Question about seating at PIR

[mfrobish]

I want to wear some conservative heels to the graduation to look nice for my sailor : ) However I will be carrying my 3 month old so I want to know if I'll be climbing bleachers or something (I don't want to take a chance with falling). Also, I am taking a shuttle from the hotel to the base and I'll have a car seat with me so does anyone know if their is anywhere I can leave a car seat or do I have to carry it with me the whole time? Please answer if you've been their recently! This is my first time traveling alone, and especially since having the baby I can use all the help I can get! Thanks

[Becky L.]

The seating is in bleachers but if you get there early enough you could end up with the front row. I would suggest driving because the shuttle from my hotel didn't leave until 7 and I wanted to get there earlier. We got there at 6 and there was already a line so I guess its to your own discretion.

[mfrobish]

I wish I could drive but I'm 20 and you have to be 21 to even rent a car : /

[StaceyStan]

I would consider taking a taxi because you want to get there as soon as possible. Also, my daughter who is now 3 and I have been flying since she was 3 weeks old, so I am a pro at the whole flying thing.  You are going to want to take a stroller to PIR, and there is a place that you can leave it off to the side when you come in on the far end. Also, if you have the stroller that the car seat sits into issue solved. Wear SMALL heals for so many reasons. First off, once they call liberty it’s a mad dash to your sailor, and I witnessed more then a few people fall off of the bleachers. I stood up and called for my sailor to come to me because I was not going to risk someone stampeding my daughter. It is a long weight from the time of getting there, and the end of the ceremony. If you had the stroller you could push them around, and not have to hold the baby for 6+ hours.

 

            Also, I assume you are flying there because you will not have a car. The airline will let you have the stroller with you up to the end, and if you have one that collapses it WILL fit through the x-ray machine. Mine folded down with one hand, and it was incredible handy. Also, if there is an open seat on the plane ask the flight attendant if you can have it for the car seat on the plane. They would rather the baby be in a car seat anyway, and was always more then willing to let me change my seat so that I would have an empty one.

 

Bring your ID and have it ready and easy to get to, I brought the birth certificate for my daughter but we didn’t have to show it. I would have it ready anyway to be on the safe side.  

 

Let me know if you have any other questions. It’s an amazing thing to see the faces light up with joy once the child sees Dad and Dad see there child.

[mfrobish]

Thanks so much, yes I am flying and I read that the airport will let you take a stroller or carseat in addition to one carry on bag...but I don't know if they're going to let me bring a car seat and stroller, I was planning on just carrying him, which I know would be a pain but I didnt think I'd be able to take the stroller. So should what time would you recommend I get their? I want to be their as early as possible.

[StaceyStan]

Yes, they will allow both. It’s awesome if it can fold with one hand, that way if you are flying by yourself; you can collapse it and lift it on the x-ray belt yourself. Security won’t hold the baby for you, and most of the time won’t offer any help. As silly as it sounds, practice folding and lifting it while holding the baby. If you have a holder thing that is like a back pack people use, you will have to take it off anyway, so those are hardly worth the trouble in my opinion anyway.  You are allowed to brink a water bottle if you have formula with it. Bring way more formula then you think you will need on the plane. I was once stuck in the airport for 10 hours with my daughter, and I thank my lucky stars I had the extra container of it. Just keep the water bottle handy, and keep it sealed until you are past security. You can buy water back there, but it is cold 90% of the time.  I didn’t sleep a wink the night before, and I was ready to go at 545, and we waited in a LONG line of cars for a good half hour. If you take a taxi I believe that they can just drop you off, and then you can take the shuttle back with your sailor to the hotel.  :-)  Hope this helps, I feel like a pro at the “Single” mom thing… lol… My husband has been gone for about 6 months now, and I am getting to wear MANY hats!  I am here if you need me!!  For your luggage, use one with wheels if possible!!  

[mfrobish]

I actually was planning on wearing a baby carrier, but I'll keep your advice in mind..however my stroller is pretty difficult to fold up and I can't fold it with one hand, so we'll see how that goes. But thanks for everything! I actually just got a call from him! He's finished battle stations and we will be stationed in Norfolk VA..now I'll be on the computer all day seeing what norfolk is like haha

Thanks again!! 

[nicole~a sailors girl(:]

I went to pir 7/29. we got there at 6:20, and the wait was maybe 5 minutes, we were in and seated within 10 minutes. PIR doesnt start until 9, and there is really nothing to go until then, aside of sit. sit, and sit some more. bring a few things to keep the baby occupied, toys, teething, whatever the case may be. I suggest also either bringing a stroller, or a baby carrier, a car seat could be an extreme hassle in the PIR hall, as the bleachers arent really large enough width wise for a carseat to sit safely. Graduation ended around 11 am. The only problem with shuttles is they leave rather quickly once PIR commenses, and you may or may not have time to visit the nex or anything, so I suggest seeing if you could take a taxi back to where ever you're going.