Navigating the Airport, Children, & Travel
Last week Ryleigh, my 18 month old and I took our first plane ride to Philadelphia, PA. Since I would be flying solo with Ryleigh on our first plane ride, I did my research to try to make it as easy as possible for the both of us.
What Worked–
An inexpensive umbrella stroller saved the day. For twenty bucks, I purchased one at Target and I did not have to worry about carrying it onto the plane and if I wanted to could feel okay about leaving it in Philly. The stroller was a great way for Ryleigh to see the city and get from one place to the next.
I used a car seat travel cover to protect it when stored beneath the plane. I’ve seen how TSA employees handle luggage and wanted to make sure Ryleigh’s car seat was clean, undamaged, and protected from the weather. The cost was around twenty bucks but considering how expensive and essential a car seat is for travel, I figured it was a good investment, and I was right.
While I don’t advocate medicating your child on a regular, benadryl was recommended by most moms as a way to encourage your little one to sleep while in flight and lessen the air pressure on their little ears. My biggest complaint is that I could not locate small travel size bottles of the medication. As a mom I only have so many arms and room to store toys, juice cups, snacks, and diapers.
What Didn’t Work, Exactly—
I came upon a very cool looking travel item called the gogo Kidz Travelmate and decided to give it a try. Basically, the travel mate ratchets directly to your car seat allowing you to wheel the car seat much like a piece of rolling luggage. I loved the idea especially since Ryleigh is an extremely social and loves people watching. This would give her the freedom to look where she wants without feeling so confined and limited by mommy. Plus, I would have two arms to carry my carry on bag and purse onto the plane.
At first the Travelmate worked great and Ryleigh loved being able to be wheeled throughout the airport. Upon arriving to Philadelphia our trouble began. The Travelmate was extremely hard to remove from the car seat. The ratcheting system was damaged and became loose. The car seat dragged along the floor and I had to incline Ryleigh further and further until she was almost in a lay down position which she did not enjoy.
Our ride home was challenging as the ratcheting system became increasingly damaged. The pictures I took do not really do the ratchet damage justice. The system itself set us back $80 is a good idea in theory. I am contacting Babies R Us to inquire about returning the Travelmate so I am reserving my full judgment until then. Conceptually, it is a great product that can help make traveling easier for the whole family. Whether or not the quality is there to support the concept is yet to be determined. Don’t worry. You know I’ll keep you posted.
I’d love to hear your travel tips and suggestions. Leave a comment below.
