Hi Mums, I’m about to fly to the UK solo with my 19 month old and I’m frankly terrified.
I can’t imagine how I’m going to carry him and both our hand carry from check in to the gate! Are there strollers available to borrow at Melbourne? Does anyone have survival tips?
I plan to check in my regular (bulky) stroller and am also hoping for advice on whether I need to buy an actual stroller bag or could use a hold all I already have? And then can I pad that with extra packing?
Any advice at all gratefully received. Thanks ladies! ❤️
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Hello! I flew to Fiji with my 2 year old last year and it was surprisingly easy. They took our pram at check in and gave us an airport pram. They take it back off you at the gate when you board. It's a standard fold up pram so not fancy but it did the job. We have a backpack as a nappy bag so just had that as our carry on and we managed. We had loads of spare clothes, nappies, snacks, fidget toys etc to keep him busy and it was surprisingly easy. I've also had friends take one of those hiking carriers where you have your toddler high on your back like a backpack. They said it was a game changer. But we just took our pram and we were fine. Travelling with kids is tough but we hype it up to be awful and it's usually not as bad as we think it will be. Only other advice I can offer is offer drinks on take off and landing. It will help with their ears.
Good luck 😃

thank you!!! That’s such a relief that they give you an airport pram, I couldn’t find that on the Melbourne Airport site!

we did melb - Greece, and similar to the above but I wanted a travel pram because we’ve been gone for over 2 months (come back next week) and wanted something easy and non bulky to use while travelling rather than our normal one!
We got the Karion stroller, arrived in 2 days and is 5.5 kgs, we got the backpack for it as well which was a lifesaver! That came onboard with us, Easy to use while travelling and was included in our luggage for bub along with her nappy backpack and check in luggage.
I packed maybe 5-7 outfits in ziplock bags- which meant clothes, nappys and a nappy bag and squished the air out. Easy to grab and go to the bathroom!
Lots of snacks, we took seaweed, rice crackers and lollipops from the health store- which helped with the ear popping. Sanitizer and plenty of wipes, for dirty hands, faces etc.
Her favourite toys, downloaded her favourite movie and also brought her baby carrier too.
It’s not the worst!! Good luck xx

oooo I wouldn’t have thought of lollipops from the health store!

I've done this and survived. You'd be surprised how many ppl help - I got waved through a long immigration queue at LHR!
There weren't strollers to borrow at MEL when I went, but definitely at AUH (Etihad).
I do own a Bugaboo stroller bag which is massive, & keeps everything together and I have packed spare nappies and random things in it for domestic, but the weight allowance on int. with a baby is generous anyway. So I didn't need to - plus it would all roll out when you got the stroller out at the other end. Also hard to juggle lots of luggage by yourself.
- Bring a foldable stroller (like Mountain Buggy Nano) and possibly hire there
- Take a baby carrier - but you have to take it off in security screening. Yours might be a good walker and not need to.
- Fill up your nappy bag - (they don't tend to weigh it) - with snacks, sandwiches plus Dymadon.
- Hide some old toys and bring them out again or make a busy bag.
- Take a spare change of clothes for yourself plus at least 5 sets for baby - IYKYK!
Good luck

thanks a million great intel!