Give Away: Go Go Babyz Infant Cruizer

I am visiting my sister for Thanksgiving. And since I am going for over a week and a half I am flying there and back without my husband.

Here is My Thanksgiving Travel Checklist:
Suitcases
Pack N Play- My toddler still needs the "cage-ness" of a crib to sleep in.
Car seat- I have to have one of these once I get to where I am going. Renting one is almost the cost of buying one!
Stroller- I hate to bring it just for getting through the airport, but since I am pregnant and can't carry my 34 pound toddler in the Ergo like I used to I gotta have a stroller.
Diaper bag- Stuffed to the gills with diapers, snacks galore and some new toys and (crossing my fingers) a Video IPOD with Disney's Cars ready to play.

I don't know about you but that sounds like a heavy, heavy load. And considering the extra baggage costs these days I am not excited about all the gear I need to travel with. Suitcases can become Suitcase. I figured out that I can borrow a Pack n Play from one of my sister's friend. And there is no getting around the car seat and diaper bag. BUT with Go Go Babyz Go Go Kidz Travelmate I can cross the stroller off the list!

With Go Go Babyz Kidz Travelmate I can turn my carseat into a mode of transportation for my child! Jack will be rollin from the taxi to the airplane in the comfort of his carseat while I curbside check my one suitcase, swing my diaper bag over one shoulder, wheel through security and the terminal, and gate check the car seat with Travelmate wheels before we board. Its genius I tell you.

There is no need to remove the Travelmate for use in the car, or the plane for that matter. ** Correction: The Infant Cruizer and Travelmate should be removed before installing the car seat into a car as it has not been tested in car safety tests.** If you have a seat for your child (lucky you!) you can wheel the Travelmate and car seat right onto the plane and buckle it into your child's airplane seat. While the Travelmate is narrow enough to roll down the aisle, your car seat is probably be too wide so you will have to take your child out and have an attendant carry the carseat to your airplane seat.

If you don't have a seat for your child- that's me this upcoming trip- you can gate check the carseat so its ready and waiting when you get off the plane. Go Go Babyz makes a travel cover that I would suggest if you have one of those cutsie $$ covers. Or you can do like my travel expert sister and bring along two heavy duty hefty bags. She slips one over the car seat and ties at the bottom and pulls another over the seat from the bottom and ties at the top.

Once you arrive at your destination, you simply strap your child in their car seat, wheel them to the rental or relative's car and lift the car seat into the car. Since Jack is pretty hefty and the Britax is a fatty car seat I may need some help- or remove him from his seat first. But once you have the wheels on they can stay on.

When we rent a car we can't carry the carseat, Jack, and our luggage through the city to the rental place, so John has to come back to the apartment to pick us and our stuff up. And even then, I have to use a cart to get Jack's carseat downstairs and out to the car on the street. With the Travelmate I can easily wheel Jack in his carseat to the car or rental location.

Lifting babies in and out of cars reminds me of how convenient this product is for city dwellers and any of you who are planning to visit a big city. Usually, we just hop in and hold on to our kids for dear life while the taxi careens around town. For days when you are in and out of a cab the Travelmate makes the carseat more transportable. I wouldn't use it if I had a lot of walking though since its just not made for the city streets.

While the Travelmate may not be a substitute for a stroller out and about in the city, the Infant Cruizer with its 12 all-terrain wheels is. Visit a big city and bring your carseat with Infant Cruizer and you will be set. Take it in and out of taxis or your rental car and wheel your child around your tourist spot. Its nice to be on vacation with less gear and knowing your child is safe when you are in the car.

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Go Go Kidz Travelmate
The Travelmate and Cruizer are both easy to get on and off the carseat should you need to. I have to say that at first it took me a while to figure out the directions and how to put the thing on. But once I did get it put together the instructions seemed really simple in hindsight. The unit can be attached and removed very easily.
The Travelmate is steerable with one hand- like they advertise. But, it is hard to push over bumps (like greater than 1 1/2 inches). So, rather than pushing it in front of you, just swing it around behind you and pull over the bump. The handlebar is adjustable to different lengths and pushes up and down easily with the touch of a button- just like a rolling suitcase.

The Travelmate is made for toddler car seats and is compatible with most car seats. Check out the list here.

Infant Cruizer
What I love about the Infant Cruizer is that its a product you can use from birth on. It is made for infant AND toddler car seats (with an adapter). The Infant Cruizer also has much larger all terrain wheels that make it great for use out and about and make going over bumps easier and smoother. While it makes the whole unit bulkier than the Travelmate, when you compare it to a car seat compatible stroller the carseat with Infant Cruizer is much lighter than a car seat compatible stroller, more compact. Best of all, unlike any stroller, the Infant Cruizer can be used with a toddler seat when you use the adapter. I would also want to wipe off the wheels before I put the carseat with Cruizer into the car.You can use the Infant Cruizer with the following infant car seats:

• Graco Snugride
• Graco Safe Seat (Step 1)
• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio
• Britax Companion
• Combi Centre DX & Shuttle

Who wants a Go Go Babyz Infant Cruizer for their holiday travel? One lucky Citrus will win an Infant Cruizer from Go Go Babyz to make their travel easier and lighter! Just leave a comment and tell us how much you need the Infant Cruizer by Midnight on Tuesday, November 18! Winner will be selected randomly. Thanks Go Go Babyz!