i’ve been flying solo with kids since my first child was 6 weeks old!

Flying alone with kids can be anxiety inducing, but I am here to tell any solo parent, you got this! Flying as a single parent is not as bad as it may seem. I promise. This guide will give you 12 tips on flying alone with kids to make your travel day easier and more enjoyable.

I have been solo traveling as a mom since my first born was only 6 weeks old! For a few years, I didn’t only fly alone with a toddler, I flew solo with two toddlers. I have experience flying on long-haul flights solo with toddlers and also many short domestic flights! Over the years I have mastered getting my kids to sleep on plane and put together the best tips for Traveling as a solo parent. All of this to say, I have done all the trial and error for you! So, now, let me share my best tips for flying alone with kids.

Here are 10 tips for flying alone with kids as a single parent:

1) Pack light.

Backpack Diaper Bag + Stroller is all we used when I flew from Florida to Texas with the kids by myself

Anyone who has traveled for any amount of time will tell you that excess baggage will weigh you down. If you are traveling alone with kids (i.e. -- only one adult) that rings even truer. Excess baggage is never a good idea.

I typically pack a single carry-on bag plus my backpack and snack bag for international flights. When I travel solo with kids on a domestic flight, I only bring a back pack and snack bag as a carry-on. I only bring absolute necessities. Anything else goes into a checked bag.

Once my older children were about 4 years old, they started carrying their own backpacks onto the plane — I absolutely LOVE the REI Tarn 12 for travel and hiking with kids.

When I am traveling alone with children, our back packs usually have these things in them:

A change of clothes for each kid
The iPads
A water bottle for the kids
So many snacks
A few very small travel toys
Diapers/wipes (if needed)
Comfort items like pacifiers and loveys.
If I need a stroller (see section 2):
- I bring the GB Pockit Stroller for older toddlers and young kids because it folds small enough to fit under the airplane seat.
- For younger babies and toddlers, we use the Mountain Buggy Nano because it gives the baby the proper support, but can fold small enough for an overhead bin

I have put together a guide that explains how we pack light when traveling with a toddler!

Here you can see the mountain buggy nano in an overhead bin

2) Avoid bringing a gigantic bulky stroller through the terminal.

Our tiny GB Pockit Stroller underneath the airplane seat

When I see someone in the airport with a massive double BOB or a giant single jogging stroller, I feel bad for them. Yes, you can glide along in the terminal, but at the gate someone is going to be struggling to get that thing folded down. Not to mention, a stroller that size is probably going to get damaged from being tossed around by baggage workers.

However, when I fly alone with the 2 kids, I bring one very small stroller and I wear one kid on my front while I have our diaper bag on my back. We recently started using the GB Pockit Stroller and that thing is a TRAVELER'S DREAM. It folds down SO small that it fits under the seat on the plane meaning it is not going to get damaged by gate checking AND you're going to be able to walk off the plane and GO instead of waiting for your gate-checked stroller. For anyone traveling with a toddler, the GB Pockit is a MUST HAVE.

Get your own Travel Stroller HERE:

THe GB Pockit stroller is a game changer while flying solo with kids

3) Pick your seats in advance.

We like the 3 seat combo when it's just the 3 of us.

I like to book my seats when I book my tickets. It’s one of my biggest tips for flying solo with kids. If you’re on a super short flight, this won’t matter much. If you’re on a long haul flight with kids, this matters a TON. I do not recommend ever waiting until the airport to ask a gate agent — this puts them and the other passengers who paid for seats in a crappy situation.

Please know that some airlines don't allow pre-selecting seats unless you pay extra. If you're flying with one of the airlines that don't allow pre-selecting seats at all, check to see if they allow families with small children to board first. This will let you board and be sure to get seats together with the kids. I do this when I fly alone with kids on Southwest Airlines and I haven't had an issue not getting with my children.

When I fly with Frontier, I never play to pick my seats. I set an alarm for 2 minutes PRIOR to when online check-in opens and then as soon as it opens, I select our seats for free. This has never failed me and I have always gotten seats together when flying with toddlers.

***If you’re flying with a child under 2, they can fly as a lap infant, but I always ask the gate agents if there is an extra seat we can sit near so that my child can have their own seat. We have definitely had this work many times.

***If you’re flying with a car seat on the plane, the car seat can not be in an aisle seat.

***ALL children over the age of 2 require their own seat no matter of their size. SO, if you’re flying with a 2-year-old, they will need their own ticket and their own seat and their own seat belt.

Flying solo with an infant in arms and 2 little kids from Washington DC to barbaods

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4) Have all of your documents accessible and in order.

I use this little Vera Bradley zipper bag to stow the 4 passports together. — I have useD this little Vera Bradley zipper bag to stow the 4 passports together.

I keep mine where I can easily grab them no matter if I am wearing a kid, a backpack and pushing the stroller. I put each family member's boarding pass inside their passport so that TSA & boarding agents can easily look at both. One of my tips for flying alone with kids is to use a sticker or strip of washi tape on the outside of the passport to easily identify each person in your family’s passport without having to continually open them.

Child identification:

YES, infants and toddlers need identification on flights. I suggest bringing a copy of your child’s birth certificate.
YES, all human beings need a passport to travel internationally, even babies.
If you are a single parent traveling with child out of country, you will need a notarized consent form from the other parent OR the court documents stating you are allowed to travel without consent from the other parent.

This is the exact family passport/document holder I use! I love it so much! Get yours here:

5) Flying Alone with Children - TSA Rules

Know all the rules of what you can and can not bring through the line. TSA has modified procedures for children under 12 years old. For example, Children under 12 do not need to remove their shoes or jackets. These are important regulations to be familiar with prior to .

You can help yourself have a smooth TSA experience by anticipating this portion of your trip by packing appropriately & have computers/iPads/liquids EASILY available to pull out of your bag for a scan. If you are a nursing mother, check out my guide for traveling with breastmilk which goes into detail on the TSA rules for breastmilk.

All 3 of my kids and I have Global Entry which also gives us TSA Pre-Check. This is game changing when going through security in the USA. We do not have to remove electronics from our bags and we do not have to take off our shoes. Also, the TSA PreCheck lines are much shorter than the regular security lines. We paid $100 per person to get Global Entry and it is valid for 4 years.

**Remember: Strollers have to be scanned & not every country allows you to babywear through the body scanner.

**NOTE: TSA is only within the United States - other countries have different security rules.

TSA Guidlines

Here i am flying alone with my 3 kids. I have my backpack on my back, baby on the front, stroler folded in my hand. I like to be prepared before getting into line so we can get through quickly. we all also have tsa pre-check

6) Manage the Layover.

The kids watching a movie in the USO in Houston during a 3 hour layover

Only have a layover if you HAVE to. Direct is always best.

If I am flying as a single parent and I absolutely have to have a layover, I like to make it at least 1.5 hours, maybe 2. I do not like to be rushed from gate to gate and I like the kids to be able to run free, use the bathroom, and eat. Things that can help make longer layovers easier: Play areas, Airline lounges, sleep rooms, nursing rooms, and open areas. We love the lounges, but these days many airports have play areas for kids. It's always a go-to for me. I get a coffee and let the kids loose while I take a deep breath and appreciate not having someone sitting on me.

For military parents: Find the USO. Free food, drinks, and typically some nice accommodations.

For American Express Platinum cardholders: You get access to all of the Centurion Clubs and all of the lounges in the Priority Pass network as a perk of your credit card. (We have this card and highly, highly recommend it for anyone looking for a card with massive travel perks) Get 100,000 membership points when you use THIS link.

If you’re going to be doing a lot of international travel, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a fantastic option as VISA is more widely accepted than AMEX. This card also offers Global Entry fee, $200 hotel credit, and the priority pass as well. We have both cards and use the perks often!

This is the kids play room in the centurion lounge in dallas on an 8 hour layover

7) Restrain them.

If you asked me a year ago my thoughts on flying with a car seat, I would laugh. "I never fly with car seats" I would say. While it is still true, I have never brought a car seat onto an airplane, I DO now use the CARES harness.

This is the only FAA-approved safety harness for children. It's tiny and lightweight. It is very easy to install. It keeps your little one restrained. (and safe) My kids must think they are in a car seat because they don't seem to mind this harness. I love it. It makes flying with them by myself so much easier.

PERK: The CARES harness can save your child's life during unexpected rough air or turbulence. It would prevent a child from flying up and hitting the ceiling if the plane suddenly lost altitude or jerked violently forward in a ground crash.

mother and 2 children on a plane — We have used these for so long and i love them!

Get your own CARES harness here:

8) Snacks on Snacks and more Snacks.

silicone mats are great to keep germs off food AND for keeping toys on the tray table!

On any checklist for solo parenting while traveling, snacks need to be at the top. I don't need to harp this, so I'll just ask you: Does eating make you happy? Probably. It also makes kids happy. My go-to snacks for planes? Gummy bears, yogurt melts, goldfish, baby food pouches (easy + mess-free), Nilla Wafers, Apples, lunchables, beef jerkey, chips, Clementines, dried fruit, etc. OH and the airline cookies they hand out -- my kids go to town on those, so I ask for extra always.

ALSO - to prevent your little ones from eating a ton of germs and to keep the snacks ON the tray, try using a silicone mat! We have traveled with them for years and they are a must when traveling with a toddler. Silicone mats roll up compact and are easy to clean.

Snacks are always a must when traveling with toddlers and small children

9) Keep them entertained.

Window clings are always a hit. Target Dollar Spot usually has them!

We believe in using movies on planes. If you don't, that's cool too. We use movies, but we also bring a couple distractions. We like the Melissa + Doug Water books, window clings, Tegu magnetic blocks, sticker books, and picture books. We introduce different things at different times and my theory is, if they aren't crying, don't pull out all the stuff at once. If you have multiple flights in one day, save some activities and toys for that second flight so it's new. OH and when my son was a toddler, he spent most of the flight shredding the Skymall magazines, so that could work for your kids too! Get creative!

You can see my favorite travel entertainment for kids HERE.

santa window clings on an airplane window — santa window clings to keep the kids occupied and cheer up the air crew

10) Surviving Potty Breaks + Diaper changes.

changing table on a plane — the changing table is usually located behind the toilet in the airplane bathroom

When traveling alone with multiple kids, I usually leave the older kids in their seats and take the little ones to the bathroom. If I have to go while we are on the plane and I am flying alone with a baby, I ask the flight attendant to hold the baby. I have also done the same thing when flying alone with infant and toddler. However, once they are old enough to sit in a CARES harness, I feel comfortable leaving them for 5 minutes in their seat to take care of business.

f you’re travelling alone with baby on plane, there are changing tables and family bathrooms in almost every single airport I have ever been too. There are also changing tables in *almost* every plane I have ridden on.

This is an american airlines plane - the changing table is in the restroom above the toilet

11) Relax.

No matter how long or how short these plane rides are, it's going to end at some point. It is a blip on the entire trip Who cares if they cry some? You paid just like everyone else. Don't worry about other people. One thing I love about flying is that I can care for my children face to face unlike driving where I can't see them and its dangerous for me to do much interacting with them.

Dressed in our christmas gear for a flight from DC to San Fransico!

There are so many ways to make flying alone with kids easier and I hope these tips make you a little less anxious. When in doubt - refer to Tip #12. Everything that happens on your travel day is a temporary moment on the longer journey on your family trip. So whether you’re flying alone with 1 year old, traveling alone with a toddler, or even flying alone with infant and toddler — you’re going to rock this trip!

Don’t forget to join one of the largest single mom travel groups (22K+ moms): Solo Mom Travel