Overseas flight with toddler while pregnant. Alone

[twoslicehilly]

When I'm about 7 months pregnant, I'm heading from Japan to the states to visit my family for about a month. I also have a very active 2 1/2 year old, and I'll be going alone since my H will be working.

We're flying United, but I'm getting more concerned with how to restrain my DD. She does best in her carseat. But the thought of adding a carseat to the mayhem of the trip makes me want to puke a little. ( the extra weight, lugging it around during a 7 hour layover, her kicking the seat in front of us) The CARES restraint looks good, but it's expensive for something we may only use once, and it doesn't have a strap for between her legs, giving her less support, and a fantastic way to wriggle out.

Any one have experience or tips? I should be able to wear her out pretty well before we get on our longest flight. ( leaving the house at 4:30 am, not leaving Tokyo until around 4 that afternoon) But I'm worried with out the carseat I won't be able to get her to sleep. I checked online and they recommend you bring a carseat, but it didn't look as if they provided one like they do in Japan.

[frlcb]

Get the CARES. You can rent one off ebay if you don't want to buy one. We have used them on international flights multiple times and my son has never slid out of it or wriggled out of it.

[scorpio72]

I agree, get a CARES harness, even if you just rent it.

I have an extremely active (running from the time he gets up until bedtime) almost 3 year old and we've used it numerous times with no problems. He stayed in it even when he was pitching a massive temper tantrum about turning off the Ipad.

In your situation I can't imagine trying to lug a carseat on the plane.

[basilosaurus]

Luckily the Japanese are wonderfully helpful

I'm assuming you're going through Narita? There's a kid's playground area there. I want to say it's right near the udon shop I loved, but it's been a couple years since I've been there, so my memory is hazy. Actually, there might be more than 1.

Outside of security there are a ton of shops and restaurants (and free luggage carts). It's actually pretty quick going through passport control there, at least IME, and unlike TSA, they're nice and will help you with your stuff. Also, they usually don't make you take off your shoes, and if they do, they have slippers. Not that that helps with your kid, but I appreciate it.

[Shreddingbetty]

Buy the CARES harness. Even if you only use it once you could resell it on eBay for close to original price. I tried finding a used one on eBay and even the one without the bag/DVD (so just the actual strap that was used) went for like $50. We just used ours for the first time this past weekend. Granted it was just on a domestic flight but DD did fine. The other option would be the gogo baby to haul your carseat around (I just throw my carry-on on there) but I have found that even on a 767 you can't roll it though the aisles so that would probably not be useful in your case (unless someone is willing to help).
I know fricb has mentioned in the past that her kiddo slept fine with the CARES harness. I haven't been on a long enough flight yet to test that but otherwise I do like it. And it is easy to install.

[twoslicehilly]

Thanks every one!! I really appreciate the advice. Sibil, I loved the Tokyo airport last time we were going through! SO much shopping! I know going through Japan will be fine, going to borrow a stroller, they'll provide a carseat from Hiro- Narita, but coming back will be more difficult I think. Looks like I'll be ordering the harness soon.

[Deleted]

If you decide to bring the car seat (which I think is a really bad idea if you don't get a bulkehad seat because it leaves the kid in prime seat kicking position), there are products to attach to the car seat to make it a stroller. We have this one:

www.gogobabyz.com/products-c26-gogo_Kidz_Travelmate.aspx

It worked like a charm until you got on the plane then it wouldn't fit down the aisle easily We would just step to the side really quickly before getting on the plane and remove it then ask the stewardess to store it right at the front then do the same thing in reverse.

They also have one that will attach the car seat to your carry on but I don't have any experience with that:

www.gogobabyz.com/products-c41-Car_Seat_Luggage_Strap.aspx

We also had a Trunki so my son could ride through the airport.

trunki.com/

By 3, this was my favorite option BUT it was a little bit difficult to open and close the trunki once on the airplane so what we ended up doing is getting a cinch sak, stuck all his toys in it then in the trunki and put the sack under the seat for him to reach toys.

Also, the following things were always my savior on long plane rides:

-IPAD (he wouldn't wear ear phones but if you turn the volume way down, no one around us could hear it over the noise of the plane)....don't let them see it until you can use electronic devices though because that would just anger my son when we had to put it away.
-Stickers (we let him put them all over himself and us and sometimes the seats (we would just pry them off before they got really super sticky and became a permanent fixture on the seat)
-Gummies (he loves loves loves gummies and I find them much easier than lollypops for take off and landing to help with ear pressure)

Good luck!

[basilosaurus]

Jun 7, 2012 9:03:24 GMT -5 twoslicehilly said:

I know going through Japan will be fine, going to borrow a stroller, they'll provide a carseat from Hiro- Narita, but coming back will be more difficult I think.

I don't know what your experience was arriving the first time, but my friends with kids were always taken to the front of the immigration line.

Plus, when you're collecting your bags, the customs agents are super helpful. H once forgot a small bag when he walked out, so he walked back through the do not enter doors, and when they followed him and questioned him about it, multiple agents helped him search for the lost bag. I freaking love japan.

[twoslicehilly]

I just had a huge, holy shit surprise, taking a load off. My parents wait listed us for first class, and our flight back has already been upgraded. It's going to make the trip SO so so much easier!!! Also, I ordered the harness and got an iPad. I think we are making progress towards an easier trip!!