How to Fly Solo with an Infant and Live to Tell About It

Back in October, I traveled solo with Mila for 15 hours from Hamburg, Germany to Los Angeles, California. It took weeks of mental preparation, research, and countless packing lists before I gained the courage to make the journey.

Mila was six months old at the time and this was her first time on a plane, as well as her first time traveling such a huge distance over such a long period of time. I had to consider time change, packing necessities, and of course COVID. It was a journey I was preparing for weeks in advance, but all in all, it turned out to be pretty great!

I've created my must-haves and to-do lists for flying with a baby. For this solo journey, it was important to me to travel light as I would have a baby to worry about carrying around on top of any excess baggage. If you read no further than this, at least follow this hack:

Check your suitcases and your car seat before going through security. For the remainder of the journey, only carry your travel stroller, one backpack diaper bag, one small purse, and your baby. You'll thank me later!

Now for the essential...

Diaper Bag Packing List:

• Diapers - I packed one per hour of travel which of course ended up being way too much, but you must prepare for the possibility of multiple blowouts while flying! This is common and the last thing you need is to run out of diapers while 30,000 feet in the air.

• Wipes - One big package (we use water wipes and there were 60 in one pack) was extremely beneficial for not only diaper changes but also cleanups and wiping toys down as well.

• Extra clothes for baby - For our 15-hour journey, I packed 3 changes of clothes. Personally, I found that footsie pajamas and a onesie underneath was the most practical. This allowed for her feet to always be covered and I didn't have to deal with the hassle of losing a sock every second.

• Change of clothes for yourself - Something I would not have thought of myself, but highly recommend in case of an explosion on you! I packed an extra pair of leggings and a light t-shirt so it was not bulky and taking up too much space.

• Ziplock bags - Travel size ziplocks are super helpful for liquids you will be taking through security, but they are also great for pre-packing your diapers, wipes, and change of clothes for an easy trip to the bathroom. I pre-packed three ziplock bags with one diaper, wipes, and a change of onesie and sleeper each. This made it super easy to grab it out of the diaper bag without having to take the whole diaper bag with me to the small airplane bathroom. Having some extra empty ziplocks will also help for disposing of soiled clothes if necessary.

• Toys - I brought two new toys that Mila had never seen before and two of her favorite toys. This was plenty to keep her occupied! Remember that the TV screen on the seat and the scenery around you will also be entertaining for them as well.

• Pacifiers - I brought three pacifiers with pacifier clips to keep them safe from falling on the ground. These were a must-have for napping, basic soothing, and helping to keep her ears from hurting during take-off and landing.

• Changing pad - The airplane bathrooms had changing tables, but there was nothing to lay over it, so disposable changing pads were extremely helpful! If you are fortunate to have an empty seat next to you, you can also change the baby there if needed, but a changing pad will be necessary either way.

• Sleep sack - If you happen to get an infant bassinet seat, you will have the luxury of putting your baby to "bed." I stuck to our normal routine of putting Mila in her sleep sack and into her bassinet for a nap. It was a little piece of home that made her feel more comfortable.

• Blanket - This ended up being unnecessary as the flight attendants provided us with lots of extra blankets, but in case you don't have this option, a blanket to keep them warm is a great item to pack!

• Medicine - If you have any special medicine for your baby, be sure to bring it with you on the plane! I was happy to have brought her nose drops which helped with the dryness. I also had infant Tylenol and teething tablets just in case!

• Snacks - If your baby is old enough to eat some solid treats, bring them along! We had a fruit pouch and a sippy cup with water which was a nice little treat for Mila. Any teething crackers or other snacks you need, you are free to bring with you through security!

• Hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes - A must in this day and age, but necessary even before 2020! The airline provided us with a lot of hand sanitizer packets and wipes so in case you run out, there will always be more!

• Baby carrier - This is a daily lifesaver in our home and that went for travel as well! I used it to rock Mila to sleep hands-free, carry her on and off the plane while using my free hand to carry the diaper bag and my purse, and put her in it when I needed to use the bathroom. You gotta do what you gotta do, but this will save your life.

• Extra face masks - Obviously times are different and face covering is required for the entire journey. I would recommend bringing extra face masks to switch out in order to feel refreshed.

Before you leave, there are some things you should both do and know before taking on this journey...

Tips and Tricks:

• Request a bassinet seat -After you book your ticket, you can call to request the bassinet seat. This seat is located in the bulkhead row and it attaches to the wall in front of you. The bassinet is available to any adult traveling with a lap infant who is no longer than 65cm and no more than 10kg.

• Use the airport restroom before your flight - Go through security with enough time to make a stop at the family bathroom for yourself and a diaper change for the baby. You will be happy you did!

• Gate check a travel stroller - The perks of gate checking the travel stroller is that you will be able to use it in the airport (and hopefully during any layovers). Luckily for us, we were able to take our foldable travel stroller onto the airplane as it fits in the overhead bins and there was space for it. If you prefer to carry the baby for the entire journey, you are welcome to check the stroller before security as well!

• Take advantage of pre-boarding - When you are traveling with children, you have the advantage of being the first to board the plane. For some people, they don't enjoy having to be on the plane longer than necessary. For me, I enjoyed this perk as I was able to get everything situated before take off without the rush.

• Feed the baby during take-off - In an effort to relieve the possible earaches your baby might experience during takeoff, it's important that they are sucking something during take-off. If you are nursing, prepare to feed your baby right at take off. I found that the perfect moment to begin feeding her was as we approached the runway and the crew took their seats for takeoff. Make sure not to feed too early and miss the chance of helping those ears during takeoff. If your baby is not hungry or you find it easier to give a pacifier or even a bottle, this will do the job too!

• Accept all the help - If you are traveling solo with a baby, you will stand out to the airline crew and they will offer you a lot of assistance. ACCEPT THIS HELP! It is so easy to say, "we are all good," but you'll be so pleased when you accept their offer to carry a bag or fold up a stroller for you.

• Ignore the haters - More than likely there will be that one person that passes a disgusted glance your way when your baby starts to fuss. IGNORE IT. If you take it to heart, you'll only get discouraged and you need all the positivity and good vibes you can get while taking on this journey solo.

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There are a million and one lists you can find on the internet packed with the things you might think you will need for the trip, but remember this: in the end, you will thank yourself for packing light.

If you take nothing else from this list, remember that this will be a long and exhausting journey, but you will be just fine! As soon as I made it through customs and baggage claim, I had help waiting for me and I was able to relax. After all, motherhood is one hell of a journey!

If you have any questions or more tips to add, leave them in the comments below! Safe travels, mama!