My Tips for Solo Plane Travel with an Infant

A couple of years ago, Spencer and I made the big (and difficult) decision to move a significant distance from both sets of parents. Our parents don’t live close to one another, so no matter where we go, we’re always thousands of kilometers away from at least one set of parents – but we had never been thousands of kilometers away from both sets of parents. Although it was hard, and there are definitely days when I wish we were closer to either set – I know the move was the best decision for us. And even though Sprout wasn’t part of the picture when we made that move – our future family was definitely on our mind when we made the decision.

Now that we’re here – we fly fairly regularly (when there are no global pandemics, at least) to visit both sets of our parents.

Sprout took her first plane ride at 5 months of age to visit Spencer’s family at Christmastime. Spencer and I were travelling together, and it was great to have that support on Sprout’s first flight. This past spring, Sprout and I flew solo to visit my parents and grandparents. She was 9 months old at the time, and although she had done extremely well on her first flight, I was a bit nervous about navigating air travel on my own with her. But! We managed with great success, and I’m definitely not dreading any future solo travel with her.

Here are my top tips:

1. Ditch the Gate Check

Gate checking Sprout’s stroller and carseat was a no-brainer when Spencer and I are travelling together. But when it was just me, managing the kid, stroller, carseat, and carry-on bags independently through the airport was too much to handle. Sprout is hit or miss in the stroller, so I knew there was a good chance I’d end up carrying her in addition to pushing the stroller through the airport. My parents have a stroller they keep at their house, so I ditched ours altogether on this trip.

We opted to check Sprout’s carseat, which was free to do with the airline we flew with. I had kept the box that the carseat came in. I’m glad I did, because I also put my breast-pump and a couple of extra pairs of shoes in the box to save room and weight in my suitcase. Spencer helped me drop off Sprout’s carseat and our checked luggage, and then Sprout and I made our way through the rest of the airport independently with just us and our diaper bag.

2. Wear the Kid

We have a Baby Bjorn carrier that we received as a hand-me-down before Sprout was born and I love it! It’s an older style that is no longer available, but it’s easy to use, lightweight, and speedy to get Sprout in and out of.

I wore Sprout through the airport and I will hands down do it again. It kept her secure, my hands free when I needed them, and she was happy being close to me but also having an unobstructed view of the goings on around her.

3. Pack Infant Medication in the Carry-On

Sprout popped her first tooth four days before we flew and tooth number two was well on it’s way to making an appearance. Every parent’s dream, obviously.

I made sure I had both Tylenol and Motrin available in my carry-on (just in case we got stuck somewhere for extended for an extended period) AND I gave Sprout a dose of Motrin when we got to the airport. She wasn’t super fussy when I gave it to her, I didn’t want to try and draw up the medication on the plane with a fussy infant if I didn’t have to.

4. Snacks, Snacks, and Snacks

We’re still breastfeeding, and Sprout did a good amount of that on the plane (particularly during takeoff and landing), but I also packed some prepared food pouches for the trip. I definitely packed more than I needed, but again – I’d rather be safe than sorry if we got stuck on the tarmac for hours.

I often try and prepare our own food pouches (it’s cheaper and more environmentally friendly IMO), but I also LOVE the Baby Gourmet line. They’re Canadian and women-owned. And I love that they have additions like legumes, quinoa, chia, etc. to add a little bit of extra protein and…umpf…to some of their fruit and veggie purees. I had four of their pouches in my bags for a 2.5 hour plane ride. Sprout ate two. I also brought cheerios and rice crackers, but in the future, I’d skip those for the plane until she’s a bit more dextrous – they’re just too messy.

I also had a few granola bars and easy to open/eat snacks for myself. Plane food isn’t all that easy to consume while holding an infant, and I’m someone who’s prone to hangry episodes, so these were important to have!

5. Pack Some Novel Toys

Instead of buying new toys strictly for the plane, I took some of Sprout’s favourites out of her toy rotation for several weeks before we flew. This way, when I introduced them on the plane, they were novel again and she was excited to see them! This is one of our favourite items – The UFO Toy – it’s marketed as Montessori, but I wouldn’t say it’s 100% a Montessori toy. It is, however, engaging with multiple activities in one. The pop-it toy was also a big hit.

6. Throw the Regular Nap Schedule Out the Window

I’m the first to admit that I LOVE having a daily routine and solid nap schedule. But it really just doesn’t work while travelling. The first morning Sprout and I flew alone, we were up and out of the house by 5:30 to catch our flight, so right off the bat, our whole daily schedule is off.

As a mom who now has six flights with an infant under her belt – I can confidently say that it works well for us to try and stretch wake windows to time naps to happen on the plane. An hour + stretch with a sleeping baby on a plane is bliss! I will continue to do anything possible to max out wake windows to keep Sprout awake prior to boarding so that she is ready to sleep in the air.

7. Pack Your Reusable Water Bottle

Does anyone else find air travel dehydrating? I’ve always felt parched on airplanes. Add in breastfeeding and it’s just a whole other level.

I packed my own Nalgene water bottle and filled it at a fill station past airport security. The idea of an open-cup of any liquid passed to me by the stewardess while holding a very curious 9-month-old was a bit anxiety producing for me. The last thing I wanted was for the passenger next to me to be wearing my drink for the remainder of the flight.

The water bottle was significantly easier (for both my mental well being and my hydration status). And. Bonus for the Baby Bjorn carrier again, if you need to pee mid-flight, you can wear the kid and still wipe. Parents gotta do what parents gotta do, right?

8. Downsize the Diaper Bag

The smaller the bag, the easier to manage. Our flight was short, just under 3 hours. So I knew we couldn’t get into too much trouble. I had a couple of diapers, a couple of toys, Sprout’s food and medication, a couple of granola bars for me, a burp cloth in case of spills, and a change of clothes for her (*just in case).

9. Wear a Lululemon Vinyasa (Snap) Scarf

One of my best tips. I love this thing. It’s a scarf, a blanket, a quick mess wipe up cloth, a breast-feeding cover, a wrap, a sling. You name it, it can pretty much do it. It’s hands down the best travel clothing item I own. Once we’re on the plane and settled, it’s no longer comfortable to have Sprout in the Baby Bjorn. But this thing helps keep her secure, warm, and makes it easier to hold an 18 pound infant for hours at at time.

Have you solo travelled with an infant before? What worked well for you? Please share your tips below!

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