Thursday, November 7, 2013

Do they make travel system strollers with the 3 big wheels?

baby travel systems 3 wheel on Baby's Store | Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System
baby travel systems 3 wheel image



Adriana


My husband is insistant on having a stroller with the big wheels, and this is the only travel system one I have found.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2991668

It doesn't have very good reviews though, so I'm hesitant to buy it.
This is the ONLY one at babiesRus, that's why I asked the question.



Answer
That is the stroller and carseat that we purchased before our son was born. He is now 10 months old and we still use the stroller but he has outgrown the carseat. We really like both of them (purchased separately at Target). The only complaint I have is that the carseat is a little heavy and our baby was on the higher side in weight so it was a lot to carry around. I think it weighs about 9 pounds on its own.

Has anyone flown from US to Asia with a 1 year old baby?




Cathy


I am flying from NYC to Taipei and they are telling me that the bassinet (which I thought was required for children under 2 if we are not buying a full ticket) is only recommended for infants 5 months or younger. So China Airlines recommended me to hold my baby which I don't think is reasonable because our flight was 19-20 hours!!! Can you please share your experiences with me please?


Answer
I've done many long haul flights with my three children (since each was 4 months old) and I used to work trans-Pacifics as a Flight Attendant. I usually fly between Europe and California with them.

The bassinet is never required and actually not all airplanes have them. On Lufthansa once, they told me my year old son was too big for the bassinet. When I showed up for the flight, turns out he was well under the weight limit! Not sure what to say about the subject but different airlines have different style bassinets with different weight limits. They are convenient but safety-wise, no replacement for a car seat.

If you don't have a seat for him, request it at check-in. Ask if the flight is full, and if not, they can "block" the seat next to you, only using it if they really need it. They often do this for families.

Bring the seat to the gate, even if they are unsure that you'll get a free seat. This way, if you don't manage it, they will "gate check" your seat, sending it down with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is gentlier than checking it in at the desk.

I also recommend trying to sit at the bulkhead. These are the seats with the wall in front, located in different places depending on the aircraft. Bulkheads are easier with children since no one is leaning in front of you.

If you have a travel system, you can use the stroller until you get to the door of the aircraft and then it'll be "gate checked". If not, use a stroller frame for a infant seat. You'll have it again, by the door of the aircraft when you arrive. If you have a convertible car seat (going to 40lbs), there are a number of contraptions you can use to wheel it around.
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
(not promoting any of these sites, just to show you the products!)

I simply strap mine to a small metal luggage cart and that works great.

If you do have a stroller, bring a bungee cord and double secure it before leaving it at the door of the plane. They can get damaged if they pop open en route. Make sure the claim ticket can be seen and isn't squished or hidden.

Bring at least 1/3 more diapers than you think you'll need. I saw so many parents run out on flights when I was working! Wrap them in plastic bags and throw a bunch of rubber bands around them to save room in your carry-on.

For a formula fed baby, I really recommend using the bottles with plastic liners. Traditional bottles are too difficult to wash onboard because of the kind of sinks on airplanes. I premeasured the powder and rolled them up, placing the rolls in a ziplock bag. Then you throw the liners away as you use them and only have the ring and nipple to clean.

If you use bottled water, be sure to give yourself enough time to buy some once you're past security. Make sure you have enough! The water on the aircraft is filtered tap so decide if you're comfortable using that for your baby. Bottled water runs out fast on flights and we never had any extra for baby bottles.

Be sure you baby does not need the bottle warmed. Get him used to a room-temperature bottle before leaving. This is unnecessary health-wise and a real pain to do while travelling. I warmed many bottles on my flights but I wasn't there in the check-in line, the security line or the waiting area! Babies do great with room-temperature bottles.

Make sure you have at least one change of clothes. I would bring two. At that age, I simply dressed mine in sleep suits for flying. No one will care so keep him comfortable. Bring extra socks if he crawls so that he doesn't pick up anything nasty on the floor and to keep his hands clean.

Hopefully you have a good baby carrier. They're so useful for flying, especially at this age. I had a sling but other parents swear by their wraps and pouches. The Ergo is another popular carrier for travel. I liked the sling because I could slide my babies from into and out of a stroller or car seat without waking them. It also doubled as a blanket, baby changer and sunshade! My sling was magic for calming my babies during the flight. Other parents wanted one when they saw how easy it made my travels. Avoid front packs like the Bjorn since they're so bad for both the parents' and child's back. A good carrier should go to at least age 2.

Many flying tips say to make the child suck on something or drink during take-off and landing. This isn't accurate. ENT specialists say to have the child awake about an hour before landing (top of descent, landing or touch-down is too late).

http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm

I can confirm that is when I saw problems at work. Take your child to the doctor in the last few days before you fly to make sure his ears are clear and infection-free. Heathy ears can handle pressurization changes.

About 8 years ago I wrote an article for a local expat newsletter (after getting a lot of questions on this subject). I later put it on a blog and parents from all over the world have contributed. It's entirely non-commercial and my contact info is at the end if you have additional questions.

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com

Have a good trip!




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