure the car seat is approved for airline travel.
Since it can be difficult to buckle the car seat with airplane buckles, feel free to take the help of a flight attendant if needed.
If you did not purchase a separate ticket and plan to hold your baby during the flight, you can either ask to carry the car seat, in case there is an empty seat nearby, or you may check the seat as a separate piece of luggage.
- STEP 2
Tie the handle in place if you are checking the car seat. To keep the seat clean, wrap it in a plastic garbage bag, securing the opening with a tied knot or packing tape.
- STEP 3
Take the stroller part of the travel system directly to the gate if you want to be able to place your child in the stroller immediately after landing.
Leave it just outside the airplane door or in another spot (if the flight attendant indicates) and notify a flight attendant that you have a stroller that needs to be put on the plane. You may be given a tag to write your contact information on to secure to the stroller. Before the flight leaves, your stroller will be placed on the plane by airline staff.
- STEP 4
In case, you decide to check the stroller/car seat as luggage, make sure the stroller is folded and packaged nicely at the check-in counter.
Make sure nothing is protruding and all the fabric is covered else the protruding part could break or the fabric may lacerate when it is place with the other luggage.
Adjust the stroller to its flattest setting. Secure the stroller with two to three pieces of twine, wrapped and knotted around the stroller to keep it from opening.
Enclose the stroller in a large garbage bag or use a commercial plastic-wrapping service at the airport to keep the stroller clean. Best is to use a stroller travel bag which will offer good protection to the stroller and also makes it easy to carry the stroller.
Upon arrival, find the area the airline uses for oversized baggage to pick up your stroller.
In case you have a compact, travel-friendly stroller, you can just place it in the overhead storage bin in the aircraft.
When travelling with a baby or toddler, there’s always a lot to pack and carry; you need to prepare and pack for every eventuality.
Also, if you own multiple strollers, you have to decide which one to carry; while carry the most lightweight one may seem like an obvious choice, if you’re going to move around a lot once at the destination, you may want to carry a stroller with better features.
You should even consider renting a stroller.
The best strollers for holidays are usually lighter and more compact compared to their heavier counterparts. An easy-to-fold stroller is also something that you will appreciate a lot when traveling.
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StrollerBoards is a family managed website with me (Ben) and my wife doing most of the work. We are proud parents of two wonderful kids and love reviewing baby travel gear. We have a firm but friendly “democratic parenting” style and offer several practical solutions backed by extensive research. Our own experience with raising two children prompted us to share our knowledge. Read more.
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