Doona vs travel stroller for international flights

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 4:09 am

I am traveling alone with a 4 month old, long international flights with stopovers. Hoping to get a bassinet seat, but not guaranteed. If I brought the doona, could bring it on if there are extra seats, but that's even less guaranteed.

In the airport defintely the travel is better imo because it lays flat and baby isn't cooped up in a carseat all that time. It's possible he won't sleep as well in it as the doona, but he's used to a regular bassinet stroller so I would think it's not so different. On the other hand, another advantage of the doona is if I end up wanting to take a taxi at some point in the travels, I have a carseat. Otherwise the people picking me up from the airport will lend me one, and I can use that during the trip.

WWYD?

amother

NeonPink ↓

Yesterday at 7:27 am

Im not going to answer specific question because I dont have a doona. I do travel with a yoyo and sometimes with the car seat to attach if will be doing a lot of car traveling.
Most important gear when flying with a baby is a front carrier!! I dont usually wear but for plane travel its a life saver. Baby is hands free for boarding and leaving plane. Same while on plane

mommyhood

Yesterday at 7:34 am

I don’t know if this is the same on every plane but the doona doesn’t fit to push down the aisle. It’s a pain in the neck to carry over the seat handles and another pain to get it to squish into the seat. Not sure how I would have done it if I didn’t have someone with me to help. My baby also wasn’t used to sleeping in the car seat at home and I ended up holding them most of the time because they wouldn’t settle in the car seat. Was still nice to have it for when they finally fell asleep but it wasn’t the amazing help I thought it would be.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 1:56 pm

amother NeonPink wrote:

yes def planning on bringing one, thank you! Just not sure if I should bring the more wrap-type one which is more comfortable for sitting but a bit harder to get on right, or the easy buckle one that I can put on in a second but might not be as fun to (try to) sleep in. I'll take thoughts on that too, if you have Smile

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 1:58 pm

mommyhood wrote:

Ooh these are great points. Very likely this could happen with my baby honestly and the shlep onto the plane is a tough one also. Thank you for sharing!

amother

Chestnut

Yesterday at 2:01 pm

amother OP wrote:

thanks yeah not a yoyo but I don't mind gate checking it.

If you are traveling solo with a baby I do not recommend gate checking your stroller. I can't even tell you how many times they only returned it to me by baggage claim, they checked it straight through so didn't get it by stopover, they broke it, they lost it. You do not want to be shlepping your baby and whatever else you have with you all the way through the airport. There are so many Carriages in so many price points these days that are allowed on planes.

amother

↑ NeonPink ↓

Yesterday at 2:08 pm

amother OP wrote:

I only have one that buckles not sling type. Used with several children and was fine for sitting sleeping. Seat is so narrow not much room for baby to be in cradle like position in sling anyway

amother

Ginger

Yesterday at 2:10 pm

Some flights I’ve taken did not give us the carriage at the stopover when gate checked, only at the final destination, so if you will definitely need it you might want something you can bring into the plane

amother

Tuberose ↓

Yesterday at 2:12 pm

If you have a car seat on the other end, I think it will just be a pain to schlep the doona. Infant carrier is a lifesaver on the plane. Try them out now and see which one your baby is more comfortable in.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 2:21 pm

amother Chestnut wrote:

Ugh I forgot about that. Our travel stroller is officially cabin approved but not so lightweight and would be difficult for me to carry on to the plane when I'm also wearing the baby and bringing the diaper bag (impossible probably if I tried to bring a carry on as well). I wish there was a way to find out in advance if a specific airport is functional with gate checking strollers. Anyone have expereince in athens?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 2:23 pm

About the carriers, yeah good idea I'll try them on now and try and decide from that. I didn't mean a sling type btw, just that it's a soft fabric no buckle carrier. Baby is still upright. Thank you both.

amother

↑ Tuberose ↓

Yesterday at 2:29 pm

amother OP wrote:

I know what you mean I find that more comfortable for a flight and for a 4 month old. Your not going hiking no need for the more supportive ones. But I still would try them out first.

amother

↑ NeonPink

Yesterday at 2:33 pm

amother OP wrote:

Hay mama believe in your self and humanity. You can baby wear and walk onto plane with folded carriage and diaper!
Boarding passand passport in hand too LOL

...people are awesome if you need help someones ganna offer...
Always better to have stroller on plane than to gate check

amother

↑ Tuberose ↓

Yesterday at 2:35 pm

amother NeonPink wrote:

Hay mama believe in your self and humanity. You can baby wear and walk onto plane with folded carriage and diaper!
Boarding passand passport in hand too LOL

...people are awesome if you need help someones ganna offer...
Always better to have stroller on plane than to gate check

Agreed I wouldnt stress people always offer to help especially if you are traveling alone

imaima ↓

Yesterday at 3:03 pm

amother OP wrote:

my advice is to check in everything you can.
if you bought a seat for your baby, then take a doona, a baby carrier and a diaper bag.
If no seat, take a carrier, a cabin approved buggy and a diaper bag. If it's Winter time, beware that you will be shlepping the coats too.
I have had mixed experiences with bugaboo butterfly. It just came out and many people didn't know that it was cabin approved. Sometimes I had to argue to get it on board. Sometimes the airline would limit all hand luggage and therr is nothing you can do.
A baby carrier is crucial if you need to shlep througj the airport and you had to check everything in.