Irrationally unsettled about travelling alone with my 1yo - international long haul

[Flyingalone]

I am flying 7 hours with my 1 y.o. by myself and meeting husband there (he's there for work and will meet us after, for a 2 week holiday). Plus 3 hours of driving (to and from airport).

My DD cannot stay still for one minute, needs to be constantly on the move and entertained. The thought of travelling to the airport with the pram and suitcase, the waiting around etc. fills me with dread. Can please someone give me any tips or ideas on how to handle this?

We have flown quite a lot before but I always had husband with me so we tagged team. Plus DD was very little so had always had a bassinet and napped a lot more than now.

We are flying business, 10am flight. She naps once a day for 45 mins. I think I'll board last. We're returning with the husband so I just need to make my way over there by myself.

How are we even going to eat? She's going to grab all the food and drink off the table in a split second. And I dread the look of a person's face next to me as soon as they realise they're sitting next to a toddler. Nappy change tables are tiny on the plane, I struggled even when she was 4 months.

I recommend pull ups for the flight so you can stand her on the toilet seat. Agree lying down doesn't work in plane toilets. Staff will be super helpful since you're on your own. I used to prefer flying on my own when mine were babies as the help was greater than when i was with my husband. As long as your dc is walking it will be fine, not restful but fine. Sticker books or little travel games for take off and landing, they will wriggle no matter what but might buy you some time. Have you ordered a weaning meal or a kids meal with the airline? I don't know about business class but in economy they usually serve kids meals in a box so they can eat it over the duration of the flight. I used to eat before getting on the plane and have no expectation of eating a meal myself, as you say, too risky. Take a change of clothes for yourself in case DC spills on you. Don't be afraid to ask staff to hold DC when you need the toilet etc. You'll probably do 10k steps walking up and down the aisle but then when you arrive at your destination you can hand dc over and get a break.

I’ve done a lot of solo travelling with my DD between 1 and 2.

For the airport- take the pram and a large holdall you can fit underneath/hang off the handlebar through. I would never do it normally but when it’s just you and baby then check your suitcase. Ideally use a cabin pram like a YoYo. Get organised in advance so your liquids are already in a clear bag on top, over 100ml baby food to declare are altogether etc. I’ve found people are usually really happy to help, even TSA who don’t have the best rep for friendliness are super nice when you’re on your own with kids.

Where are you flying from? Heathrow has a soft play with a decent baby section. If there’s anything like that go to get some energy out.

In business class put her on the footstool/end of your seat so you’re facing each other. Get her an ipad and download stuff like cocomelon and nursery rhymes that she can watch. Even if her attention span isn’t great, 15-20 minutes lets you eat. Practice with headphones at home, you can get noise limited toddler ones at home and they do stay on a 1YO.

She won’t get her own meal on the plane because she’s not in a seat but I’ve found they’re usually happy to give you lots of bread and sometimes offer a meal if there’s one going spare but you can’t guarantee either you’ll get it or that she’ll like it so take food for her. Lots of small snacky stuff that keeps her occupied for a while is good like puffs or yoghurt covered raisins.

Some bathrooms on the plane are bigger than others. Ask where the biggest one is. I used to do a zipped footless babygrow I could just pull the legs out of and pull ups/nappy pants on planes so you can do a standing change. Also means when packing spares they don’t take up as much room as proper outfits! And in a business class suite with a closed door you could always change a wet nappy in your seat without anyone even seeing. Just definitely not poo because of the smell!!

It’ll be fine honestly!

With pull ups, I can use them but what if she does a poo (very likely)? I'll need to properly put her down to clean up, I just don't know where.

With meals we used to get Heinz pouches hehe she was v little, we can just get the same.
I think I'll skip my meal or just ask for bread. Will eat in lounge.

Pull ups tear at the sides so I always tore them off not pulled down iyswim. Wiping done standing up.

Get a tablet or, download a load of cocomelon to your phone. That should buy you a few minutes peace every so often. You can get little kids headphones. Take loads of snacks for you and baby incase you can't manage the meal. Bottles of water/juice as hot drinks could get spilled with a wriggly toddler. Maybe some tactile books like "that's not my..."

I did a 4.5 hour flight with mine around that age and she mostly just wanted to walk up and down the aisle. I think as long as you pick your moments when they aren't doing food service or something people are generally ok with it.

You can tear the sides of pull ups to get them off and wipe standing up. As I said some bathrooms are bigger than others and you will manage with a 1YO, I’ve done with a 2YO and it’s tight but not totally impossible! You can stand them on the lid of the toilet.

Totally unnecessary to skip your meal! Also don’t know what airline you’re flying but I could not go that long on off the questionable offerings in the BA galleries lounge. It’s hard enough without needlessly being hungry. But if is BA they do have good a pretty decent kids playroom and if it’s Heathrow then the lounge at the B gates is always quieter so no issue finding a seat. You can get Ellas Kitchen meals for older ones that aren’t all mushy but as it’s baby food the 100ml limit doesn’t apply. Or take a sandwich or pasta salad from home, whatever she likes! Mine also used to quite like a salmon and avocado maki box from itsu so we’d sometimes buy that. Then on the way back Starbucks in the US was really good for kids food so that was my typical go-to but if it’s a night flight you might not need to worry about that.

Pop explosions are common with flying. A lot of people recommend doing two nappies, one on top of the other to contain it all.
There's a lot more space in business class so you'll be able to get up and walk her around a lot more. Travellers tend to be fully wired up with noise cancelling headphones too. And it's a daytime flight so try to shrug off any odd looks, they've all had a full nights sleep.
Dd1 was obsessed by Timmy-time at that age. When given the opportunity to watch it on loop on a 7 hour drive into deepest France she was happy out. You might be pleasantly surprised.

At the airport there will be lots of new things to see to keep baby entertained. If you can, before you board find a big empty space near the gate and encourage baby to walk/run/ jump as much as possible to get tired out.

I traveled solo with mine a lot as a lone parent long haul and short.

Lots of great tips from others here.
Take packet snacks for her. I find those as good as any other game or distraction.

I always took some M&S food for myself too as you aren't guaranteed food arrives at a time that works.

Keep both of you hydrated. She'll be less cranky at the other end.

Load an iPad up.
Practice with headphones at home.
I also found the neck pillow things useful for other reasons, for sitting her on it on my lap, for putting under my knees for extra support with them on you all the time etc

I’ve travelled alone quite a bit with my toddler and it’s never actually awful even though I always imagine it will be. It’s a lot easier in business, fortunately. Most recently was last weekend on a long haul flight. Close the door to the compartment then as long as the seatbelt signs aren’t on let them play on the floor. By doing that, I was able to take crayons, wooden train etc. If you can still get the bassinet seat (but without the bassinet) then your food can be put where the bassinet goes and baby can’t reach it. Ask as soon as you get on if there are any untaken seats, hopefully near to you (I was very lucky that the one right next to me was empty in last flight). When child eventually falls asleep you can then pop them down on the bed of that seat and get some hands off time yourself. Forget healthy eating and take full advantage of free biscuits etc. Make sure you have favourite episodes of whatever programme baby likes downloaded so you’re not reliant on internet. As long as it’s only a wee I change them over my knee or on the bed.

The airport itself is a pain in the bum but just try and be very organised with toiletries etc all ready to go. Good luck but I’m sure you won’t need it!

Have a travel pushchair that go on the plane with you, we use the bugaboo butterfly. Also take a carrier so that you can have your hands free for the hand luggage and pushchair when getting on the plane. alternatively use a rucksack for handluggage so you can put it on your back and have hands free to carry the child.

dont worry about what others on the flight think.

the airline will probably give you some baby food pots and in business you should be able to ask for fruit/bread at any point.

There's no compartment door I'm afraid, where are people finding these doors on business? We've flown with several airlines and not seen them once, I always thought that's for first class only.

Yes I have a travel pram that fits overhead. The pillow is a great tip, and using headphones before we travel.

Regarding passing her to staff whilst going to the toilet - she screams every time someone picks her up if it's not me. Same with leaving the room. I won't be able to even go to lol without her.

Im thinking to get to airport v early, to wear her out. She loves running around exploring so airport is the easy bit.

*Loo not lol

'I used to prefer flying on my own when mine were babies as the help was greater than when i was with my husband.'

Actually come to think of it, I would always rock DD on take off/landing as I feel I'm better at it, obviously. So maybe not having my husband with me won't be such a shock after all.
It was just calming to know he's there. And he did carry all the stuff obviously. Took all the passports out etc. at security. I just held DD
@Bankholidayboredom23

I don’t think it is recommended to use headphones for a 1 year old, most of the ones I have looked at are recommended for 3+ only, unless you just mean headphones that block out noise rather than for watching tv. For tv shows just show it without the sound.

Stickers. A pad of plain paper. Fuzzy felt. Washable pens (so can get off the seat back if needed). Craft kit of bits and parity stick.
I packed a mini suitcase full of stuff to keep children occupied. Once had 7 children not related to me joining in.

There's no compartment door I'm afraid, where are people finding these doors on business?
British Airways

I don’t think it is recommended to use headphones for a 1 year old
I asked about this too and my US paediatrician said fine for 1YOs so long as they’re kids over ear ones on the lowest volume and you only use them for exceptional circumstances like flights. She even said she did it with her kids as her DH was Irish so they flew transatlantic a fair bit.