Traveling with nephew

[MarissaNicole]

This forum is private right (that's why I put it here and not in travel)

I'll be traveling with my bilingual, semi-potty-trained nephew who is about two and a half. We'll be taking an evening flight, so I was gonna dress him in his pjs, I'm leaning toward putting a diaper on him, and packing maybe a book or two, a stuffed animal, and snacks.

(He is mostly potty trained, but wears a diaper at night, and I am not sure how strict they will have been with going on the potty while in France - I've also usually just watched him around the house, and haven't done public bathrooms with him before).

Do you check the car seat or take it on the plane?

My sister and her husband will be coming back from France the night before, so who knows what time clock he'll be on, and I know my sister will just want to get back home and get ready for starting work on Monday, so I am guessing she'll have little advice for me. (She's flies by the seat of her pants and disorganized, but I love her nonetheless). So I thought I'd see if you guys have any advice?

Oh and did I mention last time he came back from France he was speaking 90% french? (Before his trip he knew to only speak french to me, but when he was immersed in it he seemed to forget who doesn't speak french!) Luckily when we get to our travel destination my Mom will be there, and she knows a little more French than me!

[Pollyanna]

Are you flying from France, I am confused a bit? If he has a car seat bring it on the plane, it i so much easier to keep kiddos contained when they have their own seat. It is also much easier for them to sleep as well. Is this a long flight with connections? I also find it a huge help to bring the stroller. Just check it at the gate and they will have it for you when you get off the flight (I'm all about child containment when traveling ).

ETA: An evening flight may prove difficult as kiddos tend to get overtired and then have a hard time falling asleep.

[MarissaNicole]

Are you flying from France, I am confused a bit? If he has a car seat bring it on the plane, it i so much easier to keep kiddos contained when they have their own seat. It is also much easier for them to sleep as well. Is this a long flight with connections? I also find it a huge help to bring the stroller. Just check it at the gate and they will have it for you when you get off the flight (I'm all about child containment when traveling ).

ETA: An evening flight may prove difficult as kiddos tend to get overtired and then have a hard time falling asleep.

I am picking sister, brother-in-law and nephew up fromt he airport (coming in from France) on Sunday afternoon. Sister and brother-in-law will go home, and nephew and I have a 6:30 p.m. flight on Monday. Our flight is only about three hours. His bedtime is usually 8 or 9 p.m. but who knows if he'll be on France time or not?

I have the carseat and I think I'd like to have him in it on the plane but am a little worried about figuring how to secure it in the airplane seat.

I didn't even think about about a stroller... I think my sister left her stroller at home about an hour and a half away, and although I have a stroller, its at least 20 years old (I use it for watching my nephews), and I am not sure if it will be that easy to travel with.

Ha ha, its gonna be fun to walk through the airport with a little one, a carryon, and a carseat! Perhaps a stroller would have been nice!

[MrsK]

You can gate-check the carseat if it doesn't attach to the airplane seat easily. Also, my cousin swears by this product for traveling with her toddler. It converts the airplane lap belt into a harness. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...DTAFE80B496BQQ

[Chrisada]

I might be in the minority in saying I'd just check the carseat. Taking a carseat though the airport can be a pain in the ass without help. Especially one big enough for a 2 1/2 year-old. I'd buy a $15.00 umbrella stroller and push him in that.

[spotty_dog]

It's going to be a total toss-up for me when we fly to Hawaii with 2-year-old Natalie: check the seat and remain encumbered only by children and carry-ons, or use the seat and take advantage of her well-established cue to sleep in the car seat? Plus the seat is really quite a lot safer in the case of turbulence and some other survivable accident type situations. If I were you I'd start by asking mom if kiddo likes his seat or hates it.

BTW, if I recall this is NOT a private forum.

[SuzySunshine]

I have a CARES harness which I use with A and have used since she was just over 1. Its SO much easier then a car seat but its also kind of pricey if you're not going to use it very often. We are flying next weekend and I will take it but we will try her in her seat without it first.

http://www.amazon.com/CARES-Child-Av...ef=pd_sbs_ba_3

The other thing you can get to use with the car seat and not a stroller are the wheels that attach to the carseat. This thing: http://www.theportablebaby.com/gogokidz.html

As for securing it, I think it will be easier then you think. Just strap it in and pull the seatbelt as tight as possible, if necessary ask the flight attendant to help you.

[MrsK]

In my experience, flight attendants will not attempt to install a carseat. Neither will the guys at the car rental. Also, I've had difficulty getting the carseat to fit in airplane seats. BTW I've taken BabyK on 16 flights during the last year. Just did the math on that one. I must be a maschochist.