So You're Flying with an Infant ALONE: UPDATED TIPS

During ODP’s first summer, he went on 8 plane rides. I wrote some tips pretty soon after we started air traveling with him and updated them when I took him out on my own. When it comes to baby things, the landscape is ever-evolving and lots of products are coming out to make it all easier. Like this thing—the Wayb PICO light-weight car and plane seat and this Stokke JetKids suitcase/bed box that looks like a great idea for longer hauls. If I were to do it often, I would get the Doona car seat/stroller combo, too, so you don’t have to separate them and carry two separate pieces, especially solo. You should see my biceps.

I took Baby B on her first plane ride last month and we did it solo. My original solo travel tips still apply and she was a total champ. I made sure to really take my time with each step, not letting people crowding me in the security line make me anxious. Even the TSA guy commented on how well I did with a particularly annoying lady behind me at SFO.

The main new tip I have is if you’re traveling from the airport to somewhere that has some level of courtesy van or bus option, TAKE IT. Even if it takes longer. Especially if you don’t have to take baby out of your carrier and put him/her in the carseat. We rode a bus to Marin County and Baby B stayed in her carrier asleep on my chest the whole ride. It was so much easier than a lot of transfers between carrying devices, although if you’re just taking a short Uber ride, carseat is great. I didn’t take her out of her carrier and put her back in the carseat/stroller combo because I knew I was getting on a bus that wouldn’t require it, but if I had taken an Uber, I would have loaded her up after hitting the nursing room.

Your travel, your rules, but I hope these tips help! I’d love to hear yours too.