Mastering Solo Travel with Toddler and Baby. Best Tips and Tricks for Parent.

Traveling Alone with a Toddler? Help, Please! Let’s be honest, a thousand things run in your mind. From managing tantrums in the middle of nowhere and keeping them fed and entertained.

You might be a single parent trying to bring your child across the country, or a single mom with a newborn getting on an airplane for the first time alone. You might even be traveling alone with 2 toddlers.

Don’t worry! Yes you can travel alone with your baby and toddler and still keep your sanity. I’ve learned some tricks to not just survive solo travel with a toddler, but actually enjoy it.

In this article, I’m sharing all the tips for solo travel with toddler and baby that will help you feel like a pro. With a little prep (and a lot of snacks), solo travel with your little one can be amazing and fulfilling.

A. Tips for traveling alone with a toddler or baby

1. Planning tips

i. Plan your itinerary with room for flexibility

You want to build a loose itinerary throughout each day. Plan a few key activities on this solo trip but allow for wiggle time. You’d spend time for diaper change, snack time, plenty of breaks. Toddlers might even want to spend more time at that one particular spot again and again.

ii. Allow for extra time

You may plan for 10-15 minutes at the security stop or dropping by a convenient store. Well we all know when you are on a solo travel with a toddler, everything takes a bit more time.

2. Packing tips – light and smart

You are thinking how you are going to survive this solo travel with a baby or toddler without a lot of essentials. Trust me, bringing around children with that many bags and luggage is not for the faint of heart. You’ll be the one to carry everything.

List down the most important items in your list. Pack as light as you can, keep the essential items easy to reach for you. Backpack might be a good option here for organization.

Pro-tip : Use carrier for baby or young toddler if your destination is not stroller friendly.

3. Entertainment

Something familiar – bring something they are familiar with so they are comfortable playing with it. Chose toys or books you think that will keep them entertained longer. Use screen time when you need it most.

New surprises – pack along new items as well so they can be engaged for a long time.

Pro-tip : you should wrap new toys so toddlers get the fun of unwrapping gifts!

4. Snacks

You need to pack plenty of snacks for the little one, healthy options if possible. One, is to keep them engaged longer during meal time and two, so they don’t get cranky and hungry.

5. Baby and toddler gear

Big baby items like stroller and car seat are going to take so much space and effort to carry around. Choose wisely depending on your destination. If you’re able to rent strollers at most of the places you’re going to, that’ll be awesome.

6. Toddler friendly accommodation

When you’re making hotel or air bnb reservations, research for kid-friendly places. Find for rooms or houses with more space and available amenities like kitchen and laundry. Best to have baby and toddler friendly amenities nearby.

Pro-tip : research nearby important places to get baby or toddler supplies in case you run out of them.

7. Strategic with travel time

You would have known your little one’s daily routine by now. All their nap time and meal time. Time your travels around these hours. It would be much more relaxing for you both.

8. Tips on flying alone with toddler and baby

Flying solo with toddlers can be a huge task but you can handle it smoothly. You need to make sure you are familiar with the steps and processes to go through at the airport.

From security checks all the way to onboarding. Be prepared with the gate opening time, prohibited items, allowed children’s items and food. Ask help from flight attendant when needed.

Use airport perks available while flying alone with baby like priority boarding.

Pro tip : You may want to bring a lightweight car seat. This will help your toddler to stay on the airplane seat buckled in easier. Get that extra seat too.

Pro tip : Check out TSA Pre-Check for faster and smoother check in and airport security.

9. Prepare for challenges

Diaper emergencies may happen. Your toddler may throw tantrum in the middle of a train station. You may get tired carrying around bags.

Stay calm, with a little patience you’ve got this sorted out. You’ve been through this before. At home or somewhere familiar. It is the same thing, just which you’re in a different location, traveling alone with a toddler.

10. Ask for help

I’ve lost count the number of times I had to ask for help while traveling alone. People have helped me carry strollers over steps. They have even help me take pictures and videos of me and my kid.

Staffs on airplanes and restaurants are kind enough to help me with preparing milk for the baby. Don’t be shy. Kind people are around. They’d help a mom or dad in need.

11. Safety tips

Since you’re traveling alone with your child at a new place, be aware of your surroundings. Your child is your number 1 priority, so keep them as close to you as possible.

Pro tip : If you’re going to a large crowded tourist attraction, dress them in easy to see colors, give them a bracelet with contact details. This will help them be found in case of separation.

12. Start small – trial mini trips

You may still not be one hundred percent confident. Its okay mom, dad. Go for a trial run first. Bring your toddler for a mini trip somewhere nearby and see how you can handle it. You’ll learn a trick or two.

13. Bring a tripod with wireless remote

What are trips without amazing photos and videos of you and your little one running around the world? Bring yourself some camera gear to get self-portraits and family photos.

Traveling alone with a toddler doesn’t mean there is no time for amazing OOTD photos and memories.

14. Prepare your toddler

If you have a young toddler, you may want to get him or her prepared way before the trip. Talk to them about the travel, airplane board, carrying bags, meal time and more.

Pro tip : Do role play like checking in at airport security, boarding plane, putting on seatbelt. It will be a fun activity!

Single mom going on a plane with a baby?

Single dad bringing two kids on a plane alone?

Whatever it is, you’ve got this. Have an amazing solo trip!