Travelling with a toddler - Any advice on carriers?

[Jenchats]

We're travelling with BA to the States next week and are planning to check through our buggy and carry our 14 month old the rest of the way. She is not only heavy but a champion wriggler too so we want a smallish carrier for her.

We have a Chicco Caddy but are concerned that it's a bit too big for the carry on luggage size restrictions. She's too big for the Bjorn so we need a happy medium to carry her on our backs.

Can anyone recommend/lend/sell a mid size carrier for a baby approx 9-10kg.

Does anyone have any advice about flying with a carrier or has anyone ever taken a Caddy?

All ideas are welcome! Thanks.

[born&brED]

You may know this already but you can take your buggy to the plane door, or at least the departure gate just before it. They then take it and you collect it from the plane door the other end. Worth checking with your airline but Virgin Atlantic definitely did that. :)

[Helen GV]

I would second keeping her in the buggy if you can, I've flown with Swiss, Easyjet, Royal Brunei and Emirates this way and it has never been a problem.

Otherwise perhaps you could get a soft carrier like an ergo or patapum, they fold up fairly small when not in use...

Have a good trip!

[jac428]

We bought Kidz Universal Carseat Travelmates when we went to the States and they have been fantastic. We check the buggy at the desk and then take the car seats all the way to the gate. If the plane isn't very full we take the car seats on board. If it is full we check the car seats at the gate, like you would a normal buggy. Once they turn two and we need to pay for seats we will still be able to use the car seats on every trip. We don't have to pay the rental charge for a car seat when we get to our destination and we also have the car seats for the taxi ride to the airport. As a bonus the kids are strapped in place and are use to riding in their car seats so they sleep better on the plane. http://www.theportablebaby.com/gogokidz.html

[chantelle]

i think it always possible to take the buggy to the airplane door but only rarely possible to pick it up at the door on the other side, because it usually gets put in the hold.

I'm travelling with my 2 year old in a few weeks to the US and am going to have him on my back in an ergo (no buggy). i'm sure i'll be in pain from it but i'm on my own with luggage so a buggy is not really feasible.

[Pickle]

We have always used a Patapum when travelling to and from NZ (as well as a buggy, as last time we went we had 2 children under the age of 3). They fold down small, are comfortable to wear, and our daughter always enjoyed being in it. The Ergo is a very similar design but a bit more expensive.

[apenn]

As Chantelle said above, many of the airports in the States will not return a buggy to you at the gate for an international flight. I've heard some stories of people being caught off guard by this and having to lug a toddler and baby around an airport, waiting on long immigration lines etc., with no buggy or carrier. Even if you were checking your buggy at the gate I would still recommend bringing a carrier for the other side.

I've always just used a carrier in the airport with my heavy baby. I've got an Ergo and would recommend that style. If you're going to bring the carrier anyway, may as well check the buggy and have one less thing to lug around.

Anyway, that's my two cents/pence!

[Jenchats]

Thanks for the advice everyone!