Travelling alone - can it be done?

[havinganightin]

Hi

I am due to travel abroad to see my parents and I will be on my own from leaving the house. I have taken my lo abroad on my own a number of times but my husband has always taken me to the airport and helped carry baby and bags etc.

This time he will not be around. I don't have anyone else that can taken me and am wondering how I get from the car park to check-in with a buggy and a big bag. My lo is 15 months and isn't really confident walking on his own yet.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can do it (we live a long way from the airport so a taxi would be VERY expensive).

Also, I know when my lo was very little I gave him a bottle on take off and landing. What do you do with a 15 month old? I used to start on take off and a feed would last 15/20 mins but now he has a quick sip of drink and is done. How do I stop the ear-popping (and screaming!) that will accompany it?

Thanks in advance

I've been in your situation as I've done flights on my own (getting there by train/tube with, now, a two year old) and it's fine but I really recommend you use a ruc-sac as your main luggage and a day pack as your hand luggage. This means that you then always have 1-2 hands free. Pre check in I hung my hand luggage bag off the back of buggy and post check in I put my hand luggage on my back and have two hands free (I keep the buggy to the gate).

Can your 15 month old use a straw? If so diluted juice is an option. Else I'd just offer the bottle and not worry too much - I had the same fear as you around a year old when my my son refused to drink anything on take off but the air pressure never seemed to bother him.

Good luck and have a nice time.

Thanks nikkiii

Great advice about the rucksack. Unfortunately I have to use a wheely bag and am not sure I can push the stroller and pull the bag for long enough without looking a complete idiot and crashing into lots of things!

Also good advice on the straw. I haven't tried it yet but really should. I am guessing he will love it. I have to say, he was always the quiet baby on the plane when we have travelled before. Fingers crossed it remains

Buggy & wheely bag is quite do-able. If he won't drink take something for him to eat, all you are after is swallowing, doesn't matter if liquid or solid.

Thanks orienteerer. I know I can't be the only person to have to travel with a baby but couldn't work out the logistics! I was wondering if I was missing something obvious!

it'll be fine. i travelled last summer on my own to meet my friend at the airport at the other end but her flight was late and so i managed a toddler (16 months), a suitcase, baby bag and travel cot on my own until her flight arrived!! i put ds in an ergo baby carrier, and then put the cot in the buggy and trailed the suitcase.

i would push ds in the buggy and pull the suitcase. he'll probably be so excited at going on the plane he'll be fine. ds was and i fed him on take off but not landing as he was asleep and didn't bother him.

happy travelling!

I second the Ergo (or similar) sling.

Found ours invaluable when travelling with DS (who was younger but quite big and heavy), carried him in sling and piled luggage into pushchair.

Agree with anything chewy for take off / landing if DS doesn't want to drink.

In general I think people are kind and helpful if they see someone travelling alone with children.

Have a good trip.