21 High Suggestions for Flying Solo with a Child to Make the Journey Simpler

Are you planning on flying solo with a child? The considered it could actually appear overwhelming, however with these tried and examined ideas, you could be as ready as doable. You *may* even get pleasure from it!

Flying solo with a child is clearly very totally different relying on the child, and the stage they’re at. I’ve flown with my son Reggie at 4 months, 5 months, and am quickly to once more at 13 months (and once more at 14 months!). I can truthfully say, it wasn’t even practically as dangerous as I believed.

Even with the nappy explosions every manner in a teeny tiny easyJet aircraft rest room.

We bought by way of it. One child outfit down. But it surely made us stronger.

I needed to share my data on flying solo with a child, to assist any potential dad and mom on the market obtain their journey desires, with child in tow. Don’t let the flight get in the way in which of exploration!

From planning your flight, to getting ready simply earlier than, to being within the airport, and ultimately on the flight – right here’s how one can be sure that flying solo with a child goes as seamlessly as doable.

Suggestions for Flying Alone With a Child, With Ease

Planning your flight

1. Guide the child a seat

It’s now £50 on easyJet to guide a child in your lap, return. It could really be cheaper to guide them a seat, which provides you each more room and eliminates the concern of who may very well be sitting subsequent to you.

Might be properly value it.

Once I went to Valencia it was £259 for my outbound flight, in order that was a no – he sat on my lap – however the return was solely £30 so I booked him a seat for the additional fiver. I used to be so grateful to previous Vicky when the flight was full, and I had the house for him to stretch out, and to place his issues inside simpler attain than the ground.

For our upcoming Thessaloniki journey, it was £42 for Reggie’s outbound and return seat. It could’ve been £50 on my lap. Do your analysis!

Underneath 2s ought to ‘fly free’, but when there’s an admin charge like on easyJet, shopping for them a seat simply provides you each that additional little bit of house.

2. Get good journey insurance coverage

In the event you ought to miss a flight or lose something worthwhile, or should cancel, you don’t need the additional trouble of worrying financially. Buy good travel insurance so you will get your a reimbursement, and there’s somebody to assist.

3. Pay for essentially the most handy transfers

Analysis your transfers on the different finish. Belief me, after a solo flight with a child you need to get out of that airport as swiftly and simply as doable. Make it possible for the automotive rental firm you go along with has the suitable seats within the automotive, or deliver your personal if you wish to ensure.

Earlier than the flight

4. Don’t pack an excessive amount of for the cabin

The extra stuff you personal, the extra they personal you.

That was one of many first sayings I ever learn and it’s actually caught with me. By no means extra true than when you will have a child to take care of. In case you have a great deal of stuff then it’s a lot onerous to collect all of it and maintain it collectively, when it is advisable be focussing your vitality on the baby. Pack as calmly as doable, with out forgetting something.

It may be troublesome, I do know.

In the event you’re questioning what to pack within the maintain, try my listing of an important necessities for child journey right here.

5. Deliver cartons and sterilised milk bottles

Deliver extra sterilised milk bottles and milk cartons than you assume you’ll want. You do not need to be sans milk if there are any delays in any respect. Don’t anticipate them to have the ability to sterilise on board both.

6. Put together for all temperatures

Deliver heat hoodies and jumpers for the child, in addition to simple to take away layers. You simply by no means know what that aircraft aircon goes to be like.

7. Select an amazing cabin bag / nappy bag

Monica from The Journey Hack gifted me one in every of these Travel Hack backpacks simply earlier than Reggie was born, and it’s been our go to nappy bag ever since. In reality, it’s wanting a bit battered now.

We adore it due to all of the totally different pockets, which suggests we will discover issues rapidly because of the system I’ve created over the previous 12 months, and you may open it totally which makes issues simpler too. It suits every little thing we want in for the flight for Reggie.

8. Put on a bumbag

I do additionally prefer to put on a bumbag although, to maintain our passports and tickets in a single protected place for simple entry at any alternative.

9. Consider using a pram that’s allowed within the cabin

Is it your first vacation along with your child? It may very well be time to put money into an amazing journey pram.

I didn’t actually take into consideration this for my first journeys, however wanting again it was fairly troublesome to drag my pram aside whereas additionally holding a child. No, nobody provided to assist.

There are some nice prams that may be folded down to slot in the aircraft cabin. This makes it a lot simpler for you on the different finish.

10. Or use a child sling (or each)

I by chance left ours within the automotive on my first flight with Reggie. Gutted!

This was at 4 months when his development was far exceeding my rising arm energy. Making an attempt to carry him as we bought off the aircraft, get on a bus after which by way of the airport until we bought our stuff was killer.

It was a lot simpler second time spherical after I had him in our ergo baby sling.

I wore the sling on the flight which helped him to sleep extra, and for me to carry him securely and safely. He slept by way of the touchdown, the bus, the passport queue and solely woke after I bought to the buggy. It was sensible.

This meant I used to be much more relaxed after I arrived on the mum and child retreat I did close to Valencia, than after I arrived in Sardinia, harassed from carrying a struggling Reggie within the airport queue.

11. Take snacks

For you and the child!

It would look like an excessive amount of effort to stability snack shopping for and travelling so I’d suggest having some with you. That manner if you happen to don’t have the time / vitality to go to a store, you’ll nonetheless eat. It additionally means you’re assured to have the snacks your child will get pleasure from.

Within the airport

If you’re travelling solo with a child, there are just a few tips I’ve discovered for the airport to make your life simpler.

12. Intention to reach early

If you’re travelling with a child I’d suggest you intend to reach in any respect actions early – every little thing takes longer with a little bit one in tow and so it means you may simply be on time.

Positively arrive on the airport early whenever you’re travelling solo with a child.

In case you have an early flight, like my upcoming 7:40am to Thessaloniki, you may really examine your baggage within the night time earlier than. High tip from my dad there. Then you may simply rock up and never fear in regards to the queues within the morning after spending the night time on the Premier Inn a really quick stroll away the night time earlier than.

Want I’d recognized this earlier than after I travelled to Valencia with Reggie. Juggling my suitcase, the automotive seat, the buggy, him and our aircraft baggage was NOT what I wanted at 5am.

13. Print out your passes

I do know, the planet, however if you happen to’re flying just a few print outs aren’t actually that dangerous. This manner you may have them able to go, and if in case you have needed to cut back your self to Cocomelon to maintain the child joyful, you received’t should prize it out of their fingers to get by way of safety.

14. Use the household line to undergo safety

Talking of safety, most airports have a household line, proper?

Each time I’ve executed this the queue is small, however there’s been a slight wait to get the milks scanned. It’s nonetheless been manner faster than the opposite traces although. Take advantage of it!

15. Stick with your routine as a lot as doable

If you’re planning your first flight with a child, plan round your routine as a lot as doable. In the event you’re solely going for just a few days, I’d suggest not adjusting to the time zones. Simply stick with it as you had been.

Spend a little bit additional and guide flights at one of the best instances, and airport lodges, and the rest you may afford to make the journey that little bit simpler!

On the solo flight along with your child

16. Take toys, that stick or connect

This Dinosaur Tails book was nice after I travelled with Reggie at 4 months, it caught within the desk tray and he might simply play with the tails. Clearly gave it wash after I bought dwelling.

And then these spinners are additionally nice to placed on the window or the tray desk. There are a great deal of child toys for flights accessible, I’d suggest you refill!

17. Purchase these silicone toy clips

Eugh bending down whenever you’re transferring makes me really feel sick. These silicone toy clips are good for preserving monitor of all of your toys whenever you’re travelling, or whenever you’re out at a restaurant. They’ve totally different lengths to maintain the toys as near you as you want. Positively suggest!

18. Ask for the spare row if it’s there

I’ve solely ever travelled with easyJet alone with Reggie however the employees have been pretty. After we had been on our manner again from Sardinia, I used to be additionally with my accomplice Ben, however we didn’t have a seat for Reggie and had been positioned subsequent to another person. This imply 6 ft 4 Ben was cramped within the window seat, with me subsequent to him holding Reggie, and another person subsequent to me. For 2 hours.

Ben requested if we might go within the spare row on the again, they stated sure, and so concludes the joyful ending to that story. You don’t know if you happen to don’t attempt!

19. Be ready for tummy troubles

Compression felt within the tummy within the sky can encourage your child to poo, and poo so much. Ensure you’re ready with loads of wipes, nappies and a change of garments to get by way of this.

20. Noise machines?

You usually see these beneficial to make infants flights simpler, however I discover the noise of the flight is so loud that they barely makes a distinction. Perhaps extra for lengthy haul.

In the event you’re packing it for the night time whenever you’re overseas, you may as properly pack it for the journey. Something may help in instances of want!

21. Obtain YouTube movies

In case you have YouTube Premium like we do, then you may obtain movies to your telephone. You may get every little thing from these dancing greens, to CocoMelon, to Postman Pat. In the event you don’t have YouTube, obtain some BBC reveals as an alternative.

22. Be good

In my expertise of taking my child on a flight solo, different travellers have solely needed to assist. In the event you’re fortunate, different passengers will coo and entertain and distract your child, whilst you get pleasure from 10 seconds of not being the star of their eyes.

Chill out, be good, know that it’s only some hours within the grand scheme of issues, and also you’ll be wonderful.

Your first journey flying solo with a child

In my first 12 months as a mum I did just a few flights, and to be sincere, have pretty reminiscences of all of them. I actually loved sharing this a part of my life with him, and I’m excited for future adventures. We will see how he fares on the 4 flights now we have booked subsequent week!

I hope this listing has helped you to really feel extra assured and put together, simply let me know if in case you have any questions in any respect.

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