by Caryna St. John

Created on: April 18, 2009

How to Travel Alone With an Infant

Traveling with an infant is never easy, but traveling on your own with a child under two can be a challenge that not all moms and dads are up to. If you are planning a voyage that involves just you and a little one, you need to be extremely well organized, travel light, and be willing to find humor in tough situations. If you can manage to do these three things, your voyage should be less stressful and your child less of a handful.

How do I know these things? My daughter just turned 6 months old and has been on ten airplane rides. Although most of these were with her dad as well, the last trip we took alone. Living temporarily in a foreign country has given us the opportunity to become expert travelers. Here I would like to share with you my tips for surviving a voyage with an infant.

Travel Light

If you are on your own with an infant there is no alternative but to travel light. For myself, I have found this system works best. I travel with my baby in a Snuggli facing out so she can people-watch, a backpack diaper bag on my back to balance the baby, and a small rolling suitcase to house all of our belongings. I choose a smallish suitcase that when fully packed will not weigh more than 30 pounds. Finally, I carry all important documents, money, etc. in a small purse that I hold by the strap in one hand.

Bring a Pillow

On the early flights with my daughter we brought along a full-sized pillow. It was perfect for her to snooze on during the flights as a 2-month old. Later, traveling with her as a 6-month old, we graduated to one of the half moon neck pillows that would cradle her head as she slept in my lap.

Bring Cry Stoppers

In my case, I have a baby who tends to cry more than the average infant. In fact, my daughter was suffering with colic when we made many of these trips. Luckily, the noise and motion of an airplane are soothing for a baby and usually lull her to sleep. However, I would not set foot on an airplane without those things that I know will stop her crying. When you are trapped on an airplane you need to have a little ammunition that you know will work. For me, this is a pacifier, her gas medication, and my breasts!

Changing Baby

I have been lucky in that my baby tends to go days without doing a number two in her diaper. What this means is that I can generally restrict diaper changes to the airport and have not needed to try and change her on the airplane. However, if you do need to change your baby on the plane, be considerate of others and use the restroom.

Maintain Your Feeding

If you are breastfeeding do not feel shy about maintaining your feeding schedule even if it means feeding your baby on a cramped plane beside a total stranger. What is the trick to doing this? If you are comfortable without a blanket do not feel that you need to use one to cover up. However, for myself I have found the following works great. I have several large muslin blankets (lightweight fabric like cheesecloth). These are totally breathable and do not make my baby hot. I toss one of these over my baby and she happily feeds free of distractions. I avoid having to deal with potential awkwardness with other passengers. Again, you have the right to breastfeed in public this is just what I have found helps me to make it a more pleasant experience.

These are just a few tips to help you in your quest for an enjoyable trip with your baby. Know that it can be a trying experience but that you can do it on your own. If at any point you feel overwhelmed, simply ask for some help! There are people who will carry your bags, move you to the front of lines, and even keep the seat next to you empty. All you have to do is ask.

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