12 Hacks for Single Moms Traveling With a Baby

While many families opt for vacation rentals so they can have the conveniences of home, the amenities provided at baby-friendly resorts might offer just as much ease plus more service. Think bellhops to carry your luggage, housekeeping to whisk away diapers and crumbs, and room service to bring the baby (and you!) a snack. Going on vacation should get you out of mundane chores, not just change their location.

While many hotels and resorts claim to be family-friendly, most really mean that they are kid-friendly—not specifically baby-friendly. So, ask about specifics before committing to a hotel. Standard baby amenities include a crib or pack ‘n’ play in the room, plus a mini fridge to store milk. But now, resorts have been one-upping each other with much more robust offerings. My recent baby-cation at the Grand Wailea in Maui also provided a complimentary in-room high chair, bottle warmer and sterilizer, baby bouncer, toys, and a baby gate. They also offer opportunities to unwind, like cabanas set up with a pack ‘n’ play so you can actually relax by the pool, even as a solo parent.

Before your trip, apply for TSA PreCheck–kids under 12 years old can join you without needing their own. It’s much easier to breeze through security with a baby when you don’t have to take off your shoes and jacket. Also, look at lounge access; with Priority Pass, you can check the policy of the lounge in your airport to see what age they allow children in on their parent’s membership for no additional fee. Many lounges allow babies two years old and younger in for free with a member, giving you a quiet place (with snacks!) to wait until boarding time.

While most people recommend gate-checking your stroller, it’s actually much easier to bring a lightweight travel stroller that fits into the overhead bin, like the MINU V2. That way, you can roll your baby all the way up the aisle of the plane (with your diaper bag underneath) without having to juggle everything in your arms while finding your seat. When the plane lands, you can get your baby and carry-on items situated in the stroller while waiting to deplane.

Flying with a baby doesn’t have to be a headache–it can actually be fun! As a solo parent, trying to get more space (especially if your baby is traveling as a lap child) is one of the top flight hacks. Since upgrades can be difficult to come by, try for a seat without anyone sitting next to you. Look at the flight map to adjust your check-in seat, then speak to a flight attendant at the gate about half an hour before boarding. They are often sympathetic and can make a last-minute change that will give you the best chance of having an empty seat next to you.

Airplanes can vary drastically, and you can learn a lot about your plane with a quick search ahead of time to make smart preparations. My most recent trip with my baby was on an Airbus A321neo, which I discovered has a loop in the seatback that was perfect to hang a pocketed organizer. That meant that my key items were much more accessible than if I needed to reach under the seat in front of me (with a baby on my lap!) to fish out a bottle or diaper. You can also find out whether or not you have screens built into the seat and if there are electrical outlets (if not, you’ll want to make sure any devices like portable sound machines or electric breast pumps are fully charged before your flight).

A new sleep environment and time changes can make your baby’s sleep a struggle while traveling. You’ll want to recreate some of the familiarity of their home routine during vacation and think about your plans while the baby naps. A game-changing hack is SlumberPod, a blackout tent that fits over pack ‘n’ plays and small cribs. With this, you can give your baby consistent darkness for their nights and naps even while you have the lights on in the room. To prevent staff knocking on your door or calling your room phone during naps, disconnect the phone and bring your own “baby sleeping” sign for the door in addition to the standard “do not disturb” to ensure privacy. 

As a solo parent, packing light can take a literal and figurative weight off. Look to a site like BabyQuip to rent baby gear instead of hauling it. For diapers, ship a box directly to your destination so it’s waiting for you when you arrive. The same goes for liquids over 3.4 ounces (like sunscreen) if you aren’t checking a bag. And it isn’t just the baby’s stuff you can rent or get delivered; for the parent, a rental option like Runt the Runway can provide vacation-ready looks without the packing–or laundry! Just have your packages delivered to the hotel address with your name and reservation number and inform the concierge that they’re coming.

While you can find bandages and antiseptic ointment at most convenience stores, other first-aid baby products can be more challenging to find. When traveling as a single parent, you don’t want to whisk a sick baby around town as you try to find medicine for them. A recommended baby first aid kit for travel could include an infant chest rub for congestion, a snot sucker, an age-appropriate thermometer, a few packs of powdered Pedialyte, both regular diaper cream and ointment for yeast diaper rash, tweezers (for removing splinters), baby ibuprofen or acetaminophen, infant decongestant, and a few individually wrapped antiseptic wipes. It sounds like a lot, but it takes up shockingly little room in your bag.

Without a little advanced planning, you might come home from your trip with a phone full of pictures of your baby on vacation—but none of you with them! As a solo parent, you often have to rely on asking strangers to take photos of you and your babies while traveling. Instead, plan ahead to capture gorgeous pictures by booking a professional photographer. Ones who specialize in family photos know how to get heartwarming baby smiles and a relaxed mama. I’ll always cherish the photos that PhotoHawaii got of me and my baby of her first-time experiencing the ocean!

I was looking into babysitting services for my trip when I realized that since my Hawaiian Airlines flight was only $287 round trip, it would actually be cheaper to invite a friend along! It wasn’t only cost-effective, but it was much easier having someone I knew and trusted watch my baby while I snuck away to snorkel or get a massage. Plus, I loved having the company of a friend on those warm Maui evenings after the baby went to sleep to hang out with, sipping a glass of wine on the lanai. While couples might not always be inclined to bring a friend or family member with them on vacation, as a single mom, it made the trip even more fun and relaxed.

Just because your friends or family (or an online article!) recommends traveling a certain way with your baby, don’t feel like you have to try something different on vacation. I had heard glowing endorsements of how helpful baby carriers were on planes and trips, so I carried one around my entire trip without once using it. While I loved the idea of babywearing, my baby just preferred her stroller. And since my travel stroller is my everyday stroller, I was more comfortable with it. So don’t expect that you’ll use completely different gear while you travel–stick with what works for you and your baby!