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If you're out of the infant stage the Next might be too small. The luggage carrier works with basically any car seat. We used it with the Cosco Mighty Fit which is also super super light weight and easy to install in rental cars/Ubers, and then the carrier folds up into the size of a large book
Uh no way am I skipping the carseat. We have the lightweight Cosco one and even when traveling by myself with the I haul it, our luggage and my 3 year old. I usually just rent a car wherever we're going and deal with installing it.
We also do the lightweight Cosco seat with a padded carrying backpack that we check. Set it up so the harness height is situated in advance and make sure you know how to safely install it. Depending on your budget and child’s size (under 45 inches and 50 lbs so likely for a 4 year old but it’s expensive to not be able to use a lot) there’s also the WayB Pico which is super light and compact for travel. i would definitely do a stroller for a 4 year old at Disneyland but would rent there through BabyQuip or at the park. I’d also gently encourage you to learn how to install all of your car seats. Kids can accidentally unbuckle them climbing in and you need to understand the install. Most manufacturers usually have videos on YouTube you can look up!
I'm a parent of 4 and we fly a lot - I'd absolutely bring the car seat on the plane. It's safer, and it gives her a comfortable familiar space to rest. We own a lightweight cosco carseat just for the purpose of travel. Also, there is no limit for amount of breast milk allowed. I'd buy a soft sided cooler that fits the carry-on size requirements and put the milk in there with ice packs. You can also bring a diaper bag for free with most airlines (in addition to your personal bag).
Just grab some lightweight Cosco seats. Much easier to haul through airports. Like 8 lbs each. Then you have them forever and don’t have to worry about a rental screw up If they’re 4 just check the seats with luggage. Grab a basic nylon bag for each.
To echo others. Get cosco car seats for both. And some cheap straps/carrying bags from Amazon. The 10 nylon one with book bag straps. From here just throw money because it’ll make you less miserable Drive and park your own car. Pre buy long term. Check or gate check as much as possible so you’re light moving around the airport. Keep diapers snacks iPads and clothing backups on you. Practice installing those travel car seats on your own before you’re in the hot humid rental car lot with a cranky family.
yeah, you gotta bring your own. same with taxis or even the one time we sprung for black car service with a car seat installed. dude rolls up sans car seat and just shrugs. buy a cosco because it's light, check it for free in a basic nylon bag and just take away the chance someone else screws this up for you.
Yep just buy a lightweight travel car seat and haul it along (we like Cosco). We had a car seat backpack at one point but it was honestly heavy and overkill Not using a car seat would be ROUGH
So easy to just sling over your shoulder
First kid, we bought the Cosco travel car seat which fit perfectly in the Mountain Buggy travel stroller. Used it for years. And now have the Nuna Trvl which is a traditional travel stroller that allows the Nuna car seat to lock into it. Clutch !
I've rented and it wasn't bad. I've also bought one of the light Cosco ones and a cover to gate check it. I strapped it to my carry on with a luggage strap to wheel through the airport. It was annoying getting it through TSA, but that's probably the route I'd go if I had to do it again.
We did this years ago when traveling to the UK to see family too, and bought a cheaper/lightweight second car seat to make it easier. It’s very simple to put the airplane seatbelt through the back of the car seat and we felt he was safer (and easier to keep contained!) in a car seat. I remember reading not to check a car seat as it is so common for them to get damaged. There’s a lot of videos and tips from flight attendants that I found useful. I’ll try and find those links and post them.
Yes Cosco was the brand we got too!
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