Next month I’m flying with my baby alone with a layover each way. What do other moms recommend as far as bringing a stroller? Is it better to check it at the baggage counter and use a carrier through the airport or keep him in the stroller and gate check?
My husband and I flew in December with him but my mom had a stroller at our destination so I just had him in the carrier and it was fine. But is it better to have the stroller with a 1.5 hour layover?? I feel like since he’s so active now, he would prefer to just crawl or walk around between flights anyway…. But he’s a heavy boy and is only getting bigger so it might be a lot to carry him and his diaper bag 😅
Also do you need to have some kind of bag/case for checking a stroller and car seat to protect them??
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I fly my daughter next week. I'm going to check her car seat in and just take the stroller with me and get it gate checked. So I just bought a bag for her car seat so that I can use it as my check bag.

Yes check everything but diaper bag & stroller they will put under the plane

If you have a hyper guy (and bought him his own seat) I’ve seen a lot of parents bring their child’s car seat to install on the plane. If you have just him on your lap, I’d say check the car seat (if it doesn’t click into your stroller) and check the stroller at the gate. Highly recommend a bag for both, amazon has some great ones that are way more affordable than the name brand bags.
Pro tip though, you can always ask the gate agent to move you to a seat that is next to an empty seat for free and then your LO would have their own seat as well. That’s why I usually bring my stroller and car seat to the gate. However, they’re a system so the car seat clicks into the stroller and I put the car seat base in the undercarriage of the stroller so I’m not having to carry anything extra. Best of luck!!

So the easiest thing I’ve done while traveling with my daughter is keeping the stroller with me and checking it when I get to the gate. Just makes life so much easier if you have carry on bags or even if the airport is just big overall.
When you check it at the gate, they should ask you if you need it at your layover destination or at your final destination. If you only need it at your final destination, they should ask if you want it at the gate or at baggage claim. And they write all that info on the tag. If they don’t ask for that info, make sure that YOU ask questions.
And to answer your last question, they usually have bags for car seats and strollers but I got one for each off of Amazon for about $45 altogether.

the luck to get an empty seat on a plane these days! Lol but definitely worth asking them about. I do have a stroller with the car seat attachment but unfortunately he already outgrew his infant car seat so I’ll definitely be checking his convertible one.

I would never think of it going to the final destination or gate, good tip! I’ll make sure to clarify if they don’t ask. And so you still use the stroller bag if you gate check it?

yes. And the airport staff is usually more than happy to help you get it into the bag. I’ve never had a bad experience and I’ve taken 3 separate trips with my daughter alone. All you have to do is ask.