Traveling/Flying with an infant alone

Packing

I think the number one key to packing when flying alone with an infant is to keep it as minimal as possible. You are going to have to carry everything so regardless of how much is allowed or how much you can fit, you need to be able to carry and maneuver it by yourself.

Make sure to pack the essentials. If you are going to need it immediately upon arrival, pack it. If you could need it on the plane for entertainment or functionality purposes, pack it.

For this trip, I was allowed a carry on and a personal item. Bryce was allowed a diaper bag. I knew I was not going to be able to push a carry on, have a personal item, and a diaper bag. In addition to that, I knew it would not all fit in a carry on when it was for both Bryce and I so I needed to check a bag anyway. To streamline for this process, I went with the minimum. I also did not want to miss my layover (only an hour in Chicago, O’hare), so I chose not to gate check my stroller and have to wait for it to come up from the bottom of the plane. I chose not not have my infant in my carseat because we could not afford a ticketed seat for him.

Baby Wear

I chose to baby wear to streamline the process. I know some people bring a soft structured carrier since there is no metal and then switch to a ring sling if that is their carrier of choice. I chose to wear just the ring sling (streamline and minimal packing). Some airport security lets the ring go, some let you go but do a wand search, and some make you remove it. I took the gamble.

Checked

I checked my stroller, carseat, and base all in one extra large bag. I was able to fit it all in one bag and then protect them all as well. The original plan was to have the carseat and base in one bag and the stroller in the other but when the carseat one got left behind in the car, I modified and put them all in one.

I also checked my one suitcase that I weighed A NUMBER of times to make sure it stayed under 50 lbs. I fit both Bryce and my clothes in the bag and his baby nest.

My Personal Item

I chose to use a backpack as my personal item. (I changed from this original picture because the weight was too much for one shoulder so I wanted the personal item to be a backpack and the lighter diaper bag to be my shoulder item) I LOVE this backpack. It comes in a variety of colors and has technology pockets for extra protection.

In my backpack I decided to put all the things that would need to be pulled out for security so I could just push the whole diaper bag through instead of going through both bags.

I put all the liquids in one bag. Everything from Theives wipes, hand sanitizer, diaper cream, chapstick, etc. All liquids for the both of us that we had to have on the plane went in one liquid bag.

Medication is an exemption (including over the counter) to the 3.4oz rule, but is subject to extra surveillance. Our children’s Tylenol is 4oz so I put all our liquid medications in one bag. That way they could go over just the one bag extra. This was another approved liquid bag.

I keep a small cosmetic bag of all dry medication in a bag. I had it all in once place (on bottom since it didn’t need to be pulled out).

In another small cosmetic bag, I kept all chargers: phone, iPad, laptop. I don’t know if cords need to be pulled when it comes to technology, but to speed up the process, I just did. I tossed the bag in it’s own bin.

I was able to fit my Freemie pump and charger in one of my easy baby travelers labeled feed me. I easily pulled this out to put in a bin as well. I did alert them that it was a pump so if it showed up as technology they would know. A pump and pump bag does not count as a carry on or personal item, but again I wanted as little as possible so I combined all this into one bag. If you have a large pump, you are allowed to have that bag separate it is just an extra thing to carry.

Any technology larger than a phone has to come out as well. This means the iPad and the Laptop. I had these in my backpack as well.

This all seems complex, but it made the process so smooth. I got up to security (wearing Bryce) and I pulled each bag tossed in a bin, tossed the bag on, tossed my shoes and the diaper bag on and went right through.

Ring Sling Clutch

I hooked my ring sling clutch onto my backpack. In that I put: my phone, the tickets, my ID, my cash, my credit card, and my headphones. That was basically all I needed to get through security and at my fingertips, but it was basically all I personally needed on the plane. It worked phenomenally.

Diaper Bag

When packing the diaper bag, the first thing I do is empty every pocket and make sure I am starting from scratch. I dont want a hidden tube of diaper rash cream to slow down the process. I love my Vogshow diaper bag. It could be a backpack when I am out and about at my destination, but it could be my shoulder bag when I was going through the airport and already wearing my backpack. Use code vogshow20 on Amazon for a 20% discount!

I make sure to pack my Easy Baby Travelers with all of the dry items that correspond. Make sure to keep all food in it’s own bag so that can be pulled separate. Wipes count as a liquid so pull those out and put in a side pocket so I could toss in the bins (it is up to the airport of they want to search them or not so I had them accessible but didn’t pull out unless they asked)

Ordering

I have a Target red card and Amazon Prime. Therefore, anything I would need down here that I didnt want to have the weight of, I purchased and had sent. I purchased and sent: diapers, wipes, and a bath toy.

I was staying in a house that would have laundry and detergent, but I could have purchased detergent if needed as well.

Again, knowing I was staying in a house with a full kitchen, I also did a Walmart grocery order and picked up groceries once we arrived. This helped eliminate a lot of weight and liquids.

I can honestly say, it was not easy but it was possible. The help of strangers in an airport is mind blowing. I was able to push everything and get everywhere I needed to be with minimal problems.

I hope this helps you streamline and pack in a way that gets you in and out as smoothly as possible!