Eight Tips For Flying Solo with a Baby
When we found out we were pregnant, we felt like immediately everyone started telling us how different our lives would be. How we wouldn’t be able to do the things we love, which for me, means traveling. And so far, that hasn’t been farther from the truth. Cal has been on nine trips so far across the country, the longest being our flight to Hawaii.
I have spent the last twelve years of my life traveling. From living in Ireland at 18, to traveling to Africa every summer in college, and then traveling for my career the years after, entering another culture and embracing adventure is engrained in who I am. I couldn’t imagine a life without that.
But for many people, travel isn’t as common and it is nerve-wracking. I have spoken to several friends who have a lot of anxiety about getting on a plane for a first time or even taking a trip, so I wanted to share just a few of the techniques I have learned in my time traveling with Cal + my #1 tip if you make it to the end.
Tip 1: Buying your ticket - Planning WHEN you are going to travel is half the battle.
For us, we keep Cal on a schedule. We follow Taking Cara Babies Sleep Plan and it has worked great for us (but you-do-you). I have found that if I can book flights when I know he will be napping is great. If I know he naps around 10, I try to avoid that be when we are waiting at the airport as much as possible. BUT I have found some of the best times to fly are in the early am, he is usually tired enough to fall back asleep + then red eyes! Both make me tired but have a sleepy baby for the flight is WAY worth it.
To get an infant on your ticket: all you have to do is call and they will add them on! They fly for free until 2, so unless you want to buy them a seat, then you are good to go just calling a few days before! (You CAN add at the counter but it does take a few minutes).
Tip 2: Try to organize everything as much as possible before heading out the door. Use Plastic Bags!
Usually, I am pretty minimalist when it comes to things like plastic bags + I am not hugely organized BUT this is a serious game changer when it comes to traveling. Below, are what I pack and how I carry them. Usually, I have 1 checked bag + 2 small carry on bags.
1st Carry On - Bag for under the seat - in this bag I pack everything I would need on the flight. No extras. Just the necessities that can be easily reached. In the bag, I will separate things into individual plastic bags.
A baggy for toys + pacifiers
A bag for snacks
A bag for diapers + wipes + changing pad + change of clothes.
I also pack in the front pocket a sound machine + blanket to cover him for sleeping.
Until about 8 months, I traveled with my Boppy and would nurse him with a blanket over his head and he would fall asleep and could nap. With the boppy, I didn’t need to hold him and could have my hands free which was amazing but alas, all good things must come to an end and that stopped around 8 months or so.
2nd Carry On - Diaper Bag - in here, I keep everything else.
His jacket, extra clothes + wipes,
My laptop + Camera.
Extra change of clothes for me.
Ergo Baby Omni 360. I also always, always carry my Ergo Baby Omni 360 with me. It is amazing to have during travel just in case but also, on the flight if Cal can’t fall asleep, I wait until we take off and put him in that and walk the aisles and usually he falls asleep. It is so nice especially traveling solo with him to have something to hold him with in case I need my hands!
and anything else I may need but isn’t an immediate need in case we can’t get him (because it is difficult to do so).
OH, have YOUR headphones + snack in an easy to reach place + get them out once you get on the flight. In case baby goes to sleep quickly, you want those guys handy!
Checked Bag - I mean, this is pretty standard, but I bring 1 checked bag with all our stuff. All my things and Cal’s. Here I also reuse plastic bags and try and organize his clothes into the bags, which makes our time on our trip so much easier and not as cluttered.
I bring his sound machine - we love our Hatch Rest!
I sometimes also bring his monitor - it is SUPER easy to pack and great to have so I can keep an eye on him at a friend’s house.
Sleep sack/swaddles
Sometimes, I bring his stroller but I ALWAYS bring his carrier. - this is worth noting that I love having his stroller with us. We bring his Uppa Baby and have the travel bag which is covered by insurance and will replace the stroller at NO cost if anything happens while traveling, also, it feels really easy to set up + tear down to me! If I do bring it (especially while traveling solo + if I have a layover) I just pop him in the carrier during set up + tear down of it (takes less than five minutes but give yourself some time). I grab a gate check tag and leave it there and off we go! Never had any issues in all of our travels with this.
Other baby items - just for your head’s up, if you decide to bring other baby items, some of them check for free! Strollers + carseats can be checked at both the gate + counter for free. While pack n play’s you have to pay for. So, keep that in mind when selecting which items to bring. Sometimes, I don’t like the hassle and borrow from friend’s or friends of friends when we get there BUT there are also several services you can rent from! Also, make be sure to grab a carseat cover to keep your carseat safe!
Tip 3: Getting there
Let’s just be real, traveling with a baby requires a lot of stuff. I try to pack as minimally as possible, but even when I am just traveling with a bag + carrier + Cal, it still feels like a lot! And because I always have my laptop + usually camera, I always have an extra bag. So, giving yourself enough time is KEY.
Even if Nick is traveling with me, he usually drops me off at the counter. I check everything in, go through security, use the bathroom/change Cal’s diaper, and he meets me at the gate. For us, this works best because we do not want to haul all our stuff from the parking lot. Sometimes, I will wait for him for security, but that just depends. :)
Tip 4: Get TSA Pre-check + Global Entry - it is worth it!
That is definitely a huge tip. If you have a major credit card like American Express or Chase Reserve, a lot of times, they will cover the cost! But if not, it is worth it to me. Not having to take off your shoes or take out your computer when you are carrying a baby is so worth it.
When you do get to security though, if you have a stroller, you will have to clear everything out + hold the baby to walk through. They will wipe down the stroller (sometimes they make me put it through the scanner but I fight this one and usually they are cool with it.
If baby is in a carrier, same deal, take baby out + put carrier and all bags through. The walk on through.
Tip 4: Going through the airport: Use the bathroom before getting on your flight.
I am the type of person who loves to have as little time in the airport as possible, but lately, I have been really adamant about enough time to go through security, USE the bathroom, change Cal’s diaper, and break down that stroller/carseat + grab a gate check… because it is really tough to do all of that once you are on your flight.
BUT once of my biggest musts is the bathroom.
I like to find the family restroom where, I can change Cal’s diaper, use the bathroom myself while he is in the stroller (or in the carrier - which can be TRICKY) and get my stuff together. Obviously, if Nick or someone else is with me, they can just watch him or help with changing on the flight, but trying to be preemptive in this is super helpful!
ALSO, I grab a few extra disposable changing pads from the bathroom changing station which are amazing for on the flight +throwing out.
Tip 5: Take Off + Landing
You have probably heard this BUT if not, nurse, bottle, or pacifier for take off + landing. It really is a God-send. The pressure will hurt their ears, especially on landing. If baby is already asleep, I will literally put the pacifier in his mouth and encourage sucking just so we don’t encounter any unwanted screaming. :)
Tip 6: On the Flight
For this one, getting through that flight can be tough. I mentioned before, planning around naps is SUPER helpful. But getting them to actually go to sleep, that can be tricky.
For under 6 months - my trick here was around time when they would sleep, I would do these things.
Nurse (or pacifier)
Put blanket over head and shoulder to darken environment
Turn on portable sound machine to block out unwanted noise (ESPECIALLY, those dang announcements).
For 6-12+ - my technique now is to put Cal back in the carrier. His wake window is way larger and sometimes he can fall asleep in my lap, but there is so much stimulation going on (especially if you get seated near the bathroom - glory…) that the carrier with sound machine + pacifier seems to work like a charm these days! But Cal is also, VERY used to sleeping in the carrier, so I would suggest before your trip, practice letting your baby sleep in other environments besides there crib if that is where they are used to being!
When they are awake, I usually rotate between toys + snacks + books + talking walks up and down the aisle. It can be hard, especially when solo but remember to smile, say you are sorry if your baby is really crying but know there isn’t a whole lot you can do.
And ask for help. In my experience the flight attendants have been AMAZING. Even holding Cal when I need help and I don’t have any. Especially, Delta - I love you.
Tip 7: Layovers
And lastly, here are a few handy things about layovers.
Bring a blanket to lay on the floor. Whether they crawl or not, it is nice to give them a change of scenery and you a break, especially if you don’t have your stroller.
Go on a long stroller walk - Cal loves to people watch so I just know if I have a long one we are going to go for a stroll to kill the time!
Bring gloves if they crawl! This was an amazing tip given to me by a friend! If you have a crawler, let them be free! Just put some baby mittens on them so they don’t touch the nasty floors!
Head to the lounge! If you have a major credit card, changes are you can get into a lounge! But if not, you can get in by paying a fee. The lounges have free food + drinks (hello, champagne which you deserve after traveling solo with baby) and sometimes they have a kids zone! There you can let the babies play a little more free and have some more space yourself!
Tip 8: MY #1 TIP
Traveling will feel hard if you have never done it, that is just it. Anything you haven’t done before feels hard for you and hard for your baby. And with each new phase, you have to adjust and flex and try new things. But my #1 tip in all of this, is
JUST DO IT.
Travel. Adventure. Camp. Book that flight + show your baby the world. Even if they cry, even if they have one hard day, it will be ok. They will be ok. They will still love you and it will be worth it.
There really is nothing like getting to see the world through your child’s eyes, even a baby’s eyes. Watching them interact with strangers, watching them see the oceans or a loved one for the first time, and getting to create memories (even that they won’t remember) but you will for a lifetime.
So, just do it!
Overall, every baby is different and every parent is different. There are probably about a million little tricks that work in traveling and I hope the few help some of you get out there and not feel quite as much anxiety about going!
If you have other tips OR comments, leave them below! I love to hear from you all!
