6 tips to survive flying alone with a baby

As if baby’s first plane ride wasn’t terrifying enough (will he/she scream thewhole flight? Poop all over the seat? Vomit on the complete stranger next to us?), there may come a day when you are the only adult flying with your baby. No trusted person to hand them to when you need your hands free. No one to commiserate with when you’re wiping spilled milk from your lap. It’s just you and your spawn. I’m not going to lie, it makes me nervous every time I do it, but just like everything else with having a kid, it is doable. Here are six tips to get you through that first flight alone.

You may feel ridiculous doing it, but before leaving for the airport, make sure you’ve practiced how you will get to ticketing, go through airport security, board the plane, basically everything you will be doing alone with baby that day. If you have a stroller, how will you fold it up while holding baby (hint: carriers and wraps are a lifesaver!)? Can you push a stroller and simultaneously pull a large piece of luggage? I discovered I can’t push my umbrella stroller with one hand, but I can use a sturdier stroller. We all pack differently, so bring what you are physically capable of carrying without the help of a travel partner.

Traveling can be very expensive, so the appeal of saving hundreds of dollars by putting bébé on your lap makes complete sense. But try to imagine getting their bottle ready when it’s shoved under the seat in front of you, baby is on your lap screaming and you have no free hands or someone helping you. Having them safely strapped in their car seat (and hopefully sleeping!) while you have 100 percent use of your hands is priceless.

If an extra seat just isn’t in the budget and baby is on your lap, even paying a little bit more for extra legroom is worth it. Having a few extra inches to maneuver around and not constantly knock the seat in front of you is helpful.

If only those seat pockets could be just a little bit bigger. Space is limited, so what does your baby usually want when they’re crying? A bottle, pacifier, toy, wipes to clean a mess…those should be within easy reach in the seat pocket. Keep everything else under the seat in front of you in a diaper bag. Opening the overhead bin while holding a baby is too difficult.

My son actually hated carriers, but I’d rather have him fuss for a few minutes while I’m loading up the conveyor belt with both hands than attempt to fold up my stroller, remove my shoes and take out the liquids with one hand (tip: sign up for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® to alleviate some of this stress). Keep in mind some international airports will make you take baby out of the carrier, so do this after you’ve loaded everything else on the conveyor belt. I’ve also got other tips on how to get through airport security with a baby here.

No one wants to see a struggling mother. I always think people are just going to shoot daggers with their eyes at me, but I promise people are so much kinder than you think they’ll be. I’m always surprised how many people are willing to lend a helping hand in every aspect of my travels with my son. And if you need any help, feel free to ask a TSA agent, flight attendant and the total stranger sitting next to you. There’s a good chance they’ve been in your shoes. Even that serious-looking businessman may actually have four kids back home and will gladly strike up a conversation about Paw Patrol.

And if all these tips fail and your trip is a hot mess? You’ll never see these people again. Bon voyage!