Doona - Doona X

I have a Doona that I use for right now and I used it on a recent trip with my baby, I wore him in the airports and out and about and threw my bag into the stroller. when I was with my parents I just left it in the car

we use it as the main car seat and we also have another one for when he’s a bit bigger, but I reallllly love the Doona cause it’s just so easy haha

Doona car seat is worth every penny. Having a built in stroller is a game changer.

Flight to the UK, here. Oh we had a lot of attitude when we brought our approved-for-plane Doona onboard. The flight attendant was so snooty about it too. "You'll never fit it on the seat" he told us. Except it fit on the seat perfectly. Showed him the sticker and everything. He left in a huff. Though, they had the last laugh because the second pram we actually had checked as baggage got lost. It was with Norwegian Air and I was so salty about the whole thing I never flew with them again.

I have and love my Doona but it’s really only for car/plane/cab/and quick errands. Great for running to the pediatrician or the bank. Terrible for going on walks etc. It’s a pretty rough ride over anything but very smooth pavement, and has a fairly short handle for pushing. If you’re not even planning to use it as a plane seat I definitely wouldn’t spend the money. ETA it can barely handle the grass in my front yard, it will definitely be a rough go in snow and mud. If you’re used to a real stroller I think you’ll hate it.

The Doona. It’s amazing that first year.

Another doona user We have a doona specifically for travel and as a backup/spare. We have a Chicco keyfit 35 as our main car seat Doona is great for getting through the airport and to a family member home. We still generally baby carry most of the time but the doona can fit through a TSA scanner, it's easy to wheel through the airport, and can easily be checked (they make nice bags for them). It can also be secured without a base (with just a seatbelt) so we can easily get it secured in a relative's car, Uber, or rental without needing to worry about exactly what car is showing up We got ours for around $300 with a base locally with a 2028 expiration date and plan to resell for $200 once our baby outgrows it

As far as car seats go, there are some travel car seats like the RideSafer on Amazon that are easy to pack and take with. There are weight requirements for them, so not sure on the 1yr old, but the 4yr old is probably a good fit. If you don’t want to spend more money on that, your other option is to get car seat bags and check them on your flight to Florida. Obviously there’s pros and cons to that as well. We have two kids, 9mo and 2.5yrs, we took our Doona car seat and a RideSafer on the last trip, it works fairly well. Pro tip: get the RideSafer out and adjusted at home before you leave on your trip. Trying to harness up the little one right before you leave is not a fun experience… For transportation, you can do an Uber XL or hire a private shuttle. Some hotels near the ports will have shuttle service, but you’ll want to call in advance to confirm. Typically shuttles range from $15-25 per person. Privacy will totally depend on your party size, your willingness to pay a bit extra, and if there are other travelers in your hotel. When traveling for a cruise, especially with kids, I’d recommend coming in the night before and staying at a hotel so you have some flexibility and don’t miss your embarkation.

I got a Doona to make my life easy until I absolutely need something bigger. It’s amazing!

Absolutely love our Doona

Are you willing to carry around your car seat and possibly stroller all day? I went on trip lugging both around, it was such a hassle that I eventually rented the Doona overseas.  You could consider renting the Doona just for your trip too. My baby is around your baby’s length and it was only slightly cramped. (Our longest car ride was 1 hour, it wasn’t that bad for baby.)