9 Tips for Traveling Alone with an Infant or Toddler
My trip to Chicago for BlogHer and TBEX was not only Eilan's first flight, but also the first time the two of us have flown alone together. Luckily Eilan slept through the flights themselves. Still - getting into and out of town was tricky. I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks for traveling solo with a baby or young child.
Pack Light
I have always advocated packing light when you travel with kids, and that is even more important to pack light when you will be the only person carrying everything. For this trip, I packed a rolling bag and a laptop bag. The rolling bag contained our clothing and went in the overhead bin. The laptop bag had both my laptop and all the baby items I might need in flight.
I did not bring a carseat or stroller. Instead, Eilan snuggled up in a sling as I strode through the airport, onto the CTA train, and into town. That turned out to be a wise choice. Not only did I avoid having to push a stroller and pull a suitcase at the same time, but I also avoided the heavy Chicago traffic that ensnared almost everyone else as they headed to BlogHer.
Everything in its Place
Think carefully about what you will need en-route and when you will need it. You don't want to be digging around in the bottom of your carryon bag looking for wipes while your child is balanced on your lap with an about-to-explode diaper at 10,000 feet. I carried two diapers, a small pack of wipes, and a disposable changing pad in the pocket of my sling so that I would always have easy access to them. My ID, boarding passes, Kindle and itinerary information were all in the outside pocket of my carry-on bag.
Ask for Help
Certainly you don't want to be the person handing the flight attendant a dirty diaper while she's in the middle of meal service, but that doesn't mean that you can't ask for a little extra help. Most flight attendants are incredibly gracious when you are traveling alone with children. If you are nursing and need cup of water before takeoff or something else that's a little out of the usual routine, don't be afraid to ask.
Allow Extra Time
You never know when a diaper blowout, a sudden need to nurse, or some other drama might slow you down. With no other adult on hand, it's harder to power-through or to split up the work. Instead, allow extra time at the airport just in case. You can always use that time to put your child to sleep, stretch your legs, grab a snack, or allow your child to run a little before boarding.
Plan Ahead
For me, there are few things more stressful than trying to find my way around in a strange city while one of my children is on the verge of an impatient meltdown. Before you leave home, figure out exactly how you will get from the airport to your hotel or vacation rental. Google Maps makes it easy to find public transit directions in most major cities, but even if you plan to take a car into town, you should know whether a cab or car service is the best deal.
Reserve a Crib
Even if you plan to co-sleep, it's nice to have a safe place to put a young child while you shower or get ready for your day. If you reserve a handicapped room, you might even be able to wheel the crib right into the bathroom while you get ready.
Pack a Snack
When I arrived in Chicago, the first thing I did was to head to a nearby market and pick up some healthy snacks. I'm far too frugal to order room service very often or eat snacks from the minibar, which means that if I'm stuck in the hotel room with a sleeping child, I need to have a snack close-at-hand.
Consider an Airport Hotel
If you have an early morning or late night flight, you might consider staying at the airport for that one night. On this trip, I spent my last night at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport which was connected directly to the airport via a walkway. In the morning, I just packed up and walked to my gate without worrying about transit times or delays.
Have an Escape Hatch
On this trip, because I knew that I couldn't participate fully in TBEX with a baby along, my nanny flew out to meet me. Another option is to research local nanny services before you go or ask friends who live in the area for a babysitter referral.
Do you have tips that worked well for you when traveling as a solo parent?
Related LinksFlying With Babies, Toddlers and Kids
Naptime and Bedtime on a Family Vacation
Packing Lists for Travel With Kids
Breeze Through Airport Security (TSA) With Kids
4 comments |
Posted on August 4, 2009 |
Save to del.icio.us
Subscribe to our feed
Comments
Penny on August 5, 2009 at 4:58 a.m.
Hi, my 7 year old daughter has averaged 10 flights a year, poor chick. I have a few other tips, that we've used especially when she was a baby or toddler:
1. Try asking for bulkhead seats in a row beside a window. It gives the child more space and fewer people in the general area.
2. We've rigged our flights and her schedule in such a way that we knew she would have maximum sleep time on the plane - it was worth it, even at the cost of flying to Europe from the East Coast via Chicago.
3. We often needed to carry a carseat because we we borrowing, not renting cars at the other end. My husband screwed little wheels to the base of the carseat and we tied a rope to the front. We used that to wheel her through the miles of airport corridor.
4. Except for a very short stay, I always prefer self-catering options when I'm travelling with a child. You get more flexibility, more privacy and sometimes better prices.
Emily E. on August 5, 2009 at 6:10 a.m.
Great advice. I've done a couple of solo flights with my daughter- the last one just two days ago. Unfortunately, she was not feeling well and cried most of the time. We were lucky and the flight was only half full so we had our own row, which helped a lot!
My only advice is to make sure you accept help when people offer it! I've found that 90% of the time, people will volunteer to carry your bag, or give up their seat on a train, etc if you are travelling alone with a child. Usually you don't even have to ask- people are far more courteous than they are usually given credit for. :D
Debbie on August 5, 2009 at 2:10 p.m.
Great advice!
Emily, you're right - the people sitting around me were incredibly helpful during both flights. It's not easy to sit next to a baby, and they really went the extra mile to help me out when I needed it.
Anna on August 1, 2011 at 4:18 p.m.
Hello. I know u posted this couple years ago but I have a few questions. I'm traveling solo with my 7 month old from NYC to india with one stopover. I'm concerned as this would be peak season for travel to india and flights will be full.
I have traveled with her with help for a 3hr flight last month. But I've never done solo with her and not for a 20hr flight time plus layover of 2hrs.
I'm really stressed out and could some advice. Please help!