I’m giving you permission: Do what works for you! These are tips that have helped me in my own single mom travels with my baby girl. Some will work for you, some you won’t want, and that is A-OK. Whether you’re a single mom by choice or by circumstances, or even if you’re just taking your first trip with the baby but without your spouse, this post will have something helpful in it that you can use. Need a single mom hack? Here are the best ones for traveling with a baby.
Use a Swaddle as a Scarf
This is my favorite single mom hack. Instead of fighting the drool, just let your baby lean on your scarf (swaddle) and do what they’re going to do anyway. Leaning on you gives your baby comfort, which is always helpful on a travel day. I used to walk around with a big, wet spot on the front of my shirt, and I was constantly pulling out a swaddle to wipe her mouth and chin. That is, until I realized there was a much better solution: Just wear the swaddle. They make such cute ones with pretty patterns, why not make one part of your travel day outfit?
More here: 7 Reasons Why Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
Check the Carseat and Load up the Bag
You only have so many hands, right? As much as I hate to check anything, I’ve had to check the car seat often enough that I see the value in that. You can check a car seat for free on most airlines (always check the airline’s website to make sure), so take advantage of that benefit. But the real single mom hack? Fill up the car seat bag. Diapers, wipes, a packing cube full of clothes–put them all in the bag and make more room in your luggage!
Keep reading: How to Get Your Baby’s First Passport
Check some Luggage
I used to be a carry-on only traveler, for nearly two decades. Now that I’m a single parent, however, that’s not always possible. I mean, maybe, if I wanted to buy a bunch of stuff when I arrive at a location or rent a bunch of gear with babyquip.com, sure, I could probably make it work. But I don’t want to do that everywhere I go. It’s okay to check luggage if you need to, or even if you just want to. Take a load off, plan checking luggage into your travel budget if you can’t check one for free, and have a less stressful travel day. (Make sure to throw an AirTag into your luggage, just in case!) You may not think of this as a single mom hack, but for a carry-on only die hard traveler, it’s a hack to me!
Also helpful: The Pros and Cons of Checking Luggage
Bring Snacks for You
You probably remembered snacks for the baby (fruit, melts, puffs, pouches, etc.), but what about you? I always throw a couple of (actually tasty) protein bars in the diaper bag for myself. No one needs to be hangry on a travel day! Even if I have access to an airline lounge with free food, I still bring airplane snacks for myself. My late husband always had food on-hand in his backpack, and it saved me from being a hangry mess on many a long-haul flight or tight connection with no time to stop for airport food. Now, it’s all down to me, so I make sure to have some snacks.
More here: The Best Airplane Snacks for Babies and Toddlers
Treat Yourself
Find a way to enjoy the process. Travel days are unpredictable, stressful, and truly exhausting, so make sure you find some joy in it–even if you can’t really relax with baby in tow! Get a credit card that lets you into a club or lounge for free, treat yourself to that fancy coffee you never get at home. Download that audiobook you really wish you had time to read, and listen to it all day, from the time you finish security to the time you get to your destination. Single mom hack: Give yourself something to look forward to on your travel days!
Read next: How Single Parents Can Treat Themselves on Travel
Accept Help
I know you can do it on your own, and I am not underestimating you. Assume that others feel the same. Accept help when it’s offered, even if you don’t “technically” need it. I’ve let kindly gentlemen–and ladies–help me put my roll-aboard in the overhead bin, and I’ve let them help me take it out. I’ve let a nice man tote my car seat down the jet bridge to gate check it, even though I could have dragged it myself. With so much you have to do on your own, and all the impossible things you have to figure out so often, take the help where you can get it. People see a mom traveling on their own, and it reminds them of traveling with their own kids. Or it makes them feel dashing. Or they were just raised in a way that they believe it’s the right thing to do. Let them do it!
Keep reading: What to Do When There’s No One to Watch Your Baby on Travel
Give Yourself Extra Time
Don’t take the 8:00am flight if you don’t have to. Get there the full two hours early. Don’t make yourself rush if you can avoid it at all. It’s not always possible, but if you don’t have to rush through security, you’ll feel less flustered. If you don’t have to run to your gate and worry about missing that flight, don’t. You already have way more to juggle than the average traveler, so don’t make your travel day harder by robbing yourself of that extra cushion time!
Also this: Tips for Taking Uber with a Baby
Want more? Check out my Single Parent Travel Page!
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