I live in Canada and my husband is currently working overseas in Morocco. I am taking LO with me in a couple of weeks to go and live with my husband. I am really stressed about travelling with LO. The trip is going to take us 2 days to reach our destination, so I need need his stroller, especially since we have a 19 hour layover in London. LO will only be 9 weeks for the trip. The airlines recommend small collapsible umbrella strollers but he is too small to use those! He can't sit up yet. I want to take my Graco travel system and hope for an empty seat that I can put the car seat. But I'm worried they won't let me take a larger stroller and car seat with me on the plane...has anyone had any experience with international travel with a baby? The ticket I bought is for LO to stay in my lap, but do you think they will let me take my car seat just in case there's an empty seat I can put him in it? What about taking a larger stroller? I'm so worried they are going to say no at the gate and then I'm stuck with no stroller and no car seat.

Any general tips for air travel with a baby?

Any advise is greatly appreciated!

I have no experience of this but I wouldn't think they would let you on with a car seat? Could you get one of those baby carrier thingys and send all your travel system in the cargo on the plane and then you will have it back for your stop over in London to use for little one until its time to board the next plane? You shouldn't have to give them your pushchair until your at the gate for boarding? Sorry if this isn't much help or makes no sense because I'm typing on my phone!! Xx

Hi! What an exciting move! We have flown a bunch with Phoebe. Our family is back in the US and we have flown with her internationally at 10 weeks and at 5 months. I would recommend using a baby carrier. It makes thing really easy and then you will have your hands free. It also helps to prevent LO from getting overstimulated in the airport so they can sleep on the plane. You can bring the big stroller and just gate check it. They won't give you any problems. In the airport you can put all of your things in the stroller to push around as well. As for the car seat, we have brought it on the plane to store in bulkhead but you are not allowed to use it unless it is an approved airplane car seat. You can check on the airline's website for approved car seats. Just to note, North American car seats aren't tested in Europe and are technically illegal to use over here so it may not be worth even bringing it. It will be one less thing to carry on the plane and then Dh could just meet you at the airport with a new one?
Edit:Just remembered Morocco is in Africa not Europe so maybe the car seat is fine
If you have not already done so, definitely call and request a sky cot. They are first come first serve but are wonderful. They are also in the first row so you get extra leg room as well.
If you have any more questions, let me know! Good luck on the trip!

Call your airline as it does vary. We were told any buggy is fine as long as it folds. We had to check car seat in tho.

We are flying to South Africa tomorrow and I'm taking her in the sling because the thought of navigating through Dubai airport with a buggy is too stressful for me! But we've only got a two hour stopover. Is it worth seeing if you could book a hotel room for your stopover so that you can get some rest? I live in London near the airport and there are lots of airport hotels with free shuttle buses to and from the airport x x

We flew with DD when she was 11 weeks, I also reccommend a baby carrier as well as stroller. It could also help if baby gets fussy on the plane as you can walk the aisle with her in the carrier. I found our DD was really settled on the flight, I breastfed on takeoff/land and she slept or was chilled out both ways. We are flying again in a month when she is 10 months and I am expecting it to be a bit more difficult now she's mobile and into everything!!

I doubt your airline would let you take the car seat on the plane without buying a seat for it so sit on, the car seat also has to be approve for airline travel. It's worth calling the airline to double, check just in case.

What is this about not allowing car seats on flights? Here in the US they encourage you to bring yours along for just in case there is an extra seat on the flight you can use. And if not then they just show away and is waiting for you when you get off the plane. And they encourage even more for you to purchase a seat for LO to put in car seat. Doesn't make sense that they wouldn't allow them as they are the safest way to travel with your LO. And also I see all the time parents with large travel system strollers. Check at gate and get back after flight. No issues with it. Just amazes me with all the different rules and regulations sometimes.

Yes I am surprised at people saying don't take a car seat. NZ carriers all recommend bringing a car seat and if there is a spare seat then you can set up the car seat and this is considered the safest way to fly (and yes, as pp wrote, even better if you want to pay full price for the seat!!). We can put pram/stroller and car seat on any flight for no extra cost checked or carry on.

I have seen ppl use those sky cots and they look brilliant I would definitely enquire about those. The planes usually have larger cupboards at the front of the plane for larger fold up strollers so you could ask about that. I have always used a baby carrier and they are brilliant, LO's sleep in it and can feed in it etc. They are great. Can you rent one of those snap and go carseat frames for the infant baby seat. They are basically just wheels that the baby seat (with handles) click into. That might be easier for getting round the airport and they fold up really little?

really dreading our 2 1/2 hour flight in 4 weeks. but thankfully its non stop flight and his family has all the stuff for him to use even though they are all girly! lol