So much to carry...help!

Babysaway.com and littleluggage.com are two websites that you can rent baby equipment from. I've used the babysaway site...and had fabulous results! You can rent everything from cribs, nightlights, monitors, toys, bed rails, etc. They deliver to your travel address, set everything up, and pick up upon your departure. When I was traveling in Maine, the company had everything waiting for me at the car rental place (since I was driving for a couple days before getting to my final destination). No worries about lugging all that stuff with you!! I also use www.diapers.com to send diapers,wipes, sunscreen, shampoo, cleanwell wipes, etc., all ahead of time. $49 or more and they ship for free. I live in San Francisco and order arrives within 2 days of placing the order. It is nice to not have to make a trip to the store as soon as you arrive to your destination. This site has EVERYTHING you will need. Even dry snack food, and sippy cups, and disposable utensils. HAVE FUN!!! I just came back from a week long trip solo with my 3yo and took only a carry on tote bag with our clothes. Did not want to have to deal with retreaving luggage with little in tow. Make sure to take plenty of "new" never seen little books/stickers, doll/car...to keep busy during the flight. portable mini DVD player is also reccomended for the flight to keep tot occupied. Have fun!

I have done the same - used baby rental for the big stuff. Along with UPS my clothing (just use a box, not a suitecase) and everything arrives a day or so before you do. Ship it home too just to make life easier - that way I just have carry ons and persons to worry about.

As for disposables (diapers, wipes) and snacks.....stop at a local store and buy what you need for the trip while you are there (of course be sure to enough for a day or so with you in case of unexpected travel issues.

Good luck and remember that even if you forget something you think you can't live without, you probably can....and if not, there are stores in Cali!

If you will have access to laundry at your destination, you can just pack for 3 days and do laundry as you go, which helps lighten the load tremendously! Agree with the previous posters, rent equipment like pack & plays or see if they have one available for use/rental where you are staying.

I agree. Traveling with a pack and play, especially in the era of time consuming security procedures at the airport, is such a hassle. I would also suggest a REALLY lightweight stroller for the airport, and a diaper bag with only the essentials for a day. I sometimes bring an extra outfit for the kids that can be tightly rolled, just in case my luggage is lost. I bring an extra shirt and underwear for me, or a little dress--anything that can be tightly rolled and not take up any space. Backpack diaper bags are GREAT for freeing up your hands. I've never used babysaway.com, littleluggage.com or diapers.com when I travel, BUT I WILL NOW! If you need to rent a car, many of the rental agencies will throw in a carseat free, or at a discount. Have fun!

Since your son is 2, he will have his own seat on the plane. I would highly recommend bringing his car seat that you use at home and using it on the plane. The FAA recommends kids under 40lbs use an airline approved CRS on airplanes. see here:http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ In addition, to it being safest for your son, there are also a few other good reasons to take your own seat:
*airlines consider car seats to be "fragile" and will not reimburse if one is damaged. Bringing it on board insures it will not be damaged.
*your car seat is familiar to you, and your child. You will be much more likely to install and use your own seat correctly.
*renting a car seat is a big risk. Here is a great blog about rental car seats: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/2008/jul/27/danger-rent-car-rental-agency-puts-infant-risk/

I do not intend to start a debate on this issue, it's just something I personally feel strongly about and wanted to offer up some more detailed information. I wouldn't put my childs safety in someone elses hands for convenience sake. JMHO.

I have gotten my car seat through the airport a few different ways. There are car seat bags you can buy that have back pack straps and/or wheels. There's a device called a pac-back (pacback.com) that turns the car seat into a back pack. My favorite is to put the car seat on a cheap but sturdy metal luggage cart. You have to be a little selective about the luggage cart, but if you get the right kind, you can turn your car seat into a two wheeled stroller to get the seat and the child through the airport.

I have also bungeed the car seat back to back with my umbrella stroller, which actually worked pretty good! It may not work with all stroller/car seat combinations though. I had a Maclaren-like umbrella stroller and a Cosco Scenera 5pt car seat.

OTOH, I think renting baby equipment like pack n plays is a great idea. When ds was in diapers, I have dealt with this a couple of ways. If I could, I'd buy some when I reached my destination if I could stop at a store. If you're using a town car service, many will allow one stop on the way to the hotel, you just have to ask! If I had to pack diapers, I would split up the packs, placing smaller bundles into ziploc baggies to protect them in case the suitcase got wet, and then spread the packets out using the smaller zipper pockets on the outside of the case. No one is going to steal diapers, and if they did, well, I guess they must have needed them more than I did! :-p lol

I always use a backpack for a carry on...no purse. Of course if you're going to put the car seat in a bag, then you can also stuff a lot of other stuff in there with it. There will be room.

hth!

I love the rental idea as you have to pay for luggage anyways in most airlines these days. IF I have friends with kids near where I am going, I sometimes borrow the big stuff from them... such as pack and play...

thank you so much for your help!!! Such great suggestions on renting the big stuff and looking for a place with laundry facilities. I wondering does anyone have tips about bare essentials for stuff like first aid kit and toiletries for a toddler? Do you guys bring toys along or just rent those as well?

Since your son has his own seat, he can also have his own carry on. My two year old loves carrying his own little backpack on the plane. A couple diapers and a little book are light enough. Just make sure to explain that it will go through security on the belt. He cried "My backpack! my backpack" when it went through the x-ray machine. And, if you don't want to lug a whole DVD player, I use my video ipod and download episodes of Sesame Street or Thomas the Tank Engine for $1.99 each at itunes. As for toys, you can improvise on the plane- cups make good toys, and so do fingers. Draw little faces on the pads of your fingers and his and have a little puppet show. Other good suggestions I've seen - definately DON'T PACK DIAPERS! Delivery or getting them at a store in CA is best. And, the extra pair of clothes for both of you. That's a must.

Just saw the post about the carseat. I bring my own if I can. I found a second hand duffle bag that the carseat will fit in and then check it with my luggage. The carseat is such an odd shape that once its in the duffle bag, there are lots of empty spaces to stuff blankets or clothes or anything unbreakable. Good luck, and you'll be so amazed at how helpful people are in the airport. One man saw I was traveling alone and said "I have that same type of stroller for my boys, if you'd like, I'll fold it for you when you get to the plane and hand it to the flight attendant to stow below." It was awesome... especially since it was the type of airport where you have to walk onto the tarmack and up the stairs to get on the plane. Another time, I sat by two grandmas on the plane. Between the two of them, they entertained my son and even walked the aisles with him when he got fussy.

If your staying at a hotel - they can usually provide you with cribs so you don't have to bring your own so that covers the pack and play. Secondly you can rent a car seat if you are renting a car - if you're not renting a car then you can rent some baby equipment from the site someone mentioned. Toys are not too much of a necessity - a few favorite toys will go a long way paper/notebook and crayons are a must. Don't pack diapers!! Just pack enough for the trip but buy then when you get to your destination!!

My bags are getting lighter and lighter. Thanks for all these quick responses. Love this site!

We are always amazed at how few toys we are able to entertain our son with when we are traveling. I would suggest a mix of "old trusties" and never seen before toys. And, if you can, pack some "never seen before" toys away and save them for the flight back. A recent hit for us when we flew out west with our 22 month old was a small metal pencil blocks with a few magnets in it. It's self containing and entertaining!
If you have a DVD player, I definitely recommend you bring it. If you don't, consider getting one. Especially if your flight is long. Again, mix the old trusties and the brand new (my son is LOVING the slapstick humor of Pingu right now and could watch it forever if I'd let him).

As for first aid, I don't leave home without Tylenol, Motrin (dropper), clippers, thermometer & covers, and diaper cream. Those are the things that you don't want to be running around town trying to buy when you need them.
Finally, TSA will let you through security with a filled sippy cup or other container, but some airports are picky and will make you toss anything prepackaged (like juice or milk boxes), you just have to pull it out of the bag and declare it. Starbucks carries Horizon milk and you can find Apple juice in the airport easily, but you definitely don't want to board the plane without something for him to drink and eat. Hope all this advice isn't too overwhelming! Just remember that kids are highly adaptive and can make it fine without some of the usual "extras" they have at home, because he'll be so excited by all the new things he's experiencing (like the airport shuttles and trams...no one in their right mind loves to change gates at an airport except a toddler).

Wow, you guys are amazing. Great tips! AJ - I got a a chuckle out of your story about your son exclaiming, "my backpack! my backpack!" I can definitely see my just turned 3 year old son yelling that!