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I have lots of tips! By the time my toddler was 2, he had been on 11 flights, most of which were just me and baby, and he was always a lap child (shared seat). I had sooo much anxiety that first flight I tool alone with baby, but it wasn't neaely as bad as I expected. Here are my best tips:
1. Don't bring a stroller if you're comfortable baby wearing. Baby wearing is a time saver, frees your hands, and allows you to travel with less.
2. Put diaper bag INSIDE a carry on suitcase (along with other carry-on essentials—pack that thing full, they don't weigh domestic carry on luggage) for moving about in the airport more easily and relieving your back from unnecessary weight. When you are about to board / line up to board, however, take your diaper bag OUT of the carry on suitcase, and put the diaper bag on your back. (It is temporarily a bit overwhelming at this point because you have baby + diaper bag + carry on suitcase, but bear with me.) Right when you board the plane, keep your eye open for the first overhead bin you see open, and put your carry on suitcase there (make a mental note of location/bin number) *even if your seat isn't nearby,* and keep the diaper bag with you.
This makes *exiting* the plane easier when you land because when everyone else is waiting to exit, you can focus on baby, packing diaper bag, and getting it back on your back; then when it's your time to exit, just grab your carry on luggage as you're walking off the plane. Once you exit the plane (at your new gate or in the bathroom, after a diaper change) put the diaper bag back in the carry on luggage to again, save your back.
3. Unless you will have help at both your arriving and departing airport (at check-in and baggage claim), make sure you can hold/handle everything on your own. Don't rely on a cart being available. If you're really strong, you can use a carseat cover/carrier that you can carry on your back for short walking stints, allowing you to hold your carry on luggage + your main (checked) luggage, if applicable.
4. I think a flight under 3 hours is doable in seat-sharing. Southwest has open seating—albeit not for much longer—though, making it a possibility that other passengers will avoid sitting next to you and baby if the flight isn't full. This means your toddler could get their own seat, potentially (something I've had a lot of success with).
5. Don't over pack activities/toys for the flight itself. Keep snacks and maybe a novel toy or favorite book. There's a good chance baby won't be interested in the activites/things you planned so pack thoughtfully and minimally.
I don't have any tips. Just sending good wishes to you. I'm sorry you're going through this.
When I flew with solo with baby, I checked the car seat in a padded bag at check in and had one of the fold up travel strollers I could wear as a backpack while I also carried the diaper bag. I wore the baby in the carrier. If I were to do it again, I would have checked both the stroller and the car seat and just had the carrier through the airport. Especially if you don't have a layover, you'll be fine with just the carrier. I used a big lululemon backpack as my diaper bag. Definitely aisle seat, nurse at takeoff and landing. Good luck!
I was just looking at aisle seat towards the back or extra legroom middle seat. Think I'm going to go to the back to have that elbow room. Plus easier diaper changes getting to the back bathroom.
If the flights not full, you can ask them to put you next to an empty seat. Also use a carrier when you need to use your hands. I also always just asked people for help - so many airline employees have held my babies, both at checkin and on the flight. Other parents also are great resources to leverage if you need someone to put something in a bag. Bring extra clothes for you and baby and have the essentials in one bag you can access under your feet. I have nursed both in the seat and then in the bathroom, depending on how the baby felt. Lastly change the diaper before takeoff and landing and make sure they are drinking/ have a pacifier for all changes in altitude.
I don’t think you need a stroller depending on what your plans are when you get there! We also use overnight diapers on flights to be able to hopefully change less (pending no 💩)
If no stroller, did you check your carseat at check in?
Do you have good travel diaper bag recommendations? I feel like all diaper bags are overly bulky with 57 different compartments that you don't really need. People always look like they think my bag is super heavy when in reality it's only a handful of diapers, pack of wipes, and change off clothes. It would take up the entire inside of a carry on and defeat the purpose.
It won't be southwest unfortunately, no direct flights and I refuse to do anything but nonstop with baby. But it is under 3 hours so I have that going for me.
He's so little that I won't need any toys. Which is good and bad I guess. We'll just be trying to snooze the whole time. One reason I'm hesitant on baby wearing is he likes to sleep in it but I want him to save the sleep for the plane.
Yes, I should've mentioned that. Def check your carseat. As for diaper bag, I'm the same—diaper bags have too many compartments, and I used mine for like a month only. If you have an extra work backpack that is sleek, use that (I use my 10 year old Briggs & Riley backpack as a diaper bag).
And yeah, honestly they're easier to travel with when they're babies vs. toddlers. If you can wait to nurse at takeoff, that's ideal since he's likely to sleep right after takeoff. Be aware that you can't baby wear while flying, and the flight attendant will enforce this.