Family travel can be intimidating enough when there are two parents heading on vacation; solo travel with kids is a whole next level. But traveling alone with kids is far from impossible!

I’ve done plenty of solo travel with kids when Hubs isn’t able to join us. His work schedule isn’t quite as flexible as mine, and I’m not content to stay at home just because traveling with kids without my husband is a little more challenging.

You can solo travel with kids, too. Whether you’re a single parent or want to explore when your partner isn’t able to, these tips are a must-read. Below, you’ll read how to fly alone with kids, keep kids entertained en route, avoid meltdowns and take care of yourself when you travel solo with kids.

I’ve used all these recommendations with my own family. My girls and I take day trips (“Girls road trip!” we all shout in my mommy minivan), flown cross-country and even traveled internationally. You can master solo travel with kids, too.

Become a master of solo travel with kids

Before you leave on a solo trip with kids

Planning a family trip soon? With a little advance thought, you can make your solo travel with kids much smoother. Here’s how.

Mail your luggage

You know that sweaty, overwhelmed feeling of trying to pull several suitcases through the airport while keeping track of your children? Yeah, me too, which is why I now mail clothes, diapers, snacks and everything I’ll need on a family vacation directly to my destination.

The postage fees are about the same as a checked bag, and you’ll save TONS of hassle.

With a little advance planning and a trip to the post office, you can avoid checking a bag and hauling luggage through the airport. Just let the hotel know you’re sending a package their way, or if you’re staying with family, give your loved ones a heads-up.

Pack for yourself, too

If you’re like me, you consider every possible need your children might have while traveling. But you totally neglect yourself!

Case in point: When I flew to Detroit alone with my older daughter when she was 1, I brought snacks galore for her but nothing for myself. Then when the snack cart came by, they were all out of vegetarian food. I ended up eating one of her squeezie pouches—which I don’t recommend, btw.

Now I make sure to pack for myself, too. I include healthy snacks, lip balm and something to keep me entertained for the off-chance my kids nap and leave me with free time. Do yourself a huge solid and keep your own needs in mind, too.

How to fly alone with kids

Avoid short layovers

I’m a budget traveler, so I totally get searching for the cheapest flight. After all, buying less expensive flights is even more important when you have kids who are over the 2-year lap infant cutoff!

Before you click confirm, though, double-check your layovers. You will not have time to deplane then hustle your kids across the airport in 40 minutes. So make sure your itinerary has long enough layovers to safely get from one gate to another.

Book aisle seats

If you have kids in the squirmy wormy age range, sit in the aisle. You’ll be up and down with them, and it’s easier to get up if you don’t constantly have to bug your seat neighbors.

Splurge on extra leg room

Yeah, it’s totally obnoxious how much airlines charge for the luxury of a few extra inches of legroom. But that cost is totally worth it if you have a toddler. You won’t worry about your kids kicking the seat in front of you, and they’ll be able to stand/wiggle/do the hokey pokey in the extra legroom.

Check bags at curbside

If you do have checked luggage, paying a few extra bucks for curbside check-in is worth it when you travel solo with kids. You can just get dropped off right there, get rid of your suitcases and then focus on your littles—not your luggage—as you maneuver through the airport.

Find a family restroom

Ever tried to cram a roll-aboard suitcase, a diaper bag and 3 humans inside a bathroom stall? I have. It’s not fun.

Luckily, airports have family bathrooms (though they can be hard to find). Keep an eye out for signs for a family bathroom. It’s a big room that includes a diaper changing station, a toilet, a sink and lots of room for kids to wait while you finally empty your bladder. Plus, the family bathroom is big enough that they can stand in the middle of it and not. touch. anything. (I know I’m not the only parent who repeats that a million times in a public bathroom!)

Use the pre-boarding option

You know the announcement when it’s time for passengers who “require a little extra time” to get on the plane? When you have kids, that’s you.

Take advantage of pre-boarding if your airline offers it. You can use the time to board the plane at your kids’ pace, get your carry-ons in the overhead compartment and get settled without a huge audience.

Introduce yourself to your seatmates

Sitting next to strangers can be awkward, but break the ice by introducing yourself and your kids. Seatmates are much more likely to be friendly if they know your name. You’ll also stress less about your kids bothering them if they’ve already gushed about their own grandkids.

Ask your seatmate to watch your kids while you pee

If your partner isn’t there to hold your baby or watch your kids while you use the restroom on the plane, ask your seatmate. Even if you’re nervous about leaving your littles with a stranger, know they can’t get far. They’re just as trapped on the plane as you are!

Also, there is literally no room in those teeny tiny lavatories for you both. So trust in humanity and pee solo.

Find the lavatory with the changing table

I learned—the hard way, aka with a child and a poopy diaper—that not all plane lavatories have changing tables. So ID it before you sit down (or ask a flight attendant which one has the changing table). That way you won’t be unpleasantly surprised when you have to change your child mid-flight!

How to rock a family road trip by yourself

Create a passenger seat staging area

When you don’t have another parent with you on a road trip, it’s up to you to manage your tiny (and demanding!) passengers. If you’ve magically trained your kids to be self-sufficient on road trips, congratulations. For the rest of us, turn the passenger seat into a staging area to entertain your kids on a road trip.

When I set out on a road trip by myself, I set up everything I’ll need on the passenger seat: snacks, toys and books. That way I can grab whatever I need without taking my eyes off the road and pass it back to my children in the back seat.

Plan your route first

When you have another parent in the passenger seat, you can rely on him or her to give you directions. But if you don’t have a navigator, make sure you know where you’re going before you even turn on the car.

Enter the addresses of all your destinations, and look at the overview so you have an idea of where you’re headed.

Tips for all solo travel with kids

No matter how you’re getting from Point A to Point B, these ideas for solo travel with kids will help make it a smooth trip.

Ask for help

It’s easy to forget that sometimes humans need a hand. Jostle yourself out of your self-reliance zone when you travel solo with kids—chances are, you’ll need some help, and that’s ok.

Whether it’s figuring out how to pump your own gas if you’re used to full-service gas stations or finding a water fountain in an endless airport terminal, ask for help. Strangers are almost always happy to assist.

Pull the mom card

Yeah yeah, you don’t always want or need special treatment. But if you’re traveling alone with kids, you deserve it.

So if you’re in a desperate situation—your kid’s about to wet himself or you’re pregnant and about to faint from hunger—ask to skip to the front of the line. Other people are usually decent human beings and are more than willing to make exceptions, especially for supermoms like you.

Pack surprise goodies

I always get a few special toys and treats when I travel solo with kids. A brand-new activity or usually off-limits snack can keep kids entertained on the plane or head off a back seat revolt.

I wrote about DIY travel activity kit ideas on my other blog—take a look for ideas to keep entertained on the go!

Prioritize self-care

If you’re traveling alone with kids, you’re focused on them—are they too hot or too cold? hungry? bored? about to pee their pants? It’s easy to forget yourself.

So make sure to take care of yourself. Go to bed early before you leave on your solo trip with kids. Drink tons of water. Eat well. Text your best friend about how you will never travel with kids again. Whatever it is you need to stay sane, do it. That way you’ll be there for your kids.

Baby wear

Even if your kid is 35 pounds, baby wearing can be a life-saver when you travel alone with kids. (I still wear my 3.5-year-old, especially on solo travel trips!) Babywearing leaves your hands free to pull luggage, hold the hand of another child, give boarding passes to flight attendants or the million other things you’ll need to do when you’re traveling with kids.

Stretch it out

If you’re carrying all the bags and all the kids, you will get sore. Avoid a tweaked muscle by stretching before and during your solo travel with kids.

Pack light

Edit your bags so you’re not lugging around 47 pounds of just-in-case gear.

Do I need a parental consent form?

Maybe. When you travel solo with kids, a parental consent form documents that you have your partner’s approval to travel with your children. You do not need this document while traveling within the US or to most countries. (Double-check if you need one if you’re traveling internationally; rules vary by country.)

That said, having a parental consent form isn’t a bad idea, just in case. There isn’t an official form here within the US, so you can just write one yourself. It should include:

• your and your partner’s name and contact information
• your children’s names and birth dates
• your destinations
• a statement saying that your at-home partner is aware and approves of the travel

For good measure, you can have the form notarized.

How about you? Do you have any tips to make solo travel with kids easier? Don’t forget to pin this for later and share with a friend who’s traveling alone with kids!